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resins

Aromatic History & Lore
Incense as Medicine
Incense Crafting
Topical Medicine
March 27, 20260Comments

The Magic & Medicine of Botanical Resins, Part II

Somewhere deep in a forest, a storm rolls through and damages a tree. A branch snaps, the bark splits open, and the tree is suddenly vulnerable. But almost immediately, the
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatic History & Lore
Incense as Medicine
Sustainability
March 22, 20260Comments

The Magic & Medicine of Botanical Resins, Part I

The first time I burned Frankincense, something unexpected happened. Within a few breaths, my awareness sharpened, my thoughts grew quieter, and a deep sense of calm washed over me. There
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
Ritual
Sustainability
December 18, 20250Comments

The Sacred Scents of the Season: Frankincense, Myrrh & Beyond

The scents of Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg, and Ginger drift from the oven. Fresh Pine fills the living room from the Christmas tree and evergreen boughs framing the fireplace. Dried Oranges
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Aromatic Recipes
Incense as Medicine
Ritual
December 11, 20250Comments

Plant Allies for Returning the Light: Aromatic Herbs for Hope & Renewal

On the morning of the Winter Solstice, something subtle – but powerful – happens. The world seems to slow down. The sun lingers at its lowest point on the horizon,
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
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 History & Lore
Herbal Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Ritual
Topical Medicine
January 16, 20250Comments

Tree Resins: Unlock the Power of this Underappreciated Natural Remedy

There’s something very magical about tree resins. These golden, aromatic droplets are born from a tree’s natural healing process – a protective substance that seals wounds, guards against infection, and
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Bio-Regional Aromatic Medicine
Herbal Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Sustainability
Topical Medicine
January 9, 20250Comments

The Benefits of Pine Resin & How to Harvest It

I will never forget meeting my friend Sam (name changed to spare them any embarrassment), a budding herbalist radiating excitement and curiosity about the wonders of the natural world. One
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Herbal Medicine
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Ritual
Sustainability
Topical Medicine
December 19, 20240Comments

The Power of Frankincense: Boosting Immunity and Overall Well-Being

Thousands of years ago, in ancient kingdoms, the air was thick with the rich, aromatic smoke of Frankincense. This sacred resin, harvested from Boswellia trees, played a central role in
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Aromatic Recipes
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
Incense Crafting
Ritual
October 1, 20240Comments

Incense 101: Aromatic Medicine Beyond Incense Sticks

The scented swirls of incense smoke carry a profound story – the life cycle of each botanical ingredient, the journey from seedling to thriving herb, nurtured by the sun and
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Ritual
September 25, 20241Comments

