There are two main approaches to creating a single-note fragrance, AKA a Soliflore: Mimic nature, or take a single raw material (or the concept of it), and amplify it, making it larger than life, exaggerate it.

You will learn about this and so much more in my upcoming online spring course, dedicated to Soliflores. We'll explore Floriography (The Language of Flowers), which was prevalent in Victorian times, when soliflores were also very popular in European perfumery. 

Aesthetically, the focus - and challenge - with Soliflores is working with restraint. Soliflores are minimalist conceptually, but require much skill, precision and attention to detail.

We will discover a dozen different floral themes that truly shine with the natural perfumer's palette - without using any synthetics or isolates. We will also learn how to work home-grown enfleurage and extrait into our formulations. Most importantly, we will have fun! 

The course is suitable for advanced students and working perfumers. It will begin April 27th, at 4:30pm GMT+2. Please register here. 

Happy Vernal Equinox!

To celebrate the beginning of spring, I'd like to share with you my Zodiac perfume oil dedicated to Aries. 

Peppery-fresh and musky, this fragrance truly represents the spirit of Aries: the first-born of the zodiac, daring, brave and passionate. It is the essence of Spring, the beginning of life and vitality. May this perfume enhance the courage to fulfill all your ambitions!

Top notes: Blood Orange, Lime, Black Pepper
Heart notes: Rose Geranium, Cinnamon, Zantoxylum
Base notes: Tobacco, Opoponax, Balsams, Cloves, Vetiver

Fragrance Families: Animalic, Tobacco, Woody, Spicy

Every spring I pass these little darlings (Mignonettes in French) on my walks and never is it the right timing to pick them. I saved seeds and tried yo grow them by my house with no success. This morning I took advantage of my new daily commute (by car, unfortunately), and started my first enfleurage project for the year: Reseda vegan enfleurage.

It's one of the most magical and ellusive wildflower scents. The leaves smell like goosefoot and tomato absolue (green and icky!), yet the flowers are powdery-green violets mingled with creamy tuberose and orange blossom.  

Let's see how these pan out... I, for one, am curious if not dangerously hopeful.