Severed from Scent

At the end of last year, I woke up on Christmas morning and my sense of smell was gone. 

This is awful for anyone…but for a perfumer? Absolutely devastating. 

It’s been a slow recovery (that bout of covid was especially rough). Though my smell had mostly come back by mid February, I could tell that I wasn’t picking up on the subtle nuances I used to. 

The loss of smell has been such a strange piece of this pandemic era…

A strong sense of smell has always been a mark of a healer — the ability to sniff out both the diseases and the cures. 

It’s also closely associated with our intuition. We can smell when something — or someone — is off. 

This probably has something to do with the unique ability of aroma to bypass our conscious minds, eliciting unbidden feelings and memories before our thinking brains can process what’s happening… or get in the way.

Our sense of smell also brings us into our bodies. While transcendence may certainly be part of our soul paths, we also come into bodies here on Earth to experience being fully human. Our five senses are the gateways to embodiment. And embodiment is a gateway to both pleasure and presence.

And, fragrance is a gateway to the gods. 

In Egyptian mythology, the fragrance of the sacred lotus birthed the universe. Statues of deities in ancient cultures were anointed with fragrant oils to wake up the gods they housed. The deceased were anointed with aromatic plant material to help carry their souls along their journeys. The aroma of flowers is said to announce the presence of the gods or angels. Temples around the world are filled with fragrant smoke. 

Healing, inner knowing, pleasure, presence, and spiritual connection…all rooted in our ability to trust our own noses. 

Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that our connection with smell as been under attack for some time. 

Even before the pandemic, humanity had been slowly led away from our sense of smell and the myriad gifts it offers, effectively cutting us off from a profound gateway to healing, intuition, memory, pleasure, and spiritual connections.

One long-standing culprit is the fragrance and flavoring industry.

I’ve long been skeptical of a fragrance and flavoring industry that trains humans to prefer the smell of artificial ingredients in their cosmetics. While the synthetic compounds added to our foods and body products have physically detrimental properties, my concern also lies in effects this has on our psyches and souls.

The fallout of the rampant scent-washing in our culture are twofold:

First, artificial fragrances have distanced humans from the natural world.

The idea that ingredients from a factory are somehow cleaner or potent than those from a forest pervades our collective consciousness. 

That the fragrance of an air freshener, filled with known cancer-causing compounds, smells “fresh” is a sign of this insanity. That a “peach blossom” lotion smells like no peach nor blossom ever found in nature is a sign of how far removed from the natural world we’ve become. 

These fragrances train our noses — and our knowing — to deny what we know is true and believe the lies sold to us.

The fragrances found in whole plant materials contain myriad compounds perfectly designed to harmonize with each other. We humans evolved in relationship with these plants, and our bodies readily receive their gifts. Our sense of smell brings these complexities into our psyches, where we intuitively receive our plant allies’ wisdom.   

As humans learn to prefer synthetic flavors and aromas, they are cut off from their relationship with their own ability to sniff out what’s true. To sniff out their own cures for what ails them. They are subtly disconnected from their innate powerful, intuition-supporting sense of smell.

The second outcome is found in those humans who loudly proclaim that they can tolerate no fragrances of any kind.

I get it. These people’s bodies told them that synthetics were harming them, and they listened. The problem comes when this makes people afraid of all smells — even the ones with profound healing benefits. 

Of course, toxic overload from synthetics can lead to the body’s inability to process naturals. And, many smells marketed as “natural” actually contain plenty of synthetics, so I can understand the fear. Yet, this fear cuts off important pathways for healing and delight. 

Our sense of smell is a gift from the gods, part of the wonder of being embodied in the human forms. Not only does it help us survive, it helps us enjoy life and find pleasure in our physical experience. And pleasure is part of why we’re here. 

My heart breaks when I hear that someone cannot tolerate any fragrance (if you’ve ever worked in an office building, you’ve met many of these folks). As a natural perfumer and clinically certified aromatherapist, I know that simply smelling precious oils from plants (let alone the benefits of topical applications) can help us focus, give us energy, regulate our hormones and nervous systems, alleviate depression and anxiety, soothe us in times of grief, ignite aphrodisiac qualities, relieve insomnia, and so much more. 

Anyone who’s ever worn a perfume, or had a signature fragrance of any kind, knows the feelings that arise with that first spritz. You somehow feel more like yourself — the best version of yourself. You might feel more beautiful, sexy, powerful, calm, fulfilled, peaceful, hopeful, abundant, or creative depending on the perfume of the day. 

Those over-the-top perfume commercials? They may be ridiculous, but they’re also a pretty good representation of what perfume does for the psyche. While synthetic perfumes legitimately give many people headaches and worse, perfumes made with true naturals bestow even more transformational energy and pleasure to those who wear them.

If you love beauty, pleasure, and Venusian delights as much I do, you might enjoy taking a peek at my perfumer’s artist statement.

The next severance from our sense of smell comes from our online lives.

The pandemic no doubt accelerated this phenomena, yet the seeds have been in place for decades. Our online communities and interactions, social networks and getting lost in the “scroll hole” (This is my partner Mike’s and my term for not just doomscrolling but getting lost in an endless mind-numbing feed of information. I’m surprised it hasn’t taken off yet, to be honest…). And then came the Metaverse and increasing capabilities of virtual reality. 

Any life lived online is removed from our embodied experience. Yes, we use our eyes and take in the visuals, we connect with audio and can converse or enjoy a melody, and we can even engage in some sensory experiences with haptics and the rare VR bodysuit. 

To my knowledge, however, smell — and its sister sense taste — are not yet available in the online realms. Smell keeps us in our bodies, in the present, and connected to what is true and real for us in the moment.

By the time the pandemic arrived, humanity had been well prepped for relinquishing our sense of smell. 

To be clear, I’m not saying that losing our sense of smell as part of the pandemic was some orchestrated event. Rather, I can’t help but wonder if this particular effect is a reflection, showing us what we’ve already lost in no uncertain terms. 

If we look at our collective pandemic experience, we can see the separation of us from each other, from our own healing capabilities, and from our intuitive knowing of what is and isn’t true. Yet these questions extend far beyond the pandemic too. 

Where have you doubted your own knowing? Your ability to heal yourself? Where have you lost touch with pleasure, embodiment, and the ability to be present in each moment? Where have you forgotten what’s actually true, or allowed yourself to be led by lies? Where has the reverent ritual of bringing spirit into daily life been set aside in favor of more “urgent” matters?

Smell is a gift from the gods and fragrance is the perfume of spirit. May we can heal our broken relationship with olfaction, realign with the true nature of reality, and reawaken reverence and wonder in our hearts.

Returning to the Perfumery

It’s now been a bit over four months since I lost my sense of smell, and it’s just about returned. Though it’s hard to tell if my nose is really as strong as it was before, I at least feel confident to work in the perfumery again. And this fills my heart with joy. 

