A spot from Firmenich Naturals on oud production in Bangladesh, with perfumer Hamid Merati-Kashani.
Prayers toward the heavens
Frankincense, one of three fabled gifts the wise men brought to honor Jesus, has been used for millennia as an incense in cooking and religious ceremonies. In Catholic churches today, the tendrils of smoke rising from burning frankincense are thought to carry prayers toward the heavens. Now, the earthy smell that evokes memories of spiritual communion for so many is under threat: Human activity is predicted to cause a 50% decline in frankincense harvests over the next 20 years, according to new research.
— Read more at World’s supply of frankincense could go up in smoke at Science.
Green mandarin & cardamom
Two spots from Firmenich Naturals. The first is on green mandarin from Brazil (with perfumer Amandine Clerc Marie), followed by (below the jump) cardamom from Guatemala (with perfumer Frank Voelkl).
Our language is one of scents
Guerlain perfumer Thierry Wasser, in Calabria to talk about bergamot. Then below the jump, a quick video for the brand’s new Flora Cherrysia, Coconut Fizz and Ginger Piccante.
Orange flower
A short film from International Flavors & Fragrances' in house naturals facility, Laboratoire Monique Rémy, about the cultivation and processing of Tunisian orange blossoms into orange blossom absolute and neroli. (If you never understood the difference between the two products, this video will explain.) About 6 minutes; perfumer Anne Flipo appears at about the 5:20 mark.