Aftelier

Aftelier is the Berkeley, California studio of Mandy Aftel, the perfumer-author who has done more than anyone else to articulate a serious, materials-led case for all-natural perfumery in the modern era. After an earlier collaboration under the Grandiflorum name, Aftel established Aftelier around 2002 and has since published the foundational books Essence and Alchemy and Fragrant, and opened the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents in 2017. The perfumes are composed entirely from botanical and animal naturals — ambergris, oud, jasmine grandiflorum, choya, hay absolute, antique sandalwood — and constructed in tiny batches that sell out and return rather than maintain a constant inventory. Honey Blossom became the first all-natural perfume nominated for a FiFi award, and the line is widely cited as the reference point for the contemporary natural-perfumery movement.