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Sustainability

Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
Natural Perfumery
Ritual
Sustainability
May 9, 20240Comments

From Nature to Nose: Unveiling the Art of Natural Perfumery

Have you ever felt a deep desire to have your beloved aromatic plants accompany you throughout your day? That’s what it’s like to wear natural perfume. Unfortunately, many modern perfumes found
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Aromatic Recipes
Bio-Regional Aromatic Medicine
Herbal Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Sustainability
Topical Medicine
January 24, 20240Comments

Medicine of the Evergreens: Our Greatest Winter Allies

In the heart of winter's icy grip exists a steadfast symbol of endurance and resilience – the magnificent evergreen trees. With autumn behind us, many plants have shed their leaves
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Sustainability
November 29, 20228Comments

Herbal-Minded Holiday Gift Guide

The holiday season has arrived, and this is often a time when we think of giving something special to those we love and care for. However, the idea of picking
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Bio-Regional Aromatic Medicine
Human/Plant Connection
Sustainability
April 14, 202210Comments

13 Aromatic Plants You Can Easily Grow at Home

Have you thought about growing a garden this spring? Now is a great time to start preparing! Whether you're a complete beginner, or a master in aromatic medicine making, there is
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Human/Plant Connection
Sustainability
November 22, 202119Comments

Being A Conscious Essential Oil Consumer – Resist the EO Marketers!

This holiday time of year, there are great deals everywhere and multi-level marketing networks working overtime to sell essential oils. Don’t get me wrong – essential oils are amazing aromatic
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatic History & Lore
Plant Profiles
Sustainability
October 27, 20219Comments

Saving Spikenard: The Sustainability Struggle

Some might say that the words sustainable and essential oil can never be in the same sentence. Essential oils have dynamic health benefits, however, they’re also resource-intensive products. Hundreds to
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatic History & Lore
Human/Plant Connection
Ritual
Sustainability
July 19, 20210Comments

Smudging: An Issue of Ethics and Sustainability

Have you ever scrolled past a social media ad with an image of someone burning a smudge stick of White Sage with the caption reading something like, “Say Bye-Bye to
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Plant Profiles
Sustainability
November 25, 20190Comments

A Distress Call from the Sacred White Sage Plant

Oftentimes when trends spread like wildfire around the world, there is a great deal of misinformation or lack of understanding around them. Unfortunately, many trends these days include the use
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Incense as Medicine
Sustainability
August 19, 20190Comments

Incense & Aromatics for Mental Focus & Clarity

Do you experience issues with mental focus and clarity, brain fog, or trouble with your memory? The aromatic incense plants I talk about in the video above have been used
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Ayurveda
Plant Profiles
Sustainability
January 23, 20180Comments

