Journal

There is much confusion in this area.

Everything is chemicals, down to the most benign H2O, and nature, as we all know, can be dangerous.

In the 1980’s the anti-cigarette movement really began to take hold.

A combination of ever-increasing class action lawsuits, the increase in scientific evidence against nicotine leaving nowhere to hide, and an emerging alternative in the form of e-cigarettes, created a perfect storm and proved to be a force for good.

Now we have Imperial Tobacco rebranded as Blu and Philip Morris pioneering lung health. 

It’s in the air. A certain exhilaration has come upon us as we look forward to a post covid spring, the future, and enjoying life at its fullest.

For me there is one thing that I really want to celebrate and that is the sense of smell, for those of us who still have it and no longer feel at threat of losing it.

Ever in search of optimal sustainability I am a regular attendee of the Packaging and Labelling Fairs, intent on discovering what is new and evolving.

It's a strangely uplifting experience as all suppliers are having to up their game in terms of sustainability. This year, instead of being a confined section of the Fair, it was ubiquitous.

I'm not alone in my love of forests and they really do seem to come into their own at this time of year. So for November's mix I have had a trip around the world to bring together a few of the best forest scents.

This month we are winding down and keeping things simple with the Magic of Three.

The perfume industry has at its disposal over 5000 ingredients, the vast majority being synthetically manufactured and many of which are patented to generate licensing income to the fragrance house that owns the patent – so a big commercial industry.

For the August mix I wanted to focus on a blend which creates a sense of wellbeing.

So let me introduce you to Palo Santo if you haven’t already met.

This month we get a bit more sophisticated, with the inclusion of some less commonly used essential oils, namely Peru Balsam and Myrrh.

You may have heard of balsamic notes in perfumery.