Lavender's blue, dilly, dilly . . . What does your bathroom smell like? Noxious or nice?? Makes a difference, doesn't it?!? Well, it makes a difference in EVERY room. Of course, aromatherapy is big on the alternative medicine front but, although I go along with the therapeutic benefits this gives, I don't agree that only "essential oils" can be of benefit to our minds and body. ANY scent from whatever source, can work magic with us. Scent stirs memory and creates positive (or negative) feelings. So, what is a smell? What creates it? Odour particles, that's what does it. Too small even to be detected by microscope - but drift around they do - millions of them!! Course, we smell through our nose. After the air we breathe has been filtered by the cilia (hairs in nostril), it moves on to the olfactory bulb, where the smells are recognized because each smell molecule fits into a nerve cell like a lock and key. Then the cells send signals along your olfactory nerve to your brain. At the brain, they are interpreted as those of the wonderful smell of fresh coffee or the punge of sweaty armpits. Smell is also closely connected to the memory area of our brains - thus certain smells trigger certain memories. Humans have seven "primary odours" which help them determine objects. These are: camphoric (eg mothballs); musky (eg perfume); roses (eg floral); pepperminty (eg gum); etheral (eg tippex); pungent (eg vinegar) and putrid (eg. rotten eggs). Although our sense of smell is nowhere near as acute as many other creatures, it is good enough to get by on! We also produce unsmellable "scents" by our emotions and by our physical state, called "pheromones" which have the power to ward off insects - or attract sexual feelings. Although, once it was thought that only "primitive" animals used pheromones in these ways, it is now known that humans make use of it in much the same way, although probably less efficiently. A good article on the power of communication through smell and pheromones can be found here. Of course, I am not dismissing aromatherapy products. They are splendid for bathing, massage and inhalation - and if you *do* want the most beneficial therapy out of aromas, then this is the route to go. However, there are plenty of other ways to perfume your life. There's little point in me even attempting to go through all the fragrances available and describe their benefits. You can find out all this information on the aromatherapy and other links I have provided. Suffice it to say that there are the relaxing scents like lavendar - scents said to be useful as aphrodisiacs - special ones for when you have a cold - patchouli if you want to recall your hippy days - ylang ylang with it's great name - oh and on and on . . . CANDLES To sit in a candle-lit room is divine. Make them perfumed candles, then even diviner!! Be they floating candles or big uns, there is no doubting that the senses are soothed doubly, both by the gentle light and by smell. Perfumed candles are available in many different scents - and often in "therapeutic" blends, as in "seaside" or "damp meadow"! Personally, I prefer to use candles purely for their light - and to scent the room by another means. CAUTION: Never leave burning candles unattended. Also note that many perfumed candles are very soft and are designed to "melt" - it is therefore vitally important that these are placed inside a suitable holder. Do not extinguish candles by blowing on them - this risks burning yourself with wax. Always use a snuffer. Have a go at making your own candles! INCENSE No, incense is not just for witches, wiccas and ageing hippies!! Available in either stick form or cone, it comes in an amazing array of exotic fragrances and there's something quite mystical about burning it! It is very cost effective also - but remember that you must have an ashcatcher to catch the spent ash. These can also be purchased very cheaply. Or, have a go at one of the "smoking bottles", only available from Anna's Incense. Suspend an incense stick in the bottle and watch the smoke swirl!! Highly recommended!! It is also possible to make your own incense, although there seems little point when such excellent ready made products are available to buy so reasonably, but here are some instructions you could follow. Peace! ESSENTIAL AND FRAGRANT OILS Yummy! There are essential oils (which must be used in aromatherapy for best results) and there are fragrant oils. There is nothing to beat the variety with which fragrant oils appear!! You want ice-cream or baby-powder or sweet-pea or cannabis?? All these smells and millions more can be recreated in your home!! Pop them in your bath; use to make candles (or soap) - add to potpourrie - scent your hankie - or burn in an oil burner, which come in a massive array of different shapes and sizes! Traditional or ultra-modern (check out Chuppie's). Glass or soapstone. It's up to you!! Aaah! Bacon and eggs!! :) BATHTIME Please DO indulge yourself and use perfumed bubbles and things! Also, it is nice to surround the bath with candles. But please, if you use bath products and candles, then make sure they are the same darned smell!! Don't mix them - or you might well drive your senses mental! Alternatively, use unperfumed candles. It's beautiful to bathe with a partner. If you don't have one; don't despair - invest in a duck, they can be just as pleasing in their own way! Oh, and even I have started to make my own soap (with varying results!). Check out this .pdf file, for info and recipes. (needs Adobe Acrobat reader; if you don't have one, you can download from the link below) Also, HERE for further hints and links and things. SOAPMAKING IN PICTURES!! I've also started a herb garden. Check it out! :) [ minerals ] [ fairies ] [ artefacts ] [ other things ] [ home ] LINKS www.otherwise.com A great place to get all your candles, incense and fragrance oils from. Good value. www.healthfoodstore.co.uk for reasonably priced smelly things for the home and the bath. Check out their conical incense (36 for 65p) Fragrant World all about aromatherapy Check out her fabby smoking bottles!! I did!! :) Nature's Bouquet An Introduction to Soap Making Chuppies (great oil burners) THE CANDLE CAULDRON Great candle making site - don't miss it!! this one really works!!! A Scratch 'n' Sniff tester Scratch 'n' Sniff Pizza A German Scratch 'n' Sniff tester BOOKS Aromatherapy: Recipes for your Oil Burner by Judy Chapman Smells Like Teen Spirit Know of any links which should be here? email me!

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