Butchard Gardens

Here in Victoria, we are lucky enough to have Butchard Gardens.  I intend to visit soon for a gorgeous summer outing some inspiration! As my birthday is coming up, this will be a lovely thing to do.

http://www.butchartgardens.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Another Lovely Natural Musky Fragrance

TANTRA by Saje Natural Wellness, another Canadian company! Patchouli, orange, champa, lavender, vanilla, rosewood, palmarosa, sandalwood and ginger in jojoba.

Natural Musk Fragrance

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A beautiful, luxurious, natural musk fragrance by Rocky Mountain Soap Company, and my current favorite.  Dreams do come true! magnolia(attar of magnolia flowers), jannatul firdaus(attar firdaus), katchi kali(attar katchi kali), jasmine(attar of jasminum grandiflorum), amber(liquid amber), dhivdarbar(attar darbar),pink lotus(attar of Nelumbo nucifera), with essential oil of bitter orange(citrus aurantium)

Synthetic Musk Fragrance

Do you recognize this musk fragrance by Coty?  It would be fabulous to have an all-natural musk fragrance.  I wore this for a few years in my early teens.  Luckily, it was a phase that didn't last too long as I began a larger-than-life love affair sniffing and learning about essential oils. 

The Mystery of Musk

The Mystery of Musk: In Celebration of the 4th Anniversary of the Natural Perfumer's Guild

The Natural Perfumer's Guild is celebrating its 4th anniversary with the Mystery of Musk project!  10 Natural Perfume Artisans have been chosen to present their rendering and interpretation of an all-natural musk scent!

As many consumers are now educated on health and environmental hazards of synthetic fragrance chemicals, they are spending the extra for the quality, luxury and personalized experience that comes with a having a natural, customized perfume created for them.  Many natural perfume artists also offer their own line of natural perfumes for purchase in an online boutique.

Let's take a moment to talk about musk, one of the most powerful, luxurious, intense and sough-after perfume ingredients.  There are ethical issues concerning sourcing of some natural musk, such as from the pods of the musk deer, (now an endangered species), and alarming health and environmental concerns with synthetic musk chemicals.

What are some botanical/natural alternatives to create a musk scent?

Ambergris

Beeswax

Ambrette seed
Angelica Root
Sandalwood
Labdanum
Vetiver
Spikenard
Oud
Vanilla
Musk Rose
Black Currant



Who are the participating perfumers?


Adam Gottschalk – Lord’s Jester 
Alexandra Balahoutis – Strange Invisible Perfumes
Alfredo Dupetit – BioScent by dupetit
Ambrosia Jones – Perfume by Nature
Anya McCoy – Anya’s Garden Perfumes
Charna Ethier – Providence Perfumes
Dawn Spencer Hurwitz – DSH Perfumes
Elise Pearlstine – Belly Flower Perfumes
Jane Cate - A Wing and a Prayer Perfumes 
JoAnne Bassett – JoAnne Bassett Perfumes
Lisa Fong – Artemisia Perfume
Nicholas Jennings – Sharini Parfums Naturels 

Current work

I have been working on a gourmand solid inspired by the thought of morning coffee as I was sniffing the remains of some coffee essential oil.  Not an easy aromatic to work with.  My thoughts immediately shifted to mocha, and adding some cocoa absolute, and then, just a hint of clove to sharpen and shape.  I loved it although the clove has been a little strong, the cocoa absolute, not quite smelling like the chocolate I had hoped for, and actually a little peanut-buttery in with the coffee.

My thoughts have shifted to ginger, and also possibly a simple single-note, coffee solid.  I am now curious to poll for peoples' thoughts on wearing their coffee :-)

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