Setting up your Scent Workspace
Are you itching to get going? Me too. Let’s set up our scent workspace so that we are efficient and inventive.
VENTILATION
You should always work in a well-ventilated area so that you don’t confuse your nose with your previous creations. Be sure that your workspace is a neutral space free of any other scents (this includes your own splash of perfume and even your deodorant). Your nose will thank you for allowing it to focus.
THE SURFACE
Always work on a stable flat surface without clutter to avoid spills, breakages, and other accidents. The last thing you want is to spend time and energy creating something fabulous only to knock it over and lose it at the last minute.
PERFUMERS ORGAN
This is one of the most vital parts of your scent workspace.
The organ is a space where you can be creative and have all of the necessary ingredients for your original scents at your fingertips. Do your research and use images to inspire your imagination to create an organ as personalised as you are a perfumer.
It can look however you want it to, but it MUST be well organised in a way that helps facilitate your work. Some people choose to arrange their oils by scent family, others by alphabetical order, and some by frequency of use. Remember to keep your organ in a space that will not be subject to major temperature changes or sunlight.
By the way, did you know that perfumers and organists have a lot in common?
Think for a moment about the terminology that is used in both fields. A musician uses notes to express feelings and emotions, and a perfumer uses ‘notes’ of flowers to create different moods in scent. We refer to combinations of two or three raw materials as ‘accords,’ which is exactly like the chords that organists use to create their music. This is why it is called a perfumer’s organ, as like the musician’s organ it is instrumental to emotional creativity.
Back to your scent space...
Equipment should be right at hand: pipettes (in separate receptacles for new and used pipettes), scales, writing utensils, your own recording system, and a waste bin. Paper is crucial for writing your formulas and ideas must be organised so that they are not easily misplaced. You will thank yourself for this later!
SAFETY FIRST
A few rules of thumb to always keep in mind:
Never apply neat (undiluted) oils directly to your skin. If you do get oils on your skin, wash immediately. If you get oils in your eyes, contact a doctor
Use powderless gloves to handle your work when using neat oils
Don't wear your Dior dress when working as it will inevitably get splashed and ruined
Use paper strips to smell your creations rather than smelling directly out of the bottle.
Take your time! Rushing = accidents.
Your nose needs regular breaks to avoid olfactory fatigue, so make sure you take them
Create a workspace where you love to be, which encompasses calm, safety and organization. Make it YOUR space. And never forget the importance of your organ!
Enrol to the Scent School online to learn more and get more tips about your Scent workspace.
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