Scents & Sensibilities: Creating Solid Perfumes for Well-Being

by Mandy Aftel

Book Overview

Delve into the world of natural aromas and discover their profound effect on emotional well-being, from relieving stress to enhancing sensuality. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 158685738X
• ISBN13: 9781586857387
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Gibbs Smith
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.9" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

Very Satisfied

I have read this book and I love it and take it wherever I go because of its portable size and I am getting the supplies together so I can make some solid perfumes and will enjoy this book for years to come

solid perfumes

If you like perfumery, buy this book. A must have for your library

Lovely Cozy Style with Practical Appeal

"Using solid perfumes is a simple activity to incorporate into your life for reduction of stress...over time, just a whiff of your special fragrance can help you to become calmer and more grounded." ~Mandy Aftel Mandy Aftel's work has been featured in Vanity Fair, Vogue and Allure. She creates unique perfumes for private labels and for individual clients. In this lovely colorful book, she explores how you can make your own solid perfumes and maybe even refill a collectible compact you discovered in an antique store. This book has made me want to go visit more antique stores to look for the little compacts you refill with the liquid perfume mixture. You could also use glass or new metal containers. A Brief History of Perfume introduces you to the process of extracting the essential oils from plants. Entertaining facts about the Egyptians wearing solid perfumes on their heads makes this very enjoyable. "As the ancients used perfumes in brooches, rings, pendants, and charms, so can we incorporate the same pleasurable effects of solid perfume in jewelry today." The chapter on essential oils also explores top notes, absolutes and concretes. Perfume ingredients that are described include: Bitter Orange, Bois de Rose, Ginger, Lime, Pink Grapefruit, Virginia Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Jasmine, Lavender, Nutmeg, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Bezoin, Cocoa, Frankincense, Labdanum, Oakmoss and Vanilla. Tools, beakers, bamboo skewers...so many things I didn't know to use when making perfumes. You will probably find you have many items in your kitchen. A Basic Solid Perfume Recipe is the starting point for your own discovery. Detailed instructions with pictures lead to the blissful moment of your own creation. A soft, warm and sensual blend I made up recently: Ylang Ylang III, Egyptian Musk, Lavender and Patchouli. You can mix your own essential oil blends and then add them to the solid perfume while still a liquid. ~The Rebecca Review

Little Gem

This book is a milestone by a pioneer of natural perfumery. It is a beautifully presented and well-written little treasure, precious enough to carry around, much like the luscious aromatics that will result from the formulas given. The instructions are clear and the photographs are beautiful. The only caveat is---making solid fragarance may become addictive!..a unique present for the Holidays---highly recommended!!

Best for beginners, not for those already familiar with Aftel's work

I am a fan of Aftel's work, and I would recommend this for the person casually interested in making solid perfume. This small book -- it's about the size of a CD case -- contains a brief history of solid perfumes, an overview of top/middle/base notes, and easy-to-follow instructions. It's also packed with some beautiful photographs of Aftel's studio and various vessels, such as the shells of pocket watches, used to carry solid perfumes. For beginners, I would give this 4 stars. For those already familiar with her work, I would give this 3 stars. 90% of the material in the book has already been covered in Aftel's other works, the excellent ESSENCE & ALCHEMY and AROMA. If you have the former, there really is no reason to get this book unless you are a completist or enjoy the photographs.