For some it means a small batch. For some it means a bottle touched by human hands rather than a machine. Those things are fine. But they are not the point. The point is whether the person making the fragrance has something to say, and whether they have done the slow, unglamorous work of figuring out what that is before they start reaching for materials.

You hear a lot about “aquatic fragrances” this time of year but what does that actually mean?
It’s the height of the summer and those most fortunate who have access to the seaside, ocean, lake (or even a kiddy pool) can get a good whiff of cool, watery scents. Whether they’re briny or soft, aquatic notes are varied but are equally employed to create many modern perfumes.

Upcycled ingredients are among the more recent trends to emerge in modern perfumery creation. To reuse an otherwise discarded material to extract essential oils is technology at its best and a welcomed manufacturing practice for the environment.