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Incense as Medicine

Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Aromatic Recipes
Bio-Regional Aromatic Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Topical Medicine
December 21, 20229Comments

The Magic and Medicine of Douglas Fir

With autumn behind us, many plants have shed their leaves in preparation for winter and wild-harvesting opportunities can feel sparse. But there is one particular type of plant you can
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Incense as Medicine
December 9, 20229Comments

Aromatic Plants for Colds and Flu

‘Tis the season – of cold and flu. Now more than ever is a great time to focus on strengthening your immune system. As you may already know, winter tends
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Incense Crafting
September 22, 202211Comments

Incense Crafting: A Path to Healing & Personal Fulfillment

The Art of Incense CraftingImagine walking through the depths of the forest; it’s so quiet that all you hear are the treetops swaying from the light breeze, it smells like
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Incense as Medicine
August 25, 20229Comments

10 Aromatic Plants for Overcoming Anxiety

The world can feel overwhelming at times. There are so many herbs that can help ease anxiety, it’s almost as if the plants know how chaotic life can feel and
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Ayurveda
Incense as Medicine
Topical Medicine
August 2, 20228Comments

8 Must-Know Herbs for First Aid

Herbal plants have many gifts to offer, and aromatic plants offer far more than just a beautiful scent. In fact, there are many powerful aromatic herbs and resins that have
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Incense as Medicine
May 24, 20224Comments

Essential Oils and Pets

Can you use essential oils with pets? Are essential oils bad for dogs and cats? We get these types of questions a lot. The answer is not a simple yes
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Incense Crafting
April 26, 20224Comments

Incorporating Incense Into Your Herbal Practice

Incense as medicine has been utilized for ages in cultures around the world, but has unfortunately been forgotten by most modern herbalists. We often hear from our students that they
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Incense as Medicine
March 30, 20228Comments

How to Use Aromatic Plants for Allergies

Spring is such a magical time of year; it can be so exciting and inspiring to witness the Earth bursting at the seams with color and smells. However, some of
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Incense as Medicine
March 22, 202212Comments

Retraining A Lost Sense of Smell with Aromatic Plants

Roses in full bloom, the aroma of brownies fresh from the oven, and so many other everyday smells add beauty to our lives in ways we often overlook and are
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Incense as Medicine
Incense Crafting
Topical Medicine
March 16, 20225Comments

