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Incense Crafting

Aromatherapy
Incense Crafting
October 19, 202116Comments

3 Virtually Smokeless Ways to Burn Incense

We’ve all been taught that smoke is bad for us. But what about incense smoke? The idea that all smoke is bad is a modern misconception. Incense is the original
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Incense Crafting
August 15, 20200Comments

The Trinity of Incense: Healing, Spirit, Pleasure

Many people in the western world think incense is just used to cover up funky odors or bring on a good mood and good smell. Yes these are all truths,
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Human/Plant Connection
Incense Crafting
September 30, 20190Comments

Fragrance Testing: Listening To Your Patient’s Inner Aromatherapist

As an aromatherapist and teacher, I often get a lot of questions revolving around how to best match a person with the best possible aromatic botanical remedy for their healing.
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Incense Crafting
Ritual
April 6, 20190Comments

The Renowned Japanese Koh-do Incense Ceremony

When you hear the term, “Listening to Incense,” what comes to mind? Perhaps you imagine putting your ear up to morsels of resin incense melting and sizzling on a hot
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatic History & Lore
Incense Crafting
December 11, 20180Comments

Recreating Feelings and Moments in Time with Aromatic Formulas

This time of year demands of most people to journey inward. To reflect on the warmer months that have recently passed, to create, think, dream, and appreciate the beauty in
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatic History & Lore
Incense Crafting
September 28, 20180Comments

The Art of Traditional Incense Crafting

Since time immemorial, people have burned aromatic plants in the form of incense for aesthetic, medicinal, spiritual, and practical purposes in nearly every culture on Earth. To put it simply,
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatic History & Lore
Incense as Medicine
Incense Crafting
Topical Medicine
April 25, 20180Comments

The Magic & Medicine of Aromatic Tree Resins, Part II

The aromatic tree resins of the world are some of the most potent healing materials on Earth, used in folk medicine, indigenous medicine, and many of the more established systems
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Incense Crafting
September 29, 20170Comments

The Sacred Sense of Smell

Since time immemorial, our sense of smell has been intrinsically connected to the sacred and divine, above all other senses. Across the Earth, the ancients considered our sense of smell
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Incense Crafting
May 13, 20170Comments

