Beauty In Our Time

I was thinking about the last post and remarking to myself (silently) at how much time we spend on the unnecessary. I will never in my lifetime understand it, so I have stopped trying. In regards to perfumery, my aim is and has always been to create beautiful works of art. Beauty being in the eye of the beholder, and compatible skin, or even a spritz on a handkerchief tucked into a purse. And what the fuss, personally I do not always wear perfume on my skin. I know it is sinful to say so, but it is true. Sometimes I will place scent under the cuff of my sleeve or the inside seam of a blouse, or in my hair. This works well for fleeting natural perfumes, as the fabric and hair will hold the scent longer. If it is the evolution or scent, the artistry that one is seeking, then by all means dab it on the skin and enjoy the ride. But for these times when fear and greed are our great motivators, it is good to step back from the frenzy and take a deep breath. Slow down and look around, the view might be surprising. I was browsing the internet yesterday, looking through plant catalogs, and came across the Cinco de Mayo rose, and thinking about getting one for my garden. I have seen this rose before and loved it at first look. Now I see it at every turn, so it is trying to speak to me, yes. I have not added any new roses to my gardens in a few years, and this one is so lovely. So beautiful. I am also beginning to grow a few more flowers for their scent, and am hoping that my Mock Orange will bless me with an abundance of blossoms this year. It has been a slim showing every year since I extracted scent from the blossoms of 2005 and 06. I am currently working on a natural perfume, a natural Gardenia that is set into the carrier essence from the Mock Orange. I have also created a carrier that contains the mock orange along with four years of hyacinth tincture and orange flower floral wax. I love the agrestic nature of tinctured wax’s.They are in their way, so very beautiful to me.  It is always the beauty that draws me in. I may become fascinated with the science and even adore  its unique and structured elegance, but at the end of the day it is the beauty that sparks desire in my soul. When I get a new idea for a perfume, it is not the pragmatism of science speaking to me, but the erotic, the sensual, the initial surge of emotion, the part that makes it all so very human. I pray we do not lose the human element of desire for this artistry that is perfume. In our madness to regulate and control every aspect of our environment, we forget to be human, we forget that every step is a risk, and we become fearful, shrivel up and die. This is not the way to live, and we must stop trying to destroy our joy. Nothing is more entwined with our health than the ability to feel good, to experience beauty in all it’s glory. That in itself should be enough to move us in a new and more cheerful direction.

Peace & Blessings, ZZ.

Image: cinco de mayo rose: jackson & perkins online catalog