Welcome to Jo Phillipe’s Sophisticated Ladies, an interview series inspired by Duke Ellington’s famous 1981 composition that features women who inspire us and share our love for the Golden State. This month's Sophisticated Lady is Jo Bordeaux, the namesake behind Jo Phillipe Fragrances. Read her full interview here:
Tell me about the area code you are from and what led you to being a Sophisticated Lady.
530 - There’s no place like home.
Nestled beneath our majestic Mt Shasta mountain that produces the clearest, coldest, most delicious water in California;
Where pure clean air is the norm year round;
Where thousands of the brightest stars shine bright through the night sky;
Where we experienced the amazing four seasons with a full array fall colors on our backyard maple trees;
built snowmen the deepest whitest snow in winter time,
made beautiful spring bouquets from the lush fragrant flowers that grew in mom’s beautiful garden;
splashed and swam -sometimes skinny dipped in the deep blue waters beneath the tallest waterfalls in summertime;
Where dear kindergarten friends are still very much in my life today.
McCloud , California… my home sweet home.
*I don’t consider myself sophisticated in the traditional sense- like my mother , I've never followed the norm, i think outside the box, not afraid to be different
What is your favorite thing about the Golden State? How do you incorporate California’s natural beauty into your daily routine?
My favorite thing about the Golden State is its diversity of people, climate and natural beauty, culture and opportunity .
What brings you a grounding burst of joy or fulfillment in your daily life?
My relationship with my husband and partner of over fifty years brings me joy and fulfillment in my daily life. My children and grandchildren bring me joy and fulfillment. My relationship with God and my church bring me joy and fulfillment.
I like to quote “your best ability is your availability”, how do you stay present in the moment?
I’m still working on being present in the moment- being available to myself and my feelings, being still, reflecting on my Blessings
How do you maintain physical, mental, and emotional resilience?
I've always had internal drive, a sense of possibilities and a can-do spirit.
What is your current fragrance ritual? Feel free to give us a rundown - how often, time of day, combining fragrances ect.
My fragrance ritual - a morning dab of joy with my favorite fragrance and time spent preparing myself for my day…
What are your favorite fragrance notes and/or family?
My favorite fragrance notes are; clean and fresh, sometimes sophisticated, the remembered fragrances of my mother and youth (rosewater, Jean Nate, Coco Mademoiselle , and now Jo Philippe.
What sage advice would you give family, friends or aspiring sophisticated ladies about maintaining overall wellness while pursuing their passions?
Take time to tune in to yourself, enjoy where you are at the moment, live positively and optimistically, look for the good and lessons in every situation, trust God.
