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Scary Smells
By Hydra M. Star
 I
was recently afforded the opportunity to pick the brain of the lovely
sCara, the mind behind all the wonderful products of FeMaledictions.
For those not familiar with the company's history, FeMaledictions.com
was born on March 21 of 2004 c.e. (XXXIX a.s.) and has since that time
been providing a wide range of perfumes (both solid and oils), designer
soaps, incense, and other specialty items to online shoppers around the
world.
I've found sCara herself,
in the short time I've known her, to be both reserved and out going.
She is one of those rare individuals that puts enough of herself out
there that one instantly feels drawn to learn more, but keeps about
herself enough mystery that you sense you will never fully know her. A
true enigma she is definitely not a follower of trends or people, as is
proven by her way of conducting and viewing herself and her business.
Let's begin with a question
I'm sure you've answered a thousand times before, what does the name
FeMaledictions mean and how did your company come by it?
There are so many
wonderfully nefarious words that begin with "Male." Unfortunately for
my purposes, none that begin with "FeMale." Appropriation is easy
enough, however. I create things evocative of everything I myself love
and enjoy--the words I found most fitting being Maledictions (as far as
a "catch all") and Malebolge (were there a location). My intention
behind this stems from it still being very much a blasphemy to simply
enhance ones own scent rather than replace it entirely. Also because
pride and vanity have always belonged to "The Devil" and no one
in this type of business was overtly giving that driving force "His
Due."
How did you first become
involved in mixing perfumes and making soaps? Is it something you were
always interested in or was this a case of you seeing a business
opportunity and training for it?
More than anything, it was
the old adage "necessity is the mother of invention." I could next to
never find products that fit my personal aesthetic and I didn't have the
patience nor the desire to further waste my time and money trying to
find something mass produced that I would settle for.
It all started when I went
on the hunt for solid perfumes and couldn't find any like those my
mother had when I was a wee li'l one. I can still picture her vanity
clearly, covered with ivory lace. Gilded and enameled tins placed
lushly all about. It was her one, main luxury. I would sneak little
dabs when she wasn't looking. It was one of the earliest things I
remember equating with "feminine." I wanted those sort of things for
myself and, when I could not find them, I decided to teach myself how to
make them--initially only for myself. From there I received so many
compliments that I decided to give selling them a go.
I noticed immediately that
there were so many others out there like me that were searching. They
wanted something different. I would say, to this day, well over 3/4's
of the folks that purchase my goods are pleased with them enough to
write me and tell me just how much they enjoy everything. That is huge
to me. That makes my day, each and every time.
Some of your products are
very original, where do you get your inspiration for them?
Thank you kindly!
I very much tend to live in
my own head. I love what I love and make what I make based on that
love. It really could be anything - a song lyric, a feeling, an
archetype, an in-joke. Whatever is behind the inspiration, it is always
turned on. There is no off switch. I have scribbled "notes to self"
all over the damned place!
What is your own personal
favorite among your many products, and what is your best seller?
My personal favorite
blends, as far as those I wear the most include Fetish, Treat Treat and
The Golden Proportion.
My best selling products
are Perfume Oils, Shea Butter Soaps and Ceremonial Incense.
I know you have a rather
extensive online store, complete with message board, is there a physical
storefront that your clients can visit? If so where is it located
No, I'm much too feral for
a brick and mortar store. Perhaps someday.
Other then the obvious
benefit of being about to reach more people, what do you think the
benefits of having an online store are?
In my case, I am a very
quiet person when around new people. I am the girl sitting in the back
of the room sizing everyone up - a classic people watcher. I am not shy
so much as I am unsocial. Along with this, how I feel is quite obvious
whether I like it or not. A benefit of which being that if I like
someone, it is obvious. What could be seen as a downside, from a
business perspective, is that if I don't that too will be
obvious. To sum it up, I don't "schmooze" well.
I also naturally keep what
most would call very odd hours and prefer to be available, as much as is
possible, at my convenience. The ringer on my phone is always turned
off. People know to not just drop by unannounced.
There is also the obvious
benefit of cost being kept reasonable, without that additional overhead
having to be passed on to the customer and such.
Were you met with any
hurdles or drawbacks you didn't expect in your pursuit of this endeavor?
I did not expect to be as
busy as I was right away. It is always growing, bigger and bigger.
That is excellent, of course, but it took some time for me to take the
plunge and really know that I could make a comfortable living doing what
I love. I grew up with the bare basics and, perhaps because of that, I
very much want a safety net as much as is possible when it comes to my
finances. So for much longer than was probably necessary, I juggled a
full-time-plus job and a full-time-plus business. Little things
suffered that shouldn't have here and there during that time because I
was not as confident in myself as I should have been.
What part do you think you
being a Satanist and a member of the Church of Satan has played in all
of this, if any?
To be "out of the closet"
about my affiliation was something I pondered. I knew that I would
probably sell more things, were I more innocuous, but I really felt that
my heart would not be in it for as long were I to do that. For me, it
is not about selling to as many people as possible. I want for those
that do purchase from me to know, even if it is on a very small
level, that there really is some Magic to the delicate little things I
create. True Magic.
I enjoy supporting my
friends and associates in their own projects. In my case, many of my
friends and associates are also Satanists. Were I to openly support
them, yet not fly my own colors, it would be speculated upon. This is
another thing I kept in mind when I was deciding "horns or no horns."
It has definitely been a
filter, I'm seeing that the majority of my clientele are more
open-minded than most of the folks I am used to. They are in their own
wonderful ways very much themselves--be they grandmothers residing in
The Midwest or artists living on the other side of the globe. They come
from every path one could imagine and most all seem to understand what
Satanism really is, even if to a very small extent. And if they don't,
they ask intelligent questions or read up on it, if so inclined--rather
than spouting off at the mouth, echoing inaccurate stereotypes.
There are those that wish
they were detriments, however. They insist on nonsense that is so
incredibly silly. Some warn that my products should be prayed over by
anyone foolish enough to purchase them. Others wonder if I "negatively
charge" them with crystals and other such things that make me just sigh
and shake my head. Then there are those that whisper of my supposed
"agenda." They feel that I simply must have one, being that I am open
about my affiliation. Still others cross their arms, get all red in the
face and huff and puff about how they won't buy anything from me
because of my affiliation. Makes me think of Mr. Horse in Ren &
Stimpy: "No Sir, I don't like it!"
Then, still on the topic of
Satanism and my business, there's again the majority of folks. Most
often, if they bring it up, it is positive. I have heard time after
time how fun they see Satanism can be, from my application. This
has been a nice bit of unexpected frosting on my cake.
What advice would you give
to a person considering setting up a site or business similar to your
own?
Starting is the most
difficult part. Be prepared to always be at work. If you truly love
it, you won't mind at all.
Finally, are there any new
products or up coming changes to your site that you would like to tell
us about?
In the very near future, I
will be bringing back my lip butters, appropriately called The Devil's
Kiss. I will also be adding soy tarts--as I have been told that more
necro-e-scent-uals for the home are desired.
Gift sets are in the works
and include but are not limited to: The Black Dahlia, Ed Gein,
Schlitzie [Tod Browning's Freaks], Belial [Basketcase], my
Satanic Venus.
I am also going to be
collaborating in the near future with a fellow that has some amazing
metal-crafting abilities, a wonderful and most talented photographer,
and a few other "niche" businesses for their own exclusive products.
I am in the process of
moving the entire site to a more efficient setup with more bells and
whistles that I think many will find easier to navigate. After which,
all of my Citizens of FeMalebolge will be added as well as auditions
again open for more applicants.
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