Mandy Aftel, creator of organic perfumes, sits in front of her fragrance organ in her home studio in Berkeley, where she hand-blends and bottles the fragrances in small batches. (Pete DaSilva / For The Times)
A collection of antique fragrance bottles in Mandy Aftel’s home studio. (Pete DaSilva / For The Times)
Mandy Aftel works at her fragrance organ in her home studio. (Pete DaSilva / For The Times)
Mandy Aftel uses antique pocket watch cases to put some of her paste perfumes in. (Pete DaSilva / For The Times)
Mandy Aftel works to create a fragrance at her fragrance organ. (Pete DaSilva / For The Times)
Some of the many antique silver pocket watch cases and patch boxes used to contain Mandy Aftel’s paste perfumes. (Pete DaSilva / For The Times)
One of many journals where Mandy Aftel saves the one-of-a-kind formulas for her clients. (Pete DaSilva / For The Times)
Mandy Aftel reviews her journal at her fragrance organ. (Pete DaSilva / For The Times)