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Alchemist Mandy Aftel to Open Exhibit on Natural Perfume
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Alchemist Mandy Aftel to Open Exhibit on Natural Perfume

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Living Perfume

Photo: Mandy Aftel
French Rose Otto by Ungerer & Co.
Early Twenties
"This is a distilled rose bottle by Ungerer & Company, a company that is still around. I wanted to pick ingredients that people are familiar with, and people are familiar with rose. I like this bottle, too. It looks like money."
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Living Perfume

Photo: Mandy Aftel
Map of the World by Lucien Boucher from the Antoine Chiris Establishments
1931
"Antoine Chiris was a surveyor for essential oils. He supplied the essential oils to Francois Coty and they had this book of maps to illustrate where the oils come from. It was a vanity publication."
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Living Perfume

Photo: Mandy Aftel
Vetivert by Dodge & Olcott, Co.
Twenties
"I love how this one says 'put up by.' That just means they poured it into the bottle. They're in New Jersey and New York -- even though they got the vetivert from India."
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Living Perfume

Photo: Mandy Aftel
Map of Africa by Lucien Boucher from the Antoine Chiris Establishments
1931
"I like to say that the world was discovered in perfume's wake. There was a lot of exploration done because people were looking for spices and oils and these were precious commodities. Here is a map of Africa, also used for vanity. You can see the compass points to directions of ingredients."
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Living Perfume

Photo: Mandy Aftel
Nutmeg by Lehn & Fink
Early Twenties
"This is included just because nutmeg is a familiar smell to many people. Also because this was made by Lehn & Fink, a company based in New York."
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Living Perfume

Photo: Mandy Aftel
House of Pinaud Publication
1928
"Here is another vanity publication, this one from the House of Pinaud. It's romantic, having a donkey bring back the flowers used in the perfumery. The first line says: 'One of the most remarkable achievements of the House of Pinaud ... is its continued refusal to adulterate its perfumes with synthetic bases.' That of course is no longer true, but it is an ode to natural times."
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Living Perfume

Photo: Mandy Aftel
Patchouly by Lubin Perfume House
Early Twenties
"This is an interesting design because of the graphics on the label and quasi penny stopper. It's utilitarian, and more like an apothecary look."
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Living Perfume

Photo: Mandy Aftel
Lalique Plaque
Twenties
"This was a decorative bronze plaque used in perfume houses, this one being for Parfums Fontanis. It shows different ways to gather essences and it has roses all over it."
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Living Perfume

Photo: Mandy Aftel
Coriander by Antoine Chiris
Early Twenties
"This is the same perfume house responsible for the maps. The design on the bottle looks like awards that they must have won. Or it projects that message."
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Living Perfume

Photo: Mandy Aftel
Volnay Perfume Stamp
1925
"Volnay was a perfume house, and this stamp was a label mold used to make the label that would go on the perfume packaging."
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Living Perfume

Photo: Mandy Aftel
Cassia by Fritzsche Brothers
Early Twenties
"This is special because it hasn't been opened. And the cap is beaten -- it's a thin metal cap. It's filled with old cassia oil, which is like Chinese cinnamon."

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