Essence & Alchemy. A Book of Perfume.
London: Bloomsbury, 2001. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. viii + 244pp. Charcoal boards with metallic blue lettering to spine, two-tone illustrations, notes, bibliography, and index. From the publisher: "Essence and Alchemy resurrects the social and metaphysical legacy that is entwined with the evolution of perfumery, from the dramas of the spice trade to the quests of the alchemists to whom today's perfumers owe a philosophical as well as a practical debt. Mandy Aftel tracks scent through the boudoir and the bath and into the sanctums of worship, offering insights on the relationship of scent to sex, solitude, and the soul. Along the way, she imparts instruction in the art of perfume compositions, complete with recipes, guiding the reader in a process of transformation of materials that continues to follow the alchemical dictum solve et coagula (dissolve and combine) and is itself aesthetically and spiritually transforming." From the library of occult scholar and author Stephen Skinner with his penned ownership name opposite title page. A tight, clean near Fine copy in VG dust jacket (Dust jacket a little marked and rubbed, edges lightly chafed, clipped). Item #57562
ISBN: 0747554099
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