Book Review: Driven to Extinction by Richard Pearson, PhD

Concerned by the impacts if climate change on biodiversity, we learn about the disappearing Golden Toads of Costa Rica and Leaf-Tailed Geckos of Madagascar as Pearson guides us through the scientific methods used to assess the potential impact on our planet’s future.

We discover that the disappearance of frog and reptile species, the changing location of barnacle species, the distribution of fish and birds, and the dying Quiver tree are all the indications and irreversible effects of climate change.

Neither a catastrophist nor sceptic, Pearson concludes that while there is no debate on whether climate change is affecting natural ecosystems, it’s the future that divides opinion; will plant and animal species adapt in situ, change location, or become extinct?

As Pearson sheds light on divided interpretations of the data, it’s hard not to mourn the future loss of species, but we are left with a glimmer of hope: while change is inevitable, we can help chart the course for the future.

Why Do We Sleep?

Why do we sleep?

Photo by Tambako the Jaguar on flickr

We all do it; birds do it; bees do it, and as the song goes, even fleas do it….
Although we spend over a third or more of our lives sleeping, we still have no concrete idea as to why.
Scientists have spent countless decades investigating the effects of sleep deprivation, sleeping disorders and cures for these disorders, such as insomnia, however the question of why we sleep is still one of the greatest mysteries. Continue reading

Was God the First GREAT Perfumer?

Ok, probably not.  The Egyptians definitely hold that crown, however God did show some talent in the area of perfumery.

As part of the Alternative MBA suggested by Chris Gillebeau in his book The Art of Non-Conformity, I’m reading The Bible.

Now, before you say: “What the….!!!”, wait just a minute!

It’s brilliant.

I’m only two books in, having finished Exodus late last night, and am drinking in every word. It’s filled with drama: sex, incest, husband sharing and, of course, lots of sin. Continue reading

Turned On Women Will Change the World

Nicole Daedone Slow Sex Orgasm Meditation

Photo ©Timothy Archibald

Described by Vanity Fair as “the latest in a long line of female pioneers who’ve helped America shake its reputation as the Land of the Repressed,” Nicole Daedone is making waves in all the right places.

Founder of Onetaste, Orgasm Meditation (also known as “OMing”), and author of Slow Sex: The Art and Craft of the Female Orgasm, Nicole is taking on the onerous task of liberating our orgasm, for within it lies a fuller experience of life, deeper connection with our parters, and the key to changing the world – a notion supported by none other than the Dalai Lama.

A slow and meditative practice where a man strokes a woman on the upper left quadrant of her clitoris for 15 minutes, Tim Ferris has dubbed it “required education for every man on the planet.” Recently invited to speak at TED, Nicole’s work is hitting the mainstream.  While feedback is polarised, it’s the negative feedback that shows how far, as a society, we have to go in even discussing female orgasm.   (You can view the TED video at the end of this post).

I caught up with her earlier in the year, when Onetaste were preparing for the opening of the NYC hub.  She shared some insight on the practice of OM and how it feels to be in the driving seat of sexual liberation. Continue reading

How to Develop Your Perfume “Nose”

Stephanie Holland Musings of an Aromastrategist

Photo by blogis.dvd.lc

Developing your “nose” for perfumery takes some some time, practice and dedication.

It may also involve flipping any previous knowledge of how to smell on its head; studying perfumery as an aromatherapist is changing my “smelling” perspective!

As an aromatherapist vetiver smells like “vetiver” and orange smells like “orange”.

As a perfumer vetiver smells like grass and wood, and orange smells like sunshine and happiness.

This is no wonder, as in aromatherapy, the aroma is secondary to the therapeutic benefits.  We create a blend with a specific goal in mind: to heal or soothe body, mind or soul.

In perfumery we might be trying to create the smell of the ocean in The Bahamas, or the forest in South Carolina.  We are seduced by the scent itself. Continue reading

Book Review: The Art of Mindful Gardening by Ark Redwood

Stephanie Holland Musings of an Aromastrategist

“There is no separation between the garden and the gardener,” says Ark Redwood, a naturalist gardener, who introduces us to the art of being in the present moment.

In The Art of Mindful Gardening, we learn that we can be mindful during any garden task: planting, watering, composting and raking, as each is, in itself, a meditation that enables us to savour the simplicity and beauty of the moment.  Imagine yourself as the tiny insect on the leaf of a beautiful plant in A Plant Meditation, or simply practice mindful pottering after a busy day at work.

