LANGUAGE OF SCENT
LANGUAGE OF SCENT
A special guest interview in our “Women in Wellness” blog section will be posted up soon. To entice you on the topic that she embodies, here is a brief introduction into the sensual world of scents…
Learning the language of scent
Many of us love to use scent as a way into our inner world, heart and mind. Scent can be used as a ritual that invites us into a space of relaxation and stillness, or a space for awakening our senses into more expanded fields of giving and receiving.
Aromatic essences, like the notes of a good song have notes and tones too, and when placed in the right sequence and orchestration can create a harmony that few can ignore.
But what is the language of scent exactly? And how can we learn to speak it in order to learn how to combine precious oils in such a way that it infuses us with the right mood?
Here are 12 notes used by aromatologists that describe the language of scent:
Herbaceous – this quality is emitted by rich green colored herbs. It’s a distinctive pungent note that can be found in essences such as lavender or marjoram.
Earthy – earthy describes a scent similar to the smell of drenched earth after a big storm. This note typifies the scent of clay or dormant earth enticed by water. Good examples of earthy scents are patchouli, oak-moss, or vetiver.
Floral – we are most familiar with this tone of scent found in the most revered perfumes made with rose, champa and jasmine.
Fruity – these happy notes bring a sense of lushness and vivaciousness into a space. An unexpected example to fruity is found in the flowering herb of the chamomile flower.
Mossy – imagine a forest bed in the depths of a redwood forest… This moist, warm, shadowy aroma is exemplified in the violet leaf.
Metallic – a note that can cut through most anything similar to cold water or stainless steel. An excellent example of this scent realm is that of the peppermint leaf.
Camphoraceous – this is a scent that has a medicinal quality to it and almost makes you sneeze or ‘bites’ your nose. An example for this note is rosemary or eucalyptus.
Balsamic – the characteristics of balsamic notes are almost identical to those of caramelized and resinous qualities found especially in the oily sweet essence juniper.
Diffusive – this describes a scent that is able to permeate a room as soon as it is introduced into a space.
Smooth – this is a scent that feels endless in depth and breadth. An example of this note you will recognize is sandalwood or melissa.
Warm – like a sultry seductress this describes a scent that displays passion and lusty enthusiasm.
Effervescent – like a scintilla, this describes a scent that almost seems to sparkle.
- Tags: beauty