| "Every plant, animal or inanimate thing has an odour | | | | scents have a positive value in healing and helping the |
| and one peculiar to itself, but in many cases it is not | | | | mind and emotions. It has developed into a subtle |
| obvious to us. Thus things which appear to us to | | | | science with many practitioners employing the art in |
| have no odour give forth one of which other animals | | | | helping relieve psychological as well as physical |
| are conscious... The two senses of taste and smell | | | | stresses and strains. |
| are akin to each other, wherefore it is through things | | | | As the finest natural perfumes can help to make us |
| which appeal to the taste as well as those which | | | | feel good and to elevate our consciousness, or calm |
| appeal to the sense of smell that men try to | | | | our mood so there are odours which are heavy, |
| discover fragrant odours". Theophrastus | | | | damaging to our cells and depress our consciousness. |
| When we inhale a pleasant perfume, we feel | | | | These can cause irritation to our brain and nervous |
| impatient for the next breath as we find it has a | | | | system to the extent that even brain damage or |
| relaxing and helpful influence. If we pick up an | | | | mental derangement can result. Glue "sniffing" is a |
| obnoxious odour, we frown, become tense and | | | | common example amongst the young people hoping |
| irritable until we are free of its influence. | | | | for a passport to a heavenly state but sadly |
| Although the basic function of olfaction is in warning | | | | experiencing the opposite. A negative experience can |
| us of danger and so is a protective sense, another | | | | result after deep inhalation of a chemical or synthetic |
| aspect increases our sense of enjoyment of life. We | | | | aromatic substance. That is why any claim of |
| can increase our awareness of olfaction and even | | | | aromatherapy is based upon the use of an natural |
| cultivate it in order to enrich our appreciation of life, | | | | essential oil only. |
| particularly natural life, as when we inhale the | | | | Perfume directly affects the brain and has both a |
| perfume of a rose or enjoy the freshness of the | | | | physiological and a psychological effect - an effect |
| forests. | | | | upon our respiration and breathing, as well as upon |
| Our sense of smell is directly related to our | | | | our moods and thoughts. |
| respiration. It is intimately connected with the | | | | It can also help to create a strong influence upon our |
| memory centres of the brain which file away | | | | environment and immediate atmosphere of the office |
| previous sense memories and experiences. Different | | | | or home, but care should be used in selecting sprays |
| scents can unconsciously or consciously affect or | | | | for this purpose. |
| trigger our moods, our deep emotions and our | | | | The science of aromatics is advancing, but is |
| thoughts, depending upon our associated experiences. | | | | hampered to a large extent by the fact that it will |
| By a subtle whiff of perfume or scent from our past, | | | | always be subjective, depending upon the individual |
| we can be instantly transported in time. We all have | | | | reaction. Valuable work is continuing with |
| been 'taken back' at some time by the reminder of a | | | | professionals who offer aromatherapy in combination |
| special scent or perfume. This demonstrates one of | | | | with massage and relaxation. Although some would |
| its greatest inherent powers. But this is not the only | | | | consider it is a rather superficial indulgence, others |
| power that aromatics possess. | | | | experience greater benefit if the appropriate oils and |
| It is interesting to know of the many uses of | | | | perfumes are applied. So it is vitally important that |
| perfume in the past. The most common use of | | | | attention is given to the personality, character and |
| fragrant rushes of course was in attempts to | | | | needs of each individual, else such treatment can be |
| overcome unsanitary conditions where bad odours | | | | reduced to just another technique for relaxation. |
| usually had to be endured. in conditions where deep | | | | When selecting a body perfume for oneself it can be |
| breathing would have been difficult. Cottage gardens, | | | | that the somewhat confusing array of commercial |
| in addition to the pure aesthetical value, featured | | | | products makes choice difficult. Remember the |
| scented plants to help improve the immediate | | | | powerful and wonderful selection of natural oils which |
| atmosphere. | | | | can offer you a simpler but satisfying range of |
| Perfumes were also used in the art of healing. It may | | | | attractive scents which can also make you feel good. |
| seem strange to us that Egyptian priests of long ago | | | | Of the range of essential oils it is possible to select |
| used inhalation of a perfumed oil as a treatment for | | | | ones which are stimulating or calming, relaxing or |
| epilepsy or to ward off the plague, but there are | | | | vitalizing, masculine of feminine in influence - with |
| many modern scientific tests involving the efficacy of | | | | some of the most popular being rose, lavender, pine, |
| essential oils as antiseptics, antivirals and in the healing | | | | sandalwood, vanilla, bergamot, petitgrain, cedarwood, |
| of certain symptoms of disease. | | | | neroli, cypress, ylang-ylang, boronia, jasmine and |
| Beyond the obvious benefit and enjoyment of | | | | lemon-each having a different application and each |
| perfumes it is now becoming recognized that natural | | | | offering a unique benefit. |