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Several colorful characters of long ago made lasting contributions to perfuming that have remained long after their own lives ended. 

By Sherika Tenaya Much of this blog series has been based off the work of Mandy Aftel in her groundbreaking book Essence & Alchemy, and this b...

By Sherika Tenaya It is hard to say when exactly perfumery made the transition from spiritually significant item of ritual, medicine and survival...

By Sherika Tenaya From the times of our earliest ancestors, we have been enraptured by scent in all its various forms. That love affair, while som...

Considering perfume has been a part of the human story since the human story first began, it comes as no surprise that there is a rich and vibrant history, a tapestry of sorts, sewn together from a wide array of different cultural cloths all colluding to inspire and inform our ever-changing relationship with our sense of smell.

By: Sherika Tenaya In one of our earlier blogs, we discussed the importance of making space in one’s life as a necessary prerequisite to creating ...

From a very young age, precipitated by our entry into school, we condition ourselves to a life of sameness. Whether you are at school or at work, we learn to live our lives by habituated scheduling which we rarely deviate from and which often lulls us into a feeling of security or comfortability.

Across the world, scent is used as the tinder to fan the fire of desire. “In the highlands of New Guinea,” Aftel writes, “shamans say incantations over ginger leaves, which are thought to lend allure to the man who rubs them on his face and body. In the Amazon, Yanomamo men carry sachets of fragrant powders that are supposed to make attractive women tumble into their arms.”

By: Sherika Tenaya When it comes to sensory pleasures, our sense of smell is often overlooked in favor of the more “flashy” sensory inputs: our dec...

By: Sherika Martinez For many people, this time of year can be one of the most challenging, and not without reason. Some may be susceptible to sea...

There is nothing more comforting, more warming, more commemorate of home than a deliciously made cup of hot chocolate. And what better time to partake than now, as winter snows barrage the senses, chill the extremities, discourage travel, and induce a sense of quiet introspection and spiritual hibernation.

By: Sherika Tenaya As we emerge from the longest dark of the year, noted by the passing of the winter solstice, we find ourselves approaching a ne...