By Elizabeth Liberatore / Photo by Claudia Johnstone
From his days curating exquisite wine selections as a sommelier to crafting bespoke fragrances, Ethan Turner weaves the art of storytelling into all his professional pursuits. This isn’t surprising, given his background in creative writing at Drake University, where he aspired to become a screenwriter. Fate, however, had other plans for him.
“After shopping for a personal fragrance one day and having no luck, I decided I would create one for myself,” he says. “My friend suggested I make one for him and that he would pay me for it. That moment kicked off my career.”
Shortly after this, Turner’s first brand, MOI Fragrances (www.moi-fragrances.com), came to life. Turner aimed to offer consumers a luxury bespoke fragrance experience without the hefty price tag. Since its inception, MOI Fragrances has expanded its scope, collaborating with various brands, celebrities and businesses.
“[MOI Fragrances] manages 17 different fragrance brands and has evolved into more of a manufacturing house than a bespoke fragrance experience,” Turner says.
Expanding his perfumery repertoire, he pursued studies at France’s renowned ISIPCA. Despite having created over 500 unique fragrances up until this point, Turner had yet to create his own story in a signature scent. This realization sparked the birth of his second brand, Empyrean Parfums (www.empyreanparfums.com), which became a deeply personal project.
“I’ve always been a poet, and I wrote haiku throughout my [studies abroad] as I reflected on life, love and religion. Each fragrance embodies my struggles and eventual return to Christianity,” he says.
Empyrean Parfums will debut its inaugural unisex fragrance AIA (pronounced Gaia), a representation of Mother Earth’s creation, this June at Scottsdale Andaz Resort & Bungalows. The event will activate all five senses through a variety of earth, wind, fire, and water elements, like performances and cuisine. Event proceeds will help build a perfume garden that conserves local aromatic flowers.
“This is the first reveal of my story to the world,” he says. “I’ve received wonderful compliments on the scent from some of the greatest perfumers in modern times, but it’s a new project and new space. I’m feeling excited, and a bit nervous!”
By Elizabeth Liberatore / Photo by Claudia Johnstone
Melissa Galt is a renowned figure in the global interior design industry. Following a successful 25-year career as a residential interior designer, Galt made a lifechanging decision to shift her focus entirely to coaching, a move she describes as a natural progression.
“Coaching was a natural step for me,” she says. “When I relocated to Scottsdale [from Atlanta], I made the conscious choice to close the door on design and devote myself entirely to coaching. I don’t operate at just 100%; it’s always been 120% for me.”
For the past 15 years, Galt (www.melissagalt.com) has served as an interior designer business strategist, guiding her clients with smarter systems, proven processes, and masterful marketing techniques. Her approach not only drives significant revenue growth, but also helps her clients reclaim their “zone of genius,” or the zone of tasks where her clients excel effortlessly, enjoy the work they do, and are exceptionally efficient.
“Delegate, outsource, or delete the rest. It’s critical that you are at peak productivity and delivering at your highest talent,” she says.
Galt truly does operate at 120% – her long-list of services on her website perfectly encapsulates that: from private coaching (one-on-one and group) to live events to group programs to published books and articles to her podcast. Galt is constantly pouring out her expertise and resources to help designers’ business succeed by giving them their nights and weekends back.
“My definition of successful business is one that informs and inspires, fuels and feeds, and serves and supports the whole of your life. It does not swallow you whole,” she says.
When she isn’t helping clients, Galt loves to travel, something she did often growing up as the daughter of late Oscar-winning actress Anne Baxter (the granddaughter of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright). She has journeyed to places like France, Nepal and Australia, to name a few. These travels have informed her own design style.
“My personal style is very driven by original art that I’ve picked up in my travels, as well as from artists I’ve met along the path. Every piece has a memory of a time, a place, an experience.”