This week's challenge is going to test your creativity a little differently. There is no flower to recreate. No fragrance family to follow. No reference scent. Your inspiration is simply a color. 🟡 GOLD What does GOLD smell like to you? Don't think about what it should smell like. Think about what the color makes you feel. Close your eyes and imagine it. What textures come to mind? What temperature? What atmosphere? Is it bright or dark? Soft or powerful? Modern or ancient? Natural or abstract? Now take those thoughts and translate them into scent. THE RULES 1.) You may use a maximum of 7 materials. 2.) Your formula must total 100% 3.) There are no required materials and no restrictions on what you can use. 4.) Do not look at anyone else's formula until you've completed yours! 5.) When you submit your formula, tell us why your creation represents GOLD to you. There is no right or wrong answer. The purpose of this exercise is to practice one of the most important skills in creative perfumery: taking something that doesn't have an inherent smell and giving it an olfactory identity. Ten perfumers can look at the exact same color and imagine ten completely different scents. That's what I want to see. When you're finished, share your 7 materials (or fewer), your 100% formula, and the thought process behind your creation in the comments. Let's find out what GOLD smells like. 🟡✨👃

What is one material you are obsessed with right now? For me, it would have to be Hedione HC or Jasmine Grandiflorum Absolute. These are materials I have used extensively and haven't reached for them in particular in a little while. Now when I am playing around in the Lab, I have a hard time not including them in anything and everything. Methyl Nicotinate has also been something that has been interesting to play with. It is not very often you find an aroma chemical that fits a bill of a whole note, but this one is a very very very dry tobacco with almost a super amber feel. Super intriguing.

Today, I wanted to begin a new series exploring specific notes found in nature and how we recreate them in perfumery. While this series will occasionally venture into fantasy accords, the goal is to deepen our understanding of perfumery as a whole and remind ourselves that creativity should never have limitations. The first note we'll explore is one of my personal favorites: rose. Rose holds a very special place in my heart. I grew up surrounded by rose bushes, cutting fresh blooms as a child to bring to my grandmother, who always seemed to smell of roses herself. To this day, that aroma immediately brings back those memories. Most people think of rose as a single, linear scent. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Nature is far more complex than that. Before we talk about roses specifically, it's important to understand why flowers are fragrant in the first place. Floral aromas evolved primarily to attract pollinators. Different flowers produce different combinations of aromatic molecules that appeal to particular insects, birds, or other pollinating animals. This incredible diversity is why flowers can smell so vastly different from one another. Some are fresh, dewy, and unmistakably floral, while others can smell surprisingly spicy, fruity, citrusy, green, or even reminiscent of licorice or melon. Over the years, I've spent countless hours visiting nurseries, botanical gardens, and dedicated rose gardens, studying hundreds of different cultivars. My goal wasn't simply to admire them—it was to understand how roses actually smell in nature rather than relying on the simplified idea of "rose" that perfumery often presents. One observation I've made is that the color of a rose often gives clues about its overall aromatic character. This certainly isn't a strict rule, and there are countless exceptions depending on the variety, but it's an interesting trend I've noticed. - Yellow Roses - Often the brightest-smelling of the group. Many have citrusy, lemony, or even melon-like nuances that can feel cheerful, sparkling, and surprisingly tropical.

Here is an early look into what kind of exercises and information is going to be included in the workbooks. This is pulled from the Intermediate course book I am currently working on. These are some of the basic exercises and tools we will be providing you with to help you better understand musks and their roles in perfumery. Now available in the intermediate course!!

Hello and congratulations for taking the first step into your perfumery journey. Please introduce yourself and feel free to share a picture of your workspace or materials collection. This is a safe workspace where all are welcome. Whether just starting off or an avid perfumer, no question is too silly to ask. I am always opened to suggestions for topics and course ideas, so if you have a specific need, please feel free to reach out. Looking forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your dream of becoming a perfumer!!