Re: Blending style -- do you have one?

[Guest guest]

I know that some perfumers use a signature accord that runs through many of

their perfumes to create their own blueprint............

janita

Anya <mccoy@...> wrote:

I was speaking on the phone tonight with a natural perfumer and we got

to

talking about blending style. Do you have one? I challenge myself that

every perfume I create must be very, very different from the other. Other

perfumers develop a style, though, that is recognizable as their own.

Perhaps it is a light, French-style cologne style. Or a heavy, floriental

style. Others yet rely on citruses for their calling card. I know one

former natural perfumer who churned out one oil-based perfume after another

that used too much spikenard, rendering them peanutty. She is now using

synths to lift her perfumes, which is a shame, she seemed dedicated to

naturals, but she never broke out of the heavy base style with naturals.

Don't fall into this trap, guys, even if your signature is citrus or light,

airy scents -- always challenge yourself to develop a palette of accords. JMHO.

Just wondering if anyone has their style - or lack of it, independent

stance for each perfume, as do I - figured out, or have you even thought

about it? Many don't. It's funny, niche mainstream perfumer Serge Lutens,

who hires perfumers to work for him, has his signature stamp on all his

blends. Guerlain was famous for the " Guerlainade " base. Many find the Jo

Malone and Jo scents to have a lightness (whether created by Malone,

which may not be the case, although I blieve does create hers.)

I'm not going to comment on individual natural perfumers here by name, but

I do recognize some wonderful styles among several of them ;-)

OK -- I do have a " style " -- my perfumes will always be strong and make a

bold statement. No light, airy stuff, at least not in the foreseeable

future. My perfumes match my personality. Or so I " ve been told ;-)

Anya

http://anyasgarden.com/perfumes.htm Parfums Natural

http://artisannaturalperfumers.com The Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild

http://.com The Premier Natural Perfume Site Gateway

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.

[Guest guest]

Anya <mccoy@...> wrote:

<OK -- I do have a " style " -- my perfumes will always be strong and

make a

bold statement. No light, airy stuff, at least not in the foreseeable

future. My perfumes match my personality. Or so I " ve been told ;-)>

I would have to say that mine is pretty similar. In the past I always

relied a lot on heavy base notes, very ambery orientals and

florientals. Dark and mysterious blends. Most of my experiments with

trying to go " fresh and green " seemed to fail. But now I think I'm

going to really sweet florals, almost candylike, with a definite

tropical feel. I guess I just got so influenced by the tropics. Of

course something spicy and woody drops in every once and a

while!(maybe its a guy thing)

[Guest guest]

" Perhaps it is a light, French-style cologne style. Or a heavy,

floriental

style. Others yet rely on citruses for their calling card. I know one

former natural perfumer who churned out one oil-based perfume after

another

that used too much spikenard,... "

If you have to sign your perfumes, do it with style; with "

goat's hair tincture " .

Best wishes of success for the " Pan " perfume and the others.

Abdessalaam Attar

www.profumo.it <http://www.profumo.it/>

kodo, La Via del Profumo

[Guest guest]

An old Matisse, thinking back on his lifes work, from

the earliest to his last pieces; Noted that there was

a thread of familiarity running through all of his

work. He called it the mark of his personality.

I believe that we all have that.

Why do I love balsams, vetiver, galbanum, woods and

Jasmine. Who knows. It is just one of those

things.

I build a fragrance in my head first, before doing

anything else. I can smell it in my mind, the same

way that I can create a new dish in the kitchen by

knowing how my spices are going to work with the food.

I can taste it before I actually eat it.

My signature, or style, regardless of the fragrance

category, is in the scented carriers that I use for

my perfumes. Plus the countless tinctured concretes,

waxes etc, that go in to everything that I create.

Anyone can copy a list of ingredients, but to copy

tinctures and tinctured blends, is not so easy. It is

the edge, I believe that the artisan perfumer has.

