--- product_id: 437309632 title: "Essence and Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume" price: "R751" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/437309632-essence-and-alchemy-a-natural-history-of-perfume store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # 30 years natural perfumery expertise 14 foreign editions Centuries of scent history Essence and Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume **Price:** R751 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🌿 Unlock the ancient alchemy of scent and transform your world with nature’s purest perfumes! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Essence and Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume - **How much does it cost?** R751 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/437309632-essence-and-alchemy-a-natural-history-of-perfume) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Expert Artisan Insight:** Learn from Mandy Aftel’s three decades of hands-on experience crafting exquisite natural fragrances. - • **Timeless Craftsmanship:** Dive into 3,000 years of perfume artistry and rediscover a nearly lost natural tradition. - • **Award-Winning Bestseller:** Join thousands of readers who rated it 4.6 stars and propelled it to #4 in Aromatherapy books. - • **Global Essence Collection:** Explore rare, natural essences sourced worldwide, with authentic recipes to create your own signature scents. - • **Sensory & Spiritual Fusion:** Uncover the deep connection between scent, emotion, and ritual—from love to solitude to worship. ## Overview Essence and Alchemy is a 2022 revised edition bestseller that blends rich historical narrative with practical natural perfume recipes. Authored by Mandy Aftel, a master perfumer with 30 years of experience, this book revives the lost art of natural fragrance making, tracing its cultural and spiritual significance across centuries. Highly rated and translated into 14 languages, it’s a definitive guide for anyone passionate about authentic, artisanal scents. ## Description REVISED EDITION, 2022 For centuries, people have taken an instinctive pleasure in rubbing scents into their skin and using them to pray, to heal, and to make love. Yet in many ways perfumery, with its lush history and creative and sensual possibilities, is a lost art. No one knows this better than artisan natural perfumer Mandy Aftel, who has spent nearly thirty years immersed in the world of scent, culling the most beautiful natural essences from all over the world and using them to create exquisite fragrances. In Essence and Alchemy , which has been published in fourteen foreign editions, Aftel teaches the art of making natural perfumes, complete with recipes. She resurrects the social and metaphysical legacy that is entwined with the evolution of perfumery, from the dramas of the spice trade to the quests of the alchemists. Tracking scent through the boudoir and bath and into the sanctums of worship, she offers insights on the relationship of scent to sex, solitude, and the soul, unearthing a forgotten world of natural essences and their profound resonance with body, mind, and spirit. Review: A blend of history and practical knowledge - I like the book, it contains a lot of information. the historical part is weaved with practical information and told in a somewhat poetic way. A lot of quoting, in my personal case, this poetic style makes it a little dense to read. I do like the book and will highly recommend it, but is not just a practical go to the point book. Which is neither good, nor bad. There are some formulas and instructions on what is important if you are just starting into the world of natural fragrances, which is my case. Review: Ancient Artform - Its a fascinating read. It is amazingly comprehensive and very well written. Its the best book written about natural perfume, bar none. It awakens you to ancient artform which was almost lost. Aftel did us a great service resurrecting it. ## Features - Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - 4 ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #51,195 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #4 in Aromatherapy (Books) #29 in Grooming & Style | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 267 Reviews | ## Images ![Essence and Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71LfYqzq6eL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A blend of history and practical knowledge *by A***C on August 30, 2025* I like the book, it contains a lot of information. the historical part is weaved with practical information and told in a somewhat poetic way. A lot of quoting, in my personal case, this poetic style makes it a little dense to read. I do like the book and will highly recommend it, but is not just a practical go to the point book. Which is neither good, nor bad. There are some formulas and instructions on what is important if you are just starting into the world of natural fragrances, which is my case. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ancient Artform *by C***N on July 5, 2025* Its a fascinating read. It is amazingly comprehensive and very well written. Its the best book written about natural perfume, bar none. It awakens you to ancient artform which was almost lost. Aftel did us a great service resurrecting it. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A necessary book for a novice perfumer! *by C***T on February 7, 2025* This little book is my perfume bible. I am taking Mandy Aftel’s perfume course and this is definitely one of my favorite reference books. Her information on history and love of the beautiful essences is contagious. ## Frequently Bought Together - Essence and Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume - Perfume: The Alchemy of Scent - The Museum of Scent: Exploring the Curious and Wondrous World of Fragrance --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/437309632-essence-and-alchemy-a-natural-history-of-perfume](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/437309632-essence-and-alchemy-a-natural-history-of-perfume) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-07-04*