Blog | Michael Borkowsky | Perfumer of the People

Nov 13, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #124 – Helen Sills

Helen Sills 50ml EDT Head – Orange, Lemon Heart – Apricot, pomegranate Body – Cocoa Bean, Vanilla Description – A veritable horn of plenty that references the all-encompassing nature of creative action and it’s many avenues. Sills’s Lost Dreams relates to the tragic end of many migrants who set out on a voyage to a new life and never make land. Sills’s work and corresponding perfume portrait were exhibited at Centrespace Gallery, Bristol, in October 2019. #migrants #Journey #

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Michael Borkowsky

Nov 12, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #123 – Liz Griffiths

Liz Griffiths 50ml EDT Head – Peppermint, Bitter orange Heart – Spike lavender Body – Chamomile Description – Formulated to release your throat charka; this light, fresh fragrance describes how creative action acts as a voice. Griffith’s drawing, Untitled, was made on a bus journey, allowing the motion of the bus to guide the pen; it is part of a larger series made mostly in London, this one was made in Cornwall. Using this process, Griffiths is exploring ideas of authorship

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Michael Borkowsky

Nov 7, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #118 – Agatha Smith

Agatha Smith 50ml EDT Head – Mandarin Heart – Rose, Clove Body – Ylang Ylang, Cumin seed Description – At first glance this fragrance references a traditional, deliberate floral design. However, hints of spice add personality and exploration that allow it to break its own monotony. 177 Woolwich to Peckham is the first piece from Smith’s Pocket Drawing series. Her most recent work is focused around the realisation that everyone in the world is living a life just as complex

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Michael Borkowsky

Nov 4, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #115 – Robert Verrill

Robert Verrill 50ml EDT Head – Pomegranate Heart – Black pepper, ginger Body – Benzoin, myrrh Description – A provocative and thoughtful fragrance that references Pliny the Elder and his Naturalis Historia, which was critical and challenging of the frivolity of perfume. Verrill’s To The World with Love references travel and voyages in several ways. It is made from found materials which themselves speak of travel and journeys: corrugated cardboard from a box that would have c

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Michael Borkowsky

Oct 30, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #110 – Clare Smith

Clare Smith 50ml EDT Head – Sweet Orange Heart – Clove Body – Benzoin, White musk, Honey Description – An ode to the pomander; which contained herbs essential for recovery. Honey symbolises a gold ribbon traditionally used for wearing pomanders as necklaces. Smith’s Flying over Beijing (Coming in to Land) is a drawing depicting a smog covered Beijing from the air. Smith’s work and corresponding perfume portrait were exhibited at Centrespace Gallery, Bristol, in October 2019.

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Michael Borkowsky

Oct 29, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #109 – Jeff Hunter

Jeff Hunter 50ml EDT Head – Cut grass, Lime Heart – Pine needle, carrot seed Body – Driftwood, Algae Description – Representing an impulsive journey across lands to the sea, with sharp intakes of citrus and spice to keep you mentally focussed on the task in hand. This fragrance represents the headstrong necessity found when instigating creative activities. Hunter’s Journey (Leaving the Station) is a small work on black card with white pencil. A train leaves the station as a

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Michael Borkowsky

Oct 27, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #107 – JanCarlo Caling

JanCarlo Caling 50ml EDT Head – Petitgrain, Lemon Heart – Cypress, Ginger Body – Sandalwood Description – A celebration of masculinity, this nominally woody fragrance is complimented by bursts of ginger and lemon; symbols of happiness. Caling’s The End of a Journey is an acrylic painting on paper. The colours used also project joy, which is what Caling wants the viewers to feel when they are looking at my painting. The work also takes inspiration from the term “self love” a

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Perfume Making Workshop at Exchange Place Studios

Michael Borkowsky

Jul 12, 2019
1 min

Perfume Making Workshop at Exchange Place Studios

On Saturday 27th July I’m running a perfume making workshop from 11am – 1pm at Exchange Place Studios, Sheffield, as part of Fronteer‘s Botanicals exhibition. For £20 the workshop provides a fantastic opportunity to learn about the art of perfumery and make a perfume of your own ready to take home. I’d love to see you there! More info and tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/perfume-making-workshop-tickets-63127520112 #workshop #perfumelovers #aroma #teaching #oils #b

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Michael Borkowsky

Jul 2, 2019
1 min

100 Not Out

June 2019 marked the 9th incarnation of Perfume as Practice, which was staged at Asylum Gallery, Wolverhampton. The exhibition comprised of 12 perfume portraits and 5 paintings, themed under the idea of protest. The exhibition also represented a milestone for the project as a whole, as it housed the 100th perfume portrait I have created since the project’s conception in late 2015. The 100th perfume portrait was of artist Hannah Taylor. Here it is presented next to the very fi

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Michael Borkowsky

May 20, 2019
1 min

Perfume Making Workshops in Manchester

On Friday 24th May I am hosting two perfume making workshops at Manchester cradft and design centre. One at 11am – 1pm and one at 2 – 4pm. These 2 hour workshops begin with me introducing my unique, artistic approach perfumery and giving a working demonstration of how to make an Eau De Toilette. I will guide you through all aspects of perfume design including an explanation of fragrance types, an introduction to fragrance notes and how to blend oils to achieve the perfect fra

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Notes from an Exhibition – Perfume as Practice SS19