I have several new perfumes I’d designed last year, before the loss of smell, in my studio. I didn’t want to share them until I could be sure they were up to my standards, and now that I can work again, I’m finally putting the finishing touches on them. 

A few that will be coming soon…

Odin

The all father of Northern lands, Odin is the newest addition to the masculine Gods series. His perfume is as strong and complex as he is. Imagine walking into a mysterious hall, almost an elevated and member-only speakeasy filled with aromas of tobacco, cognac, and cacao. A hint of spice, a touch of musk. Decadent and dark. 

Yuzu Yoru

One of my conceptual pieces, is inspired by my years living, eating, and inhaling the fragrances of Tokyo. A citrus forward fragrance, fresh yuzu and Asian kumquats meet with robust citrón and cedrat, gently harmonized with rare strawberry gum (a type of eucalyptus, not the artificial chews!), Japanese hinoki, and precious osmanthus blossoms. A rare delight for summer days and Toyko nights.

There’s also a magical Chinese Goddess, a watery Greek elemental, and more to come :) 

While you wait, be sure to explore the new Scents of Summer Discovery Set, filled with the perfect botanical allies for celebrating this season.

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You might also like:

• About Alchemessence Elevated Perfumes

• 8 Tips for Buying High Quality Essential Oils

• A Complete Guide to Magical & Ritual Anointing Oils

• Here’s What You Need to Know about Buying Natural Perfumes and Essential Oils (aka how to avoid the frauds!)

• How I Make Natural Perfumes: Art, Aroma, and Alchemy in a Bottle

Angel Magick for Protection: An Alchemical Meditation

Angels are divine beings who offer us healing, protection, guidance, and blessings. 

Though I’ve always loved and felt connected to the angelic realms, it wasn’t until a few years ago, when I encountered Damien Echols’s teachings on Western Angel Magick that I discovered how profound ritualized practice with specific archangels can be…

Many cultures throughout the world use wheels or circles to impart teachings on the nature of reality—the cycles of nature and seasons, the directions, and the elements appear on Native American medicine wheels and the Celtic Wheel of the year. 

In Western Magick, the image of a circle is used. For each direction, there is a color (these change a bit depending on who you ask), an element, and a guardian archangel:

Guardian of the East: Archangel Raphael

Raphael is traditionally called in the east. His color is green, his element is air, and his symbol is a caduceus.  

Guardian of the South: Archangel Michael

Michael is traditionally called in the south. His color is blue, his element is fire, and his symbol is a sword.  

Guardian of the West: Archangel Gabriel

Gabriel is traditionally called in the west. His color is white, his element is water, and his symbol is a chalice.  

Guardian of the North: Archangel Uriel

Uriel is traditionally called in the north. His color is red, his element is eart, and his symbol is a pentagram.

Raphael’s caduceus

Michael’s flaming blue sword

Gabriel’s chalice

Uriel’s pentagram

In addition to these four cardinal angels of the vertical plane, Echols brings in guardian angels for above and below, as well:

Guardian of the Below: Sandalphon

Sandalphon both guards the space below and attunes our frequency to the crystalline grid of the earth. His colors are earth tones, turquoise, and metallics. I often see brown, gold, or even crystalline white in my third eye when Sandalphon is present. He sometimes appears with a musical instrument…something I interpret as a sign of his ability to work with frequency.

Guardian of Above: Metatron

Metatron both guards the space above and attunes our frequency to divine wisdom. His colors are purple, gold, silver, and white. His symbol is Metatron’s Cube, a form of sacred geometry that contains all the building blocks of matter itself. 

Sandalphon’s earth grid

Metatron’s cube

In my personal practice, I’ve long invoked these six powerful angels for protection—especially before engaging in any kind of spiritual practice. 

After years of simply calling in the angels and feeling their guardian presences, however, a new more advanced ritual with them was revealed to me during a channeled session—one for both healing as well as protection. 

I’ve shared this ritual with small groups before, and everyone has had powerful experiences. Now, with the release of pure angel anointing oils, it’s time to share this ritual with anyone called to partner with these divine beings for protection, healing, guidance, and blessings. 

The following practice can be done anytime you’d like to connect with the energy of the angels. 

Note: This practice involves visualizing a merkaba—a powerful symbol for protection, healing, and insight, all the things we’re calling in here :) If you’re not familiar with this symbol, here’s an image:

An Alchemical Ritual for Angelic Protection, Wisdom, and Healing

Begin by setting your space for sacred arts. Light a candle, burn some incense or sage, and prepare your mind, body, and spirit for mediation. If you can, play some soothing music—theta music, binaural beats, or solfeggio tones are wonderful.

If you have anointing oils for these angels, place them nearby for use during the ritual. If you don’t have angel oils, simply skip the anointing steps.

I recommend calling upon the angels out loud and visualizing their colors and symbols as you move through this practice.

To begin, visualize yourself in the center of an etheric pyramid of light.

Make sure that this pyramid is large enough to contain your entire physical body and energetic aura.

Anoint your heart with Raphael’s angel oil.

Then speak aloud: “To the east, I call upon the great Archangel Raphael with his emerald green rays.”

Visualize the pyramid being filled with an emerald green fire. Feel this sacred fire cleanse any imprints of disease or illness from your energetic field. Feel healing and harmony restored to your physical and energetic bodies. 

Allow as much time for this process as you’d like. You might get psychic hits of the work being done—specific imprints or illnesses being healed—or you may just sense that healing is happening. All experiences are welcome, so try to experience yours without judgment.

When the process feels complete, see the green flames recede into the eastern wall of the pyramid, which retains a green glow to anchor the healing energy of Rapheal. 

Next, anoint the back of your neck with Michael’s angel oil.

Speak aloud: “To the south, I call upon the great Archangel Michael with his fiery blue rays.”

Visualize the pyramid being filled with Michael’s blue fire. Feel this sacred fire cleanse any foreign energy from your field. Once again, allow as much time as you’d like for the process.

When this feels complete, see the blue flames recede into the southern wall of the pyramid, ensuring that you continue to receive Michael's energetic protection.

Next, anoint the back of your wrists with Gabriel’s angel oil.

Speak aloud: “To the west, I call upon the great Archangel Gabriel with his pure white rays.”

Visualize the pyramid being filled with Gabriel’s white fire. Feel this sacred, watery fire cleanse your emotional body and thought patterns. This protective white light is like a soothing balm for any emotional challenges you’ve been experiencing. 

Once again, allow as much time as you’d like for this process.

When this feels complete, see the white flames recede into the west wall of the pyramid, ensuring that Gabriel’s energy remains anchored to your sacred space.

Next, anoint your solar plexus with Uriel’s angel oil.

