Artisan perfumery

  Agarwood, also known as oud or agar, is a highly prized and valuable resinous wood native to Southeast Asia. Derived from the Aquilaria tree, agarwood is renowned for its rich, woody aroma, which is utilized in the production of perfumes, incense, and traditional medicines. Agarwood is formed when the Aquilaria tree is infected with a specific type of fungus. This infection triggers the tree's defense response, leading it to produce a resinous substance that protects it from further harm. Over time, this resin creates the dark, fragrant, and dense wood known as agarwood. The production process is lengthy and complex, making agarwood even more valuable due to its limited supply. Due to the rarity of the wood, agarwood is considered one of the most expensive and luxurious woods in the world. It is often sold in the form of chips or oil, and its price can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars per kilogram. For centuries, agarwood has been utilized in traditional medicine for i...

 When we talk about perfume, we often describe it in terms of flowers, spices, or woods. But at the most fundamental level, perfume is made of molecules —tiny structures that give every fragrance its scent, texture, and character. To understand perfumery, we first need to understand what a molecule is. What Is a Molecule? In chemistry, a molecule is a group of atoms bonded together in a specific arrangement. Atoms themselves are the basic building blocks of matter, such as: Carbon (C) Hydrogen (H) Oxygen (O) Nitrogen (N) Sulfur (S) When these atoms bond in different ways, they create molecules with unique properties. For example: Water (H₂O) is made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Ethanol (C₂H₆O) , the alcohol base in perfume, is made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. In perfumery, molecules are what carry the smell. When you spray a fragrance, its molecules evaporate, float in the air, and bind to receptors in your nose—triggering you...