About

About Perfume Shrine

http://perfumeshrine.blogspot.com

The Perfume Shrine project is an independent online publication offering articles on perfumery including fragrance reviews, essays on the science of fragrance and aroma materials, articles on perfume history, interviews with perfumers and industry professionals, trend-watching and fragrance advertising evaluation. Its aim is to provide a resource for anyone interested in fragrances and to offer an independent assessment of available products. But its most important goal is to share the passion for scents, pose interesting questions and ignite a genuine appreciation for the art of perfumery!

About Elena Vosnaki, the Editor

I grew up in a family of scientists and artists, which instigated an inquisitive spirit in me with a passion for the finer things in life. My academic degrees are in History and Archaeology, as well as Classical Music Studies.
Scent and the sense of smell have been of high interest to me since I was a small child nevertheless. Playing with my mother's and my very elegant grandmother's perfumes as a toddler I soon progressed to reading whatever I could find on fragrances: magazine clippings which I saved in an album; books on perfumes and essences, some from authors of classical antiquity; heavy volumes of chemistry and perfumery later on. The fascination with the history of perfumery prompted me to collect and study a large sum of vintage fragrances, essential oils and synthetic materials for several years. As time and opportunities allowed, I studied a little more formally attending seminars about relevant olfactory issues while pursuing my other academic pursuits, and travelled on places which presented aromatic challenges ~some of those I have recounted here, some are left to be told.

In 2000 a non-profit website was created that contained some of the perfume information I had been collecting for years. In 2006, after writing numerous reviews online on other venues, I created the Perfume Shrine ~my personal glimpse into the cosmos of perfumes: the materials that are woven into the compositions that enrapture me, the perfumers who are responsible for their creation, the process of creation itself and the marketing and presentation of the finished product. Fragrance writing had began as a hobby but beyond this site it progressed to fragrance consulting and articles featured in various publications around the world (Harper's Bazaar and Sniffapalooza Magazine among them). This path has enriched me as a person and I am very grateful for it.

Frequent Questions of Readers

Why is the site named "Perfume Shrine"?
Because this is my tribute to everything I hold sacred in the world of scent.

Who Writes for the Perfume Shrine?
Unless explicitly specified to the contrary, all of the articles on Perfume Shrine are written and developed by me. Perfume Shrine is based in Europe and I write in a foreign language, not my native one, so please excuse the occasional linguistic blunder.

What are your credentials for writing about fragrance?
I am a historian and an archeologist, specialized in the Bronze Age. I learned about perfumery from reading, discovering fragrances (from modern to vintage to niche, building a vast collection), smelling raw materials, attending seminars and seeking encounters with those willing enough to teach me what they knew. It would be Utopian to claim proficiency in such a vast subject, so I consider myself, as with everything, a constant student.

How does one navigate the website?
The Main Page features only the most recent posts in chronological order like a web log. Monthly Archives are grouped in a seperate column of links on the right, but there is also a Sitemap accessed on the top of the main page. The Search feature allows browsing through all the posts on Perfume Shrine (just type your search). For individual reviews of fragrances, please peruse the Reviews section of the menu. There is a brief handy Index on the right hand column as well.

Does Perfume Shrine belong to any beauty/perfume blogging network?
No, it doesn't. If someone has added our link on directories of such blogs we're honoured and appreciative, but are not tied by any "rules" or reciprocal "promotion" obligation. Any joint project here that links other blogs/sites is personally undertaken out of mutual respect.

Do you sell posts or links? What about ads?
The Perfume Shrine site doesn't sell posts, ever, out of principle. Whenever a link is sponsored it is specified as such. We accept a limited choice of ads that are of relevant content to our readers and are explicitly specified as such. Indirect Google Adsense ads are randomly selected based on the Google keyword algorithm and beyond our control. I however link to some other blogs or to relevant sites out of respect and admiration for free.

Do you accept (free) samples for review?
Only if it is something that is unavailable where I live and I can't get it any other way. If so, it is disclosed as such and I always offer the manufacturer to refund the costs of shipping. Accepting a sample doesn't guarantee that I'd end up blogging about it though.

Do you write negative reviews?
If you have been reading this blog you know I do, if I feel that it is deserved. This is an independent venue that reflects the opinions of its author. I would be much more inclined to be harsh with a big company who can afford to lose customers, however. A very small, struggling artisan might meet with my silence if I don't feel I have anything positive to say.

Can we do a link exchange?
If you like this blog, you're more than welcome to put a link to it on your own site. It's a great compliment and I appreciate your gesture. I might do the same if I find your site worthwhile and I find myself a frequent reader. Please do not contact me with requests for a reciprocal link if you're a business: In those cases, please consider a clearly defined ad link option per above.

What about the other links you have on your sidebar?
If they're here, it means I like them and consider them worth your time too.

Can I copy your posts/take your feed to use on my own site?
You can link to me (you're in fact encouraged to do so with a mention & link of the venue), but if you want my actual content and writing featured on your commercial site, you'll need to pay what I charge as a freelance writer. Please mail me using the email provided at the bottom of this post for details.

What is Perfume Shrine's Privacy Policy?
The Perfume Shrine does not release any of the personal information shared on this site or in emails. The subscription lists are moderated by third parties and the identities of the subscribers are not released to the editor.

What is Perfume Shrine's policy on Comments?
We accept any comment, be it positive or critical, as long as it is not covered advertising for a commercial business (in which case it will be deleted; please mail us directly for evaluation of your business if you want to get openly advertised on Perfume Shrine) or insultory to other commentators (in which case it might get deleted or the thread locked to prevent further agravvation among readers).
You are free to leave an anonymous comment if you so choose, although I would prefer if you signed with a pseudonym; it makes for easier dialogue that way, you see!

About Subscription Information
Subscription to the Perfume Shrine is available through various "readers" (Google, Netvibes, Bloglines, Newsgator, My Yahoo etc.), Atom feeds, and/or Feedblitz. You will find the appropriate links/widgets to use on the right hand column, under the Search function. Your email remains private and your name is not divulged to the editor.

About Copyright on the Perfume Shrine site
All original content, personal photos and translations herein copyright © 2005-2009 Elena Vosnaki/PerfumeShrine, All Rights Reserved. The contents of Perfume Shrine are protected by applicable copyright laws, which prohibit any usage of the original material appearing on this site for commercial purposes without explicit written consent from the editor of Perfume Shrine. You are however welcome to provide a link back to the posts on this site as long as you explicitly mention their authorship, recognize the original source of the information you give, and acknowledge the site of origin. Please respect the time and effort that are put into this venue, thank you!

Contact The Editor
Please email the editor at: perfumeshrine at yahoo dot com