AnnS (asker) Mar 29, 2007:

Hi Richard. No, there is no direct reference to air, fire and water - just earth, but there are references to primal matter, so I like your idea about transmuted.
The reason I wondered whether there was a more 'accurate' term is that the German keeps making me think of Snow White and the seven dwarfs, so I wondered if it was a term that belonged in folklore for which there is an English equivalent.
I'm now in a situation of Wahl and Qual, of course, but still very grateful for everyone's interest.

Francis Lee (X) Mar 29, 2007:

Ditto. English-speaking copy is generally far more concise (and less corny) than the German equivalent. I'd probably write a simplified i.e. brief equivalent here and perhaps add a touch of magic (doh!) elsewhere. Then again, "alchemists" would be fine!

Richard Benham Mar 29, 2007:

Sorry to be a pest, but I am a bit surprised by your word "accurate". I suppose you need to be "accurate" about conveying the feeling...but in marketing it doesn't really matter about accuracy in the usual sense, except for factual claims.

Richard Benham Mar 29, 2007:

BTW, whether or not there are, I think "alchemists" is great! Maybe with "transmuted" for "verwandelt".... (Get it?)

Richard Benham Mar 29, 2007:

Are there references to Air, Fire and Water too?

AnnS (asker) Mar 28, 2007:

I can understand you asking what it's all about - it's a bit of a weird text. The idea is that the perfume is earthy/has the characteristics of earthiness. It's a man's fragrance. I did say the context wasn't exactly helpful...
However, I'm VERY grateful for everyone's suggestions. They're really good.

Francis Lee (X) Mar 28, 2007:

"in diesem Wort"? Erde? More context/text would be helpful ... What's this all about?

Jonathan MacKerron Mar 28, 2007:

Erde here = dirt/earth??

AnnS (asker) Mar 28, 2007:

It's not a particularly helpful sentence, but just in case:

Erde - XXX (company name) erkennt sich in diesem Wort wieder, einer Metapher für alle Materialien, die von den Zauberhandwerkern des Hauses XXX (company name) verwandelt werden.

Jonathan MacKerron Mar 28, 2007:

do you have a sentence?