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2 found. Showing stories 1 to 2, with most recent first.

• Study Notes: A Very English Problem

  

  by Pia Long, 01 November 2009

  "If I pay for jasmine absolute, I should get jasmine absolute", said Mark in one of our early meetings. He had gathered a small group of us to discuss the never-ending problem of essential oil adulteration.
   
  ”And the same goes for any oil we buy,” he continued, “we want the best quality. Let us do our own perfumery. Don’t dilute the stuff for us.”
  
  It doesn't help that Mark's demands exceed the generally accepted standard that he has a tendency to be paranoid.  
  
  "We know that the majority of the oils out there are adulterated, but we really want to make it clear to the suppliers: give us the real thing and we're prepared to pay for it. But if you lie to us, we'll name and shame you."

  At this point our essential oil buyer cut in: "We already have them sign a declaration. Naming and shaming might mean that we could be left with no suppliers." 

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• Study Notes: Back to school

  

  by Pia Long, 26 June 2009

  In this new column Pia Long will be telling you about what it’s like to be a trainee perfumer with the maverick Constantines and an adult distance learner of perfumery.

  When I threw my maths book into a Finnish lake one summer camp, little did I suspect I’d willingly study the subject as an adult, decades later in another country. Chemistry and physics were never really a problem at school; in fact, I rather liked knowing how things worked. During my first trip to the zoo, I spent most of the time with my nappy-padded bottom up in the air, head deep in the plumbing and other interesting paraphernalia of the cages. Animals? What animals? How do they get the water in? 

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