#perfumery

Feb 22, 2020
1 min

Making a Commercial Perfume

This rather innocuous image represents the initial development of something I have thus far unexplored; selling perfume commercially. This perfume sample – outsourced to fragrance suppliers Carvansons to my specifications – will be sold at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery from May 2020, to coincide with their upcoming Pre-Raphaelite exhibition. While this unisex fragrance is designed with an element of mass appeal, it still contains a certain conceptual weight, as it acts as an

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Michael Borkowsky

Jan 25, 2020
2 min

Nice to See You…

January always feels like a rather difficult month to instigate and artistic action. The excesses of Christmas last longer than they should; the cold winter air quells any motivation and then there’s the small matter of completing a tax return… Luckily then, I have been able to take part in a group exhibition without hardly having to lift a finger, all thanks to no less an institution that the University of Chester – the university I graduated at in 2007. Nice to See You to S

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Michael Borkowsky

May 23, 2019
2 min

Making in May

May has been a rather busy and productive month, as no doubt evidenced by my distinct lack of blogging. In between making perfumes for exhibitions, running workshops and playing with audio/visual equipment I’ve seldom had the time to sit, think and reflect. But guess what? Now is that time. So let’s have it. The beginning of May saw me stage a group exhibition with arts collective Oracles, who focus of themes of loss, history and religion. The exhibition was staged at Halifax

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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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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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Michael Borkowsky

Oct 15, 2018
1 min

Desire and Alchemy

Since early September I have been working on an upcoming Perfume as Practice range of fragrances ready for exhibiting at BasementArtsProject, Leeds. It will take a departure from my usual approach and process to Perfume as Practice exhibitions. Firstly, rather than a display of portraits, my perfumes will each describe the reasons why artists make art – revealing the capacity perfume has for socially engaged creative action. Secondly, the exhibition – entitled Desire and Alch

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Michael Borkowsky

May 20, 2018
1 min

Zeus 50ml EDT

Head – Elemi, Lime, Cotton Heart – Black Pepper, Ginger Body – Patchouli, Cumin Seed Full of unwavering energy; the initial blast of lime, compounded dry the earthy readiness of patchouli and the potency of cumin seed describes the electric effects of thunder and lightning. This is offset by the woody accord of Elemi, referencing Zeus’ hidden childhood suspended from a tree. Black Pepper and Ginger forms a heart shared with Kronos and Ouranos; referencing family connections.

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Michael Borkowsky

May 18, 2018
1 min

Kronos 50ml EDT

Head – Dill Seed, Lemongrass, Basil Heart – Black Pepper, Ginger Body – Patchouli, Myrrh Description – Titan of the harvest; Dill seed, lemongrass and patchouli describe a plentiful abundance of produce. Basil references the confidence needed to instigate the battle with Ouranos. 5 drops of myrrh reference the 5 children he ate, while it’s heavy, lingering quality also alludes to the personification of time. Black Pepper and Ginger forms a heart shared with Ouranos; referenci

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Michael Borkowsky

May 16, 2018
1 min

Ouranos 50ml EDT

Head – Petitgrain, Rosemary, Cotton Heart – Black Pepper, Ginger Body – Sandalwood, Driftwood Description – Petitgrain, black pepper and ginger referencing a godly masculinity and confidence due to their sharp, penetrating aroma which exudes assurance and assertion. Cotton, with it’s clean, fresh and light accord, references Ouranos’ overseeing of the sky. Rosemary, with its connections to the sea, references the narrative of Ouranos’ being castrated and having his testicles

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Michael Borkowsky

May 13, 2018
2 min

Perfumes and Planets

Next week I travel to Athens to participate in Platforms Project – an independent art fair in the heart of the city. It’s the 3rd time I will have entered work into the art fair, and the 2nd time I’ve directly been involved in the curation and installation of my work. This year my participation in Platforms Project will once again take the guise of a group exhibition. The exhibition, entitled ‘Wonderer’ seeks to reacquaint an audience with Ancient Greek appropriations of the

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Michael Borkowsky

May 5, 2018
1 min

Perfume Portrait #82 – John Alfred

John Alfred 50ml EDT Head – Petitgrain Heart – Fennel, ginger Body – Sandalwood, myrrh Description – A fiery and masculine free spirit, this fragrance utilises the sense of mental aptitude found in woods and spices to point towards ways to innovative, create and have a little fun at the same time. This perfume is one of fifteen housed at Bureau, Blackburn from 12th – 26th April as part of my solo exhibition, Perfume as Practice. #contemporaryart #portraiture #aroma #olfactory

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Michael Borkowsky

May 4, 2018
1 min

Perfume Portrait #81 – Emily Feirn

Emily Feirn 50ml EDT Head – Bergamot Heart – Lavendar, black pepper Body – Ylang Ylang Description – Nominally floral with notes that reference tranquillity, joy and, relaxation. This calmness is offset by black pepper, which captures a spirited sense of individuality. This perfume is one of fifteen housed at Bureau, Blackburn from 12th – 26th April as part of my solo exhibition, Perfume as Practice. #contemporaryart #culture #making #Art #perfume #smell #perfumery #exhibitio

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Michael Borkowsky

May 1, 2018
1 min

Perfume Portrait #80 – Louise Waller

Louise Waller 50ml EDT Head – Niaouli, grapefruit Heart – Spike lavender Body – Ylang Ylang, hyssop Description – An implied floral fragrance that is content, brimming with peace yet not afraid to show a playful, experimental side: The addition of grapefruit, clove and hyssop bridge notes disrupt the process of making a floral composition as an ode to the value of trial and error. This perfume is one of fifteen housed at Bureau, Blackburn from 12th – 26th April as part of my

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Michael Borkowsky

Apr 28, 2018
1 min

Perfume Portrait #79 – Becca Merrell

Becca Merrell 50ml EDT Head – Sea breeze Heart – Driftwood Body – Cedarwood Description – A sublime concoction of fragrance oils that evoke scenes of natural beauty, delivered through reproductions of scents of the coast, this scent reminds you of the human capacity to replicate beauty while cedarwood essential oil base gives you the confidence to do just that. This perfume is one of fifteen housed at Bureau, Blackburn from 12th – 26th April as part of my solo exhibition, Per

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Michael Borkowsky

Apr 27, 2018
1 min

Perfume Portrait #78 – Henk Littlewood

Henk Littlewood 50ml EDT Head – Petitgrain, mandarin Heart – Cypress, geranium Body – Sandalwood, myrrh, ylang ylang Description – Woody fragrances, while grounding and affirmative, also have a quiet capacity for healing. Cypress, sandalwood and hints of floral notes offer a therapeutic sense of confidence, focus and worth. As a heavy sap, myrrh has a certain physical presence that references how, through kinaesthetic action, woods can provide a place to offload, reflect and

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