The Nova founder dishes on the power of boundaries and meditation.
– KEYS SOULCARE
After studying at the infamous Grasse Institute of perfumery in France, Julia Zangrilli started Nova, a niche fragrance studio based in Brooklyn. Since launching in 2012, she’s collaborated with the likes of Opening Ceremony, Anna Sheffield, and New York Magazine. From scent to self care, Julia approaches life with a healthy dose of levity. Here she unpacks her mindful approach to motherhood and how a few minutes alone in the bathroom can be the ultimate recipe for grounding.
What does “Lightworker” mean to you?
I think of a healer; someone who works with energy and the senses, and who helps to free up blockages.
Do you think of scent as a tool to help us connect to that lightness?
I actually think scent connects to lightness and darkness equally because it’s so subjective and has direct access to our memories. When I do custom scents for clients, we can land anywhere on the wheel of emotions. It can be really heartwarming and nostalgic, but it can also be dark and even illicit disgust.
Why were you initially drawn to scent?
I was looking for something to do creatively. I have a background in acting and music. I moved to the city to be a singer songwriter, but I’ve always had a strong olfactive memory and scent always had a powerful hold on me.
What led you to a career in perfumery?
I never thought about it as something that I would do as a career or that I could do as a career until a friend casually referred me to a raw materials class. I realized that I was in love with the intangible mystery of working with scent. A good fragrance tells a story; it conveys an emotion as well as a place and a mood. There’s something about [scent] that’s so limitless and intriguing. It’s like poetry: you create this abstract thing, even to you, and hope that it translates.
You’re a very mindful mother — can you speak to your approach to parenting?
I want them to feel safe being themselves, whoever they end up being. I’m a very child-led parent. I try to create boundaries around certain things like violence, but other than that, there are very few things that [I] say a hard ‘no’ to. I try to teach any and all lessons — whether it’s about trying new foods, getting ready for school, or [understanding] how to treat friends — without shame. I’m really cautious about not making my feelings my kids’ problem by modeling emotion processing. Parents aren’t perfect, so I try to prioritize the repair by talking them through it and giving them the narrative rather than having them fill in the blanks and potentially self-blame. I want them to have a deep and expansive vocabulary for people’s feelings so that they can navigate life with more understanding and, ultimately, self-compassion.
How do you practice soulcare, as a mother and a small business owner, mid-pandemic?
This is something that I admittedly need more of. I was just reflecting on what’s accessible the other day because it’s not like I can go to a spa. But, what I can do is go to the bathroom, lock the door, dim the lights, and spend a few minutes practicing palm inhalation or tooling around with some skincare products. Sometimes I light a candle or use this amber light that I still have from breastfeeding because I find moments of darkness mid-day to be really grounding. Willfully being awake in the dark is valuable because it removes the pressure of being productive. And usually, if you’re at the point where you need to sit in the dark, you probably also need a good cry, so I give myself the space to do that, too.
How do you uphold good boundaries?
I think upholding boundaries stems from knowing what you want: what you want out of this year, out of this day, out of this life. Knowing what you want is the first step and then you can build boundaries in support of that intention.
How do you approach work and life with mindfulness? Share in the comments below.
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