Speak aloud: “To the north, I call upon the great Archangel Uriel with his ruby red rays.”

Visualize the pyramid being filled with Uriel’s red fire. Feel these sacred flames removing lower density vibrations and thought forms from your field, creating space for higher vibration outcomes to manifest in the physical world.

As before, you may receive specific insights here, or you may simply experience energetic shifts. Once again, allow as much time as you’d like for this process.

When this feels complete, see the ruby red flames recede into the north wall of the pyramid, ensuring that Uriel’s energy continues to stabilize your energy field.

Next, anoint the soles of your feet (or ankles if easier) with Sandalphon’s angel oil.

Speak aloud: “To the space below, I call upon the great angel Sandalphon.”

See a crystalline grid appear at the base of the pyramid. Sandalphon uses this grid to help attune your energy with the energy of the earth. Feel your vibratory shift as the light grid reaches into your energy field. See how the grid of the pyramid is connected to both your energy system and the earth’s crystalline grid. 

When this feels complete, let go of tracking larger grid movements. Simply see a crystalline grid of light at the base of the pyramid. 

Next, anoint your third eye and crown with Metatron’s angel oil.

Speak aloud: “To the space above, I call upon the great angel Metatron.”

Visualize a golden-purple merkaba at the top of the pyramid. See this cube begin to spin, creating an active portal for divine wisdom to come through. Allow yourself to attune to this wisdom, feeling it flow into your being through your crown chakra. 

Again, you might get specific insights, but that isn’t the point here. You are becoming a stronger, more aligned vessel for a continual stream of wisdom to flow into and unfold in divine timing.

When this process feels complete, return your awareness to the entire pyramid.

Revisit each of the walls—green to the east, blue to the south, white to the west, red to the north. Revisit the grid below and cube above. Feel the protective, loving energy of this space. Notice if you can feel any shifts in your own body and energy.

To close, thank the angels for their presence, healing, and protection. 

Speak aloud: “I gratefully acknowledge the great angels Raphael, Michalel, Gabriel, Uriel, Sandalphon, and Metatron for their blessings and presence in this practice. I ask that I continue to receive angelic protection as I go throughout my days. 

For now, this practice is done. Our parts are done. And we may rest.”

Let go of your visualizations and return awareness to your body and the present moment. You may like to ground a bit after this, as it’s quite powerful. Going for a walk outside or eating a few nuts and drinking water can be supportive. 

Enhance Your Practice with Angel Oils

I created Angel Oils to enhance our connections with these divine beings.

These oils are filled with sacred, rare, and very precious botanicals—white lotus, sandalwood, tuberose, angelica, and more—that align our frequencies with those of the angels. 

When applied directly to your skin, these oils become portals for divine angelic transmissions and greatly impact the potency of angel magick and ritual.

If you’d like to purchase a set of anointing oils to enhance your practice…and simply to smell divine because they are truly elevated perfumes, you can find discovery sets here:

You might also like:

• The Mystical and Magical Emergence of Angel Oils

• The Celestial Songs All Around Us

• A Complete Guide to Magical & Ritual Anointing Oils

• How to Be Spiritually Sovereign: Making Magic with the Virgin Goddesses

• The Color Bubble Practice for Energetic Protection

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The Mystical and Magical Emergence of Angel Oils

Several months ago, I woke up with the most beautiful, ethereal aroma in my field. 

I have clairolfactory gifts—which means that I perceive spiritual smells as a form of intuitive guidance. So awareness of an aroma from beyond our 3D reality isn’t out of the ordinary for me.

Yet there was something truly magical, something calling me into deeper exploration with this aroma. I decided to 

I entered my perfumery and prepared for sacred alchemical practice. 

I lit my candles, cleansed my energy body with a precious feather, and tended my creative altar. 

Then I sat down to channel the mystical aroma I was perceiving into physical form.

To my surprise, what unfolded wasn’t a single oil at all—it was a divine dance of angelic blessings. The great archangels, who I've been working with for decades now, wanted to share their unique gifts and blessings with the world through sacred plant alchemy.

In other words, the angels told me very clearly to make them ceremonial perfume oils—and to share these oils with as many people as possible!

I’ve never channeled such harmonious recipes for fragrant oils so seamlessly before. I wonder if this is because I’ve cultivated a natural resonance with these beings over years of practice, or if humans in general have a karmic affinity for the angels. Maybe both. (If this resonates, stay in touch! I’ll be teaching angelic mediumship classes next year.)

My first instruction was clear—every oil would have the same 4 aromatics as the base: 

• Angelica—a plant named for the angels, angelica invites and anchors angelic blessings to earth

• Rose—the angels all encompass unconditional compassion, and rose attunes our heart to this vibration

• Sandalwood—a sacred oil with an affinity for the crown chakra, sandalwood opens us to divine messages 

• Frankincense Sacra—another oil sacred to the angels themselves, frankincense sacra, sacred frankincense)  carries our prayers to spirit while quieting our egoic minds

From here, the unique “personality” of each angel came forward to guide the rest of their aromatic oils. Over the course of a single week, nine angels in total (for now at least) came forward to transmit their essences into oils through me.

Meet the Aromatic Archangels

Archangel Raphael

Raphael blesses us with the green ray of healing light, and his oil transmits this healing energy to us through verdant aromatics. High altitude lavender carries an expansive all-healing energy, while evergreens, citruses, and Greenland moss layer green rays of light upon the soul.

Archangel Michael 

Michael comes bearing the blue flaming sword of divine protection. Purifying and protective oils—blue juniper berries, fragrant mastic, bay laurel and more—fill this complex blend. 

Archangel Gabriel 

Gabriel brings us messages from spirit carried upon divine waters. Precious, white florals hold the high vibration of this celestial being—white lotus, white jasmine, white angelica, and more.

Archangel Uriel 

Uriel helps us ground spiritual wisdom into our earthly existence. Grounding oils—cedarwood, patchouli, vetiver, liquidambar, and more—form the heart of this sacred blend, while a trio of potent frankincense provide an infusion of pure spirit. Nourishing sweet aromas of peru balsam, myrrh, and rose soothe the spirit.

Archangel Sandalphon 

Sandalphon connects us to the crystalline energy grid of the highest vibration of Gaia, attuning our frequency to that of the Earth’s ascension. Golden, high vibe oils create a potent transmission in this blend—Italian neroli, amyris, silver fir, ancient amber, and more.

Archangel Metatron 

Metatron connects us to the cosmic and timeless wisdom of the divine. High vibration oils that open our intuitive centers fill this oil, including true white lotus, galbanum, and high altitude lavender.

The above archangels are the 6 primary beings called upon in Western Angel Magick: The four archangels Raphael, Michael, Gabriel, and Uriel represent the four elements and guard the four directions of the horizontal plane, while Sandalphone and Metatron support our ascension and guard the vertical plane.

