In Conversation: Mary MacGill, Carolyn Mix & Darcy Doniger

Mary MacGill: Thank you so much for having this conversation with me, and for bringing this collaboration between scent and place to life. To start, I’d love to hear a bit more about how you came to your craft of botanical fragrances and natural body products, and what was the moment you realized this work was going to become your world?

Carolyn Mix & Darcy Doniger: We came to this work through a shared interest in the sensual and the natural. Before 2 Note existed, we were both drawn to experiences that slow you down and invite presence—music, scent, time in nature—and to the idea that everyday rituals can support real joy, calm, and wellbeing. One inspiring conversation during a flight became the seed that 2 Note grew from, and twenty years later, that conversation has become our life’s work. How did you come to jewelry-making as your creative practice?

MM: My mom always had a beautiful plate on top of her dresser piled with bracelets and earrings. She draped necklaces on her lamp. I remember so clearly sneaking into her room and picking up every piece. I didn’t even try things on, I just picked them up and turned them all around in my hands. I’d say this is when I felt that jewelry was a world of its own, and of course it’s grown over the years in many surprising and satisfying ways. What draws you to the materials you use?

C&D: We’re drawn to natural materials because they come with their own intelligence. Working with botanicals invites collaboration rather than control. We love exploring the alchemy of the botanical palette, and everything plants offer in terms of balancing, nourishing, and protecting the skin. Through these materials, we’re able to express what can’t be rushed or overworked: balance, harmony, and presence. How do you find inspiration in your materials?

MM: I like to work similarly in regards to that collaborative sensibility. In my jewelry making, I’m drawn first to color (blues, greens, and neutrals) then texture (smooth or interesting facets), then shape (organic or architectural). I think all of these preferences are rooted in my affinity for nature, art, and design—that’s what the materials allow me to explore and express.

C&D: Tell us more about your affinity for nature. How does that inform your process?

MM: All landscapes coax you into slowing down, into noticing, into awe. For me, that’s the most dependable salve to anything going on at any given moment. I am always hoping to emulate this phenomenon in some way, be it overt or in a minute detail.

C&D: Absolutely. For us, Coastal Maine is where our sensibility was first tuned. We founded 2 Note in Portland, shaped by the values of Mainers—hard work, authenticity, and simplicity. That environment taught us to make things carefully and honestly, in close relationship with the natural world. The Hudson Valley brings a complementary energy. There’s a thriving creative economy here and a strong sense of connection—between upstate and New York City, and among makers, farmers, and artists. Being part of that exchange keeps our work grounded while allowing it to remain open, collaborative, and evolving. Together, these landscapes continue to shape how we think, work, and create.

MM: Beautiful. I’m always seeking to integrate community and nature in my routines. When I consider what rhythms support the work of creating and living a creative life, for me it’s always been walks with dogs, cooking with family, time with friends, traveling with my husband—fairly simple, wildly impactful.

C&D: Exactly. Our days have a pretty steady rhythm that informs our work—movement, healthy home cooked food, gardening, caring for our pets (multiple cuddle breaks are built into every day, of course!), reading, being in nature and playing music—and that’s what holds everything together. It all feels very circular. Learning, practicing, inspiring conversations and idea-spinning feed one another, and those rhythms shape how we work and the energy that goes into what we make.

C&D: We’ve been meaning to ask—you’ve cultivated such a meaningful community around your work. What does community mean to your creative life?

MM: It’s second only to nature. Community is the thing that produces momentum and keeps us engaged! Our studio community is a daily dose of support, creativity, curiosity, sense of humor, and rigor. Our larger artistic community creates expansion through collaboration—languages, thoughts, and outlooks producing and converging. Looking ahead, what ideas are quietly calling to you?

C&D: So many ideas… never enough time! It is a painful joy to be creative because when you dwell in ideas, one is always leading to another, and then another. We are setting our sights on recording some music this year.

MM: That’s something for us all to look forward to! I need to get back to the studio rhythm of my college years. I would love to get back into the practice of drawing and making art. What role does music play in your creative process?

C&D: Music continues to be our muse, reminding us that beauty unfolds, not all at once, but over time, and that repetition can actually become ritual. It teaches us how to really pay attention, to listen closely, and to leave space for intuition and improvisation. Both practicing and listening inform our creative process when working with scent. Scent, like music, is meant to be felt.

Explore more of Carolyn and Darcy’s work at 2note.co