MONROE — To Kristi Moe, perfume affects more than just how you smell. 

As the owner of Zodica Perfumery, she’s combined aromatherapy and astrology in hopes of helping people find a perfume that reflects their personality. 

“Yes, you’re going to smell pretty and amazing,” Moe said. “But you’re also going to impact your mood and influence and manifest the day you want.”

Although it made its appearance on Monroe’s Square in May, Zodica Perfumery started as a concept six years ago. Moe spent three years developing the line, before launching it in Dallas, where she lived previously. 

Moe, 42, graduated from Evansville High School and is from Madison. She obtained a marketing and public relations degree from Madison College and jumped into the fragrance industry, working on the public relations side. She was previously a marketing director for Poo-Pourri, a before-you-go bathroom spray that went viral on YouTube. 

Being prone to migraines, Moe found a need for a perfume without parabens or phthalates, unlike most mainstream perfumes. That’s when she started experimenting with aromatherapy and discovering how different essential oils can impact a person’s chemistry. 

Working with aromatherapy, Moe wanted to create 12 scents evoking a different mood for each Zodiac sign. She made about 300 perfumes before narrowing it down to 12. She also did several blind perfume studies of 150 people each asking each participant to rank the perfumes. Her goal was for people to rank their own sign as number one.

Prior to Zodica, Moe didn’t know anything about the Zodiac other than occasionally perusing her horoscope. She also hated chemistry. 

“I would have never guessed I’d be doing what I’m doing now,” Moe said. “It goes to show if you’re really interested in something and you have the desire and passion to do it, you can do whatever you want. Hard work definitely pays off.”

To “manifest your day” with perfume doesn’t necessarily mean having to wear one’s sign. Moe suggests Pisces for those having a stressful day because its personality is ethereal and reminiscent of the ocean. For more energy throughout the day she suggests Aries because they’re known for energy and enthusiasm. Have a crush on someone? Moe says to wear their sign as a means to attract them. 

Moe said the magic moment is when someone gets a whiff of the sign of their mother or sister and says it smells just like them. 

“My goal is for people to find a perfume that they not only like, but love,” Moe said. “And it’s very much them and it’s not going to cause any type of reaction from an allergy standpoint.” 

While in living in Dallas, Moe was still operating out of her apartment. After appearing on Good Morning Texas and QVC, she knew she needed more production space. She originally wanted to find a place in downtown Madison, but after seeing a storefront space on Craigslist in Monroe, she knew it was exactly what she wanted. 

The store currently has a show space for customers to browse the perfumes and the other half of the store is where Moe does the production. Moe signed a three-year lease and plans to eventually move the production space to the basement and expand the show area. She also hopes make it into more of a community space to host workshops about perfume and the Zodiac. 

Moe said she’s enjoyed getting to be on the Square and has gotten to know other business owners nearby. She also enjoys the foot traffic and said Main Street Monroe’s wine walks have been especially busy. 

Even though she enjoys having a physical location for Zodica, Moe spends a lot of her time traveling and attends markets across the United States selling her perfumes. She recently went on QVC for the second time and ended up having to bottle by hand 20,000 mini perfumes. Zodica is also sold by Macy’s and by boutiques across the country. 

Eventually, Moe said she plans on buying machines, but until then everything is done by hand. Friends and Monroe natives McKenna Christensen and Holly Morton help Moe with the bottling. 

Christensen is enjoying the work after learning Moe needed help, and brought Morton with her. 

“I’d really like something like this to stick around in Monroe,” Christensen said. 

In addition to chemistry and astrology, Moe also mixes in some poetry with Zodica perfumes. A card is included with a poem written by Moe on each sign meant to be spoken out loud while the wearer applies it as a personal mantra to further help “manifest your day.” 

“It’s kinda like yoga, but perfume,” Moe said.