Keeping A Sacred Art Alive

Incense has been used for thousands of years in almost every culture on Earth; from the sands of Egypt, to the high plateaus of Tibet, from the jungles of Ecuador,
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
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Forest Bathing at Home 🌲 You don’t need to visit Forest Bathing at Home 🌲 You don’t need to visit a forest to reconnect with nature. Place a few sprigs of Pine, Cedar, or Fir in hot water on your stove, or a few drops of EO in your diffuser. Inhale deeply. Exhale fully. Repeat. These aromatic evergreens can reduce stress, clear the mind, and uplift your spirit…all from the comfort of home. What's your favorite forest scent? _____________ #forestbathing #forestsmell #forestenergy #forestbathingtherapy #forestscent #pine #cedar #fir
Want to go deeper with Yarrow? In our newest vlog Want to go deeper with Yarrow? In our newest vlog, we explore one of our favorite plants in depth. You’ll discover: • The mythology of Achilles and Chiron • Yarrow’s traditional uses across cultures • How it supports digestion, circulation, the uterus & more • Its role in aromatic medicine and emotional boundary work • Why the essential oil is that stunning deep blue • Practical ways to work with it as tea, tincture, essential oil, hydrosol, incense & more Watch it through the link in our bio.
What if the “weed” growing along the roadside was What if the “weed” growing along the roadside was once carried into battle to save lives? I still remember the first time I truly met Yarrow. I was on a hike with one of my herbal teachers when he stopped, bent down, and brushed his hand across a patch of feathery leaves at our feet. “This plant,” he said, “was carried into battle to slow bleeding from wounds. And if you’re ever hiking without a first-aid kit… or bleeding during the zombie apocalypse… a poultice of Yarrow should do the trick.” I laughed…But I never forgot it! Yarrow is a powerful plant of paradox. It can slow bleeding… and move stagnant blood. It can cool heat… and stimulate circulation. It can protect boundaries… and open what’s stuck. For centuries, it’s been called many names: Staunch Weed, Soldier’s Woundwort, Nosebleed, and Life Medicine. Legend says Achilles used it on the battlefield to take care of his soldiers. Chinese divination traditions use their stalks to consult the I Ching. Herbalists call it the “master of blood.” And beyond the physical, Yarrow has long been known as the herb of the wounded warrior and wounded healer – a plant for those who have had to become strong because they first had to survive something. In our new video blog, you’ll learn: • The mythology of Achilles and Chiron • Yarrow’s traditional uses across cultures • Its powerful support for digestion, circulation, skin issues and menstrual struggles • How it works in aromatic medicine and emotional boundary work • Practical ways to use it in tea, tincture, essential oil, hydrosol, incense & more By the end, you may never look at this “common weed” the same way again. ✨ If you’ve ever felt called to understand this plant beyond just its benefits – to really know its story, its spirit, its intelligence – this one is for you. 🌿 Watch/read the full story of Yarrow at the link in our bio. ________ #yarrow #yarrowflower #aromaticmedicine #emotionalboundaries #boundarysetting #weedsaremedicine #herbalmonograph
Have you ever met a plant that seems to know exact Have you ever met a plant that seems to know exactly what your body needs? For me, that plant is Yarrow. Yarrow is a plant of opposites. It’s described as both cooling & warming, grounding & uplifting, moving & stabilizing, opening while protective. On a physical level, it can slow bleeding, yet it can also help move stagnant blood. There’s something deeply reassuring about this paradox – a plant so attuned to the body that it responds to imbalance rather than forcing change in a single direction. That kind of intelligence is what makes Yarrow one of the most fascinating herbs I’ve ever encountered. Its Latin name, Achillea millefolium, tells part of the story. “Millefolium” means “thousand-leaved,” referring to its feathery foliage, while “Achillea” honors Achilles, the great warrior of Greek myth who used Yarrow to tend his soldiers’ wounds in battle. According to legend, Achilles’ mother, Thetis, tried to make him invulnerable by dipping him in the sacred River Styx. But she held him by his heel, the one place untouched by the protective waters. That small, forgotten place became his only weakness, and it was there that Paris’ arrow struck him. (This is where the phrase “Achilles heel” comes from!). Over time, Yarrow became known as the herb of the wounded warrior. And just as it helps seal physical wounds, it has long been associated with strengthening emotional and energetic boundaries. Yarrow is often called the herb for empaths, those who feel overwhelmed by external intensity or who absorb the emotions of others. Many healers see it as a boundary-setting herb for people who need help keeping their own energy separate and safe while supporting those around them. In our new video blog, you’ll discover: • The mythology of Achilles & Chiron • Yarrow’s traditional uses across cultures • Its powerful support for digestion, circulation & the uterus • How it works in aromatic medicine & emotional boundary work • Practical ways to use it as a tea, tincture, essential oil, hydrosol, incense & more 🌿 Watch/read the full Yarrow story at the link in our bio. _____________ #yarrow #yarrowflower #empaths #emotionalboundaries #aromatherapy #herbalism
