Aromatherapy
April 16, 2016
Reflection
I did it! I put it off for so long but I finally took the plunge. Passing this exam is the accumulation of many hours of learning. When I first began studying aromatherapy I never dreamed where it would take me. I had not begun to grasp the power of holistic health, I now better appreciate the innate power of the human body to heal, we only need to support the physical body while it does so. I plan to use aromatherapy daily in my midwifery practice. I hope to educate all who trust me with their care on the safe use of this power form of botanical medicine.
My Scent-sational Day
One of my favorite memories from my first college course in aromatherapy came when I made a journal entry as an assignment I now call "My Scent-sational Day." For an entire day until I wrote my journal entry. That evening as completed my my assignment I noted each and every scent that I had encountered. It was truly a wake-up call to realize how many scents we encounter in a day, some without even conecting with or knowing the source. I invite you to take a fun journey with me back to Singapore on a typical work day with me to explore the scent of my day so long ago...
An Olfactory Journal and Reflection 27 Jan 2010
A Day of Scent
An Olfactory Journal and Reflection 27 Jan 2010
A Day of Scent
- This morning I did not start my day as I usually do, with an aromatherapy bath, so I only remembered to start taking notes when I smelled my husband, Dave's breakfast. He was having french toast. The eggs made me queasy, so much so that I lost my appetite. I do not particularly like eggs for breakfast so this didn't surprise me but I really felt fine until I smelled those eggs.
- On our way downstairs in the elevator I caught a whiff of his cologne. I love his scent. He surprises me everyday and many times I can tell what mood he is in by which cologne he chooses. Not today but the sniff was nice all the same.
- On our way to the bus stop I have many scents to add to my list. The flowers in our condo complex and the chlorine of the pool as we walked by. The traffic exhaust as we walk along the sidewalk and the fresh red clay earth where they have been digging at the construction of our new pedestrian bridge. There is an ashtray on the top of the trashcan at the bus stop, I try not to inhale too deeply when I catch this whiff! I think the next olfactory experience was the hair products on the teen on the bus, I didn't ask. The recycled air from the air conditioning mixes every scent on the bus producing a blend of sweat, perfume, and produce at times. Here in Singapore a fruit called Durian is banned from all taxis and public transportation because of it pungent aroma. You can tell when someone has broken, or is breaking that law! The smell of Durian lingers for days. Today there was no Durian, thank goodness, I was already sickened by the unpleasant concoction.
- As we exited the bus at our stop my next puff is the exhaust as it pulls away. We stop to withdraw money at the ATM and there is an unidentifiable scent of cleaning products you would likely find in any hospital. More traffic pollution comes next as we cross the pedestrian bridge to get to work then another bus. Just as we are approaching the building I am hoping for something pleasant to smell but as I inhale deeply hoping the foliage has something to offer I realize too late that I am downwind from a trash dumpster! I quickly turn up my nose (literally) and enter the building. The receptionist, Susana's perfume overwhelms me and I continue past the guards on post one into my office.
- Tea tree hand wipes are refreshing as I wipe away the germs of the public transportation commute (just five to ten minutes really). I begin my day and make a few phone calls. I decide to eat the orange I have waiting for me on my desk. The delicious scent of the orange peel is such a stress relief I could only describe as heaven sent. I am convinced that my best memories are captured in the aromas and perfumes of the days or moments that I cannot forget. I next pickup a stick of Doublemint gum, quite a luxury in Singapore. I am refreshed more by the scent than by the taste and I now wonder if it is the scent not the gum chewing that helps cure the hunger pangs until the next meal. I find myself noticing scents throughout my day like the toasting bagel I order in the cafeteria for breakfast (finally) or the perspiration that has dried so quickly in the air-conditioned building on my clothing.
- At lunch I pass a cafe and then the smell of Windex as I enter the shopping center to browse the bookstore. On my way back to work I hail (quite to my despair) a particularly scented taxi You never can tell what you will get when you step inside. Some even use dashboard atomizers to freshen the air. Not all pleasant scents are universal so I am not especially fond of the chosen perfume this time. On my way back to work I did not smell but I saw an advertisement for “Essence of Chicken.” Yes now you can buy chicken soup in a bottle, sized for a quick shot I might add. They claim it will help get those high test scores needed to succeed. It makes me contemplate some thing good for today's assignment but since I have barely finished through my lunch hour I better go on (I reserve the right to return to the topic of Essence of chicken in a later discussion).
- A Frangipani blossom falls from a tree as I enter the building. I pick it up and wish that it's perfume were stronger. I love the scent of this flower but alas it is quite faint in a single blossom of the tree. I stop at the cafeteria to order a tuna sandwich to take back to my desk and return to my work. Just before I head home a guest drops by my office. Her perfume while pleasant was quite sweet and I thought of all of the people who work at a customer service counter and I would imagine they must hate perfumes like that.
- Last, but certainly not least came my ride home in the Toyota from my hubby's office. I really hate that car. About six months ago someone accidentally left food in it to spoil and in their attempt to rid it of the putrid stench they made it worse by using so much of a cleaning product that it still gives me a headache! I always open the windows when we drive this car.
- I realized in this exercise how much aroma affects my life. I enjoyed the reflection, although I should have done it tomorrow since I have a walk in the botanical garden planned for lunch with a friend. I have always know that smells impact my daily life but I didn't realize until now how many I miss by paying them no heed. I think that anosmia would be a calamity for an aromatherapist. I need to protect myself from so many chemicals polluting the air I breathe day in and day out. I intend to change over to the recipes I am finding for natural cleaning products for my home to control what I can. My favorite moment of the day came when a Frangipani blossom fell at my feet. If you'd like to hear about my fondness for Frangipanis book an appointment and I will share with you my photos from the Phi Phi Islands during our 25th wedding anniversary. Heaven on earth!
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