Blog | Michael Borkowsky | Perfumer of the People

Oct 28, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #108 – Sharon Mossbeck

Sharon Mossbeck 50ml EDT Head – Mandarin, peppermint. Heart – Rose Body – White Musk, Leather Description – Embrace life and banish ills with this ode to a plague doctor mask. Mossbeck’s St Nicholas symbolically references the Patron Saint of sailors. There is a legend that during St Nicholas’s lifetime he appeared to sailors in a storm who prayed to him, and safely helped them to port. This work is part of a larger series of paintings inspired by martyr Saints; drawing on sy

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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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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

Mar 31, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #88 – Wild Bunny Arts

Head – Eucalyptus, Bergamot Heart – Cinnamon, Coriander Body – Patchouli Description – A refreshing, powerful and inherently colourful potion that gifts awe and happiness to all those who encounter it whilst providing the empathy, mental strength and grounding required to combat injustices through creative action. This fragrance will be exhibited alongside 9 other perfume portraits at Lumen Crypt Gallery, London from 4th – 7th April. #event #happiness #portraiture #aroma #olf

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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 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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Michael Borkowsky

Mar 13, 2019
1 min

Perfume Portrait #83 – Geraint Roberts

Head – Apple, cut grass Heart -Camphor, cypress Body – Sandalwood, Musk Description – Invigorating yet grounded, this fragrance is contains everything you need to comprehend an apple tree: A symbol that can change its meaning based on your experiences. The body is complemented by musk, a synthetic oil that references a human desire to find connections in life. This fragrance will be exhibited at Lumen Crypt Gallery, London, from 4th – 7th April 2019. #olfcatory #contemporarya

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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 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 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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Michael Borkowsky

Apr 26, 2018
1 min

Perfume Portrait #77 – Jack F. Rabbit

Jack F. Rabbit 50ml EDT Head – Petitgrain, bitter orange Heart – Camphor, carrot seed Body – Rosewood Description – Assertive, positive, and an ode to creativity, petitgrain and bitter inspires the confidence and mental agility required to pursuit creative action while alluding to the instinctive joy of creation. Clarity of intent is referenced by camphor and carrot seed, which also adds a playful and subversive flourish. Yet this fragrance finishes with Rosewood, which, whil

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Michael Borkowsky

Apr 25, 2018
1 min

Perfume Portrait #76 – Eugene Lambert

Eugene Lambert 50ml EDT Head – Lemongrass, lime Heart – Black pepper, Body – Sandlewood Description – In the spirit of the innately compulsive nature of creativity, the oils chosen here were based entirely on my own intuition in an attempt to convey a burning sense of desire. 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 #portrait #culture #making #Art #perfum

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Michael Borkowsky

Apr 23, 2018
1 min

Perfume Portrait #75 – Aimee Ellen

Aimee Ellen 50ml EDT Head – Sweet Orange Heart – Juniper Berry Body – Frankincense Description – The fragrance opens with inviting citrus notes before revealing oils synonymous with harmony and peace – agent to purity. This perfume is one of fifteen housed at Bureau, Blackburn from 12th – 26th April as part of my solo exhibition, Perfume as Practice. #portraiture #aroma #culture #making #Art #perfume #smell #perfumery #exhibitions #fragrance #portraits #events #Scent

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Michael Borkowsky

Apr 22, 2018
1 min

Perfume Portrait #74 – Jackie Berridge

Jackie Berridge 50ml EDT Head – Lemon Heart – Geranium Body – Rosewood, Ylang Ylang Description – A childhood sense of wonder heads this fragrance and is referenced by the playfulness of lemon. From there the fragrance reveals blooming flowers and majestic trees; a testament to how childhood informs creativity and how embracing and nurturing innate passions allow them to bloom and grow. This perfume is one of fifteen housed at Bureau, Blackburn from 12th – 26th April as part

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