The Island Of Sea Women

This fragrance is inspired by the novel by Lisa See, and honors the legacy of the real haenyeo women divers of Jeju Island, South Korea. Made with the scents of tangerine, aloe, lily, jasmine, green tea, lemon, ozone, sea moss, sea salt, mango ginger, amber, and musk. Fruity, fresh, and bright. Fragrance Note(s): Jeju Tangerine • Aloe • Lily • Jasmine • Green Tea • Lemon • Ozone • Sea Moss • Sea Salt • Mango Ginger • Amber • Musk Scent Categories: Fruity • Fresh • Bright Haenyeo (Hangul: 해녀; lit. "sea women"), sometimes called the Mermaids of Jeju, are female divers from the South Korean island of Jeju, whose livelihood consists of harvesting a variety of shellfish, such as abalone and sea urchins, seaweed, and other sea life from the ocean. Known for their independent spirit, iron will, and determination, haenyeo are representative of the rare, semi-matriarchal family structure of Jeju. This community of women, some aged in their 80s, go diving at a depth of 10 meters, without the help of oxygen masks. The cardiovascular functions of Korean haenyeos have become adapted to underwater environments through repetitive and chronic breath-hold diving in their daily lives. With extensive knowledge of marine life, the haenyeo harvest for up to seven hours a day, ninety days of the year, holding their breath for just one minute for every dive, and making a unique verbal sound when resurfacing. Today, haenyeo are celebrated as one of Jeju's most valued treasures. Like many other historical cultural practices, the sea-diving industry has fallen victim to industrialization. Beginning in the 1960s, the Korean government sought ways to jumpstart the country's economy. Because Jeju was not a practical place to build factories, the Korean government decided to turn it into an exporter of mandarin oranges.