Re: Celebrate by Sharing: Natural Perfumery is Nearing 1000 members!

[Guest guest]

.... How about coming out, just this once, if you're not too shy, and

letting us all know what this group has done for you? Perhaps it's

just one small thing, one method of blending, or a great source for

supplies, or it's a teaching tool. ...

********** Anya and group,

I am not exactly shy, but I am not an expert so I don't feel comfortable

giving advice on most of the topics discussed.

I am not a " perfumer " , but I make home spa products, potpourri, and

dresser/closet/car sachets. I use my homegrown herbs, flowers ... .

I enjoy hearing of the exploits of all of you who are in the trenches

everyday.

I've learned a few blending tips as well.

Mainly though I get great joy from knowing that there are like-minded folks

out there who don't think it's crazy to want to use ONLY natural products. I

have lost a few customers because my soaps ... are a tad more expensive than

some others were selling theirs. I've explained that so-called fragrance oils

are not natural and are a major reason for many allergies to scented products.

It has the same effect as trying to convince most people to compost or recycle.

Thankfully, my loyal customer base is growing because of those who tried my

products and loved them enough to tell their friends.

Thank you to all of you who keep inspiring me (and others) to keep at it if

only for our own peace of mind.

's in Hubbard, Ohio

http://www.scraft-antiqueshop.4t.com

[Guest guest]

.... How about coming out, just this once, if you're not too shy, and

letting us all know what this group has done for you? Perhaps it's

just one small thing, one method of blending, or a great source for

supplies, or it's a teaching tool. ...

********** Anya and group,

I am not exactly shy, but I am not an expert so I don't feel comfortable

giving advice on most of the topics discussed.

I am not a " perfumer " , but I make home spa products, potpourri, and

dresser/closet/car sachets. I use my homegrown herbs, flowers ... .

I enjoy hearing of the exploits of all of you who are in the trenches

everyday.

I've learned a few blending tips as well.

Mainly though I get great joy from knowing that there are like-minded folks

out there who don't think it's crazy to want to use ONLY natural products. I

have lost a few customers because my soaps ... are a tad more expensive than

some others were selling theirs. I've explained that so-called fragrance oils

are not natural and are a major reason for many allergies to scented products.

It has the same effect as trying to convince most people to compost or recycle.

Thankfully, my loyal customer base is growing because of those who tried my

products and loved them enough to tell their friends.

Thank you to all of you who keep inspiring me (and others) to keep at it if

only for our own peace of mind.

's in Hubbard, Ohio

http://www.scraft-antiqueshop.4t.com

[Guest guest]

>

.......How about coming out, just this once, if you're not too shy, and

letting us all know what this group has done for you? Perhaps it's

just one small thing, one method of blending, or a great source for

supplies, or it's a teaching tool. Perhaps it's been a tremendous

event -- I know for me it has resulted in me being given the Artisan

Natural Perfumers Guild by Mandy Aftel, and the Guild is a huge

success.....<

Anya, Congratulations on a truly special group. Not only the amount of

members, but the quality of conversation, information, contribution

and activity, There are groups that have lots of members, but they're

still nothing like NP.

I'm still fairly new, and not as expert as many members here, so I'm a

little more quiet then usual, but mainly we're in the midst of produce

farming, which turns to survival training. My husband loves farming,

but sice it's just the two of us, plus the kids (10 and 3)it gets

really, really hard for me. Often I don't even turn on the computer

for days at a time.

I put all my groups on no e-mail, except NP. The one group, that helps

me, just by conversation and presence, to remind me of who I am, and

what I love, when the going gets too tough.

It's a reminder, to take just a couple of minutes on occation, to pull

out the scents, and make something to " hold on to " - I've learned this

season, in combination with NP, that a great scent is something that

has the ability to " rescue " -on which level can vary.

Without NP I might not have even wondered about what makes a great

perfume. I now know, it's like Classics in Literature and Music. Not

just structure, not just pretty or pleasing, but it has something that

can reach deep in the soul and touch, reveal, transform even, levels

of our existance, we might not be aware of. A connection with the

whole.

This might seem like rambeling, but trust me, I had many hours of

contemplation on this, while picking vegetables. Worse, in a new field

we leased this year, not knowing a sewer plant is just behind a weed

covered fence. The challenge of this, beyond description.....

Yes, NP is like a great perfume itself. It's the great works in the

internet groups, and it most certainly helped me sustain through this

season. For example, the conversation on scented gloves, gave me the

idea (obvious maybe, but I don't know if I would have thought of it at

the time) to spray a face mask (the filter type for dust protection)

with my favorite creation, wearing that to the described field) -what

a difference!

As the season winds down, I'm hoping to contribute more in

conversation. I definitely want to give back to a group, that gave so

much.

