Essence and Alchemy

"This book has motivated me to create my own fragrance rather than buying one from the department store. It gives a history of perfume throughout history. Since Mandy Aftel has a fragrance shop here in California, I plan on visiting it.

I look forward to beginning my journey into the world of Essence and Alchemy (creating fragrances). "
~ Written on 2008-09-23

"Easy to read and really full of useful information done in a wonderful and passionate style.
It gave me a solid grounding in the how and why of aroma. Plus it is great fun to read!"
~ Written on 2008-04-06

"Essence & Alchemy was a really wonderful adventure in reading. From the history of perfume to the process, old and new, involved in extracting essences, to the follow-along steps to creating your own perfume, I found this book to be entertaining and informative from the first page to the last. The comparison between perfumery and alchemy was insightful. The illustrations were charming and fun. I learned a lot and was engaged the whole way through! Highly recommended to any fan of unusual nonfiction subjects."
~ Written on 2008-02-07

"This book is a very authoritative treatment of the subject, but that's not what makes it great. Aftel's passion for her subject, conveyed in lyrical, sensuous writing, is incredibly contagious."
~ Written on 2008-02-05

"I bought this book for information on how to make natural perfume, and was not disappointed, but what makes it so compelling is the elegance of the writing. Very evocative, really steeps you in the world of fragrance. "
~ Written on 2007-08-18