Friday, December 11, 2015

Perfume Book and Companion Kit of Essences Giveaway: Fragrant the Secret Life of Scent

This is the first of our Perfume Shrine giveaways for the holiday season and it's going to warm the cockles of the winner's heart; because it not only involves a perfume book that's sure to be referenced again and again along the way but it's also accompanied by a compaion kit that includes 5 natural essences among them the rare and precious ambergris for a better understanding of how perfumery works. The book in question? Fragrant the secret life of Scent by Mandy Aftel. Mandy has generously offered to give one signed copy of her book and a companion kit of essences to one lucky reader of Perfume Shrine.
So if interested don't miss your chance by writing a comment below this post. Draw is open internationally till Monday midnight and winner will be announced next week.

via rimanlibrary.com

The book doesn't simply address the fans of natural perfumery but aims at the hearts of everyone with an interest in the sensual and spiritual aspects of scents. It's more of a journey into discovering what the world around has to offer as well as the mystical bond between the senses and our grasp of the cosmos. Using scent as the medium Aftel with her usual sensuous prose explores basic essences and rarer or more exceptional ones with the same passion for observation and analytical deconstruction. Without requesting insider knowledge or expertise in perfumery jargon Fragrant takes the reader into a 5 part adventure; each punctured by a single momentous essence that can turn into fragrance.

Cinnamon marks with its spicy trail the beginning of man's search for the exotic East and the wealth it offers.

Mint is the smell of familiarity. Know throughout the world and marking home and homeland mint can act as a powerful symbol for that which is luxurious in its easing into the comfort of the "here and now".

Incense stands for mysticism and for a spiritual endeavor. The smoky trail these resins produce which rises in the air is our gateway to the realm of the gods.

Ambergris from the whale is the seafaring adventure turned prized loot; a substance as soft as a sable coat and as sensuous as bare supple skin itself. It's symbolizes human curiosity and evokes all the quirkiness that animal essences stand for.

Jasmine stands for beauty and the unapologetic pleasure in savoring that beauty; whether it be permanent or ethereal... like the vapors of a perfume.


Little anecdotes are dotting the pages and recipes for easily composed perfumes (in a variety of forms such as solid or oil or alcohol based) are included. A few of them involve the addition of one rare and unexpected ingredient into an otherwise familiar mix; like the chocolate drink laced with ambergris that Charles the I of Englad used to enjoy!

Fragrant the Secret Life of Scent is a book that should be part of every well versed library on scent and olfaction but also a welcome gift to anyone wanting to explore the sensuous facets of our everyday life.

60 comments:

  1. My cockles are warmed, and the lovely Tom Ford Private Reserve Black Violet delicately perfuming me.

    Learning and loving stories of perfumery.

    Thank you.

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  2. Anonymous15:53

    That sounds fascinating. I have her other book so this will be a great read.

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  3. What a great opportunity! I'm pretty much a fragrance newb, so I could definitely use the tutorial! Thanks for the draw!

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  4. Jacinta21:24

    Chocolate and ambergris? How fascinating! I'd love to read her book and learn more about these amazing natural essences :)

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  5. Oh, what a generous draw! I would like to join it. I have never smell ambergris, but have alrady read a book about it. Really wiling to try it!!!

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  6. Chris G.23:18

    So interested in this book as I have Essence and Alchemy. I have great admiration for Mandy Aftel.

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  7. Ella23:34

    Thank you! This book is at the top of my wishlist!

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  8. annemariec23:38

    I'd love to be in the draw, thanks!

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  9. Currently reading and studying Mandy's Essence & Alchemy, this would be the perfect companion! A sampling of those essences would be heavenly especially the Ambergris; I can't even imagine it. This is such a generous gift from Mandy. Count me in please ♥.

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  10. Anonymous01:02

    What a lovely giveaway, I'd love to see the book and oooohhh have a sniff on ambergris, one of my favorite notes!
    Gina

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  11. Anonymous02:22

    I would like to be put in the draw.

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  12. Long time reader, first time commenter, and I find myself incredibly intrigued by this! I first fell into perfumery only a few months ago with the help of a friend that works in the industry... And somehow I managed to latch onto L'Ambre Des Merveilles which then spiralled out to other explorations.

    I'd love to try the scent of Ambregris - it's been such a big part of the Des Merveilles series that I need to find if I'm drawn to it specifically or if it's the overall composition I love!

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  13. Anonymous03:48

    This is marvellous! I have never smelled ambergris and am intrigued. And one can never have too many books?

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  15. Mmmmm Looking forward to be put in the drawn. Good Luck all! May the odds be ever in your favour!

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  16. Mm..beautiful words, and exquisite fragrances. Love!

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  17. Thank you so much, Elena, for yet another great give-away draw!

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  18. Thank you for this opportunity! I have Essence and Alchemy and would love to read Mandy's new book AND get to sniff Ambergris

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  19. I would be pleased to get this treasure, the book and the essences. Pls count me in, many thanks!

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  20. This sounds wonderful! I would love to smell the essences and learn more about Mandy Aftel's perfume philosophy. Thank you!

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  21. St. Nicolas, I was a good one this year :)

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  22. Goodness, what perfume lover wouldn't be delighted to win such a nice prize? Thank you for the chance to win!

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  23. lena09:33

    As a child I was fascinated by whales, and, weird as this sounds, always hoped I'd find some magical-sounding (to my ears, anyway) ambergris washed up on the beach one day! It hasn't happened yet, but I never say never :) (if it doesn't end up happening, at least I now know where to go to experience the next best thing (actually, Mandy's book is probably a *much* better way of encountering ambergris than in the raw, from what I've read about it...))
    Thank you for such a generous draw.

