The Fragrance of Life

Several years ago I set out on a journey to examine my senses. My exploration of the sense of smell was a separate journey on its own. I studied the art of burning essential oils just for the pure pleasure of enjoying their scent. I read about herbs and flowers and finally decided to grow my own. I have filled my bedroom with candles, incense, and oil burners. My living room holds basins of dried mint and sage. In the small kitchen,a pot of orange peels and cinnamon simmers every morning. I shower in anything that smells like; lavender, mango, jasmine or honeysuckle. Even my teas are now highly fragrant. After school, my daughter comes in and deeply inhales. She is always intrigued by what is; brewing, cooking, or burning. I try not to disappoint her. Even the dogs are captured by the allure of scent. One sleeps next to anything that smells of me, while his brother needs the real thing. He will curl up at my feet and at bedtime he puts his nose at the nape of my neck and falls into a deep sleep.

     Come summer, the scent infusion intensifies. The sweet combination of moist floral air on a summer night, and whatever oil I happen to be burning; makes staying up late very tempting. On any given warm night, incense is burning non-stop and whatever herb that is growing strong is dried up and sprinkled on the deck. On the hottest of summer nights I keep my sheets in the freezer and sprinkle them with Ylang-ylang. I take them out about an hour before bedtime, to allow both the scent and temperature to mellow. 

      Start exploring your sense of smell. Order a starter set of oils. Start out with Patchouli, Lemon balm, Lavender, Tea Tree, and Bergamot. Rub them into a variety of surfaces, sprinkle them in your hair brush onto your comforter or add just oils to your bath water. Beautiful oil burners can be found a thrift shop's, buy at least two. Wake up your sense of smell, and touch, taste, and sight, will follow.