Philip Goutell

FrankBush.com is the retail outlet for fragrances I create for my company, Lightyears, Inc. The reach of this website is international (as our web statistics show), but the business itself is located in the Hudson Valley, in Maybrook, New York, at 935 Homestead Avenue.

The fragrances that we sell are my original creations

Just as successful models sometimes use what they have learned in modeling to become successful photographers, my start in perfume was on the business development and marketing side. But after a number of years of dealing with fragrance made by others, I discovered a strong desire to create a perfume of my own, to see how it was done.

I soon discovered that making perfume is not something you can do without training. At this point I was given an introduction to a legendary perfumer who, as it happened, was also a gifted teacher. Within a year I had proudly introduced my first perfume. In three years I could look back at that first creation and see how far I had now come. Yes the art of perfumery not only demands technical skills, it also requires a build up of experience.

Today I offer my fragrances with confidence. They are what I intended them to be. Each has its own "personality" and point of view. Some you may like, some you may hate, but I hope that when you "test" them yourself by ordering our Sample Bag, none will fail to achieve some sort of strong reaction.

French perfume and the Frank Bush name

Leave it to the French. The name "D'Orsay" was first connected to a French perfume house in 1865, thirteen years after the death of Alfred D'Orsay, count, dandy and occasional amateur artist. To provide some justification for the adaptation of the Count's name for a perfume house, the myth was created that D'Orsay, while alive, had dabbled in the creation of perfume.

In the case of Corday, no attempt was ever made to suggest Charlotte Corday had an interest in perfume. Corday, as we all recall from our French history lessons, was the young woman (age 24) who stabbed Jean-Paul Marat in his bathtub. Marat's last bath was immortalized by the artist Jacques Louis David. Prior to being guillotined, Corday requested that her portrait be painted. A National Guard officer by the name of Hauer obliged her and was rewarded with a lock of her hair. The remainder of her hair and the head that held it passed into the possession of a prominent, non-guillotined French family who, on occasion, displayed it to select visitors. The connection between Charlotte Corday and perfume is lost on me yet the perfumery was quite successful.

Frank Bush was neither a dandy nor an assassin. Nor was he French. Back in 20th century times, Frank was credited with running a successful and colorful marketing enterprise in which I played a minor role. Frank and his company are now long gone and the use of the "Frank Bush" name is only my sentimental tribute to a colorful era and an enterprise that, at times, actually sold perfume.

What DOES NOT go into my perfumes

The perfume compounds I create are constructed from natural aroma materials, synthetic aroma materials, and specialty bases. To the compound, prior to bottling, I will add ethyl alcohol and, in most cases, deionized water. Nothing else.

The materials I select for my fragrances are chosen for the contribution they make to the finished fragrance. Nothing is added to my perfumes that does not serve a specific function in achieving my aroma goal.

Shipping

You can enjoy my fragrances in almost any country. We offer both domestic and international shipping. Domestic orders (to any zip coded address) are shipped by Priority Mail. International orders are shipped by Express Mail International with the contents honestly described on the relevant customs forms. International customers are responsible for any additional customs duties, taxes, or fees that might be applied to their shipments.

Our other websites

In addition to this website, my "retail store," Lightyears also offers creative and business assistance to would-be perfumers and perfume marketers through our Perfume Projects website. Various other information and ideas relating to perfume can be found at our Bio-Byte website.

PerfumeProjects.com also hosts our Museum of Modern Perfume.

Bio-Byte.com also hosts our Perfume Maker's Club.

Your visit to this website is appreciated

Your visit to this website is appreciated, whether you make a purchase or not. Should you wish to share your thoughts with us, we welcome your comments.

Philip Goutell
Lightyears, Inc.