So are the mysterious perfumes associated with spiritual experiences real, or a biochemical reaction in the brain (as Vanessa asked, very pertinently, in the comments after the Benoîte Rencurel story)? I have no idea; both explanations seem equally interesting. My own experiences have occurred in two separate places, in two different countries, with a couple of years in between. There again, I am over-imaginative, so might well have made what I wanted of what had in reality a very ordinary explanation that I simply did not find.
On a more tangible perfume note, here's a starter kit to have a go at blending your own scent from The Perfume Studio, a small company in East Sussex. Each box contains six basic fragrance notes already blended, an atomiser and instructions, and you can chose from three moods: Fresh, Floral and Floriental. No question that I went for the Floriental, pictured here!
Great fun at a very reasonable £29.95 - though there are more complex and expensive versions available, as well as lessons in bespoke blending. You can click through to The Perfume Studio and let your imagination go.
5 comments:
As I am allergic to most commercial perfumes, I prefer to do my alchemy with essential oils. I have created my own perfume by playing with different combinations of cinnamon, patchouli, lavender, clove, nag champa, and others in a base of almond oil. Because there is almost no evaporation factor, one small bottle of my "home brew" lasts a long time. I alter the mix slightly with the seasons, adding more cinnamon and spices around the holidays, then leaning more toward lavender in the spring and summer.
I see more and more perfume studios around London. I need to try!
Sounds like a great idea to blend your own. I have always used Rive Gauche (YSL) and people always remark on it. But it is becoming fearfully expensive for a struggling writer! So I need to find an alternative.
This looks very interesting and believe that a particular scent can be connect to a memory or an emotion. I always wear perfume when going out with the hubby :)
I am following you now and would love for you to follow along.
Jillian
http://puzzlemecomplete.blogspot.com/
I don't know what you believe regarding the spiritual, but reported sightings of deceased loved ones have often been said to include a scent associated with that loved one. Sometimes it's perfume. My friend swears she "felt" her grandmother riding with her in her car and could smell the hard candies she'd always carried in her purse.
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