orchid's perfume...

orchid's perfume...
Originally uploaded by ~shiya~

I am feeling as though I have come out from a deep sleep and awaken again to the joys of the natural perfume world. sometimes life throws us challenges and difficulties for which emotionally and spiritually we have to address and surrender. to. I humbly hope that with this new found knowledge or acceptance i will be able to assimilate and create new perfumes with a clear and uncomplicated mind ready to embrace the muse and listen to new timbres resonating.
orchid's perfume...
“When two friends understand each other totally, the words are soft and strong like an orchid's perfume”

Tidal Marshland Flora - Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)

Tidal Marshland Flora - Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
Originally uploaded by Rick Leche

This is out in my garden at the moment. the Perfume in clean sharp and floral. I am going to tincture the blossoms today and see if the flower will lend its perfume up to me. The day is beautiful and dry .

Spring Daffodils

Spring Daffodils
Originally uploaded by pdbreen

Hello.... spring is coming round and my thoughts are returning to perfume and the beauty that surrounds the world of natural perfume. the Art form continues to grow and both the yahoo group and the Natural Perfumers Guild grow from strength to strength. I look forward to more tincturing this year. Creating more natural perfumes for clients and celebrating the world that is natural perfumery through creation and exploration.

My daughter is well and I can at last return to my obsession with this aromatic art. Gentle steps but positive ones. xxxx

Returning into the light

Silk Flower II
Originally uploaded by debrasin

I can't believe it is nine months since I last blogged. Family illness put my work on hold while I tended to my darling. We are slowly returning to the light after what seems like a long dark period.

Natural Perfume is filling my thoughts again and what has evolved is now I have wonderful new ideas to begin blending with.

The Bluebells are again in the wood but nothing will happen this year but just to enjoy them is enough.

Wonderful breakthroughs have come with a sustainable Sandalwood coming from Sri Lanka that Anya McCoy sourced . I am looking forward to seeing how this will age.

I can't wait to dive in again and it won't be long if my thoughts have anything to do with it.

gardenia tahitensis

I was sent a sample of gardenia tahitensis absolute from this georgeous flower from tahiti a while ago by my dear colleague and friend Isabelle who has been searching the globe far and wide and sent me a sample with an attachment of the GC analysis ... the safety document was in french for which Isabelle has translated into english.

Today is the first time I have been able to study its aroma and oh my goodness it packs a wow.....Conducting a dry down study on both a 10% dilution and undiluted. The oil definately benefits from a dilution to understand its aroma... the flowers intoxicating, open up readily and fills the air with its heady tropical floral perfume.... It is tropical green floral and narcotic.... in the undiluted state I would add creamy and heavy..... as its perfume dries down the green, narcotic ,attributes to also, a floriforous roundness that is in its perfume and is very tenaceous...I began the study around 9am and the scent strips are still heavy with perfume three hours later. I can't wait to create a perfume with this delicious botanical..... ideas are flowing and I am so excited by the thought. I shall begin immediately.

picture of Gardenia tahitensis by Robert Hulak

rose musings

Rain is holding up me tincturing the alba rose much to my slight irritation , very slight .. I love this season too much to let it get me down..:-D
The threads concerning early morning picking for distillation in places like Bulgaria and Turkey and other threads from the natural perfumery group, has left me in a deep thinking and contemplative mood. The weather here is unlike the climates in the above areas. The temperature in these countries get far hotter by midday....and yet english roses abound prolifically and with great abundance in our peculiar climate... I am also aware of the certain species used for maximum odor intensity...ie damascenas, centifolias and their names ie kazanlik etc and have spent many happy hours studying and reading...

As for their perfume.....because of the inclement weather we have here I'm interested to experiment with species and their odours with different varieties that are grown here.

Peter Wilde along with now sadly deceased Victor Ogden and his company started exploring the english rose scents by using four different types of english roses for the phytol which I still have . this was back in 97 or even earlier....which I used in my first perfume 'Perpetually Yours' for the Hereford Cathedral. I am certainly intrigued at some point along the way to make some distillations just as I am studying bluebell in tincture to see what could be available in aroma over here for a different species of rose and what sort of perfume it may give up....
just musing.... *smile*

Pot-Pourri

Pot-Pourri
Originally uploaded by Janice LeBlanc

This time of year makes one busy in the garden... collecting petals , wildflowers and anything that can be put in an artisan terracotta pot for pot-pourri... Mine is made by fellowes in Hay-on-Wye and is a large terracotta earthenware lidded Jar... I love it.

I made some wet quite a few years ago with rose petals from my garden and I continue to add to it.. when I feel like it ... rose petals from our wedding anniversary ..dried rose head all goes there... the perfume is beautiful...

In Wales there is much to enjoy at this time of the year ... not just the wildflowers, cow parsley, buttercups, red campion, red and white clover, foxgloves, elderflowers and wild honeysuckle. But also, in the cultivated gardens where we love to plant, are roses, ceonothus, peonies, buddleah wil be coming out soon, lilies, bay tree, marjoram, thyme, irises and all this and more will continue through the summer... divine. Then comes the autumn to cut back and dry and more... to come... before the cold weather sets in and indoor tasks are to hand.