Skip to content
The Northwest School of Aromatic Medicine
  • About
  • Courses
  • Resources
    • The Aromatic Medicine Blog
    • Video Library
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Close Search Form
    Open Search Form
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
Student Login
Tag

Sandalwood

Alchemy
Natural Perfumery
January 15, 20260Comments

Creating Harmony: The Composition of Natural Perfumes

We live in a world saturated with scent. Our air fresheners, laundry detergents, cosmetics, body products, and even most perfumes are infused with synthetic fragrance compounds designed to imitate nature.
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Incense as Medicine
October 16, 20250Comments

5 Common Myths About Incense (and the Truth Behind Them)

Lighting incense has a way of transforming not just the space around you, but the atmosphere within you. The match strikes, the incense tip glows amber-red, and within moments the
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
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
Ayurveda
Herbal Medicine
January 30, 20240Comments

Holistic Aromatic Medicine Through The Ayurvedic Lens

Ayurveda is an ancient healing science from India that offers a holistic approach to well-being and longevity. The very word “Ayurveda” can be translated as “knowledge of life” or “science
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatic Recipes
Ayurveda
Topical Medicine
July 11, 20230Comments

Enhancing Your DIY Beauty Care With Aromatic Plants

When it comes to health and wellness, we often focus intently on what we put in our bodies – but what we put on our bodies can be just as
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Incense as Medicine
March 14, 20230Comments

Addressing Stress & Anxiety with Aromatic Medicine & Mindfulness

You can’t treat plants like pills. Too often, aromatherapy is used as a quick fix for our problems, when it doesn’t really work that way. If you have a headache,
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
Aromatic Recipes
Ayurveda
Topical Medicine
August 16, 20223Comments

Cooling Herbs for Summer

In the heat of summer, you can reach for an ice cream to help you cool off temporarily, but the beauty of plants is that they go beyond the gastrointestinal
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Ayurveda
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Ritual
February 3, 20227Comments

Relieving Seasonal Depression with Aromatic Medicine

Do the winter days have you feeling blue? Seasonal melancholy can be a big challenge for many people, especially here in the Pacific Northwest where the sun often peeks through an
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
« Older Articles

aromatic_medicine

🌿 Follow us on Instagram for daily inspiration, plant knowledge, aromatic wisdom, and one-of-a-kind courses 🌿

The Magic of Melissa 🐝✨ Melissa officinalis, also The Magic of Melissa 🐝✨

Melissa officinalis, also known as Lemon Balm, is not only an incredible ally in the medicinal apothecary; it’s also a wonderful addition to spiritual and magical pursuits.

Its Latin name comes from the Greek word for “honeybee.” The herb was often rubbed on beehives to promote successful colonization of the hive, and was even planted by the beekeepers of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, to protect the sacred hives. 

Nicholas Culpeper, a famous 17th-century English botanist, herbalist, physician, and astrologer, suggests it is ruled by Jupiter and Cancer. I can see Venus as well, as do others, but I feel Jupiter is strongest… Uplifting, opening of the heart and senses, its lemony scent moving everything upwards, so to speak, shaking off depressive energies. 

A favorite way to work with Melissa is in incense blends or as an addition to a bath soak, where its bright and lemon-like aroma evokes an energetic peace, and brings a sense of joy and harmony.

____________
#lemonbalm  #melissaofficinalis  #lemonbalmleaves #aromatherapy #herbalism #aromaticherbs #naturalincense
Do you know this aromatic plant? Here are a few h Do you know this aromatic plant?

Here are a few hints…

🌿 This hardy perennial shrub has been commonly used as a culinary herb, as well as a fumigant to help disinfect the air and reduce the spread of disease.

🌿 Its aroma is warm, herbaceous, and pungent. It’s traditionally used as a respiratory tonic to help relieve cold and flu symptoms due to its antibacterial, antiseptic, and expectorant qualities.

🌿 It was also used during times of pandemic and infectious disease outbreaks across ancient Europe. 

Who is this amazing herb? 

⬇ Drop your guess in a comment below!

_____________
#aromaticherbs #aromatherapy #aromaticmedicine #herbalism #guesswho
Books are a treasure trove of knowledge, but to tr Books are a treasure trove of knowledge, but to truly understand the secrets of plants, there's nothing like a direct connection. 

Plants are living beings. Through working with plants and diving into continuous connection, we build relationships with them, getting to know the depths of their ways over time. 

So how do you build your connection with plants? 

Here are our favorite ways to help bridge the gap:

🌿 Connect with a living plant: Find a living plant growing in the wild or a garden. Interact with the plant by engaging your senses. What does it look like? How does it grow? How does it smell? What does it feel like? Take notes and spend a few moments of silence simply existing in the same place as the plant. 

🪔 Incense meditation: Find an aromatic plant from an organic and sustainable source, burn it as incense, and sit in meditation. Take notes of any subtle changes you feel in your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual realms. 

🍵 Tea meditation: If the plant is safe to consume, find some dried plant material you can brew as an herbal tea. Sip it slowly, inhale the aromatics, and observe how the tea makes you feel, both mentally and physically. Take notes and reflect on any changes you might feel.

💧 Explore different herbal preparations: There are countless ways to work with aromatic plants! You can experiment with making topical oils, salves, hydrosols, tinctures, glycerites, cordials, and more. Each preparation is a different adventure, teaching you new ways that the plant can offer up its gifts. 

These are just a few methods to connect with plants and deepen your relationship to the natural world. 

⬇ What’s your favorite way to bond with plants? Share with us in a comment below. 

__________
 #connectwithplants #connectwithnature #herbalism #aromatherapy #meditation  #teameditation #incensemeditation
Honor the magic of Rosemary... Rosemary has been Honor the magic of Rosemary...

