Aromatica Poetica is delighted to present the fourth in the Sillage series by Jehanne Dubrow. She is the author of several books of poetry and prose that dance with our heart’s senses, including Taste: A Book of Small Bites, which we highly recommend! Each of the 12 poems are written in the voice of a specific perfume—this one is Fille en Aiguilles[i]—and were begun during the height of the pandemic. For this Sillage series, the poems are paired with a …
Tag: Books
Author and High Priestess of Home Mixology, Lindsay Merbaum, Interviewed by Leona Godin
Lindsay Merbaum is a witchy writer and high priestess of home mixology crafting cocktails/mocktails inspired by the moods and themes of contemporary reads. As soon as our mutual writer friend, Jess deCourcy Hinds, introduced us, this interview was fated. Lindsay’s thoughtful responses to our questions brings together so many of the things we at Aromatica Poetica hold dear: writing, scent, mixology, botanical diversity, books, creativity, magic, and more. Leona Godin, our founding editor, interviewed her via email. Aromatica Poetica: …
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Book-Inspired Baking * Reviews + Recipes * Laura Sackton
One of the best things about reading is all the doorways it opens. Reading can be a visual or aural or tactile experience, depending on the kind of reading you’re doing. But beyond the immediate experience of absorbing words into your brain, via sound or touch or sight, there’s all the sensory experiences that reading evokes. Some books elicit a strong emotional response. Others make me feel a particular way in my body — angry or excited or overwhelmed. Often, …
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Olfactory Report 5: Scent as Protagonist * Catherine Haley Epstein
If you are reading this, you likely do not need convincing that indeed, scent is a protagonist in our lives, our society, and our world. We follow it everywhere, watching how it creates change and makes gorgeous metaphors for things – haunting, beautiful, and terrifying. Just as music and visual art can have an active role in changing our perceptions, so too does scent. While scent is invisible, it is intrinsically related to gender, race, politics etc.. We see it …
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The Olfactory Report 1: Smellicopters and the Smell of Old Books * Catherine Haley Epstein
Aromatica Poetica is delighted to present The Olfactory Report, a monthly column dedicated to the business of our noses. In it scent artist and writer, Catherine Haley Epstein, shares news, thought pieces, reviews and opinions from the olfactory landscape. For our first edition of this one of a kind column, she presents a round up of some of the more exciting events and initiatives of 2020. Despite it being, and continually being, a year full of isolation, dissonance and breaking …
“Goldilocks Closet Secrets” * Images + Text * Janina Aza Karpinska
Here are some pages from different editions of Goldilocks from my collection of Goldilocks Files –Treated, or altered pages, in the style of Tom Phillips, which was a technique I chanced upon years ago, and which gave me the words and expression I lacked by any other means. I have chosen those which relate to the senses – taste; scent; pleasure. As a little bit of background on the actual technique: I’m indebted to stumbling across the Tom Phillips technique …
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The Marvelous, Unplanned Life of Mandy Aftel, Author, Perfumer, and Museum-Creator * Interview
“Everything I’ve done, I’ve just followed what I’ve been interested in. I’ve never had a plan, I have had no plan about any of this.” – Mandy Aftel Mandy Aftel started making natural perfumes almost 30 years ago. Her passion and artistry have won Aftelier Perfumes many awards and accolades. She’s been featured in countless magazines and blogs from Vogue to Forbes, Now Smell This to Bon Appetit. In 2003, Mandy launched Chef’s Essence, which supplies natural flavor oils and …
Smell and Taste Reading List * Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry
*This is a dynamic, ever-expanding list of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that engages with smell and taste. In the spirit of mixing disciplines, genres and diverse voices, the list is simply organized in alphabetical order by author. If you don’t see something you think we would like, please let us know in the comments below or by emailing us at info@aromaticapoetica.com* *A* Abood, Maureen. Rose Water and Orange Blossoms: Fresh and Classic Recipes from my Lebanese Kitchen. Ackermann, Diane. …
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