Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Perfume and Fragrance Blogs and Websites

It seems a bit pedantic blogging about blogs but I have been immersed in some very good blogs and websites about all things olafactory lately. Here are two of my favourites -


I must say I find it difficult articulating fragrances - they are so personal and empathetic. But Bois de Jamine  is very very good this is from her blog:

"About Victoria, the Editor and WriterI grew up in a family of chemical engineers, and while my early background has revolved more around aldehydes themselves rather than Chanel No. 5, my interest in chemistry shaped my passion for perfumery. I have been collecting and studying essential oils and synthetic materials for several years. At the same time, this quest has led to a fascination with the history of perfumery, resulting in a large library of vintage fragrances.
In May of 2005, while working on my Ph.D., I decided to create a website that would offer a tribute to everything I find fascinating about perfume: the people who are responsible for creating fragrances; the materials that are woven into accords and then into the resulting compositions; and the very essence of the process that leads to the finished composition. While the perfume writing started as a hobby, it quickly turned into a full-time job, which has been very rewarding. Besides Bois de Jasmin, my writing appeared on the pages of Perfumer and Flavorist Magazine and Financial Times Magazine How to Spend It."

So inspiring to read the comments of such a knowledgeable person.

My other aweinspringwebsite is White Lotus Aromatics such in depth first hand knowledge and historical/cultural references is something to be celebrated. I have always wanted to explore the north west coast of the USA and Canada and Christopher and Suzanne have definately encouraged to make a visit. This is from their blog:
"White Lotus Aromatics is located in beautiful Port Angeles, WA "where the mountains greet the sea."


White Lotus evolved as a natural adjunct to the Fragrant Harvest Project, which commenced in India in 1996. Since then Christopher has made numerous trips to India, traveling throughout the country to meet with farmers, distillers and extractors,and research scientists working on aromatic crops and their natural distillates and extraction. These journeys paved the way for offering pure essential oils, CO2 extracts, traditional attars, absolutes, carrier oils and, most recently, incense to the fragrance community. The hunt for the highest quality oils led naturally to expanding our interactions with distilleries and extraction units to countries outside of India and now we are directly procuring natural essences from Bulgaria, Madagascar, South Africa, Ethiopia, Hungary, France, Italy, Bosnia and several other countries.


We focus our attention on a select number of organic and wild harvested essential oils, hydrodistilled essences, CO2 extracts, attars, ruhs, and absolutes.We have done our best to select only the highest quality, purest oils available from our distilling and extracting colleagues around the world and hope that our customers, old and new, will find in our aromatic palette precious essences that will serve their needs.


Suzanne and Christopher McMahon handle all the operations of White Lotus Aromatics--sourcing, ordering, invoicing, packing. Managing the business ourselves allows us to maintain a direct relationship with our customers while moving forward with the creative projects the interest and inspire us."

 

Wednesday, 19 January 2011

Best of 2010

Its official - our Sweet Orange, Geranium and Frankincense natural fragrance blend is our customers' favourite.  Not only in our shop but with our business customers including the Goodwood Members' Club, Glorious Goodwood, Mr Underhill's Michelin starred restaurant with rooms in Ludlow and the Griffin Inn in Fletching, East Sussex.
All three essential oils are now certified organic, ensuring high quality and best practice towards the producers. Our Sweet Orange Oil is rare orange oil made from the rind of Shamouti oranges - quite difficult to source but well worth it as it has a much deeper, spicier fragrance than more available oils. This combines beautifully with our Frankincense oil gathered and processed by nomads in Somalia.

Monday, 3 January 2011

The National Trust

We are very pleased that Artful Teasing products our now available in National Trust Shops in the South East.
Currently we are in the gift shops in Petworth House, Polesden Lacey, Nymans Gardens, Batemans, Alfriston Clergy House, Canterbury, Morden Hall and Chichester. It is very satisfying to know that the sales of our lotions and potions are helping to maintain such lovely properties.
The entrance to Petworth House from the town

Second Place in Christmas Live Window Competition

Huarrah, my lovely mermaid delighted the judges winning us second place in Petworth's Christmas Live Window competition.  It is becoming a bit of a tradition in Petworth on the first Saturday of December that retailers have live people or animals in their windows. It's great fun and I was surprised to get a place as the competition in fierce. My cheeky friend Julie just loved stopping the traffic and waving to passers by. Thank you Julie, and thanks to Becky at Twenty (a fantastic designer boutique round the corner) who gave me the idea. Needless to say, she came first with her beautiful ballerina.