Enfleurage (to the left) and defleurage (to the right). Against the walls the piles of chassis. Parfumeries de Seillans, Dep. du Var, Southern France. (photo: African Aromatic

This month we reach deep into the artisan perfumers vault to learn about the grand perfumers' art of cold enfleurage. Since the Bronze Age (look it up!) we have known that oils can absorb the scents of many flowers and herbs.Cold fat florals are an extreme labor of love and devotion between a perfumer and her flowers – women did the laborious work of enfleurage back in the day and continue to carry the torch today.

Thanks to the generosity of Sophia Shuttleworth, we have a 12 ml flacon of African Aromatics Melody, thanks to Dabney Rose we are offering a precious 1 ml of tuberose extrait obtained from enfleurage and from Shelley Waddington, a generous sample of Carmel Boheme for one worldwide reader.  The random winner is danuta. Please email michelyn at cafleurebon dot com with   African Aromatics MelodyTuberose and carmel boheme sample all in the subject line along with your complete mailing details by November 23, 2013 1:30 PM EST. This is a deadline and there can be no exceptions whatsoever.

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.