In 1921, perfumer Ernest Beaux discovered that adding synthetic aldehydes to natural rose and jasmine scents produced just the right fragrance combination for the iconic CHANEL No. 5 perfume. Today, perfume makers have more than 3,000 synthetic scent molecules in their palettes. However, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of … Read More →
At a century-old workshop in a quiet Tokyo neighbourhood, craftsman Yuichi Hirose brushes dye across meticulously hand-cut stencils laid on fabric, using a traditional technique to produce contemporary kimono patterns. Demand for the elaborate, elegant centrepiece of the Japanese wardrobe is in decline, but a handful of artisans and entrepreneurs like Hirose, 39, are trying … Read More →
Gems and jewellery exporters urged the Centre to withdraw the proposed 1 percent excise duty on non-silver jewellery, adding that they do not want to join the ongoing strike by bullion traders and retailers. Members of over 358 associations related to jewellery trade and related businesses are on strike since March 2 to demand withdrawal … Read More →