Anya you are doing an outstanding job with this group. Thank you, as

well as thank you to all the wonderful people that keep the

conversation going, sharing knowledge and experience, thank you to all

the ones asking questions that inspire the answers

ne

[Guest guest]

sblessinghww <sblessinghww@...> wrote:

>

.......How about coming out, just this once, if you're not too

shy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>snip

Anya, Congratulations on a truly special group.>>>>>>>>>>>>snip

still nothing like NP.

I'm still fairly new,

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>snip(10 and 3)it gets

really, really hard for me. Often I don't even turn on the computer

for days at a time.

I put all my groups on no e-mail, except NP. The one group, that helps

me, just by conversation and presence, to remind me of who I am, and

what I love, when the going gets too tough.

It's a reminder, to take just a couple of minutes on occation, to pull

out the scents, and make something to " hold on to " - >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

This might seem like rambeling, but trust me, I had many hours of

contemplation on this, while picking vegetables. Worse, in a new field

we leased this year, not knowing a sewer plant is just behind a weed

covered fence. The challenge of this, beyond description.....

Yes, NP is like a great perfume itself. It's the great works in the

internet groups, and it most certainly helped me sustain through this

season. For example, the conversation on scented gloves, gave me the

idea (obvious maybe, but I don't know if I would have thought of it at

the time) to spray a face mask (the filter type for dust protection)

with my favorite creation, wearing that to the described field) -what

a difference!

As the season winds down, I'm hoping to contribute more in

conversation. I definitely want to give back to a group, that gave so

much. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

ne

Dear ne

It is your story that makes all this so poignant................where are you?

I live in a farming area and I know how tough it can get for you all .....

remember it wasn't such a long time back that we had the foot and mouth and all

around me were funeral pyres ...... and farmers going out of business,

committing suicide...... just horrible

It is a great thing to have an escape....... sound as if you are using it to a

positive end.......

with much respect and love

Janita

[Guest guest]

>

> This might seem like rambeling, but trust me, I had

> many hours of

> contemplation on this, while picking vegetables.

ne,

I know how hard it is-- my mom was an organic farmer.

She gave up her career as a museum curator to start an

organic vegetable, herb, and flower farm when I was

much younger. I spent many long hours with her

picking basil, raspberries, garlic, etc. She has

passed away and many of my most fragrant memories come

from her farm. She used to hang strings of dried

lavender in front of open windows so that the smell

would blow in on the wind. (It sounds like not all of

the " fragrances " on your farm are so pleasant!) We

also had a wood stove on which there was always a

kettle full of water with herbs or resins steaming

away and perfuming the air. The smell of the hayloft

full of fresh hay was heaven! The lilacs, heirloom

roses, lemon verbena, and wild varieties of scented

geranium... Even the horseradish! I hope your farm is

full of fragrance the way my mom's was! Maybe you can

block out some of the sewage smell. And I hope you

get some time off this winter!

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

> I put all my groups on no e-mail, except NP. The one group, that helps

> me, just by conversation and presence, to remind me of who I am, and

> what I love, when the going gets too tough.

> ne

>

Suzanne,

You need to post more often, that's a beautiful piece of prose you had inside

your head

waiting to get out.

I can totally relate to the above quote from your post, thanks Anya.

Ruth

[Guest guest]

At 08:10 AM 9/17/2006, you wrote:

> I am not a " perfumer " , but I make home spa products, potpourri, and

> dresser/closet/car sachets. I use my homegrown herbs, flowers ... .

Aha... is an Associate ;-)

> I enjoy hearing of the exploits of all of you who are in the trenches

> everyday.

> I've learned a few blending tips as well.

> Mainly though I get great joy from knowing that there are like-minded

> folks out there who don't think it's crazy to want to use ONLY natural

> products. I have lost a few customers because my soaps ... are a tad

> more expensive than some others were selling theirs. I've explained

> that so-called fragrance oils are not natural and are a major reason for

> many allergies to scented products. It has the same effect as trying

> to convince most people to compost or recycle.

Just keep at it. The world is a big enough place for all types with all

kinds of likes and dislikes. Marketing studies show that the public

awareness of, and demand for, natural products is growing tremendously.

> Thankfully, my loyal customer base is growing because of those who

> tried my products and loved them enough to tell their friends.

> Thank you to all of you who keep inspiring me (and others) to keep at

> it if only for our own peace of mind.

's in Hubbard, Ohio

http://www.scraft-antiqueshop.4t.com

See, there you have it -- a growing customer base. Whether we just want to

make items for ourselves, or start a business, nothing beats using

beautiful natural aromatics.

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 12:19 PM 9/17/2006, you wrote:

>I put all my groups on no e-mail, except NP.

Hi ne:

Well, that is the biggest honor you could have given me/the group!

>The one group, that helps

>me, just by conversation and presence, to remind me of who I am, and

>what I love, when the going gets too tough.

