But we had it so well outfitted and filled with files/formulas, until Yahoo discombobulated the group and it's files when it changed formatting. I am astounded that the place where I learned so much, the Yahoo Perfumemaking group that I now moderate over with (checking the count.) 2283 members has been so terribly inactive for several years now. To me, Two groups is a divided Community, and I would say I'm not in favor of it. If it tears down Community, then I'd rather not. If something builds Community, then great. Since you are soliciting opinions, and everybody's got one. We could all help to build a draft of this reference section together to save you, Grant, from doing all the work. What scales, and all the more common questions that have to be asked again and again because finding the answer is too hard before they are familiar with the forum layout. It could be a place where all the lists of what ingredients to purchase etc etc could be kept. A place that was a useful starter guide 'book' as opposed to a forum area. We are always directing them offsite to the PA, so maybe a formula section for beginner blending as a reference place would solve the two section aspect. Many of the newbs are just hunting for something to make right now that smells nice. I'll be adding to this as I think of things. An area for common sense and sensitivity perhaps. The envisaged difficulty will be a flood of unscrupulous grotty oil sales people potentially spoiling it for the good ones. People like Chris are able to obtain ingredients that mere mortals are unable to, and a split in those sorts of cases is not a rip off but a rare opportunity to acquire something impossible. Maybe a DIY supplier thread by location may go there too. It is an area that is a dangerous edge of a wedge but if there was a splits area within the DIY that operated something along the lines of the fragrances. That is something that perhaps should be allowed within the context of a discussion as long as it wasn't deliberate marketing. The problem with the 'refer to the stickies comment' was often a newb wouldn't know what a sticky was and that's why they hadn't.Īs for splits of ingredients. Something like 'do not start until you have read this' in big bold letters right under the DIY title but everything necessary condensed into it. If there was a way to highlight the stickies type of content, then that would be handy. Two areas would mean the enthusiastic learner would get ignored by default. I like the blend of total beginners and experts.