A Natural Perfumers Journal

My best moments of 2008 I discovered content management systems. I launched Nature's Nexus Website. White Witch launched a brand new website. We successfully distilled 10mls of pure hydro-distilled tuberose absolute and it was proclaimed by an experienced nose to be of very high quality. Nature's Nexus Academy of Perfuming Arts was launched. I took up Yoga. An amazing mother/daughter moment that is too personal to share but that I have to list was by far the best thing that happened to me in 2008 and is something that I would class as a miracle. I decided that 2009 would be my best year yet.

Hey I almost missed this. I heard that White Witch was mentioned in the lifestyle section of The Irish Times on the 9th of December. If anybody has a copy of that edition and wouldn't mind sending it to me, or scanning it and emailing it to me please let me know. Here it is on line, but I think they had some images in the print edition. Here is what they said. "A small Galway-based firm called White Witch makes great natural, ethical and very affordable beauty products and perfumes with great biodegradable packaging. The range includes a facial steam sachet with rose petals for €2.20 and the magical Bridget's Balm for use on everything from nappy rash to joint inflammation, which costs €6. ( www.whitewitch.ie )."

To the Celts the oak is one of the three magical woods, along with apple and yew. In fact the word Druid comes from the Irish word for oak: Dair. Dair is the seventh letter of the Ogham tree alphabet. The oak symbolizes strength and power. I chose this very special wood for the cases for the kits for NN Academy of Perfuming Arts. The oak in the cases is from Lisnavagh House in Co Carlow. The oak died of natural causes before being felled. Each perfumers case will have a number that can be entered into a website and the owner of the case will be able to read the story of the tree their case was made from. I visited Lisnavagh house myself and chose the timber. It was amazing to see the timber in it's rough state. I chose a beautiful timber with natural silver rays. Lisnavagh House is a a Gothic Revival mansion owned by William & Emily McClintock Bunbury. The timber mills is in the old stables on the grounds of the estate. Here is a model of the case. The finished case will be