06/26/2026
“Did you know there isn’t just one jasmine?”
Jasmine is one of those mysterious, exquisite scents that I suspect will fascinate me for the rest of my life.
The deeper I venture into the world of natural perfumery, the more I find myself researching suppliers, questioning sourcing practices, and learning whom to trust, and whom to avoid. The more I learn, the more discerning I become. And yes, the more I spend on exceptional essential oils, CO₂ extracts, and absolutes.
With familiar essential oils such as rosemary, peppermint, or sweet orange, for example, it is usually possible to find a quality product at a reasonable price.
But once you step into the realm of precious aromatics - rose, neroli, vanilla, and especially jasmine - you enter a world where things are not always what they seem.
These materials are extraordinarily expensive to produce. As a result, some oils may be diluted, altered, or blended with synthetic fragrances to lower costs and appeal to a broader market. It can be surprisingly difficult to know what is truly pure.
And then there is jasmine itself.
What most people don’t realize is that there isn’t just one jasmine.
There is Jasmine grandiflorum, also known as Royal Jasmine, Spanish Jasmine, French Jasmine, and several other regional names.
Then there is Jasmine sambac, known around the world as Arabian Jasmine, Sampaguita in the Philippines, Melati Putih in Indonesia, and Pikake in Hawaii and Tahiti.
Each variety possesses its own unique personality, nuances, and beauty.
They are all jasmine.
And yet they each tell a different story.
To me, that is pure magic.
Perhaps that is why I do what I do. Over the years, clients have called me an alchemist, and I’ve come to realize that, yes, there is definitely an alchemist’s spirit in me. There is something magical about combining pure botanicals and transforming them into something precious.
The more I learn, the more I realize that the world of natural fragrance is endless.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Happy Friday. ✨
