Creating our fragrance

On the 17th April following a lecture and seminar with Karen Gilbert we created our fragrance in our groups. We had to test different smells and mix together a combination of heart notes, accessories, heart notes and harmonisers. 

It was difficult at first to select the right combination as we wanted our fragrance to smell masculine yet fresh, and this proved hard as Karen initially said it smelt too feminine. We then replaced one of the floral smells for a woody smell.

Our final fragrance combination:

Heart

Muguet (green floral) - 40 drops

Naturelle Homme (fresh mens) - 40 drops

Woody (dry wood cedar) - 40 drops

Accessory

Green (green grassy) - 20 drops

Tobacco (aromatic) - 20 drops

Fixative

Mossy (green earthy)

Harmoniser

Bergamot (citrus)

Karen Gilbert

On the 16th April we had a guest lecturer called Karen Gilbert. She gave an informative lecture on creating and marketing a fragrance brand. Through this she explained and outlined what a fragrance is, where fragrance has come from and ideal customers. 

Karen originally trained as a make-up artist but then went on to the London college of fashion to study cosmetic science. She then did a placement at one of the major fragrance manufacturers - IFF for two weeks which is where she the training of her nose began and she truly discovered her career path. 

She then worked with M&S, Boots and super drug working on own label toiletries ranges. She then ran sessions which taught how to categorise fragrances and the raw materials used.

Her path then changed slightly, moving towards the natural skincare and essential oils side working in product development for Neal's Yard which provided an excellent learning opportunity. Karen then became the companies company trainer running workshops for both staff and members of the public.

Her teaching career progressed running natural beauty workshops for Neal's Yard remedies, trill farm and the make lounge. In August 2011 her first book, 'A green guide to natural beauty' was published after being approached by Cico books to write it. She has now written another book 'Perfume - The art & craft of fragrance', launched an online perfumery course and teaches many classes about practical perfumery. 

Karen Gilbert on twitter

Her website