Rosemary has been well-known and used by ancient herbalists and practitioners since the time of the early Greeks and Romans. 

Greek scholars often wore it in a plant garland on their heads to help with their memory and concentration during exams. 

Today, studies have confirmed that the ancient peoples were on to something… the aromatics of Rosemary can improve concentration, thinking, and memory, and it may even help with age-related memory problems. It’s also been shown to help reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

In Hamlet, when Ophelia says, “There's Rosemary, that's for remembrance,” she could be hinting at how Rosemary helps with memory, or foreshadowing her own death, since Rosemary sprigs were commonly placed on dead bodies for protection, as a blessing, and to help those still alive remember their loved ones who have passed on. 🌿✨

___________
#rosemary  #RosemaryOil #rosemaryplant  #memorysupport #aromatherapy #aromaticherbs #aromaticmedicine
Did you ever climb trees as a kid and end up with Did you ever climb trees as a kid and end up with sticky "sap hands" that collected every speck of dirt in the universe? 🌲 

I did. That sticky, evergreen-scented mess was a childhood rite of passage for me (and a sneak preview of the world I'd fall into years later).

As a teenager, I was burning that same “tree sap” as incense to calm my mind, find inspiration, and deepen my meditation practice. A decade after that, I discovered what ancient cultures had known for millennia: resins are one of nature's most versatile and powerful substances.

They've shaped:
✨ Ancient healing systems
✨ The aromatic arts: incense, perfumery, aromatherapy, cosmetics
✨ Trade and culture via the ancient spice routes
✨ Spiritual practices and rituals across the world

No sticky-handed kid climbing a tree could have guessed all that.

When I started working with resins as an adult, I witnessed real healing, right before my eyes.

A custom resin balm I made brought my friend Ryan relief from debilitating knee pain when nothing else had worked. A resin-infused mouthwash transformed my friend Becca's battle with gum disease. A compound tincture cleared up arthritic ulcers on my parents' friend Craig's legs in just a month.

These stories are why I've dedicated my life to this craft.

And they're why I created the Botanical Resins & Gums Course — a complete guide to working confidently with resins for health, beauty, ritual, and pleasure.

⚠️ Today is the LAST DAY of the special enrollment period. The price goes up by $120 tonight and the bonuses disappear.

If you're ready to unlock what resins can do, click the link in our bio to enroll before this special offer expires. 🌿

 #botanicalresin #treeresin #holistichealing #resincraft #medicinemaking #herbalcourse #diynatural
If you're already drawn to herbs, scent, or natura If you're already drawn to herbs, scent, or natural remedies but feel like something's missing… resins might be exactly what you've been looking for.

The Botanical Resins & Gums Course is now open at a special price, with a bonus content bundle that won't be available any other time this year.

You'll learn to craft resin-infused oils, salves, tinctures, cordials, liniments, natural perfumes, incense, and more — working with some of the most ancient and storied plant materials in existence.

If the world of resins has been calling to you, now is the time.

⏳ Price goes up TOMORROW, April 14 at 10 pm PST.
⏳ Last chance! You’ve got just 1 day left to watch ⏳ Last chance! You’ve got just 1 day left to watch the free Botanical Resins Workshop Series before it’s gone.

If you’ve been meaning to dive in (or come back to it), this is your window.

Inside the series, you’ll learn:

✨ How to unlock the therapeutic and aromatic power of resins
✨ How to prepare sticky, raw resins so they’re usable in remedies
✨ Step-by-step resin-infused oil tutorial and recipe
✨ How to make a Frankincense resin salve from start to finish

Each lesson includes a downloadable workbook you can keep and return to.

🌿 Link in bio (dive in before it expires tomorrow!)

P.S. If you've been enjoying the free series, the full Botanical Resins & Gums Course goes much deeper into the world of resins with 32 video lessons, detailed recipes, expert tips, sourcing guides, and more. 

It's open now at a discounted rate, but this offer closes Tuesday at 10 pm PST, and the price goes up $120 on April 15. (Students who sign up before the deadline also get a bonus content bundle that won't be available any other time this year!)

🌲 Link in bio to explore and join. 

 #botanicalresin #treeresin #resinmedicine #resincraftingcourse #resincourse #aromaticresin
The stickiness is real. 😅🌿 If you've ever tried t The stickiness is real. 😅🌿

If you've ever tried to grind, blend, or infuse resins, you know they cling to everything: your tools, your grinder, your hands. But there's a simple trick that changes the whole process.

In this video, I'm sharing my go-to method for working with resins without the mess. This is just one of many techniques I've refined over 15+ years working with botanical resins through Higher Mind Incense and the Northwest School of Aromatic Medicine.

If you want to go deeper, my Botanical Resins & Gums Course covers everything from raw material to finished preparation:

🌿 History, properties & behavior of resins
🌿 Oils, salves, balms & topical preparations
🌿 Tinctures, liniments & internal preparations
🌿 Incense, natural perfume & aromatic blends
🌿 Ritual use, therapeutic benefits & sustainable sourcing

This is the most comprehensive course I've ever put together, and it's at a special discounted rate for just a few more days. Price goes up on Wednesday, April 15th.

🌲 Link in bio to learn more.
Follow on Instagram

OFFERINGS

  • Aromatic Medicine Garden Membership
  • Incense Crafting Course
  • Botanical Resins & Gums Course
  • Materia Aromatica Ebook

QUICK LINKS

  • About
  • Courses
  • The Aromatic Medicine Blog
  • The School
  • Evan Sylliaasen
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

FOLLOW US

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube

OUR NEWSLETTER

Stay in the know on new releases and special offers

Loading

support@aromaticmedicineschool.com

© 2026 The Northwest School of Aromatic Medicine, All rights reserved.