Synopsis
Perfume War is a feature length documentary that explores a solution to ending conventional war. It’s a film that connects with all walks of life, all faiths, cultures, political beliefs in a way that we hope will inspire others. Perfume War shows that we don't have to pick sides, we don't have to choose whether to be for the military or for peace. We are both. There is a way for us to come together to end the cycle of war and poverty, whether you are young or old, Muslim, Christian, Jewish or any faith on earth or not. The film explores humanity and friendship and healing and forgiveness and provides a unique solution on a quest for peace.
Perfume War is a film about two friends and their unstoppable fight for peace. Captain Trevor Greene’s mission of peace in Afghanistan ends violently with a Taliban axe in his head. Miraculously, he survives to see his best friend Barb Stegemann, a hearing-impaired single mom carry on his peace mission with a new strategy - perfume.
In an Art of War maneuver she takes what the enemy loves most, the poppy crop. She offers to purchase rose and orange blossom oils, which pay Afghan farmers twice the income over illegal poppy.
Barb’s perfume is sold on the high streets of London, New York and Berlin while billion dollar cosmetic corporations threaten her survival. In a shallow industry that glorifies skinny models and air-brushed movies stars, Barb fights back with retail activism that redefines beauty as power and dignity as she sells her book at cosmetic counters around the world – a first in the century old beauty industry.
Meanwhile her best friend, Trevor fights his own battle to walk again. Inspired by Barb’s work, he defies conventional medical wisdom about recovering from traumatic brain injury and becomes a symbol of hope, through incredible persistence and endurance, to all those confined in wheelchairs.
While scientists marvel at Greene’s recovery as he rebuilds his own brain, Stegemann maps new paths to rebuilding in countries from Afghanistan to Rwanda. Every day, Barb fights a retail war in stores while working to keep her company financially afloat. In a world that monetizes war, Barb needs a cavalry of business to take up the retail activist charge and lead the way to peace. A global beauty giant shows interest, but is her essential oil good enough? Can she convince them? Will she run out of money? Will she win her perfume war?