The ability to bring to the table something unusual,

slightly off center, and wonderfully unique.

Peace Angel Farm

http://www.peaceangelfarm.com

Zz's Petals, Natural Perfumery....

http://www.zzspetals.com

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Zz's Petals <zzspetals1@...> wrote: An old Matisse, thinking back

on his lifes work, from

the earliest to his last pieces;

beautifully expressed.......................

I certainly take inspiration from the world around me...... here are some of

mine..... I have added a couple of photos .......

anita

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

At 01:10 AM 9/1/2006, you wrote:

>I know that some perfumers use a signature accord that runs through many

>of their perfumes to create their own blueprint............

Yes, Janita, like Guerlain. Haven't quite come across it yet in natural

perfumery, unless I count Ayala's love of vanilla in the base ;-)

I'm also talking about style -- light versus strong scents, simple,

charming blends versus complex, floral propensity over base unctuousness,

that sort of thing.

Anya

http://anyasgarden.com/perfumes.htm Parfums Natural

http://artisannaturalperfumers.com The Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild

http://.com The Premier Natural Perfume Site Gateway

[Guest guest]

At 01:33 AM 9/1/2006, you wrote:

> I would have to say that mine is pretty similar. In the past I always

>relied a lot on heavy base notes, very ambery orientals and

>florientals. Dark and mysterious blends. Most of my experiments with

>trying to go " fresh and green " seemed to fail. But now I think I'm

>going to really sweet florals, almost candylike, with a definite

>tropical feel. I guess I just got so influenced by the tropics. Of

>course something spicy and woody drops in every once and a

>while!(maybe its a guy thing)

Speaking of basenotes, over on the perfume forum basenotes, it's Synch Up

Day, and we're wearing Thierry Mugler's Cologne. Talk about a perfumer

(well, not really, he hires the creation out) - talk about a designer with

a varied style!! First he releases the toxic cloud Angel upon the world,

blanking out the sun with it's heady, foodie, overwhelming strength, then

he release the light, citrusy, soapy, lovely soft Cologne.

Often travels can influence us greatly, , as your current tropical

interest. Contrast is good -- put a little spice or wood in the fragipani

for backbone.

Anya

http://anyasgarden.com/perfumes.htm Parfums Natural

http://artisannaturalperfumers.com The Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild

http://.com The Premier Natural Perfume Site Gateway

[Guest guest]

At 02:47 AM 9/1/2006, you wrote:

>If you have to sign your perfumes, do it with style; with "

>goat's hair tincture " .

>

>Best wishes of success for the " Pan " perfume and the others.

Oh, yes, let people know you have goat hair tincture in your perfume --

that'll get their attention! Did you read the reviews on my blog? Did you

get the samples?

Anya

http://anyasgarden.com/perfumes.htm Parfums Natural

http://artisannaturalperfumers.com The Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild

http://.com The Premier Natural Perfume Site Gateway

[Guest guest]

> >

> >Snip< I was speaking on the phone tonight with a natural perfumer and we

> got to

> > talking about blending style. Do you have one? I challenge myself that

> > every perfume I create must be very, very different from the other.

> Other

> > perfumers develop a style, though, that is recognizable as their own.

> >snip>

>

>

> Hi Anya and everyone -

>

> Good question! I've been thinking about the very same thing. I have

> been doing two things as I kind of develop my style. I have had

> several sessions with friends where I make a personalized scent. They

> pick favorites from base, middle and top notes and I put it together.

> Everyone loves theirs. I've also tried a couple for friends based

> on a theme like tranquility or meditation. I'm developing a line

> based on these scents, or slight derivatives. It's nice because in

> describing the scent I can describe my friends.

>

> For a more challenging, personal experience I am trying things more

> along the lines of taking something like cardamom and building

> something around it. Or black pepper and grapefruit and adding depth

> to it. Or ginger - which to me is a challenge because I don't really

> like the EO but it seems to have possibilities in combination with

> others. Hmm, those are all spices which I obviously find very

> intriguing. I'm also experimenting with some green scents.

