Most perfumers start out with themselves as a client in the training and evolutionary process necessary to get to know the ingredients. The Natural Perfumer can still aspire to heal the end consumer that is unknown, that is, not a personal client, by composing a perfume that contains a theme, a focus, and a real goal.
 
You can always tell a Natural Perfumer who comes from aromatherapy from one who doesn’t – there is a real effort by the aromatherapist to put healing elements into the perfume. They have studied, and understand, the aromachology and spiritual nature of the essential oils. They celebrate more of a palette to play with, and they just take the healing effects to another level with the narcotic effects of tuberose, the grounding effect of ambrette seed, or the sacred solemnity of nagarmotha (a gorgeous incense-y scent often used in Ayurvedic healing.)
 
Not to say the Natural Perfumer who does not come from an aromatherapy background cannot heal and delight the client. The very act of identifying oneself as a Natural Perfumer indicates the person has turned away from mainstream perfumery, the synthetic chemicals and harshness, and to the true essences. They are on a path of enlightenment of spirit, psyche and body and soul.
 
They come from varied backgrounds: soaper, esthetician, nature-lover, and lifelong perfume addict. They have a finely attuned nose that can discriminate between true and synthetic essences. They want to create a fragrance of beauty, one that inspires, seduces, delights and yes, sometimes, on a basic level, heals the client.
 
Thus, many different people, from many different backgrounds gather under the soft, wafting breezes that carry the ribbons of scent, designed the Natural Perfumery way, to a new, eager clientele. And thus the new discipline and art of aromatherapy marries with the ancient discipline and art of perfumery to fashion an evolved perfumer, one who is hopeful to bring a fresh, beautiful, non-toxic scent to life. 

The Modern Natural Perfumer - Training to be a Natural Perfumer

 
The modern mainstream perfumer is a component of an international fragrance industry. There are approximately 400 perfumers employed. Most are male. They have a college degree in science, and have completed a rigorous course in perfumery, training for years as “noses” under industry guidelines. Their education is long, arduous, and very demanding. Some work in the perfume industry, others in the “fragrancing” industry, creating scents for dish soap, laundry detergent and similar products.
 
The Natural Perfumer, if the Yahoo group Natural Perfumery with 500 members is any indication, is mostly female, without formal training. Instead, the Natural Perfumer looks to some aromatherapy books, Mandy Aftel’s Essence and Alchemy, and the sharing of knowledge on the yahoo group as the basics of learning how to blend. They work at creating perfumes; with some branching out to body care products such as body butters and lotions, candles and associated fragrant creations.
 
Natural Perfumery can be found at:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalPerfumery/
 
The group has been in existence since June 11, 2002, the “early days” of Natural Perfumery, as defined for this article.  

Note: Natural Perfumery is not accepting new members at this time due to oversubscription. If interested, check with them after Nov. 1, 2005.
 

Continue