Join Ark as he pays homage to the energy of spring, the abundance of summer, the magic of autumn and the exhilaration of winter; as the unavoidable cycle of life unfolds and repeats.

At once a spiritual journey through the seasons, it is also a practical month-by-month guide to what needs to be done: composting in May and deadheading in July, and useful tips on slugs, mulching and copper tools.

For the avid gardener, this is a glorious tribute to your mindful art, and for the novice greenfingers, this is an exquisite introduction to the insight that: “This is a holistic universe, all is truly one.”

Eat Your Heart Out, Jimmy Choo!

Stephanie Holland Musings of an Aromastrategist

Lady's Slipper Orchid

“Eureka” means: a cry of joy or satisfaction when one finds or discovers something.

That’s the moment I had when I cast my eye on the above beauty, also known as a “Lady’s Slipper”; it was clear why flowers have inspired hundreds of poems, literature, fashion, romance and, yes, even shoes!

Resembling a tiny slipper the size of my thumbnail, I thought of Jimmy Choo and wondered whether he and other inspired designers of shoes had ever cast their eyes on this orchid.

There’s definitely two schools of thought when it comes to flowers: “love” and “apathy”.

I remember when I was in the latter group; I was never interested in flowers as a child.

“You will be one day,” said my mother to my 7 year old self as she gazed at the zillionth field of poppies with reverie.

Like many children, I was certain that I would not, yet now I’m drawn to local botanical gardens like a bee to honey, enchanted and awed by the grandeur of the smallest of blooms.

But what is it about flowers that inspires, seduces and mesmerises?  That inspires colour palates, design and love poems? Continue reading

The Hypnotic Power of Smell and Why We Don’t Know More

Aromachology and the power of smell

Photo by Dennis Wong

Ever wondered why that guy at work who irritates the cr*p out of you also makes you hot under the collar?  Or why the smell of brownies makes you salivate and feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

It’s only recently that the study of the behavioural impact of smells and aromas has been given a name: Aromachology.

And this next thing may surprise you: smell has been the lesser researched and, as a result, lesser understood of the senses.

But why? Continue reading

Don’t Trifle With Cinnamon Bark CO2 – That Sh*t Burns!

Cinnamon bark CO2 for perfumery

Photo from natureextracts.in

Not to alarm you with sensational claims about the dangers of Cinnamon bark, but, seriously, I sustained a pretty painful burn the other day and it didn’t even come in contact with my skin.

It made me realise that:

  1. Our understanding is deepened by mistakes and accidents
  2. Our own experience takes the theory we glean from books one step further

Here’s how the incident unfolded:

  1. I’m sitting at my perfume lab, poised to study Cinnamon Bark C02, vial open in front of me.
  2. Reaching for a scent strip, I knock the vial over.
  3. I soak the spillage up with watercolour paper so that I can at least savour the fragrance for as long as possible.
  4. I place the scent strip between my teeth to avoid contamination with the kitchen surface, as I washed my hands (I know, Ayala, if you’re reading this, I know!).
  5. Within a few seconds I notice a tingling on my lips, mouth and cheeks.
  6. The tingling morphs into PAIN as I realise that my skin is *burning*.
  7. Holy cr*p!

Obscuring Our Natural Scent Could be Paralysing a Primal Sense

Snowflakes skittered in the wind, and Shams leaned forward to pull my shawl tighter.  For a passing moment, I stood frozen, inhaling his smell.  It was a mixture of sandalwood and soft amber with a faint, crisp tang underneath, like the smell of earth under the rain.

-Excerpt from The Forty Rules of Love: A Novel of Rumi
by Elif Shafak, Penguin Books

What a marvellous description of Sham’s smell!  This book is a feast in itself, and as I savoured these words this morning, I began thinking about our natural scent and how rare it is to both reveal it, and smell it on others.

We spend a great deal of time and money masking our natural odours, often considering them antisocial, with mouthwash, deodorants, perfumes, and scented creams etc.  Even the hormones in our foods and the contraceptive pill may have a hand in obscuring our natural smell.  Aristotle himself said that pleasant odours contribute to the well-being of mankind, but if you consider that our natural scent is important for primal things such as sussing people out and finding a mate, could we be inadvertently paralysing one of our key senses?

