A Wing & A Prayer Perfumes: Inside the Indie Perfume Brand That Turns Memory Into Scent
A Wing & A Prayer Perfumes: The Indie Perfume Brand Born on Etsy
Back in 2008, mother-daughter duo Jane Cate and Sarah Cate opened an Etsy shop with one goal: bottle memories instead of just nice smells. Today, A Wing & A Prayer Perfumes is an indie perfume brand with 44 fragrances, international awards, and a cult following that swears each spray is a time machine.
Who’s Behind the Bottles?
• Jane Cate – nose, chemist, and memory hunter.
• Sarah Cate – creative director, social voice, and packaging guru.
They still blend small batches in California, using natural absolutes, resins, and artisanal alcohol. No parabens, no phthalates, and every formula is cruelty-free.
Awards That Prove It’s Not Just Hype
A quick glance at the trophy shelf:
• 2011 – CaFleureBon “Rising Star” Award
• 2013 – TasteTV Silver Awards for LACE and La Isla Del Sol
• 2015 – San Francisco Fragrance Salon Silver Award for Best Packaging
Those wins matter because indie perfume brands rarely get mainstream recognition. For A Wing & A Prayer Perfumes, the hardware translates into trust and higher click-through rates.
The Fragrance Line-Up: 44 Scents, One Memory Each
Best-Sellers You’ll See in Every A Wing & A Prayer Perfumes Review
Epione (2011) – A white-floral bomb of neroli, rose, and frangipani that Fragrantica users call “bridal, but not basic” .
Ginger Spice (2008) – Spicy cardamom and ginger over a creamy sandalwood base; unisex and perfect for sweater weather .
KISMET Perfume (2013) – Juicy raspberry and strawberry wrapped in jasmine; think summer jam on warm skin .
Haight & Ashbury (2011) – Patchouli haters, relax. This is clean, woody, and surprisingly office-friendly .
Tahoe (2008) – Pine, juniper, and cold mountain air bottled. Campers swear it smells like the Sierra at dawn .
Hidden Gems Only the Reddit Crowd Talks About
• Sarah – sheer white musk named after Jane’s daughter.
• Napa – tomato leaf and grapevine; weirdly addictive.
• Carmel – salty caramel and driftwood; boardwalk in a bottle.
What Makes This Indie Perfume Brand Different?
100 % Natural Doesn’t Mean Weak
Most indie perfume brands use synthetics for longevity. A Wing & A Prayer Perfumes relies on dense absolutes and resinoids, so their scents last 6–8 hours on skin and over 24 on fabric.
Small-Batch Ethics
They produce 50–100 bottles per run. Batch numbers are hand-written, and Sarah posts Instagram stories showing the literal pot of oil bubbling on the stove.
Packaging That Tells a Story
Each label is a vintage postcard from the memory that inspired the scent. Tahoe has a 1970s ski-lodge ad; KISMET shows a retro fruit-crate label. The 2015 packaging award wasn’t just for pretty paper—it was for storytelling.
How to Buy & What You’ll Pay
Where to Shop
• Official Etsy store (fastest restocks)
• Indie scent boutiques like Tigerlily and Twinkle Apothecary
• Seasonal pop-ups at San Francisco Fragrance Salon
Price Range
• 5 ml roll-on – $18
• 30 ml spray – $58
• 60 ml splash – $98
Prices hover in the mid-tier indie bracket, cheaper than niche French houses but higher than mall brands.
Real Reviews: What Americans Actually Say
Fragrantica Ratings Snapshot
• Epione – 4.2/5 after 112 votes
• Ginger Spice – 4.4/5 after 97 votes
• KISMET – 4.0/5 after 78 votes
Reddit r/Indiemakeupandmore Highlights
• “Tahoe smells like my childhood cabin—no kidding, I cried.”
• “KISMET is the only fruity floral my boyfriend notices.”
Tips for First-Time Buyers
- Start with the Discovery Set – 6 × 1 ml vials for $24, ships free in the U.S.
- Skin-test on pulse points, not paper strips; natural oils bloom with body heat.
- Layer Epione over Ginger Spice for a custom white-floral spice that lasts all day.
If you’re tired of smelling like everyone else in the elevator, give this indie perfume brand a spin. With 44 fragrances, award-winning formulas, and prices that won’t gut your wallet, A Wing & A Prayer Perfumes might just bottle your next favorite memory.
