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Aromatherapy

glass cork bottle of benzoin oil next to benzoin resin on a counter
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Incense as Medicine
Incense Crafting
Natural Perfumery
Plant Profiles
Ritual
August 13, 20250Comments

Why Benzoin Resin Belongs in Your Apothecary: Benefits & Ritual Uses

Imagine something that looks like a beautiful golden rock, but upon closer inspection, you're greeted with sweet, balsamic, resinous notes, with hints of vanilla that feel like a warm embrace.
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Topical Medicine
July 7, 20250Comments

Top Essential Oil Blends for Bug Repellent

Summer is finally here! And with it, the sweet return of long, golden days spent outdoors. Whether you're hiking through sunny trails, swimming in crystal-clear lakes, camping under the stars,
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
bottle of Rosemary essential oil
Aromatherapy
Herbal Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Topical Medicine
June 20, 20250Comments

How to Use Rosemary for Holistic Health

Sure, Rosemary makes a great addition to roasted potatoes and Mediterranean dishes, but its true power lies far beyond the kitchen. For centuries, healers, herbalists, and aromatherapists have turned to
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
bundle of fresh mugwort herbs for dreamwork
Aromatherapy
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
Ritual
June 10, 20250Comments

Aromatic Plants and Dreams: Scents for Deep Sleep and Inner Wisdom

Have you ever woken from a dream so vivid it blurred the line between memory and imagination? Dreams can be fun, strange, symbolic, emotional, or eerily real. They arise most often
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Herbal Medicine
Ritual
Topical Medicine
May 30, 20250Comments

Making Your Own Aromatic & Herbal Remedies

As a plant person, you likely already know this: Aromatic plants and herbs hold incredible healing potential. Beneath their beautiful scents and vibrant leaves lies a world of medicine, just
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Bio-Regional Aromatic Medicine
Herbal Medicine
Human/Plant Connection
Incense Crafting
Natural Perfumery
Ritual
May 22, 20250Comments

The Energy You Bring to the Craft: Intention as an Ingredient

Have you ever followed a recipe exactly, only to have it fall flat, while someone else makes the same thing and it comes alive? Or crafted an herbal or aromatic
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Top 5 Aromatherapy Oils for Congestion Relief text over green eucalyptus leaves
Aromatherapy
May 15, 20250Comments

Top 5 Aromatherapy Oils for Congestion Relief

Congestion – the unwelcome guest that steals sleep, muddles your mind, and makes every breath feel like a struggle. When a stuffy nose or relentless sinus pressure strikes, finding relief
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Herbal Medicine
Plant Profiles
April 25, 20250Comments

Jasmine Benefits for the Mind, Body, and Soul

The alluring aroma of Jasmine is more than just a scent – it’s an experience that lingers in the soul. Ethereal, intoxicating, and deeply evocative, Jasmine carries an almost sacred
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Bottles of essential oil with frankincense resin and candles
Aromatherapy
Incense as Medicine
April 10, 20250Comments

Aromatherapy for Stress Relief & Relaxation

Turn on the news, scroll through social media, or simply glance at your to-do list, and it’s clear – stress has become an unavoidable part of modern life. From the
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Human/Plant Connection
Natural Perfumery
Ritual
March 13, 20250Comments

Poetry in a Bottle: The Art of Natural Perfumery

Natural perfumery is the art of the unseen, a symphony of botanicals and emotions, creating an aura that is uniquely yours. A great perfume is more than just a fragrance
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
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As we shift from summer to fall, the changing of s As we shift from summer to fall, the changing of seasons is a lovely reminder to slow down and support our mind and body through the transitions of life. Try out this nourishing tonic tea recipe that's packed with nutrients and herbs to help you feel in harmony with a touch of stress relief. 

Ingredients:

1 cup hot water
1 tsp dried Nettle leaves 
1 tsp dried Chamomile flowers
1 tsp dried Rosehips 
1 tsp dried Lemon Balm leaves
1 spoonful raw honey (optional)

Directions:

Boil water and pour it over the dried herbs in a mug or teapot. Cover the container to keep in the precious volatile oils and let the herbs steep for about 10-15 minutes. Strain, stir in honey, and enjoy! Find a cozy spot, take a deep breath, and savor your nourishing tonic.

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#HerbalTea #NourishingTonic #FallHerbs #Herbalism #PlantMedicine #CozyVibes
Blended fragrance is like music - there are many d Blended fragrance is like music - there are many different aromatic notes that make up an incense or perfume, just like there are many different musicians that make up a band.

When a musician plays alone, it’s beautiful, but when all of the musicians in a band play together in harmony, it’s purely magical.
The Pine tree is considered sacred in many culture The Pine tree is considered sacred in many cultures.

Pine trees are deeply revered and honored in Korean tradition. The trees are respected as wise entities and are sometimes worshiped as divine beings or spirits.

In China, Pine is considered a symbol of the New Year. 