Your Guide to the Topical & Internal Herbal Preparations for Healing & Beauty

When it comes to working with plants, knowing where to start can feel intimidating. However, don’t let the vast amount of information available overwhelm you, or stop you from giving
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
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After more than 15 years working deeply with aroma After more than 15 years working deeply with aromatic plants, something unexpected has happened... Instead of this world becoming more familiar, it's become more fascinating. I've spent years making medicine with aromatic plants, crafting incense, studying perfumery, sourcing materials from around the world, growing and wildcrafting herbs, teaching, and simply experiencing thousands of different aromatics. And the deeper I've gone, the more I've discovered just how many layers there are to explore. There's always another layer. Why can two Sandalwoods bearing the same botanical name smell completely different? What actually separates an exceptional aromatic from an average one? How do you train your nose to notice things you might have completely missed before? How can you tell if you're actually buying something of high quality, and where did that aromatic come from in the first place? These are the kinds of questions I've become increasingly fascinated with over the years. So starting tomorrow, I'm going to be sharing a new series that ventures deeper into this side of the aromatic arts. We'll explore quality, sourcing, sensory development, rare and unusual aromatics, the plants and places behind the materials, and some of the finer details you only begin noticing when you spend enough time smelling, comparing, and paying closer attention. Keep an eye out tomorrow for this brand new offering of knowledge.. But first, I'd love to know: What's one thing about aromatic plants you've always wanted to understand more deeply? 🌿 #AromaticPlants #Aromatherapy #Herbalism #NaturalPerfumery #Incense #BotanicalPerfumery #PlantMedicine #MedicinalPlants #EssentialOils #NaturalAromatics #AromaticMedicine #HerbalMedicine #Wildcrafting #Botanicals #Sandalwood
Have you ever purchased an aromatic material you w Have you ever purchased an aromatic material you were incredibly excited about, only to open the package and feel a little… underwhelmed? Maybe it was a Sandalwood that smelled faint and flat compared to another you'd worked with before, or a Frankincense that lacked the bright, complex aroma you remembered. Perhaps it was an essential oil that smelled perfectly pleasant, but somehow didn't have the same depth or vitality as another bottle bearing the exact same botanical name. Then, every once in a while, the opposite happens. You open a package, take that first smell, and immediately know you've found something special. I've experienced both sides of this more times than I can count. Over the past 15+ years, I've sourced hundreds of aromatic materials from around the world for medicine making, incense crafting, formulation, teaching, my own personal collection, and for my company @highermindincense Some of those materials have been so extraordinary that I can still remember the first time I smelled them, while others have taught me just as much by showing me what isn't exceptional. After spending so many years searching for beautiful natural aromatics, I've learned that there's usually much more behind their quality than we realize. So what makes an aromatic truly exceptional? ✨ We explore this question and the fascinating world of natural variation, terroir, quality, and discernment in our new blog post. 🌿 Link in bio. _____________ #aromatics #aromaticplants #aromaticoils #essentialoil #essentialoils #aromatherapy #naturalperfume #naturalincense
We live in a world that has trained us to expect c We live in a world that has trained us to expect consistency. If you purchase the same product twice, you expect it to look, taste, smell, and perform exactly the same way. But nature doesn’t work that way. 🌱 Wine lovers have a beautiful word for this: terroir. The term refers to the environmental conditions that help give the grapes grown in a particular place their unique character. Soil, climate, rainfall, elevation, sunlight, the moon and stars, temperature, and countless other factors can all influence the plant growing there. This is why serious wine enthusiasts don't simply want to know which variety of grape they're drinking; they want to know where those grapes were grown, sometimes down to the particular vineyard and year they were harvested! A similar idea can be applied to aromatic plants. Think about Lavender growing beneath the intense Mediterranean sun compared with Lavender growing in the cooler, wetter climate of the Pacific Northwest. Or a Frankincense tree clinging to a dry mountainside in Oman compared with another Boswellia species growing within a completely different landscape in the Horn of Africa. These plants aren't growing in laboratories under identical conditions. They're constantly responding and adapting to the world around them, and some of those differences eventually find their way into the aromatic materials we smell. So when two aromatics with the same botanical name smell completely different, that isn’t necessarily a flaw. It may be part of what makes natural aromatics so extraordinary. ✨ We explore this idea of natural variation (and the many nuances of aromatics) in our new blog post: What Makes an Aromatic Truly Exceptional? 🌿 Read the full blog at the link in our bio. _____________ #aroma #aromatics #aromaticplants #aromaticherbs #aromaticspices #aromatherapy #aromaticmedicine
