The Celtic New Year – A Season of Stillness, Creativity & Renewal
As the last leaves fall and the light begins to draw in, we arrive at Samhain — the Celtic New Year.
It’s a time when nature turns inward, when seeds rest underground and the earth gathers its quiet strength for the spring to come.
Here in Ireland, we’ve always felt that this is the true beginning of the year — not with fireworks and noise, but with silence, firelight, and imagination.
It’s the perfect time to go inward, to pick up the tools of our craft — our droppers, notebooks, tinctures, and ideas — and prepare for the next cycle of growth.
So this October, as we close one chapter and step into another, we invite you to join us in this season of creative dormancy, comfort, and quiet power.
The Natural Perfume Academy of Ireland – What’s New Since September
Mexico Monday with Salomón Murow
Our October podcast was a vibrant dive into Mexican perfumery culture, heritage, and inspiration with Salomón Murow of PARFO Lab. If you missed it, you can listen on our website or wherever you get your podcasts.
Mexico Monday will now be a regular feature on the first Monday of each month. Subscribe to NPA's Substack for the Next Feature on the 3rd of November
Coming Soon: “Nymphaea Notes” Podcast – November 7th
Next up, we travel (in scent and spirit) to Greece!
Join us on November 7th as Zoe Stranzali of Nymphaea Perfume School shares stories, inspiration, and insights from her corner of the world. It’s part of our growing series spotlighting NPA-certified schools and teachers around the globe.
Introducing the Scent Panel
We’re building a rotating four-member Scent Panel for open, friendly, and intelligent discussions about perfumery.
Want to take part?
Email info@npacertification.com with the subject line Scent Panel Application.
If you’re an independent perfumer, maker, or small brand owner, this is a chance to be seen — you can mention your own projects or perfumes during the conversation.
Get NPA Certified – For Perfumers & Brands
Did you know you can now apply for NPA Certification — not just as a graduate, but as a practising perfumer or brand?
Whether you’ve completed your diploma or already run your own business, you can become NPA Certified as a perfumer, or even register an individual perfume or business with the Academy.
It’s our way of recognising professional standards and keeping the spirit of natural perfumery alive and transparent.
Free Mini-Course: The Cranberry Accord
If you haven’t yet enrolled, our Cranberry Accord Mini-Course is free and open to all members.
Learn how to build a bright, festive natural accord that’s perfect for the season — and a lovely way to get hands-on again as the days grow shorter.
The NPA Collective – A Marketplace for Makers
The NPA Collective is alive, functional, and ready for you.
It’s a peer-to-peer platform built from scratch to help perfumers, makers, and small studios sell, swap, or share what they no longer need — or what they create.
Have a litre of citrus oil that won’t last forever?
Extra bottles, lids, or labels?
An ebook sitting on your desktop?
You can list them on the Collective and connect with others in the natural perfumery community.
Visit npacollective.com to explore or open your own vendor account.
It’s global, low-fee, and handmade for this community.
A Note for the Season Ahead
As the year turns, may this dark half of the year bring you warmth, inspiration, and gentle progress.
Let your ideas rest and germinate.
Keep your notebooks close, your oils within reach, and your imagination alive.
When the light returns, your seeds will already be ready to grow.
With warmth from Ireland,
Ruth Ruane
Administrator & Tutor
Natural Perfume Academy of Ireland
