About Us

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Prologue: New Beginnings
 

I never figured out how I wanted my rebirth to go - it happened organically. When one very large door slammed in my face, I opened an even larger door in response. Alice had choices - so did I - but which would I choose? In my case, it was to stay in the present reality - or choose to be reborn.

 

~*~ I chose rebirth.

Chapter 1: The Seven Stages of Grief
 

2020, the year that ended lives, or for some, started them. I went through several near-life & death experiences unrelated to 'it' who shall not be named. These experiences impacted my ability to function daily & work in a traditional sense. Being autistic makes finding work I can do a challenge, & being a research scientist is the only work I've ever been good at. It requires little social skills, high intelligence, superb project management & problem-solving skills & the ability to work independently & in blissful solitude, or at least working for a prestigious research institution is like this. I thrived in this field. I felt challenged & valued up until management found out about my experiences that hindered my capacity to work full-time. 

 

When that very large door closed, I went through all seven stages of grief & then I decided to be reborn. Burn the old me to ashes - and rise anew. I do love a challenge after all. So I found a new purpose & used my scientific knowledge to engineer an experience for the mind, body & soul driven by my lifelong love & passion for aromatherapy, the dark aesthetic & environmental conservation.  

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The scientific community may in some ways have given up on me healing to my former glory, but I had not because I knew I'd never be the same 'old me'. You either accept scientific facts with grace or are delusionally stagnant in a slow form of suicide. This was, after all, MY, healing journey. Things just didn't happen in the way I had envisioned. Strategically PLANNED even.

 

~*~ The Goddess, God & Source work in mysterious ways. I decided to shut my trap for once and listen.

Chapter 2: Epiphany

Mental health is everything to me and home fragrance has always been a passion of mine to aid in grounding my senses. It's amazing how a single expertly sculpted candle on your altar can lift your mood, or the mysterious scent from potpourri can make you sigh in bliss as you enter your bedroom to rest for the day. Yet my entire life I was always left with dissatisfaction from what offerings were available to me to buy.

That's when those neurodivergent wheels in my head started to turn and turn. If energy can neither be destroyed nor created, where does that leave ME? A ball of energy and creativity, ever turning out new ideas I want to actualize. Yet my perfectionist mind was afraid to fail. I often started projects and never finished them for fear of failure. Ask my bestie, I have a faceless Legolas from grade school that I never finished. I named him the 'Faceless Elf'. But then I accepted this very rational scientific truth. Comparison is the thief of joy, and success is relative.

Success is based on your goal(s). My goal is to heal, and be happy and true to myself. None of these goals are quantitative, they are qualitative. So rationally if trying to actualize my home fragrance ideas improves my mental health, makes me happy, and allows me to creatively BE myself, I have nothing to lose. I'm trying to LIVE again after all.

~*~ With that in mind, life is a journey, not a destination.

Chapter 3: The Wheel of Time
 

It took that very large door slamming in my face to realize I could use my environmental sciences degree & the material science & chemistry knowledge I had gained to design what I wanted in a home fragrance line. So, while my old career was dead, a new one began. My investigative nature complimented my drive for successful engineering, & my artistic past life complimented my scientific mind. My Father always thought I'd be an artist, but I got his scientific mind. Why be one or the other when I can be both? I was never one for singular restrictive labels or limitations. So, I took my lifelong passion & turned it into a new beginning. But I did much more than that: I did it with positive intentions.

 

~*~ There is no good or bad magick, only intention. So, I will weave my web with positive intentions.

Chapter 4: Nocturnal Designs
 

It's been a long time coming, but finally, I listened to all the people in my life who have told me I need to sell my creations, not hoard them. So, I reawakened 'Nocturnal Designs', the brand name I picked over 10 years ago on my one & only Etsy account 'BrokenRebirth'. Now I have zero self-doubt & a clear vision.

 

I believe our materialistic comforts should keep the Earth & all its creatures in mind so everything I create is not only geared towards the dark aesthetic, it's ECOFRIENDLY & ETHICAL. I source materials that are non-toxic & not made by inhumane means as I want everyone who delights in my creations to have healthy lungs & a clear conscience, as well as gorgeous functional decor.

 

~*~ With that in mind, every creation I make is a multipurpose item meant to be rebirthed & reused as decor, never thrown away after its original purpose has ended.

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*~* Kind of like me. *~*

Chapter 5: Outreach

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My ideas are endless. I want to buy more molds from Etsy sellers, release more product lines for online purchases like my vessels, expand my scents, & more. Because in-person social interactions are too stressful for my nervous system, I've decided to transition to online platforms. I will still do limited custom orders for my local community but for the most part, you can find me online. Given I'm new to online marketing & slowly teaching myself how to be a success, it would mean the world to me if you could 'like' & 'share' my website, I.G. & Linktree, as I also sell goth & alternative clothing, as well as, vintage manga & anime collectibles from my collection! Further, I would love to have your feedback so YOU can give me your WANTS & DESIRES in a dark aesthetic home decor & home fragrance line.

 

My epilogue has yet to be written, but I would love it if you'd join me along my journey.

 

And with that, I leave you with this:

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~*~ "When broken, choose to be reborn." ™

 

Blessed be,

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Viresse, owner of Nocturnal Designs™