>

> Elise

> Ft. Lauderdale, FL

> http://www.tambela.com

Hi Elise

I love the spices! They add a soft fire to the florals and I love blending with

them - they

each add their own personality.

I love GINGER - and add it to jasmine or ylang ylang to tone the sweetness.

Bought a

gorgeous one from a UK supplier - their selection is mainly essential oils and a

few

absolutes but are mainly organic/wild-crafted - I have always been pleased with

the

quality and service. Hopefully, it might win you over!

www.materia-aromatica.com

Best, (UK)

>

[Guest guest]

> Hi Elise

>

> I love the spices! They add a soft fire to the florals and I love

blending with them - they

> each add their own personality.

> I love GINGER - and add it to jasmine or ylang ylang to tone the

sweetness. Bought a

> gorgeous one from a UK supplier - their selection is mainly

essential oils and a few

> absolutes but are mainly organic/wild-crafted - I have always been

pleased with the

> quality and service. Hopefully, it might win you over!

> www.materia-aromatica.com

>

> Best, (UK)

> >

>

-

Thanks for the suggestion, I'm learning that some of the EOs and

absolutes I have aren't really doing it for me. I'll check materia

aromatica out. I haven't yet ordered from the UK but I think I may

look into it. I have a couple of suppliers here that I'm checking out

as well for the eos we sell online.

Elise

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

http://www.tambela.com

[Guest guest]

> >I love the spices! They add a soft fire to the florals and I love

blending

> >with them - they

> >each add their own personality.

> >I love GINGER - and add it to jasmine or ylang ylang to tone the

> >sweetness.

Blending style? That's funny to think about. I just get a notion. It

usually comes to me at an inopportune time, so I write it down and

that is the start of it. I will continue to mull it over while I am on

the way to the studio to make it. I change the formula several times

before I get in and start making it, when it might change again in the

middle of the making.

It's all kind of a whirl and I let the thoughts and ingredients ebb

and flow. I can't imagine being rigid about it, but there are times

when it is better to stick to what I thought I should do and wrote

down, rather than take off and do what I please and come up with

something I don't like much. I fing the whole thing is facinating, the

way you have to set limits and the way you let it flow and evolve.

--Fabienne

[Guest guest]

janita morris <heartinmymouth@...> wrote:

fabienne301 <fabienne@...> wrote: > >I love the spices! They add a soft

fire to the florals and I love

blending

> >with them - they

> >each add their own personality.

> >I love GINGER - and add it to jasmine or ylang ylang to tone the

> >sweetness.

Blending style? That's funny to think about. I just get a notion.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It's all kind of a whirl and I let the thoughts and ingredients ebb

and flow. I can't imagine being rigid about it, >>>>>>>>>>

way you have to set limits and the way you let it flow and evolve.

--Fabienne

Hi Fabienne

Also, when a composition is in progress and one comes back to it. The structure

and alchemic blending of the chords and notes may inspire to take it to another

dimension or to try a completely dfferent key...I find that fascinating...like a

different movement.

janita

a classical approach but yu culd go hip hop with the beats of the notes and be

contemporary lateral and adventurous trying different vibrations that

theoretically wouldn't go but playing with the right amounts with and against

each other in different rhythms can be different....always listening to what

your heart intuition and soul tells you. feel your way.

janita again

---------------------------------

Try the all-new . " The New Version is radically easier to use " – The

Wall Street Journal

[Guest guest]

> Hi Elise

> Do you use the contrast and comparison method, like 4 drops cardamom, 2

> pepper, 2 grapefruit, and then 2 cardamom, 2 pepper, 4 grapefruit, and

> variations thereon? Take good notes, always ;-)

>

> What are you using for the green scents? When I move, I'm going to

work on

> a galbanum-based scent. I have the numbers worked out on paper,

including

> four mods, and I'm sitting on my hands to resist starting the

blends. Don't

> have the time to do it, but I'd love to hear about your green scent.

