If you remember from our last episode of Afrodesia does France, I was making my way through the world of natural perfumery. Even though I’ve been sort of quiet on that front, I’ve been busy.
I’ve spent the 4-day Easter weekend with my nose stuck in my various perfumery books and breaking out the bottles. That pic above is from my office. It’s a mess, but a gorgeous smelling mess.
The weekend started out with Perfume : The Art and Science of Scent by Cathy Newman
After finishing Newman’s work, I started on Fragrance, the Story of Perfume from Cleopatra to Chanel by Edwin Morris
As for the blending, I’ve started going through a ton of samples I ordered: jasmine, rose, mimosa, and tuberose floral waxes; pink lotus, immortelle, cepes, and cocoa absolutes; and various essential oils such as white cognac, two types of vertiver, and champaca.
I made a blend with cepes (it’s from wild mushrooms and has an earthy, grounding scent), sandalwood, and a couple of other things. It has to sit for about a month or so.
I’ve also commandeered the electric fondue pot heater for some solid perfumes I’m working on. I hope they don’t turn out smelling like cheese.
On second thought, a cheese-scented perfume may work over here.
Comments (4)
Sounds like you got some really nice ones. I’ve been wanting to sniff the lotus (all the colors!) but haven’t ordered any yet. Hadn’t heard of cepes before - anything like oakmoss?
I’ve been using a microwave/toaster oven combo for solid perfumes but a fondue pot sounds much more chic! :)
Oh yeah have you smelled labdanum (cistus)? Yum. One of my current faves.
Hi Karen,
Cepes is also called boletus edulis. I decided to try it after seeing a perfume in which Mandy Aftel used it. It’s *sort of* like oakmoss but not as sweet. It has more of an animal note to it.
I snagged the fondue warmer so I could have everything downstairs in my office. I bought some ramekin dishes to use on it.
I have labdanum. I like it, but it reminds me of something I was around as a kid. I can’t remember what. It’s good for rounding out blends though.
The pink lotus reminds me a tad of Father John’s cough medicine but not as thick.
“On second thought, a cheese-scented perfume may work over here.”
No way. We are weird, but not *that* weird. Can I visit your lab?
Susanne - > aw come on, a little Emmentaler behind the ears never hurt anyone.:-) And sure, it’s just a desk in a corner, but come on down!