Getting Ready for Berkeley

I recently took a big step and signed up for a natural perfumery course with Mandy Aftel, author of several important books about perfumery and scent.

She has a classic Maybeck Berkeley home right next to Chez Panisse. When I asked her excitedly if there were time to have lunch at the iconic restaurant, she said that everyone has lunch in her garden instead. It is easy to forget about the beautiful weather, even in October, on the west coast. Will she serve lunch? If so, I wonder what we’ll have? I have this fantasy of a big ripe tomato; it’s late in the season, but maybe.

The class is a big stretch for my checkbook, but after all… The big scary is that the money is not refundable under any circumstances. My first thought was what if I get a cold?

It seems the class uses no synthetics, only naturals. I wonder if that includes animal products. It’s doubtful that Mandy is going to pull out the deer musk for all of us to use. I’m going to bring along a little ambergris in case anyone needs it. From what I read on her website, Mandy has a museum of interesting perfume related things including some old ambergris I’m dying to sniff. This will finally resolve my question whether ambergris should be tinctured in the light, as I do, or in the dark.

My deepest fear is that I have no nose. What if I can’t smell or recognize anything?

Mandy puts a lot of emphasis on practicing note and substance recognition using her introductory workbook. I haven’t worked through the book, but Mandy gave me permission when I told her how long I’ve been doing this stuff. These leaves me wondering if I’m qualified at all.

So, it’s with great trepidation, that I set off, this Thursday, from Brooklyn to Berkeley where I’m going to visit friends and relatives, eat and drink well, and put my nose through the paces.