So happy to see my article about the influence of Olfaction in Creativity published in the Aromatika Magazine Perfume Special.
We don’t just create with our minds — we create with our senses. This piece explores scent as a stealth collaborator in creativity — a memory-keeper, a muse, a language beyond words — alongside many other fascinating articles, covering attars, fragrance as identity, and fixatives in natural perfumery.
Do you have an aromatic practice or scent ritual that inspires or accompanies a creative practice?
One of my favourite practices, which is briefly mentioned in the article is taking a scent - whether an individual material or a fragrance - and without any distractions (perhaps a little background music :-) , sitting and taking meditative sniffs, allowing that aromatic vapour to tease my mind, hook my soul and delve into memory and imagination; noting down any feelings, sensations, thoughts, associations and imagery that comes to mind - without filter or judgement.
Orange Reverie Wordcloud
This session of whimsical reverie may lead you to an inspired fragrance formula, a musical composition, a character creation, the fledgling idea for a story or a poem, that first brushstroke in a painting ….
This time of Wintering is a perfect excuse to carve out pockets of time to tap into some fragrant dabbling and see where it leads.
The Sense of Smell -Giuseppe Arcimboldo
If, like a number of my friends and colleagues, you are nursing a lurgy or feeling below par I hope you can partake in diffusing rousing, fortifying and camphoraceous oils such as, Eucalyptus globulus/radiata; Rosemary (rosmarinus officials), Pine (pinus sylvestris) or Thyme (thymus vulgaris ct thymol), sip on warming and soothing teas and that your creative mojo is restored tout de suite.
You can find out more, purchase and check out current and past editions of Aromatika Magazine here: https://www.aromatikamagazine.com/shop-1