Aromatic Plants for Improving Indoor Air Quality

In a world where we often retreat to the comfort of our homes, the indoor air we breathe has never been more crucial to our health. Did you know that
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
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Incense was the original aromatherapy. 🌿🔥 When yo Incense was the original aromatherapy. 🌿🔥 When you hear the word incense, what do you picture? For many people, it's a stick burning in a little wooden holder. But incense is so much bigger than that. Long before bottles of essential oils lined our shelves, long before electric diffusers filled our homes, people around the world were experiencing aromatic plants through heat and smoke. Frankincense and Myrrh resins. Sandalwood and Agarwood. Juniper, Cinnamon, roots, leaves, flowers, spices, resins and countless other aromatic plants. They were burned, heated, powdered, blended, compounded and transformed into an incredible variety of aromatic preparations. And people didn't work with incense simply because it smelled good. For thousands of years, aromatic smoke has been woven into prayer and ritual, meditation and contemplation, traditional healing practices, ceremony, purification, perfumery, and the simple human desire to transform the atmosphere of a space. In many ways, incense is one of humanity's oldest ways of experiencing the aromatic gifts of plants. And yet today, this enormous aromatic tradition has largely been reduced to something chemical-based that many people buy at a convenient store, light, and burn. There's an entire world of incense beyond the stick. An ancient world of plants, aroma, tradition, creativity, and relationship with the natural world. And over the next week, I want to show you a little more of it. 🌿 What does incense mean to you? ~ Evan #Incense #NaturalIncense #AromaticPlants #AromaticArts #Aromatherapy #Herbalism #PlantResins #Frankincense #Myrrh #Sandalwood #TraditionalIncense #BotanicalIncense
Can you turn a memory into incense? 🌿🔥 Think abou Can you turn a memory into incense? 🌿🔥 Think about a moment from your life that you can almost step back into when you close your eyes. Maybe it’s sitting around a campfire beneath a sky full of stars. Walking through a wet forest after the rain. The smell of your grandparents’ house. A place you traveled years ago that has somehow never left you. Holiday time with your family. Or one of those quiet moments that wouldn't mean much to anyone else, but means everything to you. Now imagine trying to capture that experience through aroma. What would it smell like? What woods, resins, roots, herbs, flowers, or spices could help tell that story? This is where incense crafting becomes so much more than simply following a recipe. It becomes a form of sensory storytelling, memory-making, and remembering. You take something that exists in your memory or imagination and begin giving it physical form through aromatic plants. And that's just one place inspiration for an incense blend can begin. We recently shared our blog, 7 Ways to Find Inspiration for Incense Blending, exploring everything from landscapes and seasons to intentions, the elements, celestial cycles, and individual aromatic plants. 🌿 Read the full article through the link in our bio. Or comment with the word INCENSE below and we’ll sen you the article straight to your inbox. #IncenseCrafting #IncenseMaking #NaturalIncense #BotanicalIncense #AromaticPlants #AromaticArts #IncenseBlending #HandmadeIncense #PlantResins #Frankincense #Sandalwood #TraditionalIncense
Imagine walking through the depths of the forest. Imagine 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 fresh, damp wood, and a hint of evergreen; and you finally find them – the raw aromatic plants and resins you’ve been searching for to roll into your own hand-crafted incense. Incense is plant medicine that fills the air – the original aromatic medicine. It’s the traditional roots of modern aromatherapy and gave rise to all other aromatic arts. Crafting incense calls for creativity, intuition, precision, and passion, yet it is a skill accessible to all. All it takes is a willingness to dedicate your time and energy to cultivating and mastering it. Where are you on your incense crafting journey? Do you dream of wandering the woods in search of the perfect plant for a recipe? Have you made your first successful incense blend yet? Maybe started your own natural artisan incense business? No matter where you are, the aromatic arts path is endless, with inspiring twists and turns offering new opportunities for growth, knowledge, and imagination. --- #incenseresin #incensecrafting #essentialoils #diyincense #holistichealing #herbalmedicine #aromatherapy
If you could capture ONE place in an incense blend If you could capture ONE place in an incense blend, where would it be? 🌿🔥 Maybe it’s a place you’ve traveled that you can still smell when you close your eyes. A forest after the rain. A desert filled with aromatic plants. A temple heavy with the scent of centuries of incense. The ocean at sunset. A mountain meadow in summer. Or maybe it’s somewhere closer to home—a place filled with memories that you’d love to somehow capture through aroma. This is one of my favorite ways to approach incense crafting. Instead of beginning with: “What ingredients should I put together?” I tend to begin with: “What do I want to create and why?” Then you turn to your aromatic palette and start exploring which woods, resins, roots, herbs, flowers, and spices might help bring that place to life, or another intention or vision. Suddenly, incense becomes more than a recipe. It becomes a form of sensory storytelling. So to have some fun with this... 👇 If you could capture ONE place in an incense blend, where would it take us? For me, it would be this place. See my comment to learn where this is! #IncenseCrafting #IncenseMaking #NaturalIncense #BotanicalIncense #AromaticPlants #AromaticArts #IncenseBlending #HandmadeIncense #PlantResins #Frankincense #Sandalwood #Herbalism #TraditionalIncense
Where does an incense blend begin? 🌿🔥 You might t Where does an incense blend begin? 🌿🔥 You might think it begins with a recipe. But some of the most interesting blends begin long before you ever start measuring aromatic materials. They begin with an idea. Something you want to capture, express, remember, or experience through aroma. And that's when incense crafting starts to become something much bigger than simply combining plants that smell good together. It becomes a form of sensory storytelling. You can take something that exists only in your memory or imagination and begin giving it form through aromatic plants and smoke. But where do you find that initial spark? And how do you look at a shelf filled with woods, resins, roots, herbs, flowers, and spices and decide where to begin? In our newest article, we're exploring 7 different places you can look for inspiration when creating an incense blend—some obvious, and others you may have never considered. If you've been staring at your aromatic collection wondering “What could I create with all of this?” this one's for you. 🌿 From Forests to the Stars: 7 Ways to Find Inspiration for Incense Blending 🔥Comment INCENSE below, and we’ll send the full article straight to your inbox! And we'd love to hear from you: Where does inspiration for your incense blends usually come from? #IncenseCrafting #IncenseMaking #NaturalIncense #HandmadeIncense #BotanicalIncense #IncenseBlending #AromaticPlants #AromaticArts #PlantResins #Frankincense #Sandalwood #Herbalism #IncenseLovers #TraditionalIncense
Traditional herbalism and folklore hold valuable w Traditional herbalism and folklore hold valuable wisdom about plants. Throughout history, different cultures and societies have passed down traditional knowledge about the healing properties and uses of various botanicals. These stories are not merely fanciful tales but valuable repositories of ancient wisdom. Exploring botanical folklore and the symbolism within it helps us gain valuable insight into the historical context of herbs and the beliefs surrounding their therapeutic benefits. This often reveals unique and innovative ways in which these plants have been utilized for their medicinal, spiritual, or practical applications. By integrating this traditional wisdom with modern scientific research, we can harness the full potential of plants and explore their holistic healing properties, paving the way for a deeper understanding of nature's gifts and how they support our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual realms. --- #herbalism #traditionalherbalism #folklore #botanical
How do you actually come up with a new incense ble How do you actually come up with a new incense blend? 🌿🔥 It's one thing to follow a recipe. It's another thing entirely to look at a shelf filled with Frankincense, Sandalwood, aromatic woods, resins, roots, herbs, flowers, and spices and think... What do I make with all of this? Where do you even begin? How do you decide what belongs together? And how do you move beyond following someone else's recipes and start creating something that's actually your own? These are some of my favorite questions when it comes to incense crafting. Because once you begin exploring them, the art of incense gets a whole lot bigger. I've got something coming tomorrow that I think will get your creative wheels turning. 🌿 But first I'm curious: When you create an incense blend, or any other fragranced creation, where does your inspiration usually come from? #IncenseCrafting #IncenseMaking #NaturalIncense #HandmadeIncense #BotanicalIncense #AromaticPlants #AromaticArts #Herbalism #PlantResins #Frankincense #Sandalwood #IncenseLovers #IncenseBlending #TraditionalIncense #AromaticMedicine
There are always seasonal shifts happening around There are always seasonal shifts happening around us in nature and through the elements, whether subtle or drastic. What changes are you witnessing now in the natural world where you live? Even if you don’t live in a place where the leaves change color, the plants and animals start to sense the shift in seasons. If you look closely, you might notice their subtle changes. Are you noticing subtle shifts happening inside of you, too? Spend some time outside and connect to the changing of the seasons - it may help you see beautiful reflections in your inner world. --- #AutumnVibes #SeasonalShift #NatureConnection #MindfulLiving
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