MANDY AFTEL

When you design your own fragrances, do you put any constraints or limits on yourself?

Never. All my perfumes are a conversation between two essences. There are two hallmark essences and they’re not usually near each other in the wheel and they are in contrast and then there’s the feeling. So the perfume has the feeling and the two essences that have to work together and I try to enact that into what I create. That’s always my brief.

What excites you most about the future of perfumery?

I love seeing people turned on to the materials. I love having museums, I love that the consumer is more educated. You just see people finding their way to it and having this very playful, wonderful time.

Outside of perfumery, what lights you up?

Right now, watercolors. It feels like a little bit of perfume. I’m very interested in this book that I have in learning for the museum. All the things I’m doing I feel like I’m just scratching the surface. I’m very engaged with the education at the museum and I’m very excited that people could have the museum in a book to take home.

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