Firstly can I say loved the author's sense of humour it made a subject really interesting and gave me an insight into the subject. I then rediscovered my essential oils and played with them more to come up with some interesting scents based on her recommendations.

All in all a good book for the novice.

I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

If you want to make perfume, this is an excellent source. Since I use essential oils in a diffuser, this wasn't exactly what I was looking for.

The book explains the notes and gives examples in each category. It gives you sources where you can buy base ingredients and explains how to make a tincture. I think the best part about the book is the recipes. They tell which essential oils to combine if you want to create a certain scent.

I am so happy to have found this book! Now I have much more of an idea of what to do with my essential oils, and the results are much better!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

Loved it, great book. So much great info.

In the past, I have purchased the random essential oil here and there but never have mixed the combos just right and plus the scent always went away after an hour or so. This book explain why. The author describes the components according to when they first hit your nose to the last one to linger on in memory. She indicates what percentage of each ingredient type leads to the perfect potion. And she includes the secret ingredients required to ensure your concoctions linger longer on your skin.

Even before I started with chapter one, I knew I’d like this book. The jokey play on “friends with benefits” in the title made me smile, and I loved the detailed, no nonsense structure of the book, complete with glossary (including pronunciation!), lists of resources for more information about scents, and resources for buying supplies.

This book is the first in a series on all natural perfumery, followed by some intriguing topics: olfactory, flavor and fragrance; creating natural fragrances; celebrity fragrances; and beneficial fragrances and practical perfumery. They all sound interesting!

Thankfully the book dives straight into the craft of perfumery with no super chatty preamble. The author is very friendly and personable explaining exactly what is required, what isn’t required (and why), and gives advice on how to start a beginner lab at around $200. And she includes the recipe for dozens and dozens of famous blends including Guerlain, Shalimar, and concoctions preferred by George Washington and Napoleon Bonaparte.

Her sense of humor is sassy and smart from one cover to the other. We reviewers are asked not to quote material since its not published yet, but she makes lots of funny observations that are hilarious and I burst out laughing several times. Her sense of humor ranges the gamut from stories about being victimized (my word, not hers) by overbearing scents in small places to advice about not wearing flowing clothing while concocting.

What is the appeal of making your own scents? One idea she mentions that appealed to me is that it, unlike professional perfumes, doesn’t require processing that is harmful to the earth. I like her focus on saving your pocketbook and saving our planet. The book itself follows this mandate, being composed of text only with no photos or frills.

In terms of ethics and finances, I also liked that she shows just exactly how rich and huge the major perfume companies are. That was a compelling argument for diy, in my opinion. She also mentions direct sale and the MLM/pyramid business models that many people (including me!) find repugnant. My mormon friends have cult-like devotion to these essential oil MLMs. Legally, direct sales schemes are completely fine; the other two appear so similar, but MLMs are legal while pyramids are not.

Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my feedback.

The first “perfume” I ever smelled and still remember to this day is Holiday Magic. My 12 yo sister and I as a preschooler would sneak into our mom’s train case of cosmetics smelling of loose face powder and take turns opening up the Holiday Magic jars to take deep lungful hits of that magic. I would love to recreate <em>those</em> recipes. Incidentally, that brand was created in a garage by two female entrepreneurs, and though they never profited; a fraudster bought their inventory, made a bundle, and was arrested because of his pyramid scheme. Pretty notorious. A sad ending to some entrepreneurs and their yummy smells.

This book helps bear record and keep our favorite scents alive.