John Berglund – Expat life and the Tijon Perfumery

John Berglund had a dream. His nose led him in the right direction and now his entire family has followed him – creating the perfumery, Tijon. He established the first shop on the island of St. Martin after eschewing corporate life to become an expat and adopting flip flops as part of his personal brand.

Choosing 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