Mandy Aftel

Symbolorum Book Launch

$ 35.00
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Remote Book Launch Event with Mandy Aftel
Saturday, December 13 @ 10am Pacific Time, on Zoom

Books will be mailed Dec. 5, 2025. Purchase tickets by Dec. 5, 2025, for guaranteed arrival of the book(s) before the event. If you purchase a ticket after Dec. 5, we cannot guarantee arrival before the event, although we will make a best-faith effort, and you can still join the zoom event without a book. Due to international shipping limitations, this event is only available to attendees in the US.

Join us for a remote event on Zoom with preeminent natural perfumer and author Mandy Aftel to celebrate the launch of her new book, Symbolorum: The Secret Wisdom of Emblems.

Emblem books reached the peak of their popularity in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, presenting mysterious allegorical images — much like those that make up the Tarot — alongside Latin mottoes. Accompanying text explained the connection between image and motto, and the lessons each emblem held for the reader’s life. 

Selecting 100 emblems from the finest emblem book of the time, Symbolorum et Emblematum of Camerarius (published between 1590 and 1604), Mandy has lovingly hand-tinted each, bringing to life their allegorical mysteries. The mottoes and explanatory texts are translated from the original Latin, along with Mandy’s own commentary and insight. An illustrated introduction illuminates the history and magic of the emblem book.

Celebrated as an "angel of alchemy" by Vanity Fair and listed as one of the "top seven bespoke perfumers in the world" by Forbes, Mandy will guide us through the inspiration and rich history behind her new book and how its meaning and symbolism are connected to her perfumery. After a live Q&A, Mandy will take questions from the audience.

All ticket bundles include a signed copy of Mandy’s new book, Symbolorum. The books and accessories will be delivered by the week of the event, which will take place over Zoom (link sent via email). Estimated event time is 1.5 hours. Bundle details:

Book Launch bundle:

Maker bundle:

Historian bundle:

Aftel Library bundle:

Anyone who's read the seminal Essence and Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume is aware of the depth of Mandy Aftel's historical knowledge of perfumery and the richness with which she writes about it. We'll Zoom with Mandy for the launch of Symbolorum as she shares how she rediscovered the enchanted worldview of the pre-enlightened world through her research and perfumery.

Please note: this is a remote event that will be held via Zoom and does not include tickets to visit the Aftel Archive in person in Berkeley, CA. In-person visits to the Aftel Archive can be scheduled via the Aftelier website, and cannot be scheduled to take place during our remote event on Dec. 13, 2025.

Shipping & Fulfillment

Ministry of Scent offers shipping to the United States through USPS Ground Advantage and UPS. We provide free shipping for USPS orders $75+.

Order type Order total Shipping method Cost
Sample-only & Sample Sets N/A USPS Ground Advantage* $5
Standard shipping Under $75 USPS Ground Advantage* or UPS Ground** $10
Free shipping $75 and over USPS Ground Advantage* or UPS Ground** $0
3-day shipping Any UPS 3-Day Service Variable

* USPS delivery times may vary by destination. All orders ship from California.
** Carrier selection is based on destination.

Shipping Time & Schedule

We process and ship orders within 1–4 business days, excluding major holidays. Orders ship Monday through Saturday; we do not ship on Sundays, and Sundays are not included in our processing or delivery timelines.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at orders@ministryofscent.com.

Signature Requirements

For delivery security, first-time orders over $125 and all orders over $200 ship with signature confirmation.

If you prefer delivery without a signature, you may request this in the Order Notes at checkout. Please note that by opting out, you acknowledge that we’re unable to replace or refund an order that is marked as delivered without signature confirmation. If the item is stolen after tracked delivery, the order cannot be refunded or replaced.

Lost or Stolen Packages

Once an order is marked as delivered by USPS or UPS (including orders signed for by the recipient), we’re unable to provide replacements or refunds for packages that are lost or stolen.

Claims can be filed only for orders officially designated as lost in transit by USPS or UPS. We’re unable to file claims or assume responsibility for orders marked as delivered by the carrier, including those signed for by the recipient.

If your delivery location is prone to theft or missed deliveries, we recommend shipping to a more secure address, such as a workplace, trusted recipient, or carrier hold location.

Our Fulfillment Team is happy to help advise on the best way to ensure your order arrives safely. If you have questions about your order or delivery options, please contact orders@ministryofscent.com.

Sample Orders

Samples are designed to help you evaluate scents you might want to later purchase as a full bottle. You may order one sample per fragrance, up to 15 total in a single order. Samples are non-refundable.

For sample orders, please check your packing slip for a special code that will allow you to redeem the price of samples and sample shipping when purchasing full bottles of the scents you sample ($10 off full bottles).

Complimentary Samples

We provide complimentary samples with $75+ full-bottle purchases. You may request up to 3 samples with any qualifying order. Please use the Order Note section on the Shopping Cart overlay to let us know which complimentary samples you would like. We'll try to provide the scents you've requested, but substitutions may occur if items are out of stock.

Returns

We do not accept returns of perfumes, simply because perfumes can't be resold once they've been opened and used. We encourage you to order samples before purchasing full bottles of perfume. And here's the good news — with every sample purchased, we'll send you a coupon code that allows you to redeem the cost of the sample and sample shipping if you buy a full bottle of the fragrance you tried (in other words, you get $10 off).

Please contact orders@ministryofscent.com if you have a question or issue related to your order or shipping.

Customer Reviews

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J
J
Fascinating process!

I’m new to the world of perfume and fragrance and to hear a premier voice in the field, Mandy Aftel, speak about her creative process was so inspiring. The book itself is so lovely and intriguing to read—I keep it in my purse and when I pull it out to read I feel like I’m a researching anthropologist. Ministry of Scent! Killing it! Love all the events and of course exploring all the beautiful scents made by amazing people.

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