Hi Anya -

I'm sorry you're moving before we've gotten a chance to meet! When do

you go?

I do a sort of loose contrast and comparison. Thanks for the suggestions.

The green scent I have is more of a heart going to finish note with

tarragon and clary sage absolute. I also have clary sage EO and some

citrus so it's kind of a sweet, fresh green. I use a teeny bit of

jasmine sambac (for my trials, which are on the order of a few drops

of each EO, I just dip a toothpick in the jasmine samback absolute

then swirl it around in the mix). Then there's some vetiver also in

the finish which to me smells like sunshine. I'm just tweaking at this

point. There's also a quick, passing hint of sweet licorice candy

near the beginning that I sometimes miss.

I would love to use galbanum but don't have any ..... yet. I also had

high hopes for violet leaf absolute but, to me, it has an earthy

almost sour scent that I need to spend more time with in a different

blend. I'm wondering if I need to sample other violet leaf absolutes?

Elise

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

http://www.tambela.com

[Guest guest]

Elise, did you send in two posts under this subject heading? I think I

accidently deleted the second, so please resubmit -- unless they were

dupes. I was editing to take out my four sig lines from the quote, and got

a little confused, and am not sure what happened!

Anya

http://anyasgarden.com/perfumes.htm Parfums Natural

http://artisannaturalperfumers.com The Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild

http://.com The Premier Natural Perfume Site Gateway

[Guest guest]

--- Anya <mccoy@...> wrote:

> Elise, did you send in two posts under this subject

> heading? > Anya

About 3 months ago I started to dissolve combinations

of three EO/single Absolutes in Alcohol and Jojoba for

mixing later. Plan is to combine after already aged

ot married, hoping to eliminate some of the aging

time. Of course the blends will have to have time to

marry.

When I mix then will get back and tell how that

worked.

One mixed with cedrat etrog tincture came out really

good for mens cologne/perfume. Not sure about type as

didn't do the math percentage.

BB

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

> Do you use the contrast and comparison method, like 4 drops cardamom, 2

> pepper, 2 grapefruit, and then 2 cardamom, 2 pepper, 4 grapefruit, and

> variations thereon? Take good notes, always ;-)

> Anya

Anya, do you use Carles method as he outlined it - find a basic accord of

3-5

materials, and carefully work out the relative proportions of 2, then 3, then 4

etc.

ingredients?

I have only recently started to experiment like this with 3 new ideas (I used it

in decades

past, but not with very much patience). I am noticing that the method does not

account for

cost, and I have always had to work within certain cost restrictions. I guess I

need to be

careful what I pick to begin with.

But anyway, I'm trying to see where I can go with ignoring, for now,

questions of cost,

and learning patience. It's very revealing. I found, for instance, that a key

ingredient in an

accord (sorry, can't yet bring myself to use the word chord) had no place there

at all.

I usually end up with 10-20 ingredients in my blends. I have used up to 30, but

I look

back at these creations as unnecessarily complicated, and not really very good.

I think in terms of percentages of the finished concentrate, so I know that 1%

sandalwood

is the maximum I can afford these days, and that as little as 0.01% of an

ingredient often

has a big effect.

I probably have about 400 materials, many of which I have never used. I tend not

to use

spices, so I think I need to get more comfortable with these. I guess I mostly

use herbs,

woods, fruity and floral.

Right now I seem to be obsessed with (a) cocoa and ( a sesquiterpeneless

grapefruit

from Citrus & Allied. I seem to use one or both in everything I do right now. I

do tend to

use a lot of citrus, and I guess that could be interpreted as a blendng style,

but I am

making blends for aromatherapy products, not perfumes as such. Though the

distinction

is sometimes too subtle to be real.

