The Perfumista Challenge: A Project to Spread to those you Know

Sometimes one needs to shout in order to be heard. Sometimes one needs to kick people in the shin to get their attention. Sometimes one just needs to grab a public venue and challenge people in their perceptions in a much more civilised way. Which is what I am going to do today and I am calling every one of you who has been fed up to the brim with all the trashola that has been circulating under glossy names of TV personae and celebritoids from Sillyville and Trollopburg.
Namely today I am proposing and inviting you to the ultimate strikeback: Let's produce some fragrant juice ourselves!

No, I am not delirious. What are the chances that some amateur perfumista back in the wings has actually created a blend that is better than the bleh stuff in pretty (and not so pretty) bottles? Pretty high, I'd wager. After all, perfumistas do know a thing or two about what takes to put a nice sniff-fest together and hey, wait, didn't artisanal perfumers start with the proviso that they're blending things to suit their own taste? I am sure some of you have several oils which you mix for private enjoyment, some have a frustrated perfumer's soul, some even have chemistry kits and know a thing or two about reactions, emulsifiers and grape vs. grains alcohol; but the beauty of it all is you needn't really worry, this is not a race who is better, it's more for the fun of the thing and to prove to ourselves we can do it. (In the words of Dominique Dubrana, who's lauded by dr. Luca Turin, the biggest perfumery secret is that it's "rather easy to create something nice". There, you have insider's encouragement). Who knows, maybe someone's creation might be as good as to actually see the light of day in a wider circle and become our shared secret! Imagine the possibilities: Sillage de la Perfumista, Aqua sniffaholica, Εαρινή δρόσος φιλάρεσκων δεσποινίδων, et al... Not to mention the thrill of feeling of creating your own Galateia...

The idea was shaped by Liisa Wennervirta, following a discussion on Perfume Shrine about D-celebrities (or even DD-celebrities in some cases) constantly issuing utterly forgettable "products", who is in turn organising the whole thing. She's one hell of a witty lass with the quirk to bring this into fruition -she's been dabbling in blends herself- and you can be sent to her by me without reservations. [One doesn't need to be part of the clique to be perfectly legit ;-) ]

So here is how she wants this to be: "There'll be a simple swap round. Every participant will submit their address and they'll get another one where they'll send their creation. I wouldn't oblige the recipients to write a review or comment but it would be more fun if they did. To join the bunch of swappers, mail me at rosa (dot) pendulina (at) yahoo (dot) se. Closing date for participation submissions is December 31st."
If you'd like to take the info on your own blog or on a forum you participate, feel free to do so (and we would be grateful to you): the more participation we have, the more chances we can discover a raw talent in the dirt and the more fun we will all have in the process.

Now spread this to everyone you know times 10 or your precious rare Guerlain Baccarats will crumble in thin dust and your Chanels will turn into fermented beer on a hellishly hot day. Spread it! Participate! I have spoken...

Pic of Peter Cushing via umad.com, shot from Fritz Lang's Metropolis via dvdtimes.co.uk