For anyone who wishes to work with this celestial team in their entirety, I’ve put together a special collection of these six anointing oils.

Archangel Haniel 

Haniel uplifts our spirits and brings joy to our souls with lunar turquoise rays. Botanicals of clary sage and lavender help us harmonize with moon cycles, and uplifting notes of bergamot, geranium, and juniper raise our spirits. Precious florals—tuberose, osmanthus, jasmine, and more—delight our senses and raise our vibrations in this magical angel oil.

Archangel Chamuel

Chamuel carries the pure vibration of unconditional love, healing our hearts and helping us experience what true, divine love really is. Heart-opening oils fill this sacred blend, including rare pink lotus absolute, pink grapefruit, rose, violet, a rare and irreplaceable raspberry leaf absolute, and more.

Archangel Azrael

Azrael holds the pure vibrational essence of divine neutrality, a psychopomp who loving guiding souls through transitions into other realms. Azrael’s oil contains dark essences of mystery, such as black frankincense and star anise, and harmonious essences of pure love. Cypress assists in the crossing over of souls, clove cleanses foreign energy, and vanilla provides loving nourishment in this potent blend.

The Seraphim

Seraphim are a particular class of angels—six-winged celestial beings who appear as flames of purifying divine light. The Seraphim remind us that all is holy. I originally designed the Seraphim’s fragrance as a perfume, but my guidance now is to bring this aromatic elixir into the fold of my angelic anointing oils. 

Seraphim is a true ceremonial-grade perfume oil containing several high vibe essences—rose, orris, benzoin, and pink pepper, to name a few. The result is a layered fragrance with notes of white florals, precious woods, and a powdery finish. 

I’ll be releasing one of these magical oils per day, with details about their botanicals, to the public throughout the 2022 Angel Portal, which runs from 11/11/22 - 11/22/22. Follow me over on Instagram for these angelic transmissions.

You might also like:

• The Magic and Medicine of the Rose

• Angel Magick for Protection: An Alchemical Meditation

• The Alchemy of Making Spiritual Perfumes

• A Complete Guide to Magical & Ritual Anointing Oils

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8 Tips for Buying High Quality Essential Oils

As a botanical perfumer who is committed to creating the most luxurious, alchemical, and potent natural perfumes possible, I’ve spent years learning how to discern high quality, real essential oils from the fraudulent ones.

4 Ways Essential Oils and Natural Products are Adulterated

Far too often, essential oil suppliers will adulterate their oils by:

1. Cutting more expensive oils with less expensive ones

2. Adding synthetic aroma molecules to supposedly pure essential oils

3. Replacing the named oil with a totally different oil than what’s listed in the description

4. Selling purely synthetic, fake versions and true botanicals

8 Tips for Sourcing Authentic and Pure Essential Oils & Natural Products

Luckily, it’s actually pretty easy to avoid buying fake oils once you know what you’re doing! Here are the top 8 things I look for when sourcing quality oils:

1. The Price

Every essential oil is extracted from a different amount of raw plant material, and the more material it takes to make a drop of oil, the more expensive the oil will be. 

Tips:

• Every oil should have a different price—in other words, neroli and pine should not cost the same amount.

• Oil prices should generally fall within a certain price range. Compare prices at several different companies—if anything is way less than average, it’s likely fake. 

• Knowing  general pricing for aromatic groups can be helpful, too. A few guidelines here:

• Citruses and fragrant trees tend to be on the lower end of prices

• Flowers tend to be on the higher end of prices

• Rarer plants (often those that are only grown in certain areas) tend to be on the higher side

• Common fragrant plants (such as mint, cinnamon, clove, and lavender) tend to be more affordable as well

2. Botanical Names

Always look for the botanical name of the plant in question—the one written in latin. It should match the plant name on the bottle. This probably seems obvious, but I’ve seen plenty of mismatched common and botanical names on websites. 

Tips:

• Make sure the latin name matches the common plant name on the listing or bottle.

• Make sure the latin name is the variety you’re looking for—lavandula angustifolia is quite different from lavandula latifolia cineolifera or lavandula x intermedia grosso.

• If an oil doesn’t have a latin name, don’t buy it.

3. Extraction Method & Part Distilled

Most reputable suppliers will include the part of the plant the oil is extracted from, as well as how it was extracted in their product description. If this is missing, take it as a warning. After all, juniper berry essential oils is quite different from a juniper oil extracted from leaves and twigs!

Tips:

• Look for “Extraction Method”—Most oils are steam distilled, but not all. Citruses are often cold pressed, absolutes are solvent extracted, and CO2s are done with a regular or supercritical CO2 extraction. 

• Look for the “Plant Part”—Does the oil come from wood, fruit, flower, etc?

4. Country of Origin

Different countries produce different varieties and qualities of essential oils, so seeing the country of origin can give you a clue as to the quality of the oil.

Tips:

• Make sure there is a single country of origin listed. Blends from multiple countries tend to be of lesser quality (though not always).

• No listed country signals likely synthetic origins. 

5. Cultivation

Cultivation refers to how a plant was grown—is it wildcrafted, organic, or conventional? Seeing this listed is a good sign in general. 

Tips: 

• Make sure the cultivation method is likely to be accurate. For example, have you ever seen basil in the wild? Nope, wildcrafted basil isn’t likely. 

• Some plants are rarely, if ever, organically cultivated, whether because it’s unnecessary (as with many trees) or financially difficult (as with many precious flowers).

• Organic cultivation tends to be more expensive than conventional, so you can double check your pricing here, as well.

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6. Company Transparency

Good oils come from good businesses. Do you know who owns the company? Where they’re located? They’re return policies? 

Tips:

• Find the company’s about page. Look for specifics—like who founded the company, why they started, and their philosophy about the oils. Avoid generalized pages that might never say more than “We specialize in high quality essential oils.” 

• Look for clear shipping and return policies, as well as contact information. 

• Do they offer 3rd party testing reports? Look for “GC/MS batch-tested” and the ability to request these reports. 

7. Non-Existent Oils

Some plants, fragrant though they may seem to us, simply don’t produce enough essential oils to be extracted. Other plants don’t actually have strong scents, but companies use their names to describe synthetic aromas (think “cucumber-melon” for example). Make sure the oils you’re searching for actually exist! 

Tips:

• Many “food” smells cannot be botanically extracted, so they are almost always synthetic—cucumber, melon, apple, cherry, apricot, plum, and raspberry, to name a few.

• Many flowers are almost impossible to extract aroma from. The following are almost always synthetic—gardenia, lilac, wisteria, any lily, honeysuckle, freesia, hyacinth, and “white florals”.

• Plant names are often given to synthetic scents when the plant in question doesn’t actually have much of a fragrance—bamboo, papyrus, or willow for example.

