About the Wholeness of Natural Perfumery

Embracing Wholeness in Natural Perfumery

Wholeness is about embracing complexities, taking the rough with the smooth. In the realm of natural perfumery, this means recognising that certain notes in natural essences might initially seem like a not that you might not want in a perfume. I remember the first time I worked with rose absolute and essential oil; it was a revelation. While rose possesses beautiful, delicate, rosy notes, it also has dense, waxy, or even sharp undertones. Some rose essences carry indolic, heavy notes that can overshadow the more delicate floral characteristics of real roses.

As a natural perfumer, learning to work with the entirety of natural essences is essential. This requires acceptance, imagination, and a significant amount of time, experimentation, and effort. I've found that a high-quality synthetic rose essence may offer clarity and vibrant, light, delicate rosy notes by stripping away the 'unwanted' aspects. However, it lacks the complexity, mystery, and, most importantly, the wholeness found in natural essences.

A skilled natural perfumer knows how to work with these materials, blending them with other whole essences. Understanding what an essence needs to bring out its best qualities and how to neutralize or balance heavier notes is key.

Wholeness speaks to us in volumes, transcending mere words. As natural perfumers, we are working with nature's masterpieces rather than isolated pigments, performing with Mother Earth's symphonies instead of picking separate notes. This approach allows us to create fragrances that are rich, complex, and truly reflective of the natural world.