Tisserand

[Guest guest]

At 01:28 PM 9/4/2006, you wrote:

> > Do you use the contrast and comparison method, like 4 drops cardamom, 2

> > pepper, 2 grapefruit, and then 2 cardamom, 2 pepper, 4 grapefruit, and

> > variations thereon? Take good notes, always ;-)

> > Anya

>

>Anya, do you use Carles method as he outlined it - find a basic

>accord of 3-5

>materials, and carefully work out the relative proportions of 2, then 3,

>then 4 etc.

>ingredients?

Hi :

This will be short, as I rubbed my eye with alcohol on my finger, and ouch!

I took my contact out, so I'm typing half blind (one eye is good ;-)

I scanned one page from the Kaufman book, when Carles speaks of building

different accords for colognes. This is at the tail-end of the great

chapter on comparison and contrast, and how to create a perfume. The book

pages are just too big for me to scan properly, but I was able to get this

8x11 page bit cropped.

The earlier parts of the chapter are the real meat. I urge everyone who is

interested in really learning this method to get the I Kaufman book

Perfume, 1976. It is always relatively cheap on Ebay or resellers. I often

pick up copies to give as gifts, and I also chop them up for quick,

easy-to-use staped chapters, as this Carles one. There is a Roudnitska

chapter, too, etc., etc. The book is a wonder.

I'm uploading the Carles page on proportions and variations in accords to

the photo section tonight.

>I have only recently started to experiment like this with 3 new ideas (I

>used it in decades

>past, but not with very much patience). I am noticing that the method does

>not account for

>cost, and I have always had to work within certain cost restrictions. I

>guess I need to be

>careful what I pick to begin with.

Just use drops, , it isn't too painful then!

I'll check back in tomorrow. Off to rest my eye.

Anya

http://anyasgarden.com/perfumes.htm Parfums Natural

http://artisannaturalperfumers.com The Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild

http://.com The Premier Natural Perfume Site Gateway

[Guest guest]

> Right now I seem to be obsessed with (a) cocoa and ( a

> sesquiterpeneless grapefruit

> from Citrus & Allied. I seem to use one or both in everything I do

> right now. I do tend to

> use a lot of citrus, and I guess that could be interpreted as a

> blendng style, but I am

> making blends for aromatherapy products, not perfumes as such.

> Though the distinction

> is sometimes too subtle to be real.

>

> Tisserand

>

too subtle to be real......isn't that the truth

i bought some cocoa but haven't opened it..i know i'm going to have

to soon

xxoxoooo

L

[Guest guest]

> >Anya, do you use Carles method as he outlined it - find a basic

> >accord of 3-5 materials, and carefully work out the relative proportions of

2, then 3,

> >then 4 etc. ingredients?

>

> Hi :

> This will be short, as I rubbed my eye with alcohol on my finger, and ouch!

> I took my contact out, so I'm typing half blind (one eye is good ;-)

>

This woman is unstoppable!

> I scanned one page from the Kaufman book, when Carles speaks of building

> different accords for colognes. This is at the tail-end of the great

> chapter on comparison and contrast, and how to create a perfume. The book

> pages are just too big for me to scan properly, but I was able to get this

> 8x11 page bit cropped.

>

> The earlier parts of the chapter are the real meat. I urge everyone who is

> interested in really learning this method to get the I Kaufman book

> Perfume, 1976. It is always relatively cheap on Ebay or resellers. I often

> pick up copies to give as gifts, and I also chop them up for quick,

> easy-to-use staped chapters, as this Carles one. There is a Roudnitska

> chapter, too, etc., etc. The book is a wonder.

>

> I'm uploading the Carles page on proportions and variations in accords to

> the photo section tonight.

>

Thanks for the scanned page, and I have ordered Kaufman's book. I never came

across this

one, though I have lots of technical perfumery books, including a 1960

Arctander. Bought

many years ago for equivalent of $45 from an old lady who was selling her

collection of

perfumery books. I remember she also had a hand-written Italian perfumery book -

written in the 1600s - with many formulations (she wanted $300) - but I could

only just

afford to buy the Arctander.

