natural perfume fixative • monsoon • petrichor base notes
a l c h e m y
The monsoon fixative evokes the smell of wet earth, rain after a dry spell, geosmin, petrichor. It features my homemade absolutes of clays and soils I have tinctured for their unique aromas. These include: Multani Mitti clay from volcanic ash, Rhassoul clay from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, and sod (topsoil from my Vermont gardens). The sod from my garden has a mysterious agarwood note that becomes prominent after the soil has been upturned and left in the sun, and which I like to think of as an earthworm musk. Color may vary.
Photos: the fixative in 10ml and 5ml glass jars and my handmade monsoon absolute (organic); fixative in 5ml and 10ml black violet glass jars.
f i x a t i v e s
This compound serves as a primer for my natural perfumes and colognes, "fixing" and extending the composition. One of the issues with natural perfumes is their tendency to evaporate rapidly, especially the volatile heart and top notes. The aroma of these thinner notes can be made to last longer by slowing down the evaporation rate with the application of one of my creamy fixatives. Each one contains its own fragrance composed exclusively of base notes, in an organic emulsion of raw beeswax, cold pressed natural oils, and unrefined, raw butters. These base notes come from oils and resins that are physically thicker, and thus diffuse over the course of days rather than hours. In addition to lasting longer themselves, viscous base notes tend to trap middle and top notes, releasing them languorously rather than quickly. Finally, in the spirit of true alchemy, base notes may exalt the volatile notes, meaning they will bring out their best features, not only drawing out the perfume in time and space, but transforming and elevating the creation entirely.
d i r e c t i o n s
To use, rub a fixative balm into your skin prior to natural perfume application to seal in and strengthen the tenacity of the scent. Can be layered with scents, or worn alone. You may also find it works well as a moisturizer for dry skin.
r a w ☽•☾ m a t t e r
Wild Veil natural perfumes are composed by me, Abby, using homemade, wildcrafted and organic aromatics in Vermont. These include my handmade enfleurage, tinctures, enfleurage extraits, absolutes, resinoids and concretes, and floral waxes. I spend as much time growing plants and foraging as I do composing perfumes.
h o w ☽•☾ t o ☽•☾ w e a r
The best way to experience a natural perfume is to apply it to well-moisturized skin, without rubbing in (absorption only shortens the wear time of fragrance) and without scrubbing off. Natural perfumes are dynamic and take a minimum of 2 hours to reach their final stage, or dry down. Enjoy the alchemical changes as they unfold from the initial intensity of top notes, to the warmth of the heart, to the depth of lower base notes.
☽•☾ Wild Veil ☽•☾ alchemy between earth and ether ☽•☾
☽•☾ All aesthetic material copyright Abby Hinsman 2019 ☽•☾