6 Tasks of The Perfumer

One - Study Individual Materials 

• Befriend your ingredients: Get to know the incredible essential oils, absolutes, and synthetic perfume materials like the back of your hand. These are the building blocks of perfumes. With enough practice and memory drills, you'll learn how your materials interact, creating mesmerizing symphonies of scents. If there is ONE thing you should do more than anything else, it is this; MEMORIZE YOUR MATERIALS! 

Two - Talk like a Perfumer, use Scent Adjectives 

• Talk the talk: Imagine describing a sunset without knowing the words for colours. Impossible, right?! That's why learning scent adjectives is essential! They're your dictionary, your way of communicating your visions effectively. Perfumers have so many unique, and very specific words to describe the way things smell, learn to use "perfume lingo." 

Three - Organize Scent Materials Into Groups 

• Sort your building blocks: Like a well-organized painter's palette, sorting your perfume materials into groups (think floral, woody, citrus, etc.) will make your blending process much easier and more efficient. Every perfumer I know organizes, and then re-organizes their materials several times each year. They do this to find new patterns and ideas from their "scent pallet." 

Four - Experiment

• Mix it up: Get your hands dirty and start mixing! Feel free to experiment, play with combinations, balance your scents, and make mistakes. Through experimenting, you'll understand the magic of scent. 

Five - Memorize Classic Accords

• Master the classics: Just as a pianist should know Beethoven, a perfumer should understand classic accords. These timeless combinations give you a solid foundation to build upon and a chance to learn about the principles of blending.

Six - Recreate and Memorize Classic Formulas 

• Recreate the Classics: Finally, to fully appreciate the rich heritage of perfumery and pay homage to the generations of perfumers before you, try to recreate classic formulas. It's not just about imitation; it's about understanding, respecting, and connecting with the historical depth of the field.