Natural Perfumers Guild
The Art of Natural Perfumery
Perfumery, as an art and profession, has a long and distinguished history. For the thousands of years perfumers have practiced their art, nature has been both their inspiration and the source of their materials. From simple mixes of basic raw materials to exquisite and complex blends of painstakingly prepared distillates, perfumes and perfumed products have enriched our lives and the lives of our predecessors, making them sweeter, fuller, and more enjoyable. Perfumers' creations were used in temples, palaces and ordinary homes; their containers are found among the artifacts of most ancient civilizations.
The term “Natural Perfume” was relatively obscure more than 10 years ago .There was a change in consciousness, and many independent people decided that they really wanted to learn how to blend, and they wanted to define themselves as separate from mainstream perfumery. So, the term Natural Perfumery, like a synchronistic “click” in many scent-lovers heads, became the way in which we define what we do. In the 1800’s, before the discovery of synthetics that would change perfumery forever, natural perfumery did exist; it just wasn’t called that. The perfumers were just perfumers. The 20th Century saw the growth of mainstream perfumery and the increasing use of synthetic chemicals replacing the natural aromatics. Now, in the 21st Century, Natural Perfumery is the logical next step along the fragrant path for many aromatherapists. It is the road back through history that we are now finding, and it is wonderful.
We invite you to read about us, our definition of natural perfumery, see what exciting, groundbreaking projects we've been involved in, and consider joining us.
Please read our Code to learn more about the ways we are a self-regulating agency. Our standards for our Professional Perfumers are the highest in the world regarding the use of natural ingredients. If you wish to study perfumery, we have a list of educators in our membership who may assist you in this. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.