8. Company Ethics

The way a company operates can say a lot about whether or not you want to support them, even beyond the quality of their oils. 

Here are a few things to consider:

• Does the company sell both “natural” and synthetic oils? I’ve found that companies who are truly committed to naturals have better quality oils. Plus, if they sell both, there is likely adulteration behind the scenes. 

• Does the company sell animal products? Many perfume suppliers still sell things like civet oil, which is obtained from a small wildcat through an extremely cruel and painful process. I try not to support any companies that perpetuate animal cruelty. 

• Does the company sell endangered oils? Many plants are at risk because of the demand for their precious oils. I try to find companies offering sustainable alternatives to the most threatened species. For example, while Indian sandalwood is endangered, Australian sandalwood can be a more sustainable alternative. 

• Does the company support safe use of essential oils? An ethical company will name warnings clearly—not for use with children or while pregnant, or with certain medications, for example. Watch out for companies that tell you to take essential oils internally (you can with some, but it’s a delicate dose), or that encourage you to use a ton of the oil at a time (the oils are precious, and a little goes a long way!).

There you go! 8 helpful tips for buying high quality essential oils. Happy shopping!

You might also like:

• A DIY Essential Oil Travel Kit

• Ritual Beauty: A Sacred Skincare Routine

• The Alchemy of Making Spiritual Perfumes

• 8 Essential Oils to Kickstart Your Next Creative Project + 3 Aroma-Rituals

• Essential Oils for Respiratory Health

• How to Boost Your Immune System with Essential Oils

The Complete Guide to Magical & Ritual Anointing Oils

Did your ancestors practice the sacred art of anointing?

Does your soul remember lifetimes as an oil-bearing priestess?

Do you experience a full-body resonance when you simply hear the word, anointing? 

If so, you just might carry the signature of one who is destined to work with these sacred oils in this lifetime. 

Read on to discover what anointing oils are, how they’re made, and why you should use anointing oils in your own spiritual and magical practices.

What are anointing oils?

Anointing oils are sacred infusions of plant materials and oils created to channel divine transmission into physical reality. 

Traditionally, anointing oils were made by macerating whole plant material into pressed oils—the spikenard in olive oil of the Bible and myrrh infused in safflower of ancient Egypt are just a few well-known examples.

Today, fragrant essential oils join the ingredient list, inviting rare and precious botanicals from throughout the world into our sacred oil repertoire. 

Anointing oils open our connection to both spiritual wisdom and divine healing. Perhaps this is because oils infused with botanicals are not only fragrant—they are medicinal. 

Every plant carries both physical and energetic gifts, and a true alchemist knows how to harmonize these layered intricacies, creating sacred oils that provoke divine bliss, carry unique vibrational signatures, and contain chemical properties that promote healing on all levels. —Juniper Stokes

A note of caution: Many anointing oils sold today contain synthetic fragrances. This is partly because these ingredients are much cheaper than true plant oils, and partly because there are many suppliers who sell fraudulent oils to well-intentioned makers. These oils do not carry the vibrational gifts and resonance of true, botanical anointing oils. Check out my free guide to avoiding fakes here.

The History of Anointing with Oil

From the beginning of time, in every culture and on every continent, humans have used fragrance to connect with the divine—and the use of sacred anointing oils has been one of the most important expressions of our aromatic practices.

By turning to the past, we discover the ancestral connections with plants held in our bodies and souls. And by living in the present, we can discover profound ways to create and make use of sacred oils today.

Ancient Egypt

The ancient Egyptians held that the world was created from the fragrance of the blue lotus, and scent was an integral part of all Egyptian life.

Precious oils were used to anoint and activate statues of the gods. Other blends—including the famous Kyphi—were used as both personal perfumes and as medicine. 

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Egyptologist Dora Goldsmith (a PhD candidate and one of my personal teachers in this area), notes how inscriptions on temple walls point to the ritual and intention that went into creating anointing oils and unguents. While some perfumes and oils were made for daily use, others had very strict ritual instructions: These precious oils and perfumes could only be made by priests and priestesses—surrogates for royalty—and precise ingredients, steps, timelines, and even incantations were required during their creation.

(After studying with Dora for over a year—and reading over a dozen books on the fragrances and rituals of ancient Egypt—I have much more to share on this topic. Be sure to subscribe to stay in the loop!)

Vaso alchemico, unknown artist

It’s also likely that our modern practices of anointing royalty (yes, in England a new monarch is anointed in a private ceremony, with a secret blend of oils, to this day) began in ancient Egypt as well. In her groundbreaking work, Egypt’s Anointing Mysteries, Egyptologist Dr. Alison Roberts explores rituals in which the queen would take on goddess-like powers and attributes in order to empower the king through anointing practices.*

*As an aside, in Celtic traditions, kings would receive their power from a sovereignty goddess—without her blessing, he could not be sovereign of the land. A theme to be explored in further articles… ;) 

The fragrant traditions of Egypt spread throughout Europe and the Middle East, where they were influenced by expanding trade routes and changing cultures. From Greek Olympians empowering themselves with olive oil and Hippocrates’s instructions to anoint the sick with oil, to the Arabic healing traditions of Avicenna and Hebrew consecrations of priests and kings, to the Biblical anointing practices still used in churches today and much more, Western antiquity was bathed in fragrant oils. 

Myrrophores

Myrrophores, or “myrrh-bearers” were sacred priestesses who would channel the celestial power of the divine through sacred oils for soul-level healing—a tradition that likely originated in ancient Egypt and spread throughout the Greco-Roman empire, as well. 

Perhaps one of the most well-known acts of anointing in the West is when Mary Magdalene anointed Jesus’s feet with the oil of nard (spikenard). Here, as much as patriarchal retellings have tried to erase Mary Magdalene’s healing gifts, they have not been able to fully obscure the power of her anointing practice or her connection to the myrrhophores. 

Some mystical scholars even suggest that her transmission of prayer and protection, carried forth through sacred oil, empowered the resurrection that followed.

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How do anointing oils work?

Anointing oils work by transmitting divine empowerments into our physical reality.

This happens through the ingredients used, the approach to creating the oil, the art of transmission, and the rituals involved when using the oil.  

Plants have been our allies, teachers, healers, and guides since the dawn of humanity, and every plant used in an anointing oil carries a unique set of empowerment codes that synergistically act to empower the oil. 

When these plants are alchemized in sacred ceremony, they harmonize with the intentions of the alchemist to create a powerful unguent. 

When we place these oils on our body, or anywhere in our fields, we receive the oil’s alchemical codes and ignite our own transformation. 

Shamanic Transmission in Anointing Practices: The Key to Potency

The most powerful oils contain a transmission that they pass onto the anointed. 

When I create either an anointing oil or a botanical perfume, I always include a transmission ceremony for the finished product. My process is rooted in shamanic practice, though certainly not limited to those who identify with shamanism. 