> >I have only recently started to experiment like this with 3 new ideas (I

> >used it in decades

> >past, but not with very much patience). I am noticing that the method does

> >not account for

> >cost, and I have always had to work within certain cost restrictions. I

> >guess I need to be

> >careful what I pick to begin with.

>

> Just use drops, , it isn't too painful then!

>

I do use drops Anya, but the people I work for make up in bulk...must be the

sore eye.

> I'll check back in tomorrow. Off to rest my eye.

I hope your feeling OK now.

Tisserand

[Guest guest]

I have had this book for a long time, and at one

point did give the Carles method an honest try.

But in reality (for me) I can not work that way. I

have to create my own structure.

Intuition is huge in my work. If I am adding drops to

an initial blend, and I have say, three written down

for my rough draft, and while actually creating the

blend, I am compelled to add five, I always add five.

I trust my inner voice.

It isn't a new age air brained thing as some may

think. I an not a new age kinda gal. But I do believe

in following an instinct. and sometimes the analytical

brain can be a poor artist, in comparison to the

imagination of the spirit of creation.

Both are needed, of course. But to rely to rigidly on

structure, the artistry gets lost.

Back to the book, I would recommend it. It is one of

my favorite books. I often just pick it up from time

to time and read it for pleasure.

It is like some of my old books on Tea. I read them

over and over, like poetry.

Peace, Z........

Peace Angel Farm

http://www.peaceangelfarm.com

Zz's Petals, Natural Perfumery....

http://www.zzspetals.com

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

>

> Intuition is huge in my work. If I am adding drops to

> an initial blend, and I have say, three written down

> for my rough draft, and while actually creating the

> blend, I am compelled to add five, I always add five.

> I trust my inner voice.

> It isn't a new age air brained thing as some may

> think. I an not a new age kinda gal. But I do believe

> in following an instinct. and sometimes the analytical

> brain can be a poor artist, in comparison to the

> imagination of the spirit of creation.

>

> Both are needed, of course. But to rely to rigidly on

> structure, the artistry gets lost.

..

>

> Peace, Z........

>

I was watching this thread, hoping someone would bring up the value

of intuition. Not to knock the cerebral/analytical aspect.

I only blend for personal use and for my friends, (so maybe my

opinion doesn't count for much here,) but I allow it to lead me. I

sample it, and ask myself what's next. I try to base it on

observation and intuition. What does it " want " today? In a few

hours the answer comes. It evolves, and it's exciting to see what it

turns into. Sometimes it becomes something memorable, at least to

me. I don't try to duplicate a blend either, I just allow each one

to be unique. Maybe someday I'll start naming and duplicating

blends, but for now I like it this way, knowing that what I am

wearing or giving to a friend is not a standardized blend.

[Guest guest]

> > Intuition is huge in my work. If I am adding drops to

> > an initial blend, and I have say, three written down

> > for my rough draft, and while actually creating the

> > blend, I am compelled to add five, I always add five.

> > I trust my inner voice.

> > It isn't a new age air brained thing as some may

> > think. I an not a new age kinda gal. But I do believe

> > in following an instinct. and sometimes the analytical

> > brain can be a poor artist, in comparison to the

> > imagination of the spirit of creation.

> >

> > Both are needed, of course. But to rely to rigidly on

> > structure, the artistry gets lost.

>

> > Peace, Z........

> >

> I was watching this thread, hoping someone would bring up the value

> of intuition. Not to knock the cerebral/analytical aspect.

>

> I only blend for personal use and for my friends, (so maybe my

> opinion doesn't count for much here,) but I allow it to lead me. I

> sample it, and ask myself what's next. I try to base it on

> observation and intuition. What does it " want " today? In a few

> hours the answer comes. It evolves, and it's exciting to see what it

> turns into. Sometimes it becomes something memorable, at least to

> me. I don't try to duplicate a blend either, I just allow each one

> to be unique. Maybe someday I'll start naming and duplicating

> blends, but for now I like it this way, knowing that what I am

> wearing or giving to a friend is not a standardized blend.

