Published in 2001
272 pages
Mandy Aftel (born 1948) is an American perfumer. She is the owner and nose behind the natural perfume line Aftelier as well as the author of nine books, including four books on natural perfume and a cookbook on essential oils.
What is this book about?
Wealthy Romans used to scent their doves to impress their friends, and in ancient Jerusalem young women put myrrh and balsam in their shoes and kicked their feet at attractive gentlemen. Essence and Alchemy looks at the social and metaphysical legacy that is entwined with the evolution of perfumery, from the dramas of the spice trade to the quests of the alchemists. Aftel tracks scent through the boudoir and the bath and into the sanctums of worship, offering insights into the relationship of scent to solitude, sex and soul. She also teaches us about the art of perfume making, including many of her own recipes.
Renowned perfumer Mandy Aftel explores the primal nature and fundamental importance of aroma in everyday life, teaching people about the nature of smell and the idea of “olfactory consciousness” in Essence and Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume.