>It's a reminder, to take just a couple of minutes on occation, to pull

>out the scents, and make something to " hold on to " - I've learned this

>season, in combination with NP, that a great scent is something that

>has the ability to " rescue " -on which level can vary.

I have a different scent for every mood!

>Without NP I might not have even wondered about what makes a great

>perfume. I now know, it's like Classics in Literature and Music. Not

>just structure, not just pretty or pleasing, but it has something that

>can reach deep in the soul and touch, reveal, transform even, levels

>of our existance, we might not be aware of. A connection with the

>whole.

Yes, it is that, indeed.

>This might seem like rambeling, but trust me, I had many hours of

>contemplation on this, while picking vegetables. Worse, in a new field

>we leased this year, not knowing a sewer plant is just behind a weed

>covered fence. The challenge of this, beyond description.....

Oh, mercy. Wear a mask! And gloves, too, I suspect.

>As the season winds down, I'm hoping to contribute more in

>conversation. I definitely want to give back to a group, that gave so

>much.

>Anya you are doing an outstanding job with this group. Thank you, as

>well as thank you to all the wonderful people that keep the

>conversation going, sharing knowledge and experience, thank you to all

>the ones asking questions that inspire the answers

Take care and take it easy whenever you can. A farmer's life is a very hard

life, especially when everything matures at the same time. We'll be here as

you kick back and enjoy the fruits of the harvest and maybe get down to

some blending this winter.

>

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 09:21 PM 9/16/2006, you wrote:

>I am one of the quiet ones I'm trying to learn about perfumery I

>have yet to make my first blend, hopefully soon I will have learned

>enough to at least try, I have always loved the smell of my pure

>oils. But I still feel as if I haven't anything to offer but I'm

>grateful to be included in this group.

Hi Gerria

Thanks for de-lurking -- it's always nice to know folks are getting good

information out of the group, and good luck on your first blend.

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]

>

I hope your farm is

> full of fragrance the way my mom's was! Maybe you can

> block out some of the sewage smell. And I hope you

> get some time off this winter!

>

>

>

Thanks to all the replies to my post. Heartwarming and unexpected.

I only shared what this group does for me, not expecting replies. I

am touched. Luckily, the field with sewage smells is about 20

minutes away from the house. Still, the time there has to be

endured. We lease farm land, but only have a " residential farm " of

ca 1/2 acre, that happens to be zoned AG because it is next to

farmland, used to be farm, but that was long ago. Good for us, since

nobody can hassle us for raising chickens.

Yes, there are lots of fragrant moments, too. Harvesting and drying

of herbs we grow, or wildcraft, distilling of them in big and small

stills, and endless experiments and production of creams, lotions,

perfumes and whatever else might catch my curiosity.

This coming weekend, I plan on distilling field grown Rosemary, Sage

and some Lavender. There is a smaller amount of Rose Scented

Geranium, too. I'm especially looking forward to distilling that.

This usually infuses the whole area in wonderful warfts of scent.

Not long ago, we brought home Calendulas, Yarrow, Queen Anne's lace,

and I so love the scent of the fresh flowers - I'm unable to

preserve that. Not by distilling, or even tincturing. Like many

things, we can try, even catch part of it, but ultimately it is

something to throughly enjoy at the moment, impress it to memory,

and let it go. I believe, this is to remind us of the preciousness

of the moment. One can have it, but not hold it.

So yes, there are lots of wonderful scents -not to mention cucumbers

cooking to cream, soon the pumpking face creams, with leftover

turned into pies (to eat). Apple sauce simmering, the woodstove's

fire with the herbs in the waterpot....the list goes on.

The way I see it, as immersed and addicted to wonderful smells I am,

the universe sends me balance, in sewage stench, cleaning up after

animals -call it manure, sounds better... to make sure I never grow

content, forever appreciating the many things that perfume this

world.

But I should keep it shorter - Thanks again,to all

ne

[Guest guest]

snip...>

> ********** Anya and group,

> I am not exactly shy, but I am not an expert so I don't feel

comfortable giving advice on most of the topics discussed.

> I am not a " perfumer " , but I make home spa products, potpourri,

and dresser/closet/car sachets. I use my homegrown herbs,

flowers ... .

> I enjoy hearing of the exploits of all of you who are in the

trenches everyday.

> .........

> Thank you to all of you who keep inspiring me (and others) to

keep at it if only for our own peace of mind.

>

>

*********************************************************************

Hi group,

I too do not consider myself a perfumer (yet). I also make bath &

body, soap, potpourri & home fragrances using natural aromatics. I

started " tinkering " with natural perfume making last year and hope to

have it added to my line of products by Spring.

I come out of the wood work now and again, but really don't feel I

have much to add to the group at this point. Thanks for being patient

with those of us that lurk. It can be VERY intimidating being in the

presence of such great perfumers.

Tammy