After setting sacred space and preparing my mind, body, and spirit for the work, I enter into a mediumship state. If I’m channeling a particular deity, I invite them to merge with me. If I’m working with an intention, I call forth that energy to be present. Then, I pour the energetic signature of the being or intention involved directly into the final bottle. 

This way, not only does each bottle of perfume or oil contain the vibrational signatures of every botanical involved, it contains a direct healing transmission from spirit. This transmission is then activated with every use. Even if all you have time for is quick application on your wrist, the blessings will flow.

How to Use Anointing Oils

Throughout history, anointing was used for both healing and spiritual purposes—and as mentioned before, the two were often one and the same. 

Traditional aromatic rituals include:

• Awakening and honoring the gods: The anointing of deities’ statues to awaken and empower the gods was a common practice in Egypt and likely used in ancient Greece, as well.

• Blessings: Blessing visitors and guests with sacred oils was a common Hebrew practice in antiquity, and to this day babies might be anointed with sacred oils for blessing and protection at birth.

• Anointing the sick: Throughout the world, anointing the sick was a common practice. In Greece and the Arabic world, oils were infused with medicinal plants. In Christianity, priests would anoint the sick in what is known as an unction. 

• Consecration: Kings and priests were anointed by sacred oils, usually by priests standing in for God to symbolize the divine rights of the anointed. 

• Exorcism: The Oil of Catechumens, aka the Oil of Exorcism, is used by some churches to expel evil during baptisms—but the Christian church isn’t the only group to use oils for exorcism. In Taoist anointing traditions, oils are placed on key acupuncture points to expel ghosts and possessions.

Modern Anointing Practices

Today, magical practices and new spiritual practices have reinvigorated the use of anointing oils—and who can use them. 

I believe that it is our birthright to access the magical, spiritual, and healing gifts of sacred anointing oils. A few of my favorite ways to use oils include…

• Spiritual & Energy Healing—We can use the subtle vibrations of oils to shift our own energetic health.

• Taoist Anointing Practices—Apprenticing with a rare master in the Jade Purity tradition has opened my eyes to the magic that happens when we apply oils to specific meridians.

• Empowering Objects—Rubbing an oil on a sacred object imbues it with spiritual power. (Crystals love anointing oils!)

• Rituals and ceremonies—Anointing oils can enhance rituals and ceremonies of all types, including blessings, transitions, seasonal celebrations, and other intentions.  

• Connecting with the Divine—Whether you want to align with the energy of a specific deity, connect with the angels, or simply open yourself to spiritual wisdom, anointing oils can support you.

• Chakras—Blessing each energy can bring about balance and health.

• Spellwork and Manifestation—Whatever your intentions, be they prosperity, health, protection, or love, magical anointing oils can help.

A Personal Anointing Ritual

While anointing oils can be used in infinitely complex rituals, they can also be used for simple daily empowerment.

Here’s a short practice for anytime you want to connect with an intention or deity:

• Upon receiving your oil (spiritual perfumes will also work here), hold it to your heart and visualize your intention. See your intention flowing from you into the bottle and from the bottle into you. This will activate your personal connection with the oil.

• Next, inhale the oil’s fragrance deeply and several times. You can inhale directly from the bottle, or you can apply a bit to your wrist first. This activates your neural response to the oil, so you’ll more easily remember your intention every time you smell it in the future. 

• Then, apply the oil to your body on a daily basis for 30 days. Depending on your intention, you may rub a few drops into your heart or third eye. Or, you might simply wear a bit on your wrists as a perfume you can smell repeatedly until the natural fragrance fades. Either way, focus on your intention while you apply the oil.

Common Questions: How to Distinguish Anointing Oils from other Aromatic Practices

What’s the difference between an anointing oil and other botanical oils? 

The main difference lies in the intention with which the oil was created. Anointing oils must be created through ritual. This involves setting sacred space, blessing your materials, and infusing the resulting oil with a transmission of your intention. Some oils are made following specific instructions and recipes, while others are created by allowing the divine to work through you intuitively.

Are anointing oils the same as aromatherapy?

Anointing oils can fall within the realm of aromatherapy, but they don’t always do so.

There are two main approaches to modern aromatherapy: clinical aromatherapy, and subtle aromatherapy.* 

Subtle aromatherapy blends are based on the energetic and spiritual qualities of oils, and anointing oils certainly fall in this category. 

Clinical aromatherapy relies on the psycho-emotional and physical effects of oils. While anointing oils may certainly have psycho-emotional and physical effects, their primary purpose is spiritual in nature. So, your typical aromatherapy blends for stress relief or headaches probably aren’t anointing oils. 

*As a note, I feel that the best aromatherapy products integrate both subtle and clinical dimensions into their formulas.

What’s the difference between anointing oils and perfumes?

Broadly speaking, the word perfume can refer to anything used for aromatic purposes—incense, aromatic waters, oils, and unguents of all types all fall under this fragrant umbrella. 

Today, the word perfume most often refers to scents worn for pleasure, while the term anointing oil refers to sacred oils used for ritual and spiritual purposes.

However, I think it’s worth noting that throughout most of human history, fragrance, medicine, and spiritual practice were one and the same. 

In ancient Greece, the single word arómata was used to describe incense, perfume, spices, and aromatic medicine, showing us how little differentiation was given to aroma for pleasure, spirit, and health. Interestingly, the unguentarii, those who sold perfumes, were held in the same esteem as doctors.  

Are anointing oils the same as ritual oils? 

The way I create and use them, yes. 

Some folks will likely disagree here—especially if you’re focused on Christian anointing traditions or have specific guidelines around your magical practice. For me, anointing is sacred and it is magical, so I use the terms interchangeably.

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If you’re ready to receive powerful light codes for healing and spiritual connection, be sure to explore my alchemical collection of pure, botanical anointing oils. 

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• 8 Tips for Buying High Quality Essential Oils

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• How I Make Natural Perfumes: Art, Aroma, and Alchemy in a Bottle

• The Venusian Mysteries: Awakening the Sacred Feminine

• The Mystical and Magical Emergence of Angel Oils

Here’s What You Need to Know about Buying Natural Perfumes and Essential Oils (aka how to avoid the frauds!)

Those of us who love natural aromas and essential oils do so because we know they are gifts from nature. 

Every single plant on our earth carries both chemical and energetic signatures. When our own physical and energetic bodies receive the gifts of these plants, true healing and transformation can take place on every level of our being.

The same cannot be said for synthetic fragrances. 

Not only do lab-created fragrances lack the vital life force and energetic resonance of true plant materials, they’re often harmful to our health and planet.

Unfortunately, the world of aromatics is fraught with artificial and adulterated oils that are sold as “pure” and “natural”. 

