Profile: I was born and raised in Yonkers, New York. I am a true Gemini, being born on June 3 at 11:55 pm. The year is not important and as with most Gemini’s; I am as young as springtime!!

My family has been in the USA since 1872, and settled in Yonkers, New York. My great grandmother, Mary, went to School No. 2 in Yonkers. In fact many years later, my father found her report card in the School No. 2 Annex; I am pleased to report she was an excellent student! I am a 5th generation New Yorker and in fact all of my family is from Westchester County, from Tarrytown to Yonkers. Beginning with my Grandmother, Bella, most of my family was born in Yonkers General Hospital. Grandma Bella was one of 14 children, she was number 12 of the line, and her older siblings were born at home. Bella always regarded herself as getting a modern start being born in a hospital. Actually the family felt that Yonkers General should have given the family recognition for so many of us born there!!

My moving to California was regarded by my family as running away from home, and quite a big deal since no one really ventured outside of New York State, New Jersey from time to time but not clear across the country. And when I moved to CA and came back to visit I was always asked when I am coming home (to New York that is). The questions finally stopped about “coming home” after living in California for 36 years.

My father was an educator and an administrator (Director of Vocational Education) for Yonkers Public School system before his retirement after 35 years in education. My mother, Dorothy, became Director of Admissions for a rehab hospital in White Plains. As for me, I carried on the family tradition of public service.


By day I am a Principal of a Special Education Cluster for the Santa Clara County Office of Education (in California) and hold a doctorate in Education, short term memory research was my specialty. I work with medically fragile students at a Center Based program, ages 3 to 22 years old, with various medical and cognitive disabilities. The other special education classes within the cluster are “housed” on integrated school sites, working with students ages 3 to 14 with a variety of disabilities, ranging from Intellectual Disabilities (formerly Mental Retardation) to students with Autism. Previously, I was a director of student services in two school districts as well as a faculty member at Santa Clara University as Coordinator of Teacher Education, until I wanted to get back to my roots, so to speak and work directly with teachers and special education students.

It never ceases to surprise me how life is so fragile and how brave my students are. The staff I work with are outstanding and so very dedicated to our students, it amazes me the outstanding gifts of education they bring to our students. The students never cease to amaze me the gifts they bring and share with us, of humility and acceptance. My students are truly special in every sense of the word. So, I create perfumes and my world has a sweeter fragrance. When I create perfumes it helps me to believe that everyone has a purpose and can teach us something good and kind. I think that is why my perfumes are light and sometimes fleeting, like life.

I began my road to Natural Perfumes by starting to blend herbal and floral infused solutions for hair rinses, facial treatments, using lemon, rosemary, roses, lavender and avocado. Then in 2005 our local newspaper ran an article about natural perfumer, Mandy Aftel. I bought Mandy’s book, Sense and Sensibility. After reading it and other books on natural perfumes, include Jeanne Rose, I thought blending my own perfumes.

On America Perfumery: My journey into perfumery and the creative forces continue. I love creating memories or capturing a fleeting moment in one’s life of experiences to create that one special fragrance. The color, texture and especially the fragrance of blending custom perfumes continues to captivate me and draws me into its seductive web. My wish is that this olfactory dream always continues.


If I had to select the fragrance that most typifies an "American" Scent, I would choose three fragrances from my line of all natural fragrances, A Wing and a Prayer: Tallulah B 2, Epione and Filoli Rose Perfumes. All are the clean fresh rose classic scents that I love and were inspired by. Those three fragrances truly reflect who I am as a perfumer, which is keeping the classics alive but with a modern twist.


–Jane Cate, A Wing and a Prayer


For our draw, Jane is offering a reader's choice of 1 oz of Tallulah B2, Epione and Filoli Rose (named after the legendary gardens in Northern California).Jane sell her perfumes on etsy. To be eligible, please leave a comment about something you learned or will remember from Jane's profile and please specify your choice. Draw closes February 23, 2012.
–Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief

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