Did you know: What we call Juniper berries aren’t Did you know: What we call Juniper berries aren’t actually berries! These “berries” are really fleshy cones called a galbulus, which take 2-3 years to ripen from green to deep blue-black. Junipers are either male or female. Male trees produce tiny yellow cones, while female trees grow the bluish-green cones we know as “berries.” Have you ever spotted a male vs. female Juniper? 🌿 ___________ #juniper #juniperberries #junipertree #botanynerd #aromaticmedicine #herbalism
Nature is our greatest teacher. 🌿 The Earth and th Nature is our greatest teacher. 🌿 The Earth and the botanical kingdom are always offering wisdom. The question is… are we listening? One of the most powerful ways to learn from nature is to slow down and simply be with it. To spend unhurried time with the plants. To notice their scents and textures. For many of us, especially those living in cities, that connection can feel distant – and even more so in the depths of winter, when the cold keeps us indoors. But we can always invite nature in. Simmer evergreen needles on the stovetop. Line your windowsills with acorns or pinecones. Burn grounding aromatics like Fir, Pine, Cedar, Tulsi, or Thyme. Draw an herbal bath. Prepare a simple herbal steam (you’ll find some recipes on our blog!). These small rituals remind the body and spirit that we belong to the Earth, even when we’re inside. What’s one way you bring nature into your indoor life this season? 🌲 _______________ #natureisourteacher #connectwithnature #plantsareteachers #aromatherapy #naturalliving #naturalincense #winterritual
With all the AI content lately (AI herbalists, AI With all the AI content lately (AI herbalists, AI teachers, AI everything), it’s starting to feel like you can’t scroll for more than 30 seconds without bumping into another perfectly generated “expert.” Last week, we released a blog, “Living in the Age of the AI Herbalist,” to talk honestly about it (see recent posts). And the funniest thing happened the day before we released it, someone accused me of looking like AI on one of our reels! So I’m here to say I, Evan Sylliaasen, am not a robot… (& here are a few crazy things about my very human life): 🪵 If I weren’t teaching or crafting incense, I’d probably be building furniture. Woodworking is my favorite hobby. 🎵 In my teens, I played drums in a few bands. In my early 20s, I recorded a one-man bluegrass album playing guitar, banjo & mandolin, called Black & Bluegrass. I used to be really good (Now… debatable!). 👖 I was a “child star.” Sort of, not really. I appeared in a Sur La Table magazine at 5 years old in a tie-dye shirt while my fake magazine family wore Canadian tuxedos. I’ve been the black sheep from the beginning. 🎓 I was suspended in junior high once. And no, I’m not telling you why. 💻 I had crippling stage fright as a kid & teen. The irony of teaching online now is not lost on me. 🎨 Before becoming my own boss, I worked 15+ different jobs: dog grooming, land surveying, painting, construction, lead catering, selling SEO, landscaping… I’ve always been willing to get my hands dirty. 🌱 My mom taught me to garden when I was young. Since age 20, I’ve kept my own food & herb garden wherever I’ve lived. That’s where all of this really began. My life has been shaped by years in the garden, working through awkward teenage stage fright, playing music & long days of hard work on construction sites... Real experiences, big mistakes, great mentors, amazing people & real plants. And that’s exactly why I care about what’s happening in our space right now. Thanks for trusting me, and everything my team (also real people) & I have built at the NW School of Aromatic Medicine since 2014. We’re dedicated to you & teaching aromatic medicine from places of real human experience & tradition.
Here on the Olympic Peninsula, the evergreens are Here on the Olympic Peninsula, the evergreens are some of the only strong aromatics available this time of year. In the quieter months, they become steady companions. I’ll often take a slow walk through the forest, or drive into the mountains closeby, pausing to breathe in the scent of freshly fallen Cedar branches, letting the aroma wake my senses and reconnect me to this land we call home. Cedar has been my favorite tree for as long as I can remember. From early childhood, wandering moss-covered forests and rain-soaked trails of the Pacific Northwest, it has been a constant presence: grounding, familiar, and comforting. For Indigenous peoples along the coast, from Washington all the way to Alaska, Cedar has long been held as one of the most sacred plants. It was everything: warmth from fire, shelter and clothing, tools for weaving and art, canoes for travel, incense for ceremony, and powerful medicine for healing. To many Northwest tribes, Cedar remains the true “tree of life,” woven into nearly every aspect of living. Sometimes I imagine what it would feel like if a single plant touched every layer of our lives today, from the material to the spiritual. Perhaps then we would truly understand what it means to call a plant an ally. 🌲 ___________ #cedar #treeoflife #plantally #plantsareteachers #sacredplants #plantsaremagic
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