What is the Perfume Project?

This blog is a constantly evolving forum for thoughts on perfume, perfume-making, plants (especially orchids and flora of the Pacific Northwest) and life in general. It started out chronicling the adventures of Olympic Orchids Perfumes, established in July 2010, and has expanded in other directions. A big part of the blog is thinking about the ongoing process of learning and experimentation that leads to new perfumes, the exploration of perfumery materials, the theory and practice of perfume making, the challenges of marketing perfumes and other fragrance products, and random observations on philosophy and society. Spam comments will be marked as such and deleted; any comments that go beyond the boundaries of civil discourse will also be deleted. I am grateful to all of you, the readers, who contribute to the blog by commenting and making this a truly interactive perfume project.

Monday, July 15, 2019

WINNER OF SERVER FARM DRAWING AND A NEW ONE

The winner of the last drawing is:

PARROT

To claim your winnings, just send an e-mail with your full name and shipping address to olympicorchids at gmail dot com, or leave a message on our Facebook page

Yesterday I spent almost the entire day packing perfume to ship and supervising the new person who was packing orchid plants. Such a lot of busy work. I’m still trying to sell the orchid business, even as it grows, so that I can spend more time with the perfume and other creative activities. 

In the evening our neighbor invited us over to sit on her back deck and drink a bottle of prosecco. We made a fire in her clay chimenea using wood scraps picked up in the woods. The high point was when we burned parts of an old, decommissioned bird feeder that was so dry that the flames leaped up immediately, crackled, popped, and sent up showers of sparks. The fire eventually settled into a red glow that just took the chill off the night air. We watched the stars come out, and the moon come up. Everything was perfectly quiet. It was like sitting around a campfire, and about as relaxing as it gets. 

There’s something magical about watching a controlled open fire. It invites contemplation, clears the brain, and brings people together in a friendly way. The smell of the wood smoke is part of the magic. 

To enter this week’s drawing, leave any sort of comment about fire. The prize will be at least 100g of perfume samples. 

[Photos of chimenea fire and rising moon are from Wikimedia. We had no devices of any kind with us last night. Moon and campfire painting by Albert Bierstadt, 19th century.] 

10 comments:

  1. Fire is amazing. There is the destructive quality like a building fire where onlookers can’t help but stare. And there is the controlled crackling of the hot flames in a fireplace creating a feeling of comfort and calm – even a sense of romanticism with the right company. I fondly recall visiting a friend in South Florida and being amazed at his Living Room having a fantastic view with a fireplace... large A/C ducts adjacent.

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    1. Martin, how typically American to have the fireplace burning and the AC on! You're entered in the drawing.

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  2. We have a fire pit in our backyard overlooking a small lake. One of my favorite family and friend activities is sitting around the fire in late September/October when the weather starts to turn chilly. The summer harvest is coming to an end and it just seems natural and almost primal to start burning wood. A glass of wine makes it complete.

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    1. Triniti, this sounds like the perfect way to celebrate the beginning of fall. You're in the drawing.

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  3. I guess that would be the same calming, peaceful feeling people get seating in front of a cozy light fireplace, with a cup of hot cocoa in the winter, because as hot as it is outside, I really cannot imagine seating around a fire in the summer. But I am glad it was a wonderful experience for you!

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    1. Nelle, it gets cool here in the evening, so it's better than you think! You're entered in the drawing.

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  4. I love fire and smoke. There is something magical about sitting next to a fire while reading a good book or listening to some classical music. Best way to unwind during the cold seasons.

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    1. Emily, sitting by a fire is indeed magical! You're entered in the drawing.

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  5. My husband and I have been planning on building a dedicated fire pit for years, just haven't gotten around to it. This post has inspired me to finally get one! I love the idea of having a nice drink at night by a nice smoky fire

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    1. Crystal, good for you finally deciding to do something you've been planning for years. Sitting by your fire pit with a drink sounds ideal. You're in the drawing.

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