In The Scented Ape: The Biology and Culture of Human Odour, Michael Stoddart says that our gut reaction to the people we meet has something to do with a subconscious awareness of the pheromones they produce.  Smell, whether overt or perceptible only at a subconscious level, has a huge impact on whether we like someone or not, and can even impact who we developfriendships, relationships and business partnerships with. Could this be the reason why divorce is so high and I am still single? Was my soulmate’s true scent masked by laundry detergent and his shower gel?!

Continue reading

The Dark Side of Cacao

Stephanie Holland Musings of an Aromastrategist

Cacao Tree: "Theobroma Cacao"

Like you, I am seduced by the aroma, flavour and endorphins of any form off cacao: the purest of delights and the simplest of pleasures. In researching the country of origin I came across a shocking fact that sobered my aromatic reverie: child slaves are used to harvest the cacao beans in Cote D’Ivoire in Africa. For 3 years I’ve been unaware that one of my favourite aromas comes with a dark side.

My cacao odyssey started a while back when I was living on Venice Beach, CA, when I wrote An Ode to Cacao Absolute.  My friend, Fran, had just introduced me to the dark, viscous liquid and I was in awe as to how much it smelled and felt like pure liquid chocolate.  Now I’m revisiting Cacao absolute in a different capacity; as a perfumer. And I have to say, falling in love again has never felt so good.  I have to admit, though, that when I’m closing my eyes and trying to *feel* the fragrance note, all I come up with is “chocolate”; I’m well aware that my nose needs a little training when it comes to smelling outside of the proverbial fragrance box! What really caught my eye is the origin of my particular sample: France.  Thinking that a little strange for this tropical bean,  I did a little online research to discover the countries that produce both Cacao absolute, and grow the cacao beans themselves.

Continue reading

Tending the Earth; Mending the Spirit

“In both a literal and a figurative way, a garden can help us come to out senses.  When we step into our gardens we are submerged in sights, smells, sounds and  textures.

This is a wake-up call for the part of our brain that processes experience directly and intuitively, instead of categorising and analysing it in a detached way.  When this part of the brain is stimulated, we tend to become more aware of the sensations and emotions that underlie our busy, rational mid.

A garden gives us a chance to remain silent and alone with our feelings, to empty the mind of past and present in order to experience more fully the present moment.”

- From “Tending the Earth, Mending the Spirit: The Healing Gifts of Gardening”, by Connie Goldman & Richard Mahler, Hazelden 2000

Why are Roses Red?

Ever wondered why roses are red?

Before updating you on the benefits of rose essential oil and absolute, we thought we’d share a little known fact with you:

The rose was originally a pale flower whose petals were not particularly silky to touch.  But over the eons, so many faery’s fell in love with this flower – perhaps because of its tender spirit – that it began to blush literally from this abundance of love, eventually going from a pale pink to a deep red.  And that’s why roses are often given as a symbol of love.

- Marci Zina Mager in her book, Believing in Faeries, A Manual for Grown Ups

So now you know the most important fact, there are also a couple of reasons to use either the essential oil or the absolute made from thousands of gorgeous rose petals.

Continue reading

The Power of Friendship

Friends make us laugh so hard our sides split, and pick us up when we’re down.

They love and support us unconditionally.

They listen to our moans and groans and never say, “I told you so.”

They are wise and supportive, and nurturing and kind.

What would we do without them.

The Power of Friendship

Friends show us how to treat ourselves with love and kindness. Photo unknown.

Dedicated to my wonderful friends who love and support me unconditionally.  Where would I be without you. ;)

Some thoughts on the toxicity of nature

Following our recent organza ribbon campaign (see above tab) to raise awareness about the Aromamuse blog, we did a small follow-up with each of the friends we sent the samples to.  The idea was to send several beautiful aromatic samples to friends for them to pass on to their friends.  The premise was that these were “trusted” networks and the samples would be well received. While many friends said they had passed them on to their girlfriends with delight, there was one response that made me think.  She said: “I have a lot of close friends who became pregnant and not really willing to try out new essential oils.”

