Peony and Balsam Poplar Bud Enfleurage.

Cold enfleurage captures the the ephemeral scent of blooming peonies-- a rarity in natural perfumery. The powdery, green, and rosy aroma of my family's 38 year old heirloom high fragrance peonies is complemented by a rich base provided by my handmade absolute from fresh balsam poplar buds that I pick each winter. With notes of red ale, tannins, incense, propolis, musk, and stewed plums, the sticky buds of balsam poplar act as a complex, fascinating, and fantastic fixative, extending peony's longevity. I have a limited quantity. This "pommade" (highly scented solid perfume-- not to be confused with pomade for hair!) consists of individual organic peonies that I gathered from my perfume gardens, laid onto an emulsion of organic avocado butter and raw beeswax, and my handmade absolute of fresh balsam poplar buds (rare). I repeated this process over the several weeks they were in bloom to reach a degree of fragrance saturation. Peony is notoriously difficult and costly to capture and bott