The last day of school

Today was the last day of school and in the evening as I walked through the rooms turning off all the lights, I was struck with how fast time goes by.  So much has happened since the beginning, since I first entered this space- tears, fights, camaraderie, many shared lunches in the sunshine, laughter and amazing creativity, and most importantly, so much learning.  All those days have come and gone.  Tonight as I stood alone in the dark in the classroom and played all this through my mind, I felt nostalgic but fulfilled.  I feel a bit sad that it’s over, but at the same time, I’m ready for what comes next.  Unfortunately, I don’t yet know what is around the corner and so it felt fitting to just be in the moment and stand in the dark and breath in all the scent from these last monthes, fully absorbing all that I have learned. 

I have chosen this path of perfumery.  I know it is a difficult one.  I am chasing and tasting on occassion the harmonics of an elusive and ethereal medium.  The path I have seen so far is strewn with competitiveness, fragile egos, commercial, legal and artistic limitations, misconceptions, and fear.  It is also lit with the light of dreams, creativity and magical artistic interpretation- and it is that perspective that I am dedicating myself to.  So- it’s the eve of a new chapter and it’s also the eve of the Winter Solstice- the longest night of the year.   Tonight is the time to stop and reflect and rest.

 ps I will receive one of the internships….although it may not be in the creation department, but rather evaluation and marketing.  Everything will be confirmed after the holidays. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL!!!!   XXXXXX

the Finale! (part I)

Last night was fantastic!  We got to the hall mid afternoon to get all set up for the evenings festivities, and by 5:30, when the guests started arriving, we were ready.  

The evening began with speeches from the director ASFO (the organization that created GIP), followed by the Mayor of Grasse, then the owner/director of Mane- Mr Mane, followed by a presentation of the brief itself.  There were about 80 people in attendance, all seated.

Earlier we had flipped a coin with the other team to decide the order and the coin decided that we would go first.  So it was I who opened the presentation of our team.  I have always been paralyzed by public speaking in the past, but last night, I was so exhausted and emotionally expanded, that in a way, it was easy.  I felt connected with the audience, knowing they all were members fo the perfumery world, be-it perfumers, evaluators, raw material producers etc.  Our presentation went off perfectly.  (much of it was rewritten over the last few days) and we finished with a sigh of relief and a huge thank you to all the people who gave us chance to have the experience.

After the other team gave their amazing performance, and a bit more formalities were attended to; the winners were announced…and……

The other team won for their marketing- and our team won for the perfumes.  We had two- one Eau de toilette  (Green Zest) and then my fragrance  (Black Licorice) as a room fragrancer and hair gel.  The prizes are 4  three month internships with Mane and Fils.  The final word is yet to come in as to who will receive these, but we should know tomorrow.

I will write more then……….