It’s pretty wise to be cautious when you’re pregnant.  A US study, called Body Burden: The Pollution in Newborns, tested each sample of umbilical cord blood for an unprecedented 413 industrial and consumer product chemicals.  In total, the babies’ blood had 287 chemicals, including 209 never before detected in cord blood.

I wondered, though, about the extra concern when pregnant.  And why concern only for “new essential oils” and not products already in use?

Continue reading

Enveloped by clove – Navedenga by Ernesto Neto

Odor is a vehicle for making an experience more enveloping and memorable, which is perhaps why the olfactory realm is considered the last frontier for marketing, communication and art.  “Navedenga” (1998) on show at New York’s MOMA from January 22–April 5, 2010 is a work by Brazilian artists Ernesto Neto, renowned for creating “interactive, immersive sculptural environments using translucent, stretchable fabric”.

With its taut contours, rounded appendages, and soft, pliant surface, the installation resembles both the intimate spaces of a body and a fantastical spacecraft; its title, a neologism coined by the artist, recalls the Portuguese word for ship, nave. The artist embedded aromatic cloves within the structure, and visitors are invited inside its hollow chamber to engage their visual, tactile, and olfactory senses. Male and female; internal and external; weight and ethereality—Navedenga encompasses a profusion of symbiotic oppositions. – MOMA Website

Photo © 2010 Jason Mandella

Continue reading

Walking in beauty: A Navajo Prayer

With beauty before me, I walk.

With beauty behind me, I walk.

With beauty above me, I walk.

With beauty below me, I walk.

From the East beauty has been restored.

From the South beauty has been restored.

From the West beauty has been restored.

From the North beauty has been restored.

From the zenith in the sky beauty has been restored.

From the nadir of the earth beauty has been restored.

From all around me beauty has been restored.

- A Navajo Prayer, taken from Absolute Beauty by Pratima Raichur

Understanding skincare and cosmetic labels

The importance of researching skincare ingredients.  Photo by Simon Strangaard.

The importance of researching skincare ingredients. Photo by Simon Strangaard.

Ever looked at a skincare label and been confused by the chemical names?

Ever researched them?

A fantastic article by the Ecologist analyses the label of Carex to deconstruct the ingredients in layman’s terms.

Dissecting the chemical names and providing matter of fact commentary of the adverse effects may lead some of you to reconsider the use of this category of products in your home.

The importance of reading labels

It is now more common for people to buy healthy and organic food, however the next step is to make sure your soaps, cleansers,  toners, moisturisers and cosmetics are of the same high quality as the food you eat and also considered by you as an investment in your health.

Since everything you put on your skin is absorbed into your body, if you’re not prepared to eat what you put in your skin, then the question arises “should you be putting on on your skin?”.

Extreme as this may be, it all ends up in your bloodstream.  How this affects your body is then up to the mix of substances, synthetic and natural.

There is a huge body of evidence to show that these cocktails are affecting all the other systems in our body, including our respiratory system and our brain.

Continue reading

A Red Flower by Claude McKay

Your lips are like a southern lily red,
Wet with the soft rain-kisses of the night,
In which the brown bee buries deep its head,
When still the dawn’s a silver sea of light. 

Your lips betray the secret of your soul,
The dark delicious essence that is you,
A mystery of life, the flaming goal
I seek through mazy pathways strange and new.

Your lips are the red symbol of a dream,
What visions of warm lilies they impart,
That line the green bank of a fair blue stream,
With butterflies and bees close to each heart!

Brown bees that murmur sounds of music rare,
That softly fall upon the langourous breeze,
Wafting them gently on the quiet air
Among untended avenues of trees.

O were I hovering, a bee, to probe
Deep down within your scented heart, fair flower,
Enfolded by your soft vermilion robe,
Amorous of sweets, for but one perfect hour!

The Flowers by Robert Louis Stevenson

All the names I know from nurse:
Gardener’s garters, Shepherd’s purse,
Bachelor’s buttons, Lady’s smock,
And the Lady Hollyhock.

Fairy places, fairy things,
Fairy woods where the wild bee wings,
Tiny trees for tiny dames–
These must all be fairy names!

Tiny woods below whose boughs
Shady fairies weave a house;
Tiny tree-tops, rose or thyme,
Where the braver fairies climb!

Fair are grown-up people’s trees,
But the fairest woods are these;
Where, if I were not so tall,
I should live for good and all.

- Robert Louis Stevenson