Aromatherapy: Fragrance in Use

While most of the basic principles have been addressed within the body of this text, there is still the business of translating these concepts into reality. Between the introduction of the workings of aromatherapy, the charts and tables of magical influences, the narration of possible application, and the example formulas, there is a solid basis for a beginning or expansion of an aromatherapy practice.

However, now we must take these bits and pieces and put them all together. It is no small endeavor. In fact, it might be likened to the task of the criminal investigator, who must take all the clues, all the tidbits of evidence, all the observations, and even the hearsay, and come to a probable re-creation of events to solve a mystery.

We are pouring all these little bits of foundational material into a great funnel and attempting to produce a perfect aromatic oil blend for a given situation.

In order to clearly illustrate the process, we will again resort to examples. However, in this case, we will compare similarly directed magical blends to one another to define the subtleties of difference between them. In analyzing the composition of these examples, it may help to clarify the process of producing oil blends.

In this case, we will use two original formulas. Both are love oils. However, they are directed along the lines of different intentions. “Love’s Heart” is a blend that is applied toward the enhancement of romantic love. “Love’s Passion” is used to develop the more physical expressions of emotional arousal.

The general formulae are as follows:

Love’s Heart

rose (MA)
gardenia (mi)
lavender (mi)

Love’s Passion

jasmine (MA)
rose (MA)
sandalwood (MA)
patchouli (MA)
camphor! (T)

There are three general categories of ingredients in a blend—the major ingredients (MA), the minor ingredients (mi), and the trace elements (T). Just to recall what we have discussed previously, the major influences would appear in the blend in the greatest quantity, the minor influences are in evidence to a lesser degree, and the trace elements are included in very small amounts—only a drop, or a few drops. Scanning the formulae for these two oil blends side by side, the first obvious difference is that Love’s Heart does not utilize the trace element, and Love’s Passion has no minor influences.

This offers some hint as to the workings of each blend and some indication of the effects of trace elements and minor influences. But let’s pick apart the formulae in some detail to see the hows and whys of their compositions.

Beginning with Love’s Heart, the major influence lies in the properties of the rose oil. Looking at the background information already given regarding rose, we uncover many elements that show clear cause for its inclusion in the above blend. Rose is an oil sacred to Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Likewise, it is a special scent to Aphrodite, the Greek counterpart of Venus.

Its magical properties include matters of love as well as peace and harmony, elements necessary to creating an atmosphere of romance. Among others of its therapeutic properties, rose oil is known for its aphrodisiac properties. It is used in the treatment of frigidity and impotence. Thus, it has a similar effect on both male and female. Romantic love most decidedly is a venture of sharing. Elemental jurisdiction gives the scent of rose to earth—the element of stability, fertility, and stabilization.

It is a fragrance of Libra and Cancer. Libra’s key words are beauty and creativity. Cancer is the nurturing influence of home life. The combination of these influences sets the stage for romance, for soft creative beauty, for love.

Minor influences in Love’s Heart are gardenia and lavender. Gardenia emphasizes the properties of water, Libra, and Venus. Its magical properties emphasize love, peace, and spirituality— again, bringing out the softer side of love, the shared emotion and spirit, the romance. Lavender adds a touch of the intellectual. It is associated with air, Mercury, and the signs of Gemini and Virgo.

These influences bring thoughtfulness to the union. Gemini and Virgo underscore the properties of beauty and creativity, or care and softness. Combined with the love influence of rose, these minor influences create a softness, developing the beautiful, caring, romantic side of an emotional bond. Lavender also helps to instill trust. It is used therapeutically to relieve feelings of fear and suspicion.

The soft, emotional, thoughtful side of love is the essence of romance. This carefully selected trio of ingredients result in a blend that not only addresses the prospect of love but carries it along a specifically chosen direction.

Love’s Passion, on the other hand, is designed to address the more fiery, explosive aspect of love. It does not address the love that is borne of the mind and soul but rather of the passionate heart and the hot blood. The four major ingredients in this blend are rose, jasmine, sandalwood, and patchouli. Part of the business of arousing the passions is to set the stage. By capturing the love properties of rose, we place ourselves in the proper arena in which to raise the fury of love’s passion.

Jasmine is water/earth, Taurus/ Cancer, and Jupiter/Moon. To the stabilizing influence of earth, we add the emotional properties of the element of water. To the nurturing properties of Cancer, we add the more aggressive properties of Taurus. Jupiter is a “take control” influence, while the Moon touches the unconscious mind—the realm in which the instincts that give way to the arousal of sexual desire lay waiting.

Patchouli is under the influence of earth, Taurus/Capricorn, and Saturn. While some of these influences enhance the properties that already are in evidence through the other essential ingredients, others bring out different properties. The influence of Capricorn adds a touch of fire to the effect of our blend. It is the essence of arousal. Saturn is used therapeutically to lift inhibitions.

It is, therefore, a perfect influence to allow the lovers to give way to passion. Sandalwood is earth/water, Jupiter/Neptune, and Cancer/Pisces. Again, many of the previously stated influences are enhanced, I However, sandalwood also brings some new properties to the blend. The addition of Neptune addresses depth. It arouses the depth of emotion.

The influence of Pisces has a similar effect. Again, it reaches down deep where free expression and abandonment of restrictive inhibitions dwell. Sandalwood also parallels the odor of the human sex hormone, alpha androsterole. There is little question that this will directly address that aspect of love we wish to develop. This works quite directly on the instincts of passionate love.

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