UNCORKED ~ Celebrating The Voices of the Natural Perfumers Guild Members

~How I came to love natural aromatics~

When this blogging event was announced I knew I wanted to join in even though I had no idea what it was going to be about. Then the subject was revealed. I thought 'Uh-oh! This is going to be the shortest blog post.' 

Not long ago I blogged about how I felt like the new kid in school when it came to natural perfumery, or rather perfumery in general. Growing up my mother and maternal grandmother didn't grow fragrant flowers. And while my paternal grandmother grew roses I vaguely remember them, even though I was at her house almost every day of the week. I recall areas in her backyard where these roses grew but that's about all. The scent of roses, lilacs and others don't transport me back to my childhood. Neither of them owned any of the more talked about classic perfumes (Chanel No. 5, Joy, Mitsouko, etc). I never received pretty bottles of perfume as gifts. My maternal grandmother was an Avon lady and I remember trying different Avon colognes here and there. My mother had many bottles on her dresser that she hardly ever wore. Red Door, Paloma Picasso and Youth Dew (newer version) are a few I recall.  And while I remember them nothing really stands out that would remind me of her. My experience with scent was purchasing the cheap stuff from drug & convenience stores. Remember Jean Nate and Love's Baby Soft? And I really loved Sand & Sable. Up until 2006 my only exposure to essential oils was keeping a bottle of tea tree on hand in my first aid kit. Even as popular as lavender is I was only familiar with the synthetic fragrance. I never liked the smell of vanilla until I smelled a real vanilla bean.  That was about 12 years ago and I didn't know vanilla absolute even existed. 

In December of 2005 my mother passed away after a battle with cancer. Two weeks later a very close cousin (my mom's niece) passed away suddenly. My family was shocked and saddened. As a result I began to suffer from insomnia. I'm not much of a pill taker. I'd rather try alternative methods first. So I turned to aromatherapy. I searched for websites and articles on the internet that would give me some ideas that would help me to fall asleep. I came across a website that had an offline study introductory aromatherapy course developed by Jeanne Rose. (side note: I didn't know who Jeanne was and remember thinking 'I wonder if she's reputable.' You live & learn.) I read all the material I received and ordered samples of essential oils. Being a book lover I sometimes detour from my planned errands and stop by book stores. One day I came across a used book store and decided to go in just to look around and found a little book on aromatherapy formulas. There was a formulation in it for insomnia. I ordered more samples and blended the oils. I don't really recall if it helped me sleep or not but it smelled really pretty. I started to blend it and add it to an oil burner to scent my home. At that point I stopped blending for any therapeutic affects of aromatherapy and started blending for scent alone. They were really simple blends. Not being very knowledgeable about perfumery in general I had no idea that there was a segment of perfumery dedicated to naturals.  Oddly enough I was introduced to it by a perfumer who blended with synthetics. We both posted on the same soaping forum and he became sort of the forum's perfumery tutor. He posted about the Jean Carles method and explained what it all meant. He pointed me to perfumery groups on Yahoo which is how I found out about the Natural Perfumery group and then the Natural Perfumers Guild. 


It seems as if the path to naturals chose me instead of me choosing it. Looking back so many opportunities came my way for me to latch on but for whatever reason I did not. Maybe I just moved too slow.  But once I was immersed in it there was no looking back. 


Random tidbit:
I've come across the question many times as to what aromatic(s) I dislike. I can find a place for and appreciate many scents, even those that some find foul. But I have a very hard time smelling fresh cut grass. I simply can't stand it. 

Participating NPG members

Adam Gottschalk Lord's Jester Inc

Alec Lawless Being Led by the Nose

Anu Prestonia Anu Essentials Blog

Anya McCoy Anya's Garden Perfumes Blog

Charna Ethier Providence Perfume

Christine Ziegler A Little Ol'Factory

Dawn Spencer Hurwitz DSH Notebook

Denise Smith Perfume Journal

Elise Pearlstine Bellyflowers

Emily Pienaar The Western Cape Perfumery Blog

Ida Meister Ça Fleure Bon

Isabelle Gelle Les Parfums d'Isabelle

JoAnne Bassett Natural Perfumes

Julie Longyear From The Bathtub
Karen Williams Aromatics International

Laura Natusch Olive and Oud

Noelle Smith Ellenoire

Robert Tisserand I'm Just Saying

Ross Urrere Olfactory Rescue Service

Susan Stype Aromatherapy Contessa

Trygve Harris Absolute Trygve