Do we keep walking around enveloped in a cloud of what is the latest media saturated promotion? Should we care? Of course we should.

The Scenting Ritual

Our sense of smell is our most primal and subconscious information system. Our nose can tell us, without our other senses, what is around us. It directly links an emotional response to the olfactory picture we are sensing. So consider what is the message we are giving through an impenetrable fog of poorly chosen scent?

Let us explore the ritual of scenting and why it is so valuable.

A ritual is a set of steps regularly performed with almost spiritual reverence. SCENTING RITUAL is the regular practice of scenting ourselves as a form of homage to, and extension of, our unique being. As such it has five main observances:
Being in touch with yourself physically and mentally;
Seeking out the fragrances that bring you joy;
Wearing fragrance as part of our everyday life;
Layering scent for magical effect;
Reveling in the effects scent has in your world.

Being in Touch

The first step is to reconnect with the self and the way we interact with the odours we adore. We must identify the ones that make us feel good and have intense associations. Examples might be fresh dug earth, a forest in autumn, cinnamon on chai tea, or jasmine flowers in the evening. Seek out perfumes that utilize or represent those scents and it is with this information we find the fragrances we love. Then, when we recognise we are feeling a certain way, we can truly represent ourselves with our scent.

Fragrance That Brings You Joy

The perfume that is for you should make you gasp with ecstasy and then sigh with joy each time you catch a breath of it. You should respond with closed eyes and instinctively return to it over and over and find the same happiness with each re-experience. There might be only one for you or maybe there will be many. Our tastes, wants, needs and bodies change with mood, time, and situation.

Seeking A Fragrance

You must try, try, and try again – however never more than three at one sitting. Refresh your palette between to experience each one fully. Never make a decision based on the initial notes. Always let it settle into the heart and especially the base as that is what lingers. Check in with how the fragrance makes you feel through the whole process.

Why all the time-consuming fuss over a perfume? Because our scent is an extension of ourselves and adds to the impression others have of us. A POORLY CHOSEN, POORLY WORN FRAGRANCE CAN BE AS BAD AS ANY OF THE MOST OFFENSIVE OF BODY ODOURS. This applies equally to men and women.

Wearing a Fragrance as Part of Our Everyday

Learning to wear scent and incorporating it in your everyday life is almost as important as the actual scent you choose. I love the romantic and indulgent suggestion of spraying a cloud and walking into the mist but it's a wasteful and impractical way to scent our bodies. Lets get back to basics.

First know what the composition of your perfume is. Is it oil or alcohol based? Is the fragrant component essential oil or synthetic? What strength is it? Is it clear or coloured? If it's a clear, synthetic, eau de toilette then you can just about spray it anywhere you like and will probably need to carry the bottle around with you and keep doing so.

For parfums there are other ways to scent your body as part of your ritual. Scent should be applied sparingly to your skin first thing after cleansing and moisturizing your body. Never apply parfum to your clothes. This is especially important when using oil and botanical based perfumes as they can mark the fabric. Areas for best radiation of the fragrance are the places that emit the most body heat.

Suggestions are, the hairline at the back of the neck, chest, crook of the arm, lower part of the belly and the small of the back. Let it dry and then dress. Any top ups should be to the hairline and chest.

The stronger the perfume the less often you need to apply and the less in the application. Wear your fragrance as often as you like. Don't save it for only special occasions or just let it sit there just to look at. We are each precious enough to be treated to what makes us feel good on a daily basis and fragrance is such a simple and personal pleasure.

Layering for Magical Effect

Making a perfume truly original and magical is achieved further with layering. This is the heart of the scenting ritual. Layering is like the accessories you choose to complement an outfit and create a complete image. There are two ways to achieve a multi faceted effect of your scent.

The first is to layer with other products which have the same fragrance. The second is to highlight notes of your chosen perfume with complimentary scented products. An example of this would be an oriental style fragrance that is highlighted with vanilla or sandalwood accoutrements to either make the scent sweeter or warmer.

The accoutrements are the other body and bath products you use as part of your scenting ritual. Begin with your daily toilette (bathing and cleansing) – a ritual on its own. Soaps, shower gels, bubble-bath and oils are all scented and should be in harmony with your fragrance.

The ways you layer can be as simple or complicated as you like and will depend on your feelings of the day and the perfume you wear. If you only want to be scented with your perfume though, remember all other products should be fragrance free so they don't interfere.

Revelling in the Effects of Scent

Does it sound farfetched to expect life to be better from the choice of a perfume? Consider again what our sense of smell is to ourselves and others. How we are transported to other places and even times by certain scents. The art of aromatherapy shows us how botanical scents can effect us physically and psychologically and be used to benefit our health — so why not a perfume.

Remember subtlety and restraint and take care over the composition and quality of ANY products that are put on your skin. Our skin absorbs all we place on it and we should be mindful of what we want in our bodies.

We are beings of nature and that is where we should look for the best fragrances. Botanical essence perfumes are always superior, in my opinion and experience, and mix with your very own chemistry to become at one with you. They are always worth spending time choosing and purchasing and then using every day.

Immersing ourselves in a personally chosen parfum made with botanical essences can truly stimulate our very being and add joy to our everyday existence.

I choose my perfumes purely because they make me feel a deep sense of joy and connection with my sensuality. Each scent I wear has a complimenting effect to the mood I am in. For example a light floral adds to my feeling feminine and fun, while a warm amber floral is in tune with feeling sexy and strong.

I make special occasions of everyday by wearing a beautiful fragrance. The benefits are my own happiness and confidence in myself that I radiate with every blissful breath and that is picked up and reflected by others I encounter in my day. We are all special enough to deserve such feelings of joy from such a simple source. Enjoy.

Emma Leah
Perfumer