Beauty, Fragrance
When Barb Stegemann’s best friend Trevor Greene, a captain in the Canadian forces was brutally injured during a peace keeping mission in 2006, she knew she had to take action. After lifesaving treatment in Germany, Captain Greene returned to Canada where Barb visited and supported him. As he slowly tried to piece his life together and heal his damaged body, Barb set out on her own mission to bring peace to Afghanistan. To anyone who hasn’t met Barb Stegemann this sounds like an impossible dream, but for the highly confident self-starter that she is, no mission is impossible.
While searching the internet for information about Afghanistan, Barb came across news of farmer and essential oils distillery owner Abdullah Arsala, who was cultivating a crop of orange blossom instead of the illegal poppies which supply the vast majority of the world’s heroin. It was this information which sparked the imagination of this formidable mother of two, who went ahead and ordered $2000 worth of orange blossom on her VISA card and set about finding a Canadian perfumer to help her create a fragrance. It was Barb’s idea to offer the farmers a Fairtrade market value for their crops and harness women’s global buying power in order to aid nations rebuilding after conflict.
Using natural essential oils from crops harvested by the farmers of Afghanistan, the first 7 Virtues fragrance Afghanistan Orange Blossom was formulated. Since its launch on International Women’s Day in 2010 The 7 Virtues have released three more fragrances which all help countries stricken by war or natural destruction, and give communities the chance to improve their lives. Charity is not a word which enters Barb Stegemann’s vocabulary; this is economic trade, countries trading to create a better economic climate to aid their own recovery. Following a successful pitch on Canada’s Dragons Den, Barb raised the finance necessary to build the brand as it is today. From war torn Afghanistan, Israel and Iran to the environmental destruction in Haiti, The 7 Virtues are bringing trade and empowerment to rebuilding countries, and every penny raised is ploughed back into the company to buy more raw materials.
Meeting Barb Stegemann you are immediately inspired by her confident manner, her boundless energy and passion for life. It’s hard to imagine anything stopping the author of The 7 Virtues of a Philosopher Queen, the book Barb wrote and dedicated to Captain Greene in 2008. The book from which The 7 Virtues blossomed has already been reprinted four times; it’s straight talking no nonsense advice is like having Barb in the room beside you. This woman has already turned tragedy into a successful and socially conscious company, who knows what her insight could do for you.
The fragrances which are now available worldwide, launched in Selfridges, London on International Day of Peace last year. Whether you choose orange blossom with notes of freesia and jasmine in the Afghanistan Orange Blossom, sweetie grapefruit from Israel and lime and basil from Iran in the Middle East Peace, rose essential oil with notes of peppercorn, clove and carnation in Noble Rose of Afghanistan or the fresh Vetiver of Haiti with bergamot, lime tree and precious amber, you won’t be disappointed with the quality and staying power of these fragrances.
Each blend of natural ingredients complement each other and can easily be layered to create a fragrance as individual as you are. The 7 Virtues Custom Blend Box has been designed with this in mind, containing all four fragrances to mix and match as you choose.
Barb Stegemann was awarded Honorary Colonel Royal Canadian Air Force; she commutes around the world in her capacity as author and social business innovator, while her son Victor is responsible for sales and marketing in the UK. Captain Trevor Greene although wheelchair bound has fully regained mental faculties.
Barb and Victor Stegemann
Individual fragrances are £54 50ml the Custom Blend Box containing four fragrances £66
The 7 Virtues available online from The 7 Virtues Barb Stegemann
