From gin to aroma: Sara Sergent’s foray into diffusers and perfumes

PARK CITY, Utah — The master distiller behind Alpine Distilling’s much-celebrated Elevated Gin, Sara Sergent, followed her nose and expertise into the world of diffusers and perfumes. Known for her botanical-rich gins, Sergent’s transition from spirits to scents was a natural one.

Her interest in botanicals and scent led her to study at Floris, the second-oldest perfumery house in the world, located in London. “Floris has existed since 1730, and you can still see the original stills in their basement. It was an incredible experience to spend time there and create a custom perfume that’s now officially registered with them.”

“I connected with one of Floris’s lead perfumers through international botanical circles, including the Herb Society of the UK and Ireland. I shared my vision for exploring perfume and aroma, and she was incredibly supportive—we scheduled a workshop to experiment. It’s really just using botanicals in a different way. We explored ingredients like myrrh, and found many fascinating crossovers, such as orris, which comes from the bulb of an iris.”

The collaboration with Floris involved experimenting with 40 different botanicals to understand how they translate between distilling for spirits and creating perfumes. Sergent noted the similarities in the distillation process, highlighting how botanical essences are captured in both practices.

“Distilling is not limited to cocktails. It is part of food, memories, experiences,” she said. “It’s really about transforming and elevating the senses—whether through a drink or a scent, it’s all part of the same creative journey.”

Edge Spa, of the Auberge Resorts Collection’s Lodge at Blue Sky, embraced the project and carries a private label edition.

“Each diffuser embodies the essence of distilling with rich, evocative notes of juniper, fresh fir balsam, Scotch pine, cardamom, and pepper—a sensory experience influenced by botanical gardens from around the world and Alpine’s Elevated Gin.”

Sergent collaborated with Jen Tudor, co-owner of Indigo Highway, to craft the look and feel of the diffuser line. “Jen has an amazing background and an eye for aesthetics. With her experience traveling the world and curating homes, she gave it a nice, sleek, elegant feel. It was great to work with Jen on that,” Sergent said. To complete the product’s visual identity, Christy Frank, a botanical artist known for her watercolor works, designed a juniper sprig illustration for the diffuser’s packaging.

For those interested in experiencing her work, the Botanical Forest diffuser is available at the Alpine Distilling Social Aid Pleasure Club on Main Street and the Distillery in Silver Creek. Additionally, Alpine Distilling continues to host its gin-making experiences, where Sergent educates on her craft and you create a custom gin with botanicals of your choosing. The next custom gin-making experience is scheduled for May 24 beginning at 4 p.m.