The Healing Power of Scent

The Healing Power of Scent is not a guide to the synthetic fragrance ingredients often used in perfumery, which tend to be used for their aromas and don't have any intrinsic therapeutic benefit. Instead this book focuses on aromatics found in the natural world: primarily plants, their essential oils and other natural plant-based ingredients. These are the products that are principally used in aromatherapy, since they have many healing (therapeutic, medicinal) properties.This book is a journey through the world of aromatic plants (and their non-aromatic friends) - their history, cultural significance and medicinal uses. Along the way, you'll discover the science of our sense of smell and learn some practical ways to harness the power of scent in everyday life. You'll find mindfulness exercises, observation and olfaction (smelling) activities, aromatherapy blends and recipes for skincare products. Throughout, the book aims to explore how we can all learn to better appreciate, respect and harness the benefits that these amazing aromatic materials generously lend us, and how they play a role in supporting our health and wellbeing.In writing this book, I found myself paying closer attention to the healing aromas around me, and tuning in more frequently to the small details. I felt that the process of creating the activities and researching often brought me a clearer and more mindful connection with the world around me. My hope is that this book will be a resource for you to turn to for mindful, creative and sensory activities, rituals and practices, and that it will help you to develop your own relationships and associations with the aromas and plants within the pages.

Ellen Rowland is the founder of social enterprise AmberLuna Apothecary, where she holds an aromatherapy clinic and teaches regular aromatherapy workshops. She also runs regular workshops on aromatherapy, skincare, and herbs for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, as part of their community access program, bringing this learning to those who would otherwise not have access. Ellen also runs an aromatherapy massage clinic in Bristol, and workshops for the public with various charitable and social enterprise partners.