Our Stories
The Art of Florals and Fragrance with Katie Marx
Photography
Harry Burnmeister
Shot on
Dja Dja Wurrung Country
Katie Marx is a Melbourne-based florist renowned for creating impactful installations with Australian natives and locally grown blooms.
Her work embraces the beauty of the unexpected—often making use of branches, seed heads or flowers considered too imperfect to send to market.
In celebration of our recently launched scent range, we spoke with Katie about the art of florals and fragrance, and bringing the outdoors in.
Can you begin by telling us a little bit about you and your practice?
My entire life, I've been surrounded by plants and flowers, having grown up in New Zealand. My parents had a landscaping business and a huge beautiful garden. I've been a passionate florist since finishing school and moved to Australia soon after.
My business has been built on old-fashioned word of mouth and Instagram. I have a lot of long-standing clients who appreciate my style of work which has grown naturally. I'm often going into clients' incredible homes or bringing branches into high-end stores and restaurants. I absolutely love being a florist and can't ever imagine doing anything else.
Can you tell us about one of your favourite floral installations? How did it come together?
One of my all-time favourite installations was for a chef friend of mine, who asked me to create something in-season, locally grown and food-related. As I was leaving the property, I drove past a large patch of wild fennel—this ticked all the boxes I needed, I just had to come up with an idea to display it.
Using square-shaped lengths of growing wire, I lay the fennel across it and proceeded to stitch it across the wire with natural twine. This created long lengths that I hung from the roof, layering them like ribbons. The tables below were filled with hand-poured yellow beeswax candles in different shapes and sizes—some used as vessels for yellow and white strawflowers. The whole installation came alive at night when the smell of fennel and beeswax blended together. I'm still reminded of this installation by guests who attended and every time I see wild fennel growing.
What role does scent play in creating the atmosphere of a room?
It's something I'll often notice whenever entering a space—particularly a store or home. if someone has made the effort to light a beautiful candle or spritzed a room spray, it feels elevated and considered, as someone has thought beyond how it all looks.
The use of fragrance in the home is a thoughtful way to create a mood; an oil burner with a warm and relaxing scent for the evening to wind down with, a fresh citrus or herbal oil during the day to help with focus and concentration.
Shop Home Fragrance
Above: Australian Made Rose & Oud Burner Oil, Australian Made Saltbush & Hinoki Wood Burner Oil, Australian Made Neroli & Orange Burner Oil.
Above: Australian Made Rose & Oud Candle.
Above: Australian Made Rose & Oud Candle, Australian Made Neroli & Orange Candle, Australian Made Cedar & Mahogany Candle.
Above: Oil Burner, Australian Made Rose & Oud Burner Oil, Australian Made Saltbush & Hinoki Wood Burner Oil, Australian Made Neroli & Orange Burner Oil.
Above: Australian Made Neroli & Orange Candle.
Above: Australian Made 1974 Burner Oil.
Above: Australian Made 1974 Candle.
What are some things to consider when choosing florals for living spaces?
Scent is exceptionally powerful and can bring up memories and emotions for people, it's considered our strongest sense. This is so important to think about when bringing flowers into a home. Overbearing smells can take over a small room while a bunch of eucalyptus, foliage, magnolia blooms, lilac or a small bunch of sweet peas can be a fresh addition.
The fragrance of certain blooms can evoke memories; a person or a time and place in their lives. I always think of my Nana when I smell daffodils and the time I picked every single daffodil in her garden that she had been so patiently waiting to bloom. Similarly, whenever I see mauve wisteria, I'm transported home to my parent's place.
How do the seasons play a role—are there certain scents better suited to different times of year?
For me, every season evokes a certain smell or feeling. Autumn is crunchy leaves and apples; in winter, I think of wood smoke and red wine. Spring is fresh green and the abundance of spring blossoms and bulbs; while summer smells like frangipani, honeysuckle and salty air.
These scents are all found at certain times of year, which is something you can consider when bringing them into your home. Just as the seasons change, so too can the fragrance in your living spaces.
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Above: Australian Made Rose & Oud Body Balm.
Above: Australian Made Saltbush & Hinoki Wood Body Balm, Australian Made 1974 Body Balm, Australian Made Neroli & Orange Body Balm.
Above: Australian Made Saltbush & Hinoki Wood Body Balm.
For me, every season evokes a certain smell or feeling. Autumn is crunchy leaves and apples; in winter, I think of wood smoke and red wine. Spring is fresh green and the abundance of spring blossoms and bulbs; while summer smells like frangipani, honeysuckle and salty air.
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Oil Burner
AUD $99.95
Australian Made Rose & Oud Burner Oil 10mL
AUD $29.95
