Perfumes with a Purpose: The Evolution of my Scented Journey By Michael Scholes
- Aromatika Magazine
- Dec 25, 2025
- 2 min read
Pg. 48-60 - 12-minute read
"Perfume is more than scent and fills the hollows within us, guiding our evolution toward the
discovery of our innermost, scented selves. We are the perfume of our own lives, where we impact others with the subtle notes that emanate from our skin, breath, and hair. In these quiet exhalations we reveal our longing: for inner peace, for tenderness, for a deeper communion with ourselves and with one another." - Michael Scholes
Natural perfumery has always felt like a timeless art to me—one that connects us to nature, history, and culture through scent. Long before synthetic trends and commercial fragrances, perfumery was rooted in tradition, shaped by flowers, resins, spices, and rituals that marked identity, spirituality, and healing. This belief inspired my philosophy of creating “Perfumes with a Purpose,” blends that support emotional and physical well-being rather than simply masking the body with scent.
My journey began in 1987 when I encountered my first essential oil and felt an immediate, life-defining pull toward the aromatic world. Despite having no formal background in science or botany, I immersed myself completely in aromatherapy, perfumery, distillation, plant chemistry, and the psychology of scent. Over nearly four decades, I’ve created more than 1,700 formulations and built a fragrance library of over 700 oils—each chosen, studied, and memorized for its unique qualities. This lifelong practice taught me that true perfumery begins internally, where scent becomes memory, emotion, and intuition.
Among the many blends I’ve created, “World Sensorium” remains one of the most meaningful. Developed for the millennium celebration, it brought together the culturally significant aromatic plants of every nation into a single unifying composition. The process took years of research, sourcing, and reverent blending, culminating in a fragrance meant to reflect humanity’s shared connection to nature. When it debuted in Times Square in 2000, I felt the profound power of scent to unite, heal, and remind us of our collective story—an experience that continues to shape my work to this day.
The Perfume Edition of Aromatika Magazine is packed with heartfelt and inspiring articles. To read the complete article, order your copy of our 2025 Perfume Special issue of Aromatika Magazine 12.3.2 E or subscribe to our beautiful E-Journal yearly subscription by following the link in our bio or simply copy and paste the link here: https://www.aromatikamagazine.com/plans-pricing
Over the 144 colourful pages in our Aromatika Magazine Perfume Special issue, we have some of the most passionate individuals devoted to the art and science of botanical perfumery from around the world.
We thank you all for your continued support and hope you'll enjoy the fascinating chapters of our Perfume Special e-journal.
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