The Ancient Divinity and Healing of Sandalwood

One of the most widely used metaphysical plants in the world is the renowned Sandalwood tree. The use of this sacred tree in spirituality and ritual dates back thousands of
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
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🌿 THE ART OF AROMATIC PREPARATIONS COURSE — ENROLL 🌿 THE ART OF AROMATIC PREPARATIONS COURSE — ENROLLMENT IS OPEN! Our online course is now available at a special price for one week! Join clinical herbalist and aromatherapist Erika Galentin as she guides you through the traditional art of making herbal preparations, from infused oils and salves to tinctures, hydrosols, herbal honeys, and more. Through 7 in-depth video lessons, you'll learn how to create 6 foundational types of herbal preparations, using simple ingredients and equipment you may already have in your kitchen. But this course goes beyond simply following recipes. You'll learn the methods behind each preparation, how different techniques extract different plant constituents, how to choose the right preparation for the plants you're working with, and nearly 2 decades of expert tips and tricks. Whether you're an aromatherapist looking to expand beyond essential oils, an herbal enthusiast building your home apothecary, or someone who wants to make beautiful botanical products and handmade gifts, these are skills you can return to for years. 🌿 SPECIAL ENROLLMENT OFFER For the next 8 days, we're taking $50 off tuition! Regular price: $197 Your price: $147 And for the first time ever, we're offering a payment plan of 2 payments of $77! Ends November 17. 👉 Visit the link in our bio to explore the course and enroll! #AromaticMedicine #HerbalMedicineMaking #Herbalism #Aromatherapy #HerbalRemedies #HerbalEducation #HerbalMedicine
How many different ways can you work with a single How many different ways can you work with a single plant? 🌿 Take Chamomile, for example. You could steep the flowers into a fragrant herbal tea, infuse them into oil for skincare, turn that oil into a soothing salve, make an herbal tincture, prepare a honey extract, or even distill a delicate aromatic hydrosol. Six different preparations from one familiar plant. And each one offers something a little different. This is one of the things I love about traditional aromatic medicine. Essential oils are only one part of the picture. When we learn how to work with plants through different preparations, we begin to understand them in new ways. We discover different constituents, different applications, and new possibilities for bringing these plants into our everyday lives. And you don't need a fancy laboratory or expensive equipment to get started. Many of these preparations can be made right in your own kitchen. Tomorrow, we're sharing a special opportunity to learn six foundational types of herbal preparations through our Art of Aromatic Preparations Mini-Course, taught by Erika Galentin. If you've been wanting to expand your herbal skills beyond essential oils, keep an eye out tomorrow! 🌿
Imagine walking into your garden, gathering a hand Imagine walking into your garden, gathering a handful of herbs, and turning them into something beautiful with your own hands. 🌿 A fragrant herbal oil. A soothing botanical salve. A jar of herb-infused honey. Or a bundle of aromatic herbs to dry and enjoy throughout the winter. These are things you can make right in your own kitchen, often with plants you already have growing around you. Rosemary, Lavender, Calendula, Chamomile, and so many others. And if you don't have a garden, a visit to your local herb shop can be just as good a place to start. For generations, people have gathered, dried, infused, and preserved plants to create useful preparations for their homes and families. Somewhere along the way, many of us became more accustomed to buying these things than making them ourselves. But the skills haven't disappeared. You can still learn to make beautiful herbal preparations from simple ingredients, without an elaborate laboratory or a cabinet full of expensive equipment. And once you learn how, an ordinary handful of herbs starts to look a little different. The next time you're out in your garden, take another look at the plants growing around you. There's so much you can create with a handful of herbs, a few simple ingredients, and the knowledge of how to bring them together. #Herbalism #AromaticMedicine #HerbalPreparations #HomeApothecary #HerbalEducation #MedicinalPlants #HerbalCrafting #BotanicalMedicine
Have you ever wondered where the aroma of Vetiver Have you ever wondered where the aroma of Vetiver comes from? 🌿 Vetiver is often referred to as the “Fragrance of the Soil” because of its earthy, woody scent profile. This aromatic grass, native to India, possesses a distinctive aroma reminiscent of damp earth, roots, and freshly turned soil. Its fragrance is rich, smoky, slightly sweet, and deeply grounding. The nickname “Fragrance of the Soil” captures Vetiver's unique aroma, which comes from the fragrant compounds found in its roots, growing deep beneath the earth. Vetiver has an extensive root system, and the plants are often grown for erosion control and bioremediation. When the roots are harvested for essential oil production, the grasses are traditionally repurposed by local communities, woven into cooling shades, roof thatching, window screens, blinds, and hand fans. These fragrant shades are regularly doused with water, helping transform hot, scorching summer air into cool, moist, aromatic breezes. Pretty incredible, isn't it? Vetiver's earthy fragrance has also made it a prized ingredient in perfumery for centuries, where it adds depth, complexity, and a sense of connection to the natural world. Its ability to evoke a sense of rootedness and stability has earned it a special place in the world of natural perfumery. Swipe through to discover why Vetiver is so much more than a fragrance. #Vetiver #VetiveriaZizanioides #ChrysopogonZizanioides #AromaticMedicine #NaturalPerfumery #BotanicalPerfumery #Herbalism #AromaticPlants #PlantEducation #SustainableBotanicals