Why? Because of the cost. True natural plant material is simply more expensive than synthetic ingredients across the board. 

While I hope that someday we stop prioritizing greed over life, as a collective, we’re just not there yet. 

So how can you protect yourself? How can you make sure that the oils and products you’re purchasing are truly natural?

I’ll be honest. I’ve learned to be very discerning with my ingredients the hard way…

Yes, despite my years of training and research I’ve been fooled—I’ve probably lost thousands of dollars to fraudulent suppliers and ignorant resellers over the years. 

But I’ve learned some key lessons along the way. The following are my top tips for navigating the wild world of natural fragrances.

1. If the price of an essential oil is too good to be true…it probably is. 

This is probably the number one easiest and most important thing to look for. True plant material will always be more expensive than its synthetic counterparts. 

Pro tip: There tend to be average price ranges for most essential oils. If in doubt, compare several companies’ pricing. Let’s look at a few examples…

How much does lavender essential oil cost?

Lavender essential oil tends to be one of the most affordable and available essential oils. 

Based on a few of my trusted companies, one ounce of lavender EO tends to cost between $17 and $50—country of origin, variety, and organic certification affect the price. 

The lavender EO from a popular oil supplier known to be fraudulent costs $30 for nine ounces!!! No, no, no.

How much does rose essential oil cost?

Along with lavender, rose essential oil is extremely popular—but it tends to be quite expensive. While true rose essential oil is available (and totally divine), the absolute* of rose is what most people purchase. 

From my trusted companies, one ounce of rose absolute from Bulgaria (generally the most affordable rose) costs between $150 and $300 ($200 is the most common pricing). 

Guess how much 1.69oz of Bulgarian rose absolute it from the popular fraudulent company? $36. Again, no, no, no.

(*Absolutes are extracted differently than true essential oils, though within the field of aromatherapy, the term “essential oil” is used as an umbrella to refer to all types of extractions.)

True plant extractions are expensive. And they’re worth it. Do your research and don’t become a sucker for a good price. 

2. The same pricing rules go for “natural” perfumes, oils, sprays, candles, and fragrances of all kinds, as well.

Why is it that some natural perfumers sell a 30ml perfume for $20, and some for $300? Why is it that you can find natural perfume oils on Etsy for as low as $6 and as high as the sky?

Of course, many factors play into how a maker prices their products—experience, artistry, complexity, quality and variety of ingredients, time spent, market recognition, and much more. 

But at a certain point, there is no way someone can be charging so little for a fragrance without using synthetics.  

And here’s the tricky part…these makers usually aren’t intentionally being fraudulent. Instead, they’ve likely been fooled themselves and have sourced impossibly cheap ingredients. Or, they’re using a somewhat “expanded” definition of natural fragrance (more on that below).

If you want to protect yourself from synthetic aromas, trust your intuition and apply everything you learn in this article when making any purchase.

3. If a company sells both synthetics (aka “fragrance” oils) and essential oils, be very wary. 

I’ve yet to find a company that sells both synthetic fragrances and good quality essential oils. And sadly, I’ve tried quite a few over the years. Maybe one exists, but in general, I take this as a major warning sign. (Not to mention, I personally don’t want to support the artificial fragrance industry.)

4. Watch out for fragrant flowers.

Rare and precious flowers delight our senses and form the heart of most natural perfumes. And, they’re very expensive. And, actually extracting essential oils (including absolutes and CO2s) is nearly impossible for many precious scents. 

True rose, jasmine, ylang ylang, boronia, orange blossom, geranium, osthmanthus, tuberose, jonquil, lotus, chrysanthemum, and frangipani are a few florals that are perfectly possible to obtain naturally (though some will cost you well over $1000/oz). 

Listed as ingredients, the following flowers are almost* always synthetic: lily of the valley, gardenia, lilac, daphne, any lily, honeysuckle, freesia, and hyacinth, to name a few. Anything described as “white florals” tends to point to synthetics, as well. 

*The exceptions being labor-intensive enfleurage and tinctures—but you’ll pretty much never find these in commercially produced fragrances.

Any lily fragrance is most likely synthetic.

No natural honeysuckle essential oil exists.

5. Learn to identify the common synthetic descriptors.

While creative combinations of natural oils can produce a wide range of aromas, there are a few descriptors that are most often found with synthetics.

Two main categories to watch out for are one, anything described as “oceanic” or “aquatic”, and two, most fruity and food aromas. 

This tip is definitely more of a general guideline than a rule. A talented alchemist can create marine notes, fun fruits, and sugary sweetness using naturals. I certainly do, and I even use these descriptors. 

Overall though, these fragrance families are commonly synthetic. With oceanic and aquatic fragrances, this is because these descriptors were used to describe the aldehyde-based fragrances that became popular in the 1990s.

As for the foods, the frequency of synthetics is partly because there simply aren’t natural oils that smell like fresh peaches or plums, and partly because even food flavorings found in essential oils are often synthetic for cost reasons. Cinnamon and vanilla are a few of the most commonly adulterated essential oils (scientists are even piloting a vanilla flavoring made from plastic). 

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6. Beware of “clean fragrance” and natural isolates

“Clean” Perfume Houses

With growing awareness of the harmful effects of synthetic fragrances, many perfume houses market their perfumes as “clean”. These companies have a lovely list of EWG-approved ingredients, as well as a promise to be free from cruelty, phthalates, and all sorts of other known carcinogens. 

This might be exactly what you’re looking for—in which case, shop away! 

Just be aware that clean does not mean natural. These companies use what are called “safe synthetics” in their perfumes. So, if you’re looking for truly natural perfume and all the benefits it offers, be sure to look beyond greenwashing. 

Natural Perfume Brands

Many perfumers call themselves “natural perfumers” because they know this is what people are looking for. These perfumers will use mostly natural perfume ingredients, but they rely on synthetics to make their perfumes. If you’re avoiding synthetics for any reason—especially health ones—this defeats the purpose. When in doubt, reach out to the perfumer and ask nicely, but very directly.

Isolates?

If you read the natural perfume ingredient lists of the most popular perfume brands today, you’ll often find words like cedrat, benzaldehyde, and alpha-isomethyl ionone. 

Wait—you might as yourself-–how can something natural sound like it comes from a laboratory?

Because it does. Isolates are molecular extractions from plant origin, and the Natural Perfumers Guild includes them in its list of acceptable natural ingredients. 

Since these chemical components come from plants, you might feel totally fine with using them. They certainly expand the perfumer’s palette! 

Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing how these isolates were extracted (i.e. what process or chemicals were used), or what plant material they originated from. GMO origin is extremely common here, as well.

I personally do not use isolates, as I blend energetically as well as fragrantly. This means that bringing the whole, energetic presence of a plant into my blends is just as important as how it smells. Isolates contain none of the life force and spiritual blueprints for healing that whole plant materials do.