A beautiful Rose absolute isn't simply "Rose scent A beautiful Rose absolute isn't simply "Rose scent." It's the aromatic expression of thousands of flowers that were alive in a particular place, during a particular growing season, harvested and transformed through a particular process. It’s the manifestation of the soil, climate, rainfall, elevation, sunlight, temperature, the moon and stars, and countless other factors… All concentrated within one tiny bottle. ✨ The same is true for Vetiver roots, Jasmine blossoms, Patchouli leaves, Frankincense tears, Sandalwood heartwood, and other aromatic materials shaped by the place they came from. One Frankincense can be bright and citrusy. Another can be deep, resinous, woody, or balsamic. One Sandalwood can be creamy and rich, while another is lighter, drier, or greener. And that doesn’t necessarily mean one is “better.” It means they’re plants. 🌱 In fact, this natural variation may be one of the most beautiful things about working with aromatic plants. So the next time two aromatics bearing the same botanical name smell completely different, don't immediately wonder, “Which one is the ‘real’ one?” Instead, get curious. Where did they grow? Who harvested them? What part of the plant are you working with? How were they processed? And what does your own nose tell you? Because the moment we look beyond the name on the label, the aromatic world becomes a much bigger (and much more fascinating) place. So what makes an aromatic truly exceptional? We explore this question and the fascinating world of natural variation, terroir, quality, and discernment in our new blog post. 🌿 Comment AROMA to get the full article sent straight to your inbox! ____________________ #aroma #aromaticplants #aromaticherbs #aromatherapy #aromaticmedicine #aromatics #aromaticspices
Rosemary is much more than a kitchen spice… It’s Rosemary is much more than a kitchen spice… It’s an ancient remedy for sadness and indifference. Rosemary has been said to help restore one’s purpose and direction in life – it can strengthen your self-identity, especially in times when you feel lost. It can warm your spirit, lift you up, and help you feel confident and bold. Like a lighthouse in a storm, Rosemary can guide you back to yourself. If you have Rosemary growing near you, try hanging some up to dry, then after several weeks, wrapping them in bundles to burn. Or you can put fresh or dried Rosemary in a pot of water and bring it to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer – with the lid off – to fill your home with the uplifting aromatic medicine. You can also place some essential oil drops in a diffuser to enjoy, or add the fresh or dried herb to your cooking. --- #rosemary #rosemaryoil #rosemaryplant #cookingwithherbs
The magic of Wild Rose aromatics 🌸 Wild Rose is b The magic of Wild Rose aromatics 🌸 Wild Rose is best known for its ability to help ease stress and anxiety. It allows us to relax with a deep sigh and make space for more positivity in our lives. Rose has a special affinity for supporting the menstrual cycle. Its aroma can help relieve PMS symptoms, including cramps, restlessness, stress, insomnia, and bloating. It's emotionally soothing and can help improve mood and boost confidence. It has a heart-warming ability to help you connect with yourself and others in a deep, loving way. --- #wildrose #herbalpms #rosemedicine #aromaticmedicine
The moment you believe you've mastered the secrets The moment you believe you've mastered the secrets of plants, you encounter a brick wall. Learning about aromatic plant medicine isn't a one-stop destination, but a continuous odyssey. Don’t forget – we're forever students of nature. Each plant holds wisdom to share, reminding us that learning is an eternal voyage. Every interaction we have with a plant and its medicine is a living lesson. The plants always have something to teach us, as long as we remain ready and open to receive their wisdom. Let's remain avid apprentices, embracing every lesson these botanical teachers have to offer us. The path of aromatic plant medicine is an ever-evolving healing journey of growth and discovery. --- #herbalapprenticeship #herbalapprentice #herbaleducation #studentoftheplants
3 Aromatics for Headaches and Migraines 🍃Peppermi 3 Aromatics for Headaches and Migraines 🍃Peppermint essential oil is probably one of the most commonly used essential oils to treat headaches and migraine attacks. It contains menthol, which can help relax muscles and ease pain. Try it out by properly diluting Peppermint essential oil with a carrier oil, like coconut oil, and apply to your forehead, temples, and back of the neck. Avoid applying near your eyes! 🌿Rosemary essential oil has potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It’s been used traditionally for centuries for stress relief, pain reduction, and to help improve circulation, which can all help with headache relief. Applying the diluted essential oil topically or inhaling the aroma are equally effective ways to use Rosemary for headaches; try applying properly diluted oil to your skin, use as incense or in an oil diffuser, or add the diluted oil to a warm herbal bath. 🪻Lavender is well known for its stress relieving and calming effects, which can help relieve tension headaches. Try burning Lavender bundles or incense, use it in an essential oil diffuser, or add the diluted oil to a warm herbal bath or foot soak. --- #headache #migraine #herbalheadacherelief #herbalmigrainetreatment #essentialoilheadacherelief
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