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Natural Perfumers Guild Apprenticeship Program

DATE: January 29, 2013

RE: The Natural Perfumers Guild (NPG)Apprenticeship Program

FROM: Elise Pearlstine, NPG Apprenticeship Program Coordinator

TO: NPG Apprenticeship Applicants

INTRODUCTION

The Natural Perfumers Guild (NPG)Apprenticeship Program was established so that apprentices can be mentored by a NPG professional perfumer to assist them in improving their perfume composition or business/marketing skills by means of a mentor/apprentice relationship.

The NPG Apprenticeship Program is inspired by the model of the classical apprenticeship programs of the artisan Guilds of the Middle Ages. It is intended to give hands-on experience and personal interaction between perfumer and apprenticeto develop a deeper understanding and expertise in how to compose a professional perfume,as well as access to information about the business side of the art.

The philosophy behind the program is to maintain, nourish and evolve the tradition of artisan natural perfumery. The NPG Apprenticeship Program provides a structure in which a new generation of natural perfumers will receive training and guidance from a working perfumer with a wealth of knowledge in the field. This program encourages curiosity, exploration, and supported self-learning accompanied with feedback and assistance on an as-needed basis.

The NPG Apprenticeship Program will help the apprentice enhance their skills and strengthen their understanding of all areas of natural perfumery, includingthe aesthetics, technicalmethods, and business skills. The perfumer gets the rewarding opportunity to enhance their teaching skills, network,and assist in the professional development of members of the naturalperfumery community.

The NPG Apprenticeship Program consists of a six-month semester. The apprentice may, upon submittal of the signed application, continue on in the program for additionalsemesters after review by the Guild President and Program Coordinator. A written essay describing their needs and goals for additional mentoring will need to be submitted to the Program Coordinator.

Work Process:The apprenticewill submit one perfumery question per month to the perfumer, and work under the guidance of the perfumer for that specific question. How the subject develops will be up to the mentor and apprentice.

Cost:The program is free of charge.

Due to the fact that the Guild’s members are located worldwide and cannot meet in person (if at all), participants can use the Internet to communicate by means of email, phone, internet phone, and chat software in order to make the experience personal and meaningful. If possible, the perfumer and apprentice may meet in person, which is encouraged if geography and finances allow.

1. NPG APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM GUIDELINES:

1.1 The following guidelines are set in place in order to maintain a high quality educational program, and also to make it a successful and positive experience for all. These are guidelines, not rules set in stone, and may be altered or changed in the future based on reviews of feedback for the 2013 semester.

1.2 For this important feedback, we will send a short questionnaire at the end of each term to be completed by both the apprentice and perfumer. Aside from that, if you have any concerns or questions, suggestions, or if you would like to share with us what you liked and benefited you most in the program, please contact the NPG Apprenticeship program coordinator, Elise Pearlstine, directly at or the NPG president, Anya McCoy

2. PROGRAM INTENT, STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS

2.1The NPG Apprenticeship Program is dedicated to the advance studies of natural perfumery through the mentor/apprentice relationship. Each apprentice can pose one question per month to the perfumer. The dialog between the apprentice and the perfumer will continue during this month until the question is answered and clarified, if it can be. Understand that there may sometimes be unanswerable questions.

2.2 The NPGApprenticeship Program provides a learning environment where apprentices can learn from an experienced natural perfumer, and gain knowledge that cannot be obtained otherwise (i.e. cannot be found in books or on the internet, including the Yahoo Natural Perfumery Group). For example: most questions in regards to sourcing and materials can be found by performing a simple search in the Natural Perfumery Yahoo Group, or by posing a question to the group on this forum. Apprentices are expected to try these resources first, before consulting with their perfumer.
2.3 Most communications between the perfumer and apprentice will be conducted via email. Other methods of communication are Skype or chat software (i.e.: MSN or Yahoo Messengers, ICQ, etc.).

2.4 Apprentices should check in with perfumer once a week. If there is a problem, the apprentice must let the perfumer know thatthey are busy or unavailable to work on the question and feedback that week.
2.5 Apprentices are expected to be actively working on a perfume or series of blends during the apprenticeship. It is this activity that will provide material for questions and feedback.
3. HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE:
3.1 At least once during the semester, the apprentice should submit a perfume
that they are working on for the perfumer to evaluate and comment on. Becausewe are not meeting in person, this is crucial to make the apprenticeshiphands-on, meaningful and effective.
3.2 Perfumers are encouraged to send samples of their scents to their apprentice, so they can have an understanding of what a professional natural perfumesmells like and get acquainted with their perfumerstyle. Apprentices are also encouraged to samples from the Guild's perfumers, many of whom have special discounts. This will enable them to experience the broad range of styles in modern natural perfumery.
4. STANDARDS
4.1 Responsibility in clear, consistent communication is divided equally among the perfumer and apprentice. If communication breaks down for more than a month, the perfumer or apprentice should contact the Program Director within a week of identifying the problem
4.2. Priority for participation in the program will be given to apprenticesthat have not had the opportunity to participate in the past

4.3 If an apprentice has a history of signing up but not participating inthe program, they will be moved to the bottom of the waiting list, to allowother apprentices the chance to participate in the program

4.4 If a perfumer is not able to continue with the program, their apprentices will be re-assigned a new perfumer until the end of the term

4.5 If there is a disagreement as to the direction of the mentoring, the Program Director should be notified as soon as possible for reassignment, if timing for reassignment is possible that semester

5. TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION
5.1. If an Apprentice is not communicating with the perfumer two months into theprogram, their space will be given to another Apprentice
5.2. If an apprentice is unable to attend the program, he or she is requiredto inform their perfumer as well as the Program Coordinator,and let them know they are resigning from the program in that semester, so thattheir place can be given to another apprentice on the waitlist.
6. FEEDBACK FOR THE PROGRAM

At the end of each term, a short feedback questionnaire will be sent to both the perfumer and the apprentices. The NPG expects all participants to submit feedback, so that we will be able to meet your needs and expectations from the program and make sure it is successful.

Signature of Apprentice

Name:______

Date:______

Signature of Program Coordinator

Name:______

Date:______

Date of NPG Apprenticeship Semester:______

Perfumer:______