by Mandy Aftel (Author)
As long as there has been passion, there has been perfume. Wealthy Romans used to scent their doves while in Shakespeare's time, a woman in love would place a peeled apple into her armpit to saturate it with her scent and then present it to her lover. Essence and Alchemy resurrects 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, and along the way teaches us the art of perfume-making, including many of her own recipes, offering insights on the relationship of scent to solitude, sex, and soul.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 254
Edition: New
Publisher: Bloomsbury Paperbacks
Published: 04 Nov 2002
ISBN 10: 0747558019
ISBN 13: 9780747558019
Book Overview: 'Everything you ever wanted to know about perfume and more a fascinating guide to the history of perfume' IMAGE MAGAZINE ' An intoxicating cultural history of perfume full of anecdotes set to be a classic. It's probably the ultimate present for the modern aesthete - a treasure trove of tales about the magic of scent.' EVENING STANDARD 'In her new book, Essence and Alchemy, expert perfumer Mandy Aftel offers a beginner's guide to making your own blend of essences.' DAILY RECORD
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