NOT EVERY PLANT GIVES UP ITS MEDICINE THE SAME WAY NOT EVERY PLANT GIVES UP ITS MEDICINE THE SAME WAY. 🌿 You can take the exact same plant and prepare it three different ways, and end up with three very different herbal preparations. A tea. A tincture. An infused oil. Each preparation draws out different constituents from the plant, depending on their solubility, the solvent being used, and the method of extraction. Some constituents dissolve readily in water. Others are better extracted with alcohol or oil. Some require heat, while others are sensitive to it. And certain aromatic compounds can be lost during preparation if we're not paying attention. This is why understanding how to prepare plants is just as important as knowing which plants to work with. It's also why traditional herbalists developed so many different preparations over the centuries. They weren't simply making things in different forms for convenience. They were learning how to work with the unique properties of each plant. The preparation changes what you're working with. This is a pretty important distinction when we're making herbal medicine. What's your favorite way to prepare plants these days? Teas, tinctures, infused oils, salves, hydrosols, or something else? #HerbalMedicine #Herbalism #PlantMedicine #HerbalPreparations #AromaticMedicine #TraditionalHerbalism
There are things we can only learn from the plants There are things we can only learn from the plants themselves. Not from books or from classrooms, but from spending time with them. Observing, listening, and paying close attention. Sometimes the greatest teacher is the one growing right outside your door. 🌿 #PlantWisdom #Herbalism #PlantConnection #AromaticMedicine #NatureAsTeacher
🌿 Why do some herbal infused oils go bad? You've 🌿 Why do some herbal infused oils go bad? You've carefully selected your herbs, covered them with a beautiful carrier oil, and waited patiently for the infusion to finish. But when you open the jar, something isn't quite right. Maybe the oil smells rancid, there's unexpected cloudiness, or you've discovered signs of spoilage. There are several reasons this can happen, and understanding them is an important part of making herbal preparations successfully. 1. Moisture: Fresh plant material contains water, which can create conditions favorable to microbial growth. This is especially important with oils intended for longer storage. 2. Oxidation: Some carrier oils are more susceptible to rancidity than others. Exposure to heat, light, and oxygen can accelerate the process. 3. Storage: Even a beautifully prepared oil can deteriorate when stored improperly. And here's something that's good to remember: an oil can look and smell perfectly fine and still be unsafe if it was prepared or stored incorrectly. That's why making different herbal preparations involves more than simply following a recipe. Understanding your ingredients, methods, and preservation considerations is important. Fresh herbs do have their place in traditional oil preparations, but they require particular care and appropriate processing. Save this for your next herbal oil infusion, and share it with someone who loves making their own botanical preparations. #Herbalism #HerbalInfusedOil #HerbalPreparations #HomeApothecary #AromaticMedicine #HerbalEducation #HerbalCrafting
After six incredible years, we're saying farewell After six incredible years, we're saying farewell to someone who has been such an important part of The Northwest School of Aromatic Medicine. ❤️ Our dear Summer, who has served as our Student Support & Operations Manager, is moving on to her next chapter. It's hard to put into words just how much Summer has contributed to this school over the years. For thousands of our students, she's been the kind and helpful person on the other end of an email, answering questions, solving problems, pointing them in the right direction, offering encouragement, and making sure people felt supported along their journey. But so much of what Summer has done has happened behind the scenes. She's helped strengthen the foundations that keep this school running. She's tackled countless technical challenges, built systems and automations, managed entire course promotions, and helped us grow in ways that would have been difficult to imagine six years ago. There are pieces of Summer's work woven into nearly every corner of this school, and they'll continue to be here long after she's moved on. And beyond all of that, she's simply been a dear friend and an extraordinary person to have alongside us on this journey. Summer, thank you. For your dedication, patience, care for our students, and the countless hours and pieces of yourself you've poured into this school. We're so grateful for everything you've done, and we're going to miss you dearly. As we move into this next chapter, we'll carry so much of what you've helped build with us. And to our community, we'd love your help giving Summer the send-off she deserves! ❤️ If you've ever exchanged an email with her, received her help, or simply want to send her some love, please leave a comment below. Even if you've never spoken with her directly, chances are that if you've been part of this community, Summer has touched your experience here in some way. Let's fill these comments with some love and appreciation for someone who has given so much to this school. Thank you for everything, Summer!
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