Friday December 11, 2009 TODAY A Festive supplement by Today Friday December 11, 2009 TODAY A Festive supplement by Today Herb garden owner, Martin Cheng. Perfume maker Johari Kazura. In the autumn years Photos Jason Ho Whether it’s plying a dying trade or going against the stereotypes of ageing, these three individuals do it with grace and finesse, as Eveline Gan discovers Johari Kazura Traditional perfume maker While his schoolmates played with cars and trucks, Johari Kazura tinkered with aromatic oils and “all sort of chemicals” in his father’s perfume lab. Those childhood experiments not only proved to be useful, they formed the basis of Johari’s livelihood. In 2001, the 34-year-old economics graduate returned from the United States to assist in his family’s traditional perfume business, Jamal Kazura Aromatics, which offers homemade fragrances. His father needed help, and Johari saw the potential to expand the 70-yearold family business. But how did this now-dying trade begin? Johari’s grandfather, Hanifa Kazura, started off by importing and selling perfumes at a dingy shop house on North Bridge Road. He picked up perfumemaking skills while on the job and passed on the tricks of the trade to Johari’s father. The handmade perfumes were a hit. Until today, the art of traditional perfume making hasn’t really changed much from the old days, he said. “Making perfumes is a little bit like cooking. Basically, you blend, stir and mix ingredients together for the final product,” said the Johari, who wears a custom made perfume called Indian Dream — a luxurious, earthy blend of jasmine absolute, vetiver and neroli. However, unlike food, a perfume concoction has to sit for a few weeks or even months for the “final smell” to emerge, he added. His two stores at North Bridge Road and Bussorah Street offer more than 100 types of handmade scents. Just months after taking over the business, Johari launched Sifr, a chic perfume boutique offering a line of perfumed products at 27 Arab Street. Named after the Arabic word for “zero”, Sifr is Johari’s third-generationtake on perfume making. Not only does he create luxurious organic perfumes, he also lovingly handcrafts perfumed toiletries such as shampoos and lotions. “It’s an interesting business and a very unique one, too. It’s not just about making perfumes. There are other aspects of the business — such as dealing with suppliers, sourcing and coming up with the packaging — all of which I’m involved in,” said Johari. “Plus, I can’t be sniffing perfume every day,” he added, laughing. “After blending four or five perfumes, I have to take a break — and go and smell some coffee!” Martin Cheng Herb garden owner Standing amid the flourishing herb garden, the tanned, bearded 57-year-old looked as though he had stepped straight out of an ancient martial arts movie. It was five in the evening, and Martin Chen — a self-taught herb enthusiast — let on that he had been toiling away in his “herb sanctuary” since morning. Martin runs the 5,000 sq ft Growell Herb Sanctuary along Bah Soon Pah Road. The cosy sanctuary is home to over 250 species of spices and herbs. These include turmeric, spinach, cinnamon and mulberry. Since Martin doesn’t use chemicals or artificial fertilisers, maintaining the sizable garden requires extra work. His “break corner” — an unassuming niche in his well-kept herb garden where Today spoke to him — was well stocked with teas made from the herbs available at his garden. A worn-out recliner was a clear indication that he spent more time there than at home. So passionate is Martin about herbs that his diet includes “more herbs than rice”, ever since he began growing them. Interestingly, he also sweetens his tea with crushed Stevia leaves, which are many times sweeter than regular cane sugar. Martin’s passion with herbs started after he witnessed his uncle, a herbalist, cure his sickly elder brother with them. “I remember that my elderly brother had a really bad fever. Even after going to several doctors, he did not recover. Miraculously, after taking and, subsequently, throwing up the herbs my uncle picked from outdoors, his fever went away and he got well,” he said. His uncle refused to pass on his knowledge of herbology. So, to satisfy his curiosity and interest, Martin began reading up on medicinal herbs on his own. The ex-diving instructor, who also dabbled in construction work, admitted that herb farming “hardly provides a stable source of income”. As a result, the father of two not only conducts workshops at his herb garden, he also gives tours of it and hard to imagine that the tanned, vivacious woman is a 65-year-old grandmother. Peggy took up belly dancing last year, but has already mastered the dance well enough to participate in eight public performances, one of which took place last month at the Grandparents’ Day Carnival, an event organised by the Council for Third Age. Her interest in belly dancing started quite innocently — she initially took up belly exercises sells its produce. “Due to urbanisation, many medicinal herbs are in the process of becoming lost forever,” said Martin. “Through what I do, I hope to generate greater public awareness and knowledge of herbs and their health benefits.” Peggy Ong Belly dancing survivor Over at her Haig Road flat, Peggy Ong was togged in a sexy, sequinned midriff-baring bellydancing costume. As the photographer clicked away, she sportingly performed a few belly dance moves — hip drops, belly rolls and the shimmy. If not for the telling saltand-pepper hair, it would be Peggy Ong takes bellydancing classes once a week. and marvelled at the way her instructor could isolate and move certain parts of her body with ease. The retired dental assistant and receptionist admitted that at her first few belly dancing classes, she felt frightfully “awkward and embarrassed”. “At first, I was very shy about baring my tummy because it was so big after having two kids. But after awhile, I got used to it,” she said. Although her sister, the more conservative one, had teased her about showing off her “big stomach”, Peggy’s fighting spirit never relented. After all, the feisty woman has survived breast cancer. She had a mastectomy on her right breast when she was 52 and now wears a prosthetic breast. While Peggy said she is “still the same person” even without her right breast, the first four years after her mastectomy were one of the lowest points in her life. “I felt so resentful. I kept asking myself why I had to go through this,” she said. She found solace at the Breast Cancer Foundation’s support group. It was there that she also took up dragon boating. Today, it is Peggy’s turn to lend other breast cancer victims at the support group a shoulder to cry on. She still devotes a day each week to her dragon boat activities — which explains why she is so tanned. On top of her busy schedule, she also volunteers at community centres. “After surviving cancer, I find that life holds even more meaning for me now. If I have the time and energy I might as well contribute to society while I can,” she said. And with such zest for life, one can’t help but be certain that Peggy will have enough energy leftover for a little shimmying.