The Birth of a Perfume Alchemist

The art, the patience, and the pure pleasure of creating natural perfume.

I began by making creams, lotions, facial serums, ointments, and salves. I loved blending these precious oils and sharing my delicious creams with friends and family. Although I had been using essential oils for years, I now had a growing collection of oils in my kitchen, and I delighted in adding them to create beautiful, scented body oils and lotions.

Then I took things a little further. I began blending oils to achieve particular effects, exploring how different scents could work together to create something entirely new. These blends grew in popularity, and people began asking me for bottles of my blended scents.
And so, the art of blending perfumes was born in me.

I studied the ratios involved in perfume blending. I explored carrier oils versus alcohol as the medium for these precious oils. I learned the balance of base, heart, and top notes, and discovered the importance of absolutes alongside essential oils, extracts, and tinctures. Each element had its place in creating a well-cultivated, original natural scent.
I wake in the mornings already exploring new blends in my mind.
I test oils on blotters and follow their development for days. If I like what I discover, I begin a 10 ml blend, starting with the base notes, moving through the heart, and finally reaching the top notes. Each addition is sniffed, considered, and pondered before another drop is added.
This process is slow and sensuous.

When I blend in alcohol, I allow the ingredients time to settle and marry together. Once the blend has begun to develop, I try it on my wrist and wait to see how the fragrance evolves on my skin. I share it with others, listen to their impressions, and return to my little creation to add more of something—or perhaps something entirely new—if the scent calls for it.
Throughout this exploration, I keep careful notes so I can account for every drop or percentage of a gram. Nothing is left to guesswork. Yet there is also room for intuition, imagination, and the unexpected magic of a beautiful blend.

I dab the perfume on before sleep. If I can still smell it when I awaken in the morning, I know I may have found a good foundation and a lasting fragrance.
I pay attention to the feelings the scent awakens: excitement, pleasure, relaxation, or confidence. I notice who I become when I surround myself with this fragrance. I listen to my scent memories and watch for scent dreams.

And if all these things fall into place, after months of testing, listening, and making adjustments, I give the perfume its name. It earns its place in my notebook of perfumes, ready to be introduced to others.

I find that creating a scent is much like creating natural food for ourselves and for others. We blend, mix, taste, and add different elements until we arrive at a final creation that is greater than the sum of its parts. This is the goal of a great chef, and it is no different for a perfume alchemist.

Beautiful scents are made for pleasure and joy.
What could be more delightful than this?!!!