7. Parfum, perfume, and fragrance: A tip for purchasing natural products.

As with many of the words in this list, these terms are used for both synthetic and natural fragrances, meaning that there are no hard and fast rules here. However, if you see any of these terms on a natural product—think shampoos, body lotions, candles, etc—there is a 99.9% chance that synthetics are involved. 

(FYI, I’ve found “Clean at Sephora” to be one of the worst offenders here. Bath and Bodyworks aromatherapy products might have some essential oils, but they most definitely have synthetics, as well.)

8. Be careful when sourcing from various countries. 

First, there are plenty of unscrupulous companies in the US, where I live, as well as throughout the world. And, my worst experiences personally have been from when I tried to buy oils directly from suppliers in India and Egypt. 

While I don’t like calling out specific countries or companies publicly, I’ve seen enough harm that I feel the need to specifically address these two places in particular. 

First, India is home to many of the world’s most precious raw aromatics. Beautiful oils and true natural perfumes come out of India and I’m eternally grateful for all the amazing pure oils I have sourced from this country. 

India is also home to a disproportionate number of online oil suppliers that sell blatantly synthetic oils as pure and natural. Too often, I see people think that costs are lower because they’re buying directly from the supplier. 

This isn’t true. First, the prices are far too low even for a direct supply (yet just high enough to make you sorry if you buy too much…speaking from experience). Second, any experienced nose will be able to tell how fraudulent these oils are from a mile away. 

Next, Egypt. I’ve seen many magical makers of anointing oil claiming to source their oils directly from Egypt. Maybe they have a good connection there…but I have my doubts. 

I remember visiting perfumeries and oil houses during my own travels to Egypt. Time and again, I sat down to smell all these wonderful pure, natural oils. And time and again, my nose was disappointed. 

Sure, if you like synthetic aromas (and many people do—our noses are trained to at this point), you’ll like what you smell. But these oils are not natural. While some, especially the florals, do smell close to the natural versions, any trained nose will pick up on far too many synthetic aromas in the mix. 

So please, just be careful if you’re either sourcing directly from these countries or purchasing sacred oils from someone who claims to have gotten their oils from these locations.

9. Trust your nose.

Finally, trust your nose. 

This is easier said than done for most folks. Modern life is filled with so many synthetic aromas and fragrances that most people have lost touch with what “natural” really smells like. But you can learn. The more you smell natural fragrances, the more you’ll be able to identify their synthetic counterparts. 

Making the Shift to Natural Perfumes

If you’re worried that letting go of synthetics will leave you smelling like a patchouli-drenched hippie—think again. (Although, I do love a patchouli-drenched hippy myself.)

Elevated natural perfumes and anointing oils are far more than the aromatherapy blends you might be imagining. Give true natural fragrance a try and see what you think ;)

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You might also like:

• Severed from Scent

• Flower Essences 101: How to Partner with Plants for Whole-Self Healing

• 8 Tips for Buying High Quality Essential Oils

• A Complete Guide to Magical & Ritual Anointing Oils

• The Magic and Medicine of the Rose

• A Guide to Perfume Types

• Ritual Beauty: A Sacred Skincare Routine

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Which Should I Choose? Sprays, Oils, and Solid Perfumes

In natural perfumery, you'll find three main types of perfumes: sprays, oils, and solids. All are wonderful, but each will give you a slightly different experience.

Perfume Sprays

Unless otherwise mentioned, most perfume sprays come in EDP (eau de parfum) strength, which is about 15-20% aromatics. This is true of Alchemessence perfumes, which contain a base of 100% pure organic alcohol.

Perfume sprays allow you to enjoy an all-over aroma--you can spray your hair, your clothes, a scarf, an undergarment...sprays are incredibly versatile.

Sprays also tend to be a bit lighter and slightly more fleeting in scent than oil and solid perfumes.

Perhaps the main advantage of perfume sprays is that they have a long-lasting shelf life. The pure alcohol preserves these perfumes almost indefinitely.

Perfume Oils

Perfume oils are typically made at a slightly higher concentration that sprays, and their cost usually reflects this. It's not uncommon for an oil to be a pure perfume extrait, which can contain from 25% aromatics all the way up to 40%!

These sensual, strong oils meld deeply into your own body chemistry, creating a fragrance that truly is a bit different on everyone.

The only real drawback to oils is that they'll have a shorter shelf life than sprays. Oils naturally degrade overtime, so these are best used within a year or two of purchase.

Perfume Solids

Perfume solids typically contain oils and waxes. Beeswax is traditional, though there are vegan alternatives available.

These perfumes are quite similar to perfume oils: they're usually perfume extraits, they seep into your skin and alchemize with your body chemistry, and they're best used within a two to four years of purchase, depending on how you store them.

As solids, these perfumes are portable and easy to use on the go.

Which kind of perfumes are your favorites? Let me know in the comments!

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How I Make Natural Perfumes: Art, Aroma, and Alchemy in a Bottle

Each Alchemessence™ perfume is art, aroma, and alchemy in a bottle. They contain magical essences, transmission of spirit, and masterfully composed symphonies of fragrance. 

My formal training (and lifelong practice) in perfumery, aromatherapy, energy medicine, and shamanism provides a foundation for perfumes that not only delight the senses but act as catalysts for healing and awakening. 

These perfumes are primarily dedicated to deities, animals, and plant spirits. Before I begin, I journey to the spirit of the being I’m working with for guidance—sometimes this will come in the form of specific ingredients, and other times it will be more general aroma notes. I’m highly clairolfactory (psychic through smell), so I will also smell the perfume in my journey before it exists in ordinary reality. 

My collection of over 400 different botanical essences includes essential oils, absolutes, CO2s, floral waxes, resins, and handcrafted tinctures and infused oils. Unlike many natural perfumers, I do not use any isolates or animal ingredients (with the few exceptions of burnt seashell essence, honey absolute, and beeswax) in my perfumes. 

I select ingredients for each perfume based on several factors, including… 

The Journey—what the deity specifically requested:

• Aphrodite wanted her perfume’s ingredients to come only from the place of her birth—and the birth of perfume—Cyprus

• Magpie insisted on juniper berry and jasmine (which I have since learned is a powerful and common combo in Toaist aromatherapy)

• Horse requested fresh hay or course, which I complemented with fields of lavender

Geography—essences to honor the primary location of a deity:

• Kuan Yin has notes of green tea and ginger

• Pele is honored with rare frangipani absolute

• White Buffalo Calf Woman contains true white sagebrush

Symbolism—symbolic plants and essences associated with each deity:

• Diana, also known as Artemis, contains the artemisia that is her namesake

• Freya contains true fossilized amber, her favorite stone

• Oshun is blessed with honey absolute for the honeypot she wears