Expat living with John Berglund and birthing the Tijon perfumery

John Berglund

John Berglund had a dream. His nose led him in the right direction and now his entire family shares a common scent – Tijon. It’s the name of the perfumery he founded on the island of St. Martin after abandoning his corporate world for expat living. Flip flops are now his personal brand.

Choosing expat living complete with a new residency and setting up a business is fraught with challenges and surprises. John and his wife Cyndi, persevered. “Everybody has their own version of paradise,” he says. “Whether it’s New York City, the Great Smokey Mountains or my personal favorite, the French-Caribbean island of St. Martin, paradise is within reach – with a little planning.”

The story of his first explorations in the chemistry of fragrance, his various successful careers and the path taken to creating a new life in the islands is chronicled in his book: A Beach Less Traveled

After establishing a home base and business in the islands, John’s daughter, Rochelle, recently opened a Tijon Perfumery in La Jolla, Calif0rnia. Check out the opening night party in pictures below.

You can hear his story from The Gathering Road Podcast: