Fragrance Belles-Lettres Magazine

I remember my first quest for more knowledge about the art of perfumery. I read many books and articles and in one of the articles there sat a perfumer also known as the 'Nose' who had a strange shaped desk in front of him. This desk was curved or better described as a U-shape.

I continued to read the article and found out what this strange looking desk was all about. Since that time, I have always wanted that strange looking desk and I associate all master perfumer with this desk to construct a fragrance creation filled with finest ingredients of fruit and floral notes.

That U-shaped desk is called an 'orgue a parfum' in French and in English is a 'perfume organ'.

A perfume organ can hold over a hundred perfume ingredients in vials. The trained Nose mixes scents surrounded on the organ and it is a place that provides samples for custom mixed scents.

While on my quest to find the perfect chocolate compliment to my perfume article for this Valentine's Day issue, I embarked on a perfume blogger's dream.

It comes from Vosges Haut-Chocolat. A company founded and owned by Chocolatier, Katrina Markoff ( who is also from my home town of Chicago).

Ms. Markoff is a master at selecting every spice, flower and chocolate that is flown in to the Chicago headquarters. She is a world-traveler and a graduate of high esteem from the world renowned Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.

The Sensory Collection by Vosges Haut-Chocolat is an introduction and a scentsational way of exploring all types of chocolate spices from around the world. There are dark, milk and white chocolate spices in this colorful collection of taste that meets the highest demand.

It is a circular shaped palette much like the perfume organ and it comes in vials for nibbling and these unique spices are the niche of chocolate from countries such as Ecuador and Papua New Guinea just to name a few.

The Sensory Collection is extensive much like what a master perfumer would have in their lab and by this it comes with the following...

• A flavor wheel to help you describe each chocolate


• A notebook for your thoughs and inspirations


• A blindfold for party fun

Now the blindfold is an added treat to me. I don't know many perfumers who use it on their quest to create the perfect fragrance but it indeed will show your knowledge of chocolates to impress your friends.

This world class package can be purchased at vosgeschocolate.com for $375.00