For years, "the nose" of Aveda has traveled the Amazon River in Brazil, the flower fields of Corsica and the banks of the Nile in Egypt in search of his aromatic holy grail: a lone, elusive ingredient that just might defy mother nature.

But more often than not these days, Aveda's chief perfumer Ko-ichi Shiozawa has returned from his quests empty-handed. His frustration is apparent in the way he rubs his temples and raps his knuckles to a drumbeat of discontent at his vial-strewn desk.

— From For Aveda, the problem with common scents, a fascinating account of perfumer Ko-Ichi Shiozawa's quest for organic materials. Many thanks to Emily for sending this in (it was originally published in August) after reading yesterday's announcement of Aveda's upcoming Ancient Attar perfume.