Nature’s Bounty
Aftelier’s Mandy AfteI Introduces Cassis
The new fragrance Cassis, created by artisanal perfumer Mandy Aftel brings us a fruity and complex all natural perfume inspired by the ripe fruit of an autumn harvest.
The creation of Cassis was an aesthetic challenge for an entirely natural perfume since there are almost no pure and natural fruit essences. Mandy wanted to create a fragrance reminiscent of heavy redolent fruit and the aromas of an Autumnal landscape. A key component to the composition is the rare and fine rum co2 with its intoxicating top notes.
Cassis is aromatic with notes of spices and fruit:
Top Notes: blood orange, pink pepper, rum
Middle Notes: jasmine sambac absolute, black currant absolute, pimento berry absolute
Bottom Notes: Black tea absolute, cognac, patchouli
Cassis evokes the trees laden with fruit and the rich autumnal colors of the harvest----- bringing to life the words of the nineteen century painter, poet and mystic William Blake:
“O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stained
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou may’st rest,
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance!
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers
The narrow bud opens her beauties to
The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins;
Blossoms hang round the brows of Morning, and
Flourish down the bright cheek of modest Eve,
Till clustering Summer breaks forth into singing,
And feathered clouds strew flowers round her head.
The spirits of the air live in the smells
Of fruit; and Joy, with pinions light, roves round
The gardens, or sits singing in the trees.”
Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat,
Then rose, girded himself, and o’er the bleak
Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.”
---William Blake 1783
Mandy Aftel’s approach to creating artisan natural perfumes is based in the quality and integrity of the ingredients. Unlike most commercial perfumers, for her hand-crafted liquid and solid perfumes, Mandy chooses from among more than five hundred of the finest natural essences found anywhere in the world, using organic or wild-crafted oils whenever possible. The materials that she loves working with are often expensive and she wants the creative freedom to use not just one or two but several in a blend. Most of the all-natural fragrance materials that she uses cost between $2,000 and $14,000 per kilo. She uses no artificial colors, no synthetic fragrances, no petrochemicals, no phthalates, and no parabens.
Cassis is available in one quarter ounce ($150) and 2.2ml mini size ($45). The one quarter ounce perfume comes with a complimentary mini kit.
By Michelyn Camen