Women of note

WOMEN OF NOTE:

Constanze Saemann | founder of BASIUM

Constanze Saemann shines an ethereal glow, with a settled and warm nature belonging to a simple and pleasant life. German born and currently based in the centre of Paris, Constanze seems to see the world as her playground inviting her to explore its treasures, often found roaming near and far. With a successful career in modelling from the age of 17, life up until recently was lived in the fast lane. Constanze has graced the pages of Vogue Spain, Elle Italia and Russh, with work for internationally renowned brands like Ralph Lauren and Abercrombie & Finch, darting from job to job in the chaos of our busiest fashion capitals. Her balanced and down to earth disposition craved a return to nature and naturally took to a grounding practise. Constanze founded BASIUM in 2020, a line fragrances and holistic aromatherapy products with an ethos of ‘What goes on the body, should be as pure as the body itself’. Made in small batches with only natural and organic ingredients, each product is created for moments of simple pleasure that awaken the senses.

Constanze has invited us into her Parisian home and shares how she balances her time between modelling and aromatherapy.

Location: Paris

Date: 20/08/2021

Time: 1:10pm

Where are you from and where are you now?
I am from a small town in the south of Germany and recently moved to Paris. Before that, I was living in NYC for 5 years.

When is your favourite time of day?
I started to enjoy early mornings a lot. I love the silence and waking up slowly with the birds.

Can you tell us a little about your home, what is the view like?

My apartment is in the centre of Paris on the top floor, from there I can overlook the city and can see the Eiffel Tower and Centre Pompidou. Super cliché but quite beautiful!

You founded an Ayurvedic line of fragrances and self-care, Basium, in 2020. What lead you to begin this journey?
When I was living in NYC under high stress and anxiety that modelling brought along, I decided I needed to balance my time and channel my energy into something more meaningful. So I began to study aromatherapy, natural perfumery, and other wellness subjects, mostly online but also in some cities on longer stays. And from that BASIUM was born!

Basium products are created using Ayervedic practises. What is your approach to creating a new fragrance or self-care product?
I limit my creations to simple steps making them minimal, simple, sustainable, with a focus on ingredients from small farmers.

Basium formulations contain 100% organic and sustainable oils. Why was this an important factor when designing a product?
I try to live an overall sustainable lifestyle when it comes to everyday things like buying groceries etc. It was obvious to me to follow the same ethos for my own brand.

If you could be identified by a scent, what is that scent and why?
Probably vetiver. I love it’s deep and earthy notes and use it on a daily basis. It’s also in the first scent I created in Beau Perfume Oil.

As an international model you are often travelling. What are your comforts when away from home?
Staying in touch with friends and family brings me a lot of comfort when I am away from home for longer. As well as my little “grounding kit“ which includes some yoga stretches, grounding essential oils, making an infusion. I also like bringing my own hot water bottle as pretty much every hotel room always has a kettle in the room and I find it very calming.

What are your best sleep practises when on the road and in different time zones?

Trying to adjust to the new time zones already on the way there, going to bed at the same time every day, no screen time 1 hour before bed and I also love massaging my feet with some sesame oil to calm down before sleeping.

Do you have any rituals that you practise each day?
10 minutes of yoga in the morning, meditation and cooking something nourishing for myself.

When you have downtime at home, where do you spend it?
On my tiny Parisian balcony in between my herb and flower pots.

What places spark inspiration for you?
Places rich in vegetation, so that I can always be sourcing new oils and use the plants as inspiration.

How do you enjoy creating ambience at home?
I like to light some candles, use a steam diffusor with some soothing oils and keep things tidy around the house.

Do you have a favourite meal you always return to? Could you please share the recipe with us?
I love making Ayurvedic food in general. Whenever I am in India or Sri Lanka I take home so much inspiration and just throw something together. One of my favourite ones is the “Ayurvedic spiced cauliflower with chickpeas“

Ingredients:
1 cauliflower
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp turmeric
A little cinnamon
Olive Oil
Salt
1 tsp honey
1 lime
1 tin of chickpeas
1 tbsp of chickpeas
1 tbsp of yoghurt
Fresh mint and parsley
60g almonds, roasted and salted

Mix the spices with the oil and honey and marinate the cauliflower in it. Pour into an oven dish and add a glass of water or vegetable stock. Cook in the oven at 160 degrees for about 30 minutes. Put the ghee in a pot and melt. Drain the chickpeas and pull them briefly through the ghee with the lime juice and lime peel and add a little salt. Serve with the cauliflower, almonds, some yoghurt and chopped herbs.