Latest Posts
-
Swimming in the Mediterranean
Finally today I was able to do something that I have been craving for weeks…….to go to the beach and swim in the sea! I’m a bit sunburned but it was worth it. The water was fresh and chilly and so salty that I could completely relax and float on my back letting the tiny
-
World Perfumery Congress 2007
The first day of the World Perfumery Congress, held at the state of the art Palais des Festivals in Cannes, saw Ana and I, at 7:30am, behind the front counter sorting through the 1036 (plus guests) names on the delegate list and confirming that there were badges to match filed in perfect alphabetical order. We saw all
-
Flowers, perfume and the WPC
Another two weeks gone by just like that. Time is moving so very fast…so many thoughts and reflections- so many new faces, changing moods, changing light, sunshine and thunderstorms with the Mistral winds so intense last weekend that my potted basil, despite being tied down, disappeared from my 3rd story window sill. (look out below!) I
-
The Rose de Mai
A field of roses! The Rosa Centifolia in full bloom, a delicate pink rose with light roundish leaves and fine prickles. A demure small-petaled variety, also known as Rose de Mai, that is particular to Grasse and whose fragrance is clear and sweet with notes of pale honey and heady green earth. (One of the students asked of our
-
the season of the roses
The end of a long week……whew! I had a big exam on Thursday, the most serious so far. We were tested on 20 raw materials that were chosen randomly from the 150 or so synthetics that we have learned. Obviously this meant that we had to know all the materials intimately. I did well, although
-
the French Police
Today dawned clear and sunny beautiful once again, and after a bit of a sleep-in, I headed out with two big bags of recycling to where I had parked last night. (Rebecca and I drove in the Mini to Nice hier soir for dinner and got home quite late.) Where I had left the car was a new spot, nearer to my
-
Mood and the psychology of scent
After a chilly and cloudy day yesterday, with the general mood of the class (and me- what a difficult day!) to match, it was a relief to step out of the old wood door into the quiet coolness of my little street this morning and ascend the steep route up through the honeycomb of the centre ville into the blazing
-
becoming a nez II
Today began a whole new segment of the course. Formulation! This is what we have all been waiting for; for here we will begin to learn some of the secrets that are held so close to the chests of the perfumers and others in the industry. Our teacher is Max Gavarry, now retired to research
-
from the resurrection- to a baptism
Two evenings ago was an event at the school called the’ Promotion of Mane’. Actually, on our posted schedule, it says, ’17h-19h- BAPTISM of the Mane Promotion. (YOU MUST BE THERE!)’ I think, perhaps, there is a slight mis-take in the translation. Not unusual, considering the teachers here speak a very limited (but endearing) English and I am beginning to think
A Perfumed Pilgrimage 