A Natural Perfumers Journal

Watch out for the new floral solid perfume from White Witch for release this winter.  Roísin and Jasmine & Chocolate perfumes are also now available in this stunning hand turned yew box .

There is something about violets. The little purple gems that to me represent spring. It is difficult to create a natural violet perfume composition because there is no actual violet flower absolute. There is a violet leaf absolute but it's green and dark and not a sweet delicate floral the way violets are. So...what to do? I am getting somewhere. First of all what is the profile of the perfume of violets? The notes of the flower are tender and sweet, with the complexity of the exotics like jasmine or ylang ylang. The perfume of a violet flower sort of draws you in in a beguiling way and before you know it it's imprinted on your memory never to be forgotten. As I say I am really getting somewhere. As usual getting the top notes stumped me. The question was how do I make something delicate and tender come out on top in a way that will lure a person in. Notes of carnation absolute, violet leaf and orris butter are key elements in the composition, using rose, jasmine and yla

We have a new addition to the Natural Perfume Academy's year long Natural Botanical Perfume course starting in May. Shelley Waddington is going to teach a unit about Isolates. "The use of natural isolates is a new cutting edge trend in natural perfumery. This course is designed to allow the perfume student to take advantage of this new trend by providing a basic understanding of what an isolate is, how it is produced, and how to incorporate isolates into their own perfume compositions. The student will also receive a comprehensive bibliography for personal reference. Upon completion of this unit, the student will have a basic understanding of natural isolates and will be ready to begin blending using these fragrance materials. A kit of natural isolates will be available at the store and is highly recommended for the course." About Shelley Waddington Shelley Waddington is the President of Beau Soleil, LLC, and the Chief Perfumer for The Carmel Perfumery, locat

In coconut oil the sort that doesn't smell of anything and that is light. Atlas cedar over black pepper and blue lavender concrete give soft warm breezy top notes. Orange blossom alongside boronia is a summery and floaty floral. Hay, vetivert and orris gives a really comforting yet lively finish It needs time, but it has real promise. I am amazed at how wonderful this is. Even for an oil it is summery and light. I will do a modification tomorrow and report back. I am thinking of reducing the base notes even though they are in a very low concentration already. I will up the blue lavender and reduce the cedar leaving the black pepper at the concentration it is, maybe. I will increase the orange blossom and decrease the boronia. Then it will be wow I am sure.