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All day on Saturday, December 3rd, our philosophy shows will focus on one of our brand’s foundational philosophies: living in a state of grace and love. Our Founder revolutionized the fragrance category because she knew that scent had a powerful effect not only on our mood and behavior but also our overall well-being.  Each fine fragrance has a personality, a point of view, that simply enhances who you are or access how you want to feel.

In preparation for these shows which will highlight our fine fragrance collections, I devote a lot of time to thinking about the mood each fragrance creates as well as the qualities of the woman who may choose to wear each scent.  Because our award-winning  Amazing Grace has been my signature scent for many years,  I wanted to share what attracted me to this fragrance in the first place and who I think of every time I talk about this infinitely clean amazingly feminine scent.

After almost thirty years in the beauty industry, I have seen trends come and go, and, very often, come back again. One enduring beauty truth that makes any woman shine with dazzling brilliance is when she is actively engaged in acts of compassion and kindness. This is the “x” factor that takes the merely beautiful to the breathtakingly exquisite. Those who live in this state of grace and love not only create beauty that radiates from within but also spills over into the lives of others.  Though I delight in all forms of external beauty, it is the beauty of the human spirit that inspires me most. What I know for sure is that a person’s natural grace is the difference maker, making a woman truly stand out. To me, poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson defines the 360 degree nature of beauty best:

What does it mean to live in an amazingly graceful manner? I believe that there are specific ways each of us can create beauty every day. I’ve come to appreciate that beauty is about behavior. There are people in my life, many of them philosophy girls, who show me what it looks like to live with amazing grace every day.  I’d like to introduce you to few of these women while sharing the behaviors that make them some of the most beautiful people that I have been privileged to know.

What qualifies a person to be amazingly graceful? Author Travis Bradberry, a contributor to Forbes, summarized some of these components beautifully recently and I’ve added some of his key points to my own:

The Amazingly Graceful Woman: radiates energy and confidence. She is comfortable in her own skin.  She’s the one you turn to for help, for advice and for companionship.  You just can’t get enough of her. It feels wonderful to be in her company.  Because her sense of self-worth comes from within, she isn’t constantly searching for validation because she is confident to find it in herself.  She’s thoughtful, caring about your welfare as much as she cares about her own. 

Profiles in Amazing Grace

Meet Susan: 

Susan and I were beauty colleagues for many years. We shared a memorable pregnancy together, giving birth to our sons within a few weeks of each other.  We have maintained our friendship for over 25 years

Susan notices individual differences in people that others might miss. She’s a “people builder”, complimenting others often, easily identifying and celebrating individual’s strengths and talents. Just this week, she reached out to me, sending an article that listed the qualities of “irresistible people”.  She simply wrote:  “When I read this, I thought of you.  Miss your positive vibe. Happy Thanksgiving.” We haven’t lived in the same state for years but she spontaneously pops up in my life in such a positive way. An accomplished baker, her cakes are works of art.  Selfless, she regularly dispatches beautiful baked goods and positive thoughts in an effortless, authentic and always kind manner.

Meet Lucille: 

I have known Lucille since I was five years old.  She is family we have chosen.  My children consider her their third grandmother.  We gave our daughter Lou’s last name as Caitlin’s middle name, honoring the grace Lou has brought into our lives.

What makes Lou amazingly graceful is that she treats everyone she meets with respect. An extremely successful businesswoman, the first working woman I ever knew, she is unfailingly polite and respectful to all. Whether you are a king or a window washer or a small child, Lou will treat you with a natural reverence.  At her core, she believes that she is no better than anyone else.  I love her and my children adore her because she follows “The Platinum Rule”: she recognizes that everyone is different and she treats each person as they want to be treated.  She adjusts her behavior and her style to make others feel comfortable.  Because of this, she has earned long-lasting, trusting and deep friendships.  Because she doesn’t spend a lot of time thinking about herself, she is fully present with anyone in her presence.

Meet Karolyn:

Karolyn is an original philosophy team member, responsible for many of the beautiful philosophies you see on our bottles and jars.  We met while working for the brand and have established a friendship that I cherish every day.

Everyone deserves a Karolyn in their life. I just can’t get enough of her. She’s the girl that I turn to for help, advice and companionship. In her company, I can be myself, say what I’m thinking, share my triumphs and my fears. She provides a safe haven in which I can both laugh and cry. She’s my cherished “special delivery” friend, appearing on my doorstep (literally) with everything from a beautifully arranged bouquet when she sensed that I was having a bad day to dinner for my family when she learned that my Dad had passed away. 

Meet Annie and Erica

Annie and Erica are both philosophy alumnae.  Both find reasons to love life, effortlessly adding grace and love both at work and at play.  With them, work feels like play.

I thank God for these two women in my life every day.  Positive and passionate, they see life as an amazing adventure and approach work, home and play with a sense of joy that other people want to be a part of.  In addition, both women make an effort to look their best always.  They understand that looking your best is comparable to cleaning your house before company comes.  Both know that good grooming and providing beautiful environments is a sign of respect for others.  It is just one of the ways that they add joy, and a sense of festivity, to this world.

Amazing Grace Fragrance is a representation of these amazing women who grace my life. Wearing this clean, floral scent makes me feel put together, feminine, confident, ladylike, strong, and beautiful. Those adjectives work for me any day of the week, whether I’m doing chores at home or on camera and addressing an audience of millions. I am inspired by Susan, Lucille, Karolyn, Annie and Erica.  I think of them, and so many other women like them, every time I talk about the qualities of the woman who wears Amazing Grace.  Each of these truly beautiful individuals embodies the behaviors and actions of those who are naturally graceful, making this world better simply by being in it. 

I hope you can join team philosophy and me on Saturday, December 3^rd for a wonderful Today’s Special Value that keeps us living in a state of grace and love.

Heidi Guest has been a cosmetic executive for over 25 years. Today, she is the On-Air Media Spokesperson for philosophy, a lifestyle brand that focuses on causes benefiting the mental health and well-being of women. Married to her college sweetheart for the past 29 years, Heidi is the proud mother of Caitlin, 23, and Nicholas, 17. A San Francisco native, who has lived with her family in the New York metropolitan area for many years, Heidi and her family currently live in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Active in local and national philanthropic efforts that support women, children and families, Heidi's greatest passion is helping others live into their full potential both personally and professionally.