Michael Borkowsky

Apr 22, 2019
2 min

Notes from an Exhibition – Perfume as Practice SS19

Earlier this month I had the privilege of staging Perfume as Practice SS19 at Lumen Crypt Gallery, London. The opportunity afforded me the chance to exhibit a solo show in London for the first time; bringing my unique approach to perfumery to a new audience. I went into the exhibition with no real connections with the art scene in London, aside from a handful of artists I knew or worked with previously. As such, I didn’t have any expectations of how well my work would be rece

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Perfume Portrait #92 – Garfield of London

Michael Borkowsky

Apr 4, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #92 – Garfield of London

Head – Tangerine, Peppermint Heart – Lavendar, Rosemary Body – Ylang Ylang Description – Inherently joyous, this fragrance embodies all that is positive about the world. Herbal and citrus notes radiate a happiness that can instantly be imparted, and this gives way to florals, which exude a more contemplative – but equally pleasurable – inner peace. This fragrance will be exhibited alongside 9 other perfume portraits at Lumen Crypt Gallery, London, from 4th – 7th April 2019. #

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Michael Borkowsky

Apr 3, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #91 – Isabela Castelan

Head – Pomegranate Heart -Sea salt, Nutmeg Body – Frankincense Description – An ode to Primordial Greek God Anake; the personification of compulsion and referencing innate yet philosophical desire to initiate creative action. From chaos, Anake creates, through action, the earth, heaven and sea. As such this fragrance houses all three of these elements, from it’s symbolic top notes to it’s earthy base. This fragrance will be exhibited alongside 9 other perfume portraits at Lum

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Michael Borkowsky

Apr 1, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #90 – Suman

Head – Mandarin Heart – Neroli Body – Cedarwood Description – A clear, direct fragrance that gives you the apparatus you need to express yourself: From confident citrus offering mental clarity to a strong, grounded body of cedarwood. Neroli gives balance to the fragrance; offering a rounded symbol of the freedom to be who you want to be. This fragrance will be exhibited alongside 9 other perfume portraits at Lumen Crypt Gallery, London from 4th – 7th April 2019. #aroma #olfac

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Michael Borkowsky

Apr 1, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #89 – Kathryn Monks

Head – Red Thyme, Bay Leaf Heart – Marjoram Body – Patchouli Description – From leaves harvested at specific times to reveal specific scents to a consistent, earthy bed of patchouli, this fragrance is an ode to the seasons; referencing the transient beauty of nature while revealing its workings and processes. This fragrance will be exhibited alongside 9 other perfume portraits at Lumen Crypt Gallery, London, from 4th – 7th April 2019. #aroma #olfactory #leaved #culture #beaut

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Perfume Portrait #87 – Elinor Clare Rowlands

Michael Borkowsky

Mar 30, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #87 – Elinor Clare Rowlands

Head – Bitter orange, Sea salt Heart – Ginger, Black pepper Body – Patchouli, Frankincense, Driftwood Description – The story of Leviathan, told through scent and acting as a metaphor for how creative action gives us tools for combating wrongs. This vivid and colorful narrative sees grounded, nurturing base notes eventually triumph over the hash cauldron of potent bitter fruits and spices. This fragrance will be exhibited at Lumen Crypt Gallery, London, from 4th – 7th April 2

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Michael Borkowsky

Mar 27, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #86 – Rosha Nutt

Head – Sweet Orange Heart – Rosemary Body – Frankincense Description – Taking cues from ritual and pagan ceremony This refreshing yet balanced fragrance will provide you the apparatus you need to instigate creative action. This fragrance will be exhibited alongside 9 other perfume portraits at Lumen Crypt Gallery, London, from 4th – 7th April. #aroma #olfactory #refreshing #portrait #balance #culture #Art #perfume #smell #exhibition #fragrance #events #Scent #Olfactoryart

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Michael Borkowsky

Mar 25, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #85 – Matilde Tomat

Head – Cotton, Cut Grass Heart – Geranium, Dandelion Body – Ylang Ylang, Patchouli Description – A description of a calming, expansive landscape, this balanced fragrance elicits the capacity scent has for communication while connecting you to nature. This perfume will be exhibited alongside 9 other perfume portraits at Lumen Crypt Gallery, London, from 4 – 7th April 2019 #London #contemporaryart #aroma #olfactory #conceptualart #balance #culture #making #soloexhibition #Art #

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Michael Borkowsky

Mar 24, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #84 – Anthony Carr

Head – Sage, Petitgrain Heart – Black pepper Body – Frankincense, Rosewood Description – a fragrance that simultaneously acts as a medicinal cure-all when embarking on a journey as well as a description of that journey: Top notes reference a certain locality, which gives way to increasingly exotic ingredients. This perfume will be exhibited alongside 9 other perfume portraits at Lumen Crypt Gallery, London, from 4 – 7th April 2019. #London #portraiture #olfactory #portrait #c

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Exhibition Invitation – Perfume as Practice SS19

Michael Borkowsky

Mar 6, 2019
1 min

Exhibition Invitation – Perfume as Practice SS19

I would like to invite you to the Private View of Perfume as Practice SS19 – my solo exhibition at Lumen Crypt Gallery, London, on Thursday 4th April 2019, 6.30-8.30pm. Perfume as Practice SS19 will house 10 bespoke perfumes, each a portrait of another artist. I these perfume portraits by asking artists ‘why do you make art?’ I then use scent design and visual embellishment to respond to the response received. The exhibition will also house an astronomical theme; every perfum

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