Essence and Alchemy: A Book of Perfume

Rating:
Summary: sets perfumery back several centuries
Review: With an increased intrest in essential oils and scents I have of late, been reading books on these subjects. I should actually say, flipping through books on the subject. Most are not very interesting and read like dry textbooks. Mandy Aftel's work is the first book that has been so inviting and full of information that I have actually read it from start to finish. Aftel pulls the reader into the sensual world of scent. Her beautifully writen treatise is a joy to read (better than many novels I have picked up lately). In her book, Mandy Aftel opens up the door to a forgotten world and with basic information and flair, draws the reader in. Unlike many books on the same subject, this book is not just a listing of this goes well with this, this is good for this, it is a reference guide to increased awareness and a stepping stone to begin the exploration of the olfactory sense and perfumery. With a well chosen word or metaphor Aftel explains fragrance and the art of perfumary in a way that the reader thinks of their future experiments not just as a scientific experiment but as a philosophy or spirituality of the senses. A truly inspiring book that was a joy to read.