
Anya McCoy founded the USA's first modern natural perfume line in 1991. Since then, she has nurtured and educated natural perfumers and hosts a discussion group for them. Anya is the Head Instructor at the Natural Perfumery Institute that she founded in 2007 to provide a professional course for perfumers. In 2006 she revived the Natural Perfumers Guild, a trade association. She is a recognized leader in the art and the 'go-to' person for anyone interested in natural perfume.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Ask the Perfumer - Sunday, September 25, 2011 - until 10 PM EST
Yesterday I was on the phone with a Guild member in Ohio, talking gardening. I gave him a tip about compost tea - to spray on the plants, not drink! You never know where a question may take you, and the answer might surprise you. The compost tea was the result of him asking if I use Miracle Gro to spray on my tomato plants. You may want to ask about tinctures and we'll segue into ultrasonics.
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Ask the Perfumer
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Some Vintage fragrant fun! Count Fanny's Nuptials
"Of course they visited the parfumeries and indulged in all manner of mingled fragrances, cunning fards, and rare oils. Some of the scents were made from real flowers, others from mysterious unnatural blossoms, whose odours were full of the intoxications of desire. There was Jasmine, full of intangible charm, refined and delicate as a Schubert melody; Geranium, curiously reminiscent of withered loves; unblended Ambergris, that had the power to excite the most anaemic virgins; Civet; Saffron; Benzoin; Stephanotis; Kiss-me-quick; Frangipanni; Cul-me-to-you; Bouquet des Amours; Peau d'Espagne; Fleur d'Amour; Jicky; Bouquet Largillerie; Jardin de mon Curé; and Bosom-Caresser." from Count Fanny's Nuptials by Simon Arrow, 1907
Ask the Perfumer - Sunday, September 18, 2011 - until 10 PM EST
It's been a fragrant week in my garden, with Miami's hot and humid summer providing a richness of blooms that are almost - almost - overwhelming. The dozen or more blooming trees and shrubs have provided a lot of materials for tinctures and enfleurages. It's very satisfying being an alchemist perfumer, transforming the botanical fragrance into a liquid, usable fragrance. Then there's the next step in alchemy, the synergy of artfully blending those liquids into a beautiful perfume. If you have any questions about any of these steps, leave a comment.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Stunning Scent Strip Fan Created for Francis Kurkdjian Perfume
Click to view larger image
Labels:
fashion,
francis kurkdjian,
perfume,
scented fan,
sylvain le guen
Sunday, September 11, 2011
There is no "Ask the Perfumer" today - Sunday, September 11, 2011
Ask the Perfumer will return next week. Today is a day spent remembering 9/11.
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Ask the Perfumer
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Ask the Perfumer - Sunday, September 4, 2011 - until 10 PM EST
I hope everyone is enjoying the long Labor Day holiday weekend in the USA. I'm relaxing and working in my garden, which isn't really work at all, especially when I'm harvesting a variety of fragrant flowers. Enfleurage and tincturing are my methods to capture the scent, and nothing could be easier. I'll be checking in to see your questions throughout the day, so drop me a line and let me know what's going on in your fragrant garden, or whatever is on your mind.
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Ask the Perfumer
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