CHICAGO—Tru Fragrance, a leading Chicago-based boutique fragrance development company, announced the second harvest of Tru Blooms, a first-of-its-kind initiative that originally debuted in 2012. This year’s project will transform even more of Chicago’s gardens and green spaces into growing spaces to cultivate flowers that will be harvested and bottled into a limited edition perfume.
Building off the program’s inaugural success, Tru Fragrance will once again spearhead the initiative in partnership with the City of Chicago and local community organizations, including Chicago Park District, Chicago Botanic Garden, Growing Power, Growing Home, NeighborSpace and newcomer Whitney Young High School, to fulfill the project’s mission of sustainability, urban beautification and economic development. In 2012, Tru Blooms cultivated more than 22 green spaces throughout Chicago, provided specialized job training for more than 150 workers, and created more than 60 jobs for local residents. This year, 27 green spaces are being planted across the city, and the team behind Tru Blooms hopes to provide even more jobs and job training to local residents.
“Tru Blooms fosters opportunities for Chicagoans as part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s goal of making Chicago the greenest city in the world,” said Karen Weigert, chief sustainability officer for the City of Chicago. “As the Mayor’s efforts to create jobs and boost economic growth continue, we look forward to Tru Blooms’ second year success as this company highlights sustainability and local development that benefits Chicago’s communities.”
Gardens Planted Last Month
Tru Blooms gardens were planted throughout Chicago last month with rose geranium, patchouli, rose and lavender. Perennial flowers planted in the original green spaces, including Grant Park, will bloom again, along with new gardens at Whitney Young High School, Cantigny Park, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and Uncommon Ground. The gardens are being cultivated by volunteers and farmers employed by local nonprofit organizations.
“We embarked on the Tru Blooms project with a simple vision—to create a sophisticated, glamorous perfume that women will feel they want to have, and to create it through a unique program that gives something back to the city we all love and call home,” said Monte Henige, CEO and owner of Tru Fragrance. “As a local company, we’re committed to operating responsibly and doing what we can to benefit Chicago and its residents. We’re grateful to have the opportunity to bring Tru Blooms back for a second harvest and that we’ve got such great partners on board to bring it to life.”
Tru has partnered with Stephanie Hakes, esteemed perfumer from global fragrance house Ungerer & Company, to capture the essential oils and essence of the flowers to create the limited edition Tru Blooms Second Harvest Eau de Parfum, a scent that will be totally unique to Tru Blooms first harvest fragrance. The bottle, packaging and scent will be designed, created and produced by Tru Fragrance in Willowbrook, Ill. Tru Blooms Second Harvest Eau de Parfum will be available in two sizes—50 ml and 15 ml—at select retail locations and online at www.trubloomschicago.com beginning in November. Pre-orders for the limited edition fragrance will begin online on October 14.
