Hi there Posse! Mandy Aftel has recreated the very first Aftelier fragrance and re-issued it as a special, one time only, super exciting Limited Edition. It’s called Alchemy and I was lucky enough to receive a Press Sample. Sometimes the most exciting things happen because of blogging. This is one of the MOST EXCITING!

Alchemy by Aftelier Perfumes (2018 Holiday Re-Issue)

From Aftelier:

Scent Family: Floral Oriental
A voluptuous floral heart swathed in amber and vanilla, with bitter orange and black pepper top notes. A respite of comfort with its amber foundation supporting a traditional floral heart, finished with a splash of spicy citrus. Luxurious, uplifting, and universally beloved.
Alchemy was the first perfume I made for Aftelier Perfumes and has long been retired. For this holiday season in 2018 I wanted to bring it out again but this time in a limited-edition portable rollette (rollerball), using a base of fractionated coconut oil. Fortunately I still have a stash of the original essences that I used when I made Alchemy over 15 years ago, as the original ylang ylang concrete and vanilla absolute are no longer possible to find.

I’d like to fess up. As you may have noticed in previous Perfume Posse posts I love Mandy Aftel’s aesthetic. Also her real love for the medium and the way she is so keen to share her knowledge through books, classes and museum. A whole generation of indie perfumers has come about directly or indirectly due to Mandy’s influence.

So how does Alchemy smell to me?
Imagine a deep, dark, peppery animalic. Awash with amber vanilla and lightly salted ambergris. I’m totally loving the way this smells, it has the multi facets of natural perfumery but so beautifully blended that you’ll not pick it. Longer lasting than you would expect from a natural. Around the four hour mark it turns skin scent, under the radar but still faintly busing along.

Very easy to wear and comfortable yet no way near as safe as that sounds.

Go check out the Aftelier site.

This is fragrant history and only the most limited of amounts are available. The question is, will 5ml be enough?
Portia xx