The second of the annual harvest festivals falls at the Autumn Equinox. Where Lughnasadh (or Lammas) celebrated the start of the corn harvest, the Autumn Equinox roughly coincides with the end of the harvest. “Harvest Home” is celebrated at the full moon closest to the equinox. This full moon is called the Harvest Moon. This year the Harvest Moon falls on 01 October.
My seasonal perfume for the Autumn Equinox can stand alone, but it works best combined with the other ingredients in Mabon Lotion. The walnut oil, rosehip seed oil and raspberry seed oil in the lotion complement the essential oils. The blend of essential oils is built around cognac essential oil. This essential oil is distilled from the dry grape residue of fermented grapes, a by-product of the wine from which cognac is distilled. It has an intense green herbaceous smell.
The name Mabon has become associated with the Autumn Equinox. Although the name is described as “traditional” or “ancient”, the association has been traced back to the 1970s and the American publishing house Llewellyn. I use Mabon as the name of perfume and lotion for the simple expedient that it is short. “Mabon” will fit on a small label in readable typeface. “Autumn Equinox” will not.
Mabon
Head Notes
-
- 4 drops Coriander
Heart Notes
-
- 4 drops Clary Sage
Base Notes
-
- 15 drops Cognac essential oil
- 5 drops Ambrette (10%)
- 4 drops Labdanum