![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3JJ53wbo5Rz4lX9mlEUk0dEunU-QkuuR4HM9P1kecqniHWhIZB5lykdfbaI0lN7zyuNocFknzAKWg299AN4Kov779gIrJUnoFbdwW-YXvhs0WbXJPkEw0ws848voHAPlAQSWfNLw57Ax/s400/Blueberries_t.jpg)
For over a year now I have been contemplating starting this new blogging series. It is called "In the Raw" and will delve into specific materials within the palette of a natural botanical perfume artist. I am thus debuting it today with the spotlight on the gourmand/edible scent family.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1RVI7DSq2C26Ch7-iufdtTUG1JdCvl2JaJz6K9x6meJ-8aAZNO-Lp2rOu9ps-O4TWqK6Xj0yFIFslcJChtIRHrie6C8Agyd32Nbj-hfQINVefRFkUM-zyZRXVkywyE4dQ8mqvNEPpLNl/s400/nose+on+parchment.jpg)
With over ten million scent receptors in our noses we have the ability to identify upwards of thousands of different aromas. Understanding what we are perceiving in a scent helps us to classify a note or perfume into a specific odour family. The main odour families are: floral,woody, animalic, balsamic, vegetative, herbaceous, agrestic, green, spice, coniferous, marine, minty, medicated and fruity. The odour classification gourmand or edible are fairly new terms in the linguistics of aromatic families. In the past gourmand scents were put into a miscellaneous category. A gourmand perfume implies that there is a predominant foodie note in the fragrance, not to be confused with fruity, which is a subclass of the citrus family. Odours typical of the gourmand family are generally found in the primary category of spice, herbal, fruity, or vegetative. For example, below is a short list of a few materials from the palette of a botanical perfumer that are considered to contain gourmand qualities, but, are classified in one or two of the main categories first.
- Basil: Spice / Herbaceous
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zO14GhQH_H4qTx50IMb6o4Nrd3M3X1k-MyhfpLSetAtYb1enht2mQlFVGVJp2AxtOrhvx3nX3hrTX4zpTbq4XIym7CY9cMw3sy3P95wWq6mxyvkxCuZ0QInU8nU68eAe7QCEUZLjSWq4/s200/Mushrooms+on+Parchm%27t.jpg)
- Black Currant: Fruity
- Celery: Spice
- Chamomile: Fruity / Herbaceous
- Coriander: Spice / Herbaceous
- Fennel: Herbaceous
- Ginger: Spice
- Grapefruit: Citrus / Fruity
- Mushroom: Fungal/Vegetative
- Pepper: Spice
- Saffron: Spice
- Sage: Herbaceous
- Spearmint: Minty
- Vanilla: Balsamic
The notes that do not fit into those main compartments and are in need their own separate category, which is termed gourmand or edible. For example:
- Artichoke
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BnoRHEF09geBoft0uKCzvWK0wyhngWYsID8_dHdBACdJawoL17qfWY9Ivrzc9O7fgeVfjIcCpoCWwNYTkDnbJCAFwDJQDtZ0vBeG_vrdfweYaPDAEEJndnyqtOoCiu6ytYCVLWYLXJXs/s200/Garlic_onParchm't.jpg)
- Bitter Almond
- Burnt
- Butter
- Caramel
- Chocolate
- Coconut
- Coffee
- Cognac
- Garlic
- Hazelnut
- Honey
- Tea
- Wheat
These aromatics are generally warm and seductive. I generally am not a fan of over the top gourmand fragrances, however, I do appreciate the genre and have caressed it a just a bit with
Sierra Solid Gold and the
fragrance devoted to peace which both feature gourmand notes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42W-rwOgX42NcaSE2WgHZjgF1pS3oy1R0llRqcAuPXMfUY6kig3rd6P2RB-3eur4d1warOuIxoPuEGiUl5V8hjSRUtKFhZXtBXSRMoH2EpHI9Exvv8Tk77EvBZIHMoG6DOyEbgZMHPOqY/s200/Cake+on+Parchm%27t.jpg)
The holiday season feels especially fitting for gourmand fragrances since the focus is on feasting. This genre has a rather wide spectrum and can encompass a very sweet vanilla perfume which makes one smell like a dessert, to a warm spice, to a completely avant-garde herbaceous garlic aroma. That last one is a little out there, I know, but why not? The art of perfume is an art after all and I am a believer in pushing the visionary envelope and getting out of the ordinary. Albeit I won't be going out in the world smelling like a cake or a salad dressing. Although, I have had some people interpret the aroma of ylang ylang as bubblegum. (!?!) My particular interest lies more in the fragrances of the land, forest and fairy realms.
2 comments:
i love this Roxana!!!! For me the connection between fragrances I love and my stomach are completely tangible!!!!!
Gotta love tangibility!
Post a Comment