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  24. Anonymous10:17

    What a brilliant package this is! I've been wanting to read Mandy's latest book for a while now, and I'd love to have the ingredients to sniff as I read. How wonderful :)

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  25. I don't know this author's work, but this looks like a beautiful and informative book to read over the holidays. Please include me in the draw.

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  26. What a wonderful, generous giveaway. I love the chance of learning even more from Mandy's book, as well as from the Companion Kit--how exciting! Thank you!
    Jean

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  27. Wow! That sounds fascinating! I've been wanting to read Mandy's book & with the added bonus of an essence kit, that is fabulous! Please add me to the drawing!

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  28. Book is in my Amazon basket in case I don't win. thanks for the chance and for broadening my knowledge with your blog.

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  29. Anonymous15:47

    Just would make my holiday to win this lovely gift.....need to know more about fragrance.
    Thanks...I feel lucky.

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  30. Thank you for the chance to win this book! I do not have any of Mandy Aftel's books but would love to read this one. Again thanks for the generous draw.

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  31. What a treat that would be. How generous.

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  32. That would be a most exquisite Christmas present! I've been dreaming about Mandy's books for a couple of years. Moreover, I am extremely curious about the smell of ambergris - the one from the list I have never sampled in real.
    Thank you for the chance to you , Elena, and the Ms. Aftel for the generosity!
    Happy holidays!

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  33. Elizabeth17:52

    I've been a fan of perfume, natural essences, and beautiful writing for a long time! Glad to have found this blog.

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  34. i have enjoyed other wiritings by ms. aftel, and would love to see this one! plus, essences!

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  35. sounds like a great book. Please include me in the draw. Thank you so much for this offering. Have a wonderful holiday!

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  36. Gisela18:59

    Thank you for such a wonderful, generous draw! Sounds really fascinating.

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  37. Anonymous20:36

    I usually like to buy perfume-related gifts for my fragrance loving friends, and sometimes doubt whether I should buy a book on scent or an actual scent. I've only recently begun buying books on perfumery, and look forward to having my own specialised library, however humble, next to my perfume wardrobe. This book is the best present I can think of for this Christmas, since it combines both, the theory and the practice, a treat for both the intellect and the senses. It's perfect even for friends that are not into fragrance that much, as this can surely pique their interest. Thanks so much to Mandy and you, Elena, for the idea, the review and the great generosity behind this giveaway.

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  38. What generous, splendid gift, Elena. I've been reading your blog for a while and, much to my chagrin, this is the first of the giveaway posts I've responded to! I'd love to be entered in the drawing! Even if I don't win, I'd still be interested in reading this book, as I have a newfound fascination with making my own perfumes. Thank you for this opportunity!

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  39. Anonymous21:55

    That would be a most exquisite Christmas present! I am so curious about the smell of ambergris.
    Thank you for the chance to win, Elena.
    Happy hollydays!

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  40. Anonymous22:27

    A lovely draw opportunity: thanks to you and Mandy and everyone involved.
    Happy holidays to all!
    cheerio,
    Anna in Edinburgh

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  41. Philco22:43

    I am now becoming interested in fragrance, and would love this book to enhance my knowledge. Whether I win this or not I will own it, as it seems a treasure.

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  42. Ernie23:05

    Thank you for this so special giveaway, I echo what everyone has said, and 'yes please'.
    P.S. Great to see your blog up and running again.

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  43. Anonymous02:42

    Mandy's book plus the companion scents would be a wonderful opportunity to share some sniffathons with a few perfume-loving friends. Like many of the previous commenters, I have never had the opportunity to smell actual ambergris. I am also fascinated to read the recipe for the chocolate-ambergris drink.
    Thanks so much to Mandy and you for this generous draw opportunity.

    -- Lindaloo

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  44. SandyC04:03

    Ah, not only are my cockles warmed, they are steaming! What a fabulous opportunity - the fragrances, and what is sure to become my Perfumer's Bible. Thanks to Mandy and Elena for the chance to really delve into the mystical world of scent, in all its many permutations! Happy Holidays to all, and may all your days and nights be fragrant!

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  45. I am coveting. Love Mandy Aftel. Want. Please.

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  46. Cath07:03

    What a wonderful giveaway, thank you. I don't have any perfume books yet. Shame on me. They're just too hard to obtain here.

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  47. Anonymous08:40

    lovely

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  48. flowergirlbee!08:43

    Yay for Christmas Giveaways!!!...I would love to see and smell this.. fingers crossed now!!

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  49. poet08:45

    loving smells is easy cause their beautiful

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  50. I would love to win so so much!

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  51. I would love to win so so much!

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  52. Grabby hands here.
    (I don't have any original, relevant or interesting comment so I'm not pretending anything.)

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  53. I have her first book, and this new one (with its supplemental scents) sounds fascinating.

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  54. Just finished Essence and Alchemy and really enjoyed it, so win or not, I think this book has to be on my to-read list. Birte

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  55. How lovely it would be to try these essences. Thank you for the draw.

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  56. I was sent this comment for inclusion in time by email:

    "my screen name is flowergirlbee! i don't know what to do but i really want to smell ambergris..."

    Thanks Flowergirlbee, you're entered.

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  57. I used to have a bottle of what I think was real ambergris oil. I was in the early 70's I believe, and was put out by Coty. I also had the civet oil. I really loved those scents, even at the age of 15-16. Sure would love to have this great-sounding book and the essences. THANKS.

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  58. I would love to read this book and learn about fragrances. I'd love to experience ambergis. Please enter me in draw. Thanks, and Happy Holidays!

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  59. Anonymous23:28

    I am new to learning more about fragrances and different scents so this book and kit would be an amazing Christmas gift! I am starting my journey to creating my own fragrance line so this would be extremely helpful in learning more.

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  60. Draw is now closed and winner is announced on Home Page. Thanks everyone!!

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