>

There's no conflict here. Every art form includes the possibility of both

technique and

creativity, the technique part being mostly what is taught, as the creativity

can't be so

easily.

Fragrance creation - as other art forms - can be difficult, especially in early

stages, if there

is no technique on which to hang our creativity. I guess just as there are

" naive " artists,

some of us just want to follow our noses, and this works. Others may need more

guidance

and structure, though technique alone is probably not enough to produce great

art.

Another way to view this - technique may play a greater role in figuring out an

accord, but

embellishing it is a much more creative process, and the inital impulse is also

essentially

creative.

Tisserand

[Guest guest]

Elise said:for my trials, which are on the order of a few drops

> of each EO, I just dip a toothpick in the jasmine samback absolute

> then swirl it around in the mix

Hi Elise,

I am curious, I can understand when making up trials that you only

need a smidgen of an essence, but what happens when you need to bulk

it up? 50 X Jasmine sambac tooth pick dip? It surely must be vital to

know exactly in mls/drops how much of this and that to ad before you

begin mixing bulk amounts? If you went purely by your nose at the bulk

stage you might make some very costly mistakes.

Ruth

http://www.whitewitch.ie

[Guest guest]

>

> Elise said:for my trials, which are on the order of a few drops

> > of each EO, I just dip a toothpick in the jasmine samback absolute

> > then swirl it around in the mix

>

> Hi Elise,

>

> I am curious, I can understand when making up trials that you only

> need a smidgen of an essence, but what happens when you need to bulk

> it up? 50 X Jasmine sambac tooth pick dip? It surely must be vital to

> know exactly in mls/drops how much of this and that to ad before you

> begin mixing bulk amounts? If you went purely by your nose at the bulk

> stage you might make some very costly mistakes.

>

> Ruth

Hi Ruth -

Good question. At this point I'm doing small custom orders so the

amount I'll be using is only slightly larger than what I did for the

trial. I will probably just dip the toothpick a few times. At 50X the

amount it might made sense to tincture the jasmine sambac and just add

one drop at a time???

As I was mixing the blend it wasn't in my plan but was one of those

'art of perfume' moments that seemed right.

Elise

http://www.tambela.com

[Guest guest]

>

>

> This part is going to sound really goofy but I'm a color therapist

so I can't

> help it --

(snipped for space)

>

> I made two sprays for them to try but to evoke what they wanted,

the one was

> very heavy in a particular ingredient. Later, when I looked at the

essential

> oils I used -- purely for scent -- I realized there was a common

thread among

> them regarding clearing grief, emotional heart ache and getting a

fresh start.

> So I'm trying to balance out the formula so that the one ingredient

doesn't

> overpower the others. The one drawback to the way I work is that

I'm " told " (for

> lack of a better word) what to use but not the proportions.

>

> I'm trying in my limited spare time to learn more about essential

oils,

> blending, etc. but to be honest, right now it's all instinct and

intuition but

> somehow it works. Of course, I'm making room sprays, not perfume,

so the desired

> affect and results aren't the same, but hey...

>

> Beth

Beth, I didn't think anything you wrote sounded goofy at all. As a

rank amatuer, I find I start with an aromatherapy- type goal - like a

refreshing facial spray that is a good afternoon pick-me-up which is

also friendly to the skin - but then I find I want to improve on how

it smells. Or, a calming bath oil for night - but standard

aromatherapy blends don't satisfy me, when there can be so much more.

So I guess I want my perfume to also be functional or theraputic, but

I also want my aromatherapy to be art. Increasingly, I find I no

longer enjoy commercially prepared fragrances or aromatherapy

products the way I used to.