Have you heard of The 7 Virtues, the Canadian perfume company headed up by Barb Stegmann? If you haven’t, please let me share the amazing story behind this company with you. Barb Stegman, the CEO of The 7 Virtues, is an amazing woman, with a compelling mission. I have corresponded with her a bit, as I had asked her for some samples of her perfumes to review. I kept reading lovely things and wanted to know more!

Barb tells me she had a normal life, a good life, and business was good at her firm in BC. Then, the unthinkable happened. Her best friend, a Canadian soldier, was attacked and wounded while in Afghanistan. She spent a year in the hospital with him, visualizing his healing journey with his wife and family. She promised him she would take on his mission of economic empowerment for families in Afghanistan while he healed [I told you – Barb is no ordinary woman]. She realized that she was not a brave soldier, nor was she a world leader with political clout. But, as a North American, she felt she didn’t have a way to touch peace. Yet- she knew she had buying power. She began writing her book and dedicating it to her friend- The 7 Virtues of a Philosopher Queen. The 7 virtues are: Wonder, Moderation, Truth, Courage, Justice, Wisdom and Beauty. She told me that her fragrances are the thesis rising up out of her book. The principles of the book, the stoic wisdom she has is the action through the fragrances. With her best friend’s mission in mind, Barb read about this gentleman named Abdullah Arsala. He was growing the legal crops of orange blossom and rose to provide an alternative to the illegal poppy crop. Barb knew Abdullah was the way to peace. She reached out to him and began to purchase his legal oils for her fragrance collection. She has invested over $100,000 legal dollars in Afghanistan instead of the illegal poppy crops. This liberates farmers and is her way of helping to build peace. Every time  The 7 Virtues sells a fragrance, they can buy more oils to liberate farmers from the same oppressors that attacked her dear friend. Again. No ordinary woman.

Ok. Now that I have warmed your hearts and restored your faith in humanity, let’s talk about perfume! The 7 Virtues Afghanistan Orange Blossom is what I am wearing today, and let me tell you- I love it. If you click the orange blossom tag on my blog you’ll know it is a favourite note of mine, and that I am a sucker for the scent of orange blossom. It’s a sensual and warm floral note, and The 7 Virtues Orange Blossom is that and more. It has the rich creamy deliciousness of orange blossom that I so adore, yet it seems to sparkle on the skin like raindrops. It’s not heady or heavy, and even if you are a little shy of floral scents, you need to try this one. There is a light sprinkling of jasmine and freesia that balance the orange blossom beautifully. The freesia adds freshness and a green aspect, with a little bit of a peppery note, which keeps the orange blossom and jasmine from being too sweet. It’s beautifully balanced, and brings to mind a beautiful orange blossom soap I got in France years ago. Afghanistan Orange Blossom smells pretty, fresh and clean. Verdict? I love it. It’s soothing and easy to wear, and I’ve already had a few compliments….which always works for me! So, if you want to smell AND feel wonderful, get The 7 Virtues Afghanistan Orange Blossom, and watch Daly Beauty for more reviews and a surprise….

Here is one more thing from Barb. Remember her dear friend, the soldier who was wounded in Afghanistan? He was the best man at her wedding this summer. As Barb said to me “We can leave a better footprint than we found. It is possible”. Thank you, Barb. And thanks too, to Brett Wilson, her partner and mentor. He took a chance on her perfume when she visited The Dragon’s Den.

The 7 Virtues perfumes are available across Canada at The Bay, on Air Canada Duty Free, and, starting in November, Daly Beauty is thrilled to announce that American buyers will be able to buy The 7 Virtues perfumes at Lord & Taylor! You can also buy directly from The 7 Virtues website.