M. Aftel Essence and Alchemy - book

„For centuries, people have felt an instinctive pleasure in rubbing scents into their skin and using them in prayer, healing, and love. Yet in many respects, perfumery, with its rich history and creative and sensory possibilities, is a lost art. No one knows this better than artisan natural perfumer Mandy Aftel, who has spent nearly three decades immersed in the world of fragrance, collecting the finest natural essences from around the globe and using them to create exceptional scents.

In her book „Essence and Alchemy,“ published in fourteen foreign editions, Aftel teaches the art of natural perfumery with recipes. She revives the social and metaphysical legacy associated with the evolution of perfumery, from the dramas of the spice trade to the quests of the alchemists. Tracing scent through the boudoir and bath and into places of worship, she offers insights into the relationship of scent with sex, solitude, and the soul, revealing the forgotten world of natural essences and their deep resonance with the body, mind, and spirit.“