Pine tree forests throughout Europe were the birthplace of many timeless fairytales and legends. 

Pine is found in countless stories of antiquity, from Greek and Roman tales of gods and goddesses, to Germanic and Nordic tales of dwarves, witches, elves, and werewolves. 

It was even the tree in which the wizard Merlin climbed, never to return to the world of Men. 

To many Native Americans and First Nations peoples, Pine has been an important tree resembling wisdom and longevity for ages.

Celtic and Northern European peoples believed Pine to protect them from harmful, negative energies and influences. 

Pine has long been used as incense in many cultures to promote courage, strength, protection, and prosperous health.

I share more about these ancient stories and traditions of Pine, from near and far, in our blog, The Medicine & Magic of Pine. 

Read more here: https://aromaticmedicineschool.com/the-medicine-magic-of-pine/
“One thing I’ve learned in the woods is that there “One thing I’ve learned in the woods is that there is no such thing as random. Everything is steeped in meaning, colored by relationships, one thing with another.”

― Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
As herbalists, aromatherapists, and lovers of arom As herbalists, aromatherapists, and lovers of aromatic plants, our relationship with the plant world is reciprocal.

We tend the plants, and in return, they tend us.

Part of walking an ethical, plant-centered path is knowing when to slow down, use less, and choose with greater care.

🌿 Aromatic plants on our “take care” list 🌿

These species face sustainability pressures due to overharvesting, habitat loss, or fragile ecosystems. They deserve reverence, restraint, and thoughtful sourcing:

Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora)
Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis)
Frankincense (Boswellia carterii from Somalia)
Palo Santo (Bulnesia Sarmientoi)
Atlas Cedarwood (​​Cedrus atlantica)
Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi)
Sassafras (Ocotea pretiosa)
African Sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata)
White Sage (Salvia apiana)
Sandalwood (Santalum album, S paniculatum)

✨ Our guiding principle:

When the source isn’t clear, we slow down and pause before proceeding. When a supply feels questionable, we seek out thoughtful alternatives. And when a plant is known to be vulnerable, we allow respect and relationship to guide our choices, always placing care for the plant before our desire to use it.

Sustainability isn’t just about what we use—it’s about how and why we use it.

May our aromatic practices be rooted in care, relationship, and responsibility. 🌎

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 #sustainability #plantsteward #plantstewardship #sustainablesourcing
🌿 Where do you source your herbs and aromatic plan 🌿 Where do you source your herbs and aromatic plants? Drop your location + recommendations below! 👇

Some of the most powerful plant allies don’t have to come from exotic locations halfway around the world… there are plenty being lovingly grown right in our own communities. 🌱

Local, small-scale herb farmers are helping preserve traditional plant knowledge while making high-quality, sustainably grown herbs more accessible.

Know an herbal farm near you that deserves more recognition? Tag them below. 

Let's build a map of where to find powerful plant medicine closest to home.

👇 Share your location + any farms/growers you love.
3 reasons to use non-combustible, low-smoke method 3 reasons to use non-combustible, low-smoke methods to burn incense:

🔥 Provides a slower burn that maintains the integrity of the incense
🔥 Helps lessen the charred aroma that often accompanies combustible methods
🔥 Self-lighting charcoal often contains chemicals that can be a health hazard

Discover the 3 virtually smokeless ways to enjoy incense in our blog. Link in bio ✨

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 #smokelessincense #smokelessincenseburner #burningincense #incensecharcoal
There’s a difference between owning a lot of aroma There’s a difference between owning a lot of aromatics... and truly knowing aromatics.

I think most of us begin the same way.

We collect.

Another essential oil. Another resin. A beautiful piece of aromatic wood. An unusual extract we've never smelled before. I started collecting incense when I was 16, not knowing much about it, the traditions, or the plans behind it at all. 

And there's nothing wrong with that—I still get ridiculously excited when a package of new aromatics shows up at my door. 😆

But eventually, something changes.

You don't just want more.

You want to understand what you already have.

You want to know things like why one Frankincense smells completely different from another.

Why that Sandalwood was so expensive compared to another.

Where your Agarwood actually came from.

Whether wildcrafted really means better.

How to recognize exceptional quality with your own nose.

Who grew, harvested, distilled, or traded the materials you're working with.

And whether the plants you love are actually being cared for in a way that allows them to continue thriving.

That's when collecting aromatics starts becoming connoisseurship.

And that's really why I created The Aromatic Connoisseur Series.

To help you become more knowledgeable, discerning, and intentional with the aromatics you already love.

To know how to find them, how to understand them, and how to protect them.

🌿 The Aromatic Connoisseur Series

Three special classes & one deeper journey into the aromatic world.

Enrollment is only open until tomorrow night, so if this deeper journey into the aromatic world is calling to you, come take a look.

Explore the complete series + join us in our bio

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 #Aromatherapy #NaturalAromatics #AromaticPlants #EthicalSourcing #NaturalPerfumery #Herbalism
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