NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Roses for Autism is a nonprofit farm in Guilford that provides jobs and employment opportunities to people with autism. For Autism Awareness Month this April, the nonprofit is launching a new perfume made from their very own roses.
Joining us Saturday on Good Morning Connecticut, managing director of Roses for Autism, Michelle Ouimette, tells us all about the nonprofit’s mission and their new perfume.
Roses for Autism is a non-profit social enterprise whose mission is to foster meaningful employment for individuals with Autism. Since 2009, Roses for Autism at the historic 38-acre Pinchbeck Farm in Guilford, has been growing and selling a variety of fresh cut flowers including roses, lilies, and Gerbera daisies. Proceeds from flower sales and new perfume fund scholarships and career training for transition age students with Autism.
In order to further fund their efforts, they were looking to create a non-perishable product that aligned with our core offerings. Dr. Robert Bedoukian, a member of the Board of Directors for Ability Beyond, the parent organization of Roses for Autism is also the President of Bedoukian Research Inc. in Danbury, a flavor and fragrance company.
Dr. Bedoukian saw the potential in creating a perfume from the farm’s extremely fragrant Lavande rose. Unlike roses imported from other countries that have been bred to last longer at the expense of their scent, roses grown at the Roses for Autism farm are still wonderfully aromatic. Bedoukian Research sponsored the full development of the perfume by international fragrance producer Robertet Incorporated.
Roses for Autism provided the Fragrance Chemist with two dozen of our Lavande roses so that she could extract its essence. Ardent Rose is a fragrant combination of Lavande rose, Magnolia, Geranium, Sandalwood, Musk, and White Amber. In honor of all mothers who sacrifice so much for their children to succeed, Ardent Rose is available for the promotional price of $39.99 from now until Mother’s Day. After May 8th, the regular price is $60 per bottle.
Revenue generated by sales of the perfume will support ongoing program operations at the Roses for Autism greenhouse, the development of a Sensory Garden, and the expansion of our scholarship program. Roses for Autism has helped over 100 individuals with Autism and would like to expand our scholarship program in order to help even more people achieve meaningful employment and personal success.
Both perfumes are available at the farm’s Guilford Retail Store and on our website Roses For Autism.com. They will deliver flowers in the local area and can ship anywhere in the U.S. Roses for Autism’s goal is to gain major corporate support for the perfume in order to bring the perfume to a wide market.
For more information, visit www.rosesforautism.com.