I have just recovered from an intensive 2 days whizzing around the country teaching and talking perfumery. I always forget how much talking for 2 days solid strains your voice, I really must remember to drink more water!
Saturday was in Covent Garden at the training centre of Neal’s Yard Remedies where I had 13 students from a wide variety of backgrounds, including a staff member from Lush,a chemist , a psychiatrist and a staff member of Neal’s Yard that I haven’t seen since I worked for the company seven years ago. As it turns out she now has my old job as company trainer.
After a quick whiz through the theory we spent a very intensive afternoon creating some simple accords which were then put together as finished fragrances. I love the fact that everyone came up with something completely different and wearable within the short space of time.
As everyone was heading home for dinner I was hopping on a train to my next session just outside Birmingham for a corporate client on Sunday morning. The venue was a gorgeous hotel and spa with beautiful grounds and a moat, which was thought to be once owned by an alchemist!
The focus was on middle eastern ingredients and the samples of Incense Oud (provided by the lovely sales assistant at Harvey Nichols) By Killian went down a storm with the attendees. As did the bottle of Ta’if by Ormonde Jayne.
Unfortunately the only bit of the hotel I got to enjoy was the gloriously comfy bed and the impressive function room built for Henry VIII in which we spent the morning – I am hoping to go back for a spa break though as they use lovely organic products by Neom.
>> More on my Perfumery Classes
