Symbolorum Book Launch
Regular price $ 35.00
Remote Book Launch Event with Mandy Aftel
Saturday, December 13 @ 10am Pacific Time, on Zoom
Tickets have to be purchased by Nov. 25, 2025, for guaranteed arrival of the book(s) before the event. If you purchase a ticket after Nov. 25, we cannot guarantee arrival before the event, although we will make a best-faith effort.
Due to international shipping limitations, this event is only available to attendees in the US.
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 December 13, 2025.
“Discover the esoteric insights and enchanting imagery of the Baroque emblem book, a long-lost cousin of the tarot!”
Join us for a remote event 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 1590 and 1604), Mandy has lovingly hand-tinted prancing unicorns, aromatic trees, flaming salamanders and baleful basilisks with vivid watercolor, bringing to life their allegorical mysteries. The mottoes and explanatory texts are given in translation 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 magic and symbolism are connected to her perfumery. After a spellbinding Q&A, Mandy will take questions from the audience.
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.
Book Launch bundle: Zoom + Symbolorum + Biblioscents Fragrant Bookmarks
Maker bundle: Zoom + Symbolorum + Essence & Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume + Aftel Natural Perfume Wheel
Historian bundle: Zoom + Symbolorum + Fragrant: The Secret Life of Scent (signed hardcover) + Biblioscents Fragrant Bookmarks
Aftel Library bundle: Zoom + Symbolorum + Essence & Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume + Fragrant: The Secret Life of Scent (signed hardcover) + The Museum of Scent (hardcover) + Biblioscents Fragrant Bookmarks + Aftel Natural Perfume Wheel + Free Shipping [value: $123)
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 magical and enchanted worldview of the pre-enlightened world through her research and perfumery.
Fulfillment & Shipping
We provide free shipping for USPS orders $75+.
Ministry of Scent offers shipping to the United States through USPS Ground Advantage and UPS. We process and ship orders within 1-4 days, major holidays excluded. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at orders@ministryofscent.com
We do not ship on Sundays; Sundays are not included in our shipping window.
We are not responsible for lost or stolen packages. We will not provide replacements or refunds for lost or stolen packages. If you have a risk-prone address, we recommend you send to a safer locale.
First-time orders $125+ and all orders $200+ will be shipped with signature confirmation to ensure safe delivery. Customers may request "no signature confirmation" in the Order Note section of the Shopping Cart page, at their own risk. If the item is stolen after tracked delivery, the order cannot be refunded or replaced.
We cannot file claims or be held responsible for orders that have been designated as "delivered" by UPS or USPS (and/or signed for by recipient). We can file claims for orders that have be designated as "lost in transit" by UPS or USPS.
| Order type | Shipping Method |
Cost |
| Sample-only Orders (including Sample Sets) | USPS Ground Advantage* | $5 |
|
Standard Shipping (orders under $75) |
USPS Ground Advantage* or UPS Ground (depending on destination) | $10 |
| Free Shipping (orders $75 and over) |
USPS Ground Advantage* or UPS Ground (depending on destination) |
$0 |
| 3-Day Shipping | UPS 3-Day Service |
Variable |
*Ship times vary. All products ship from California, shipments can take up to 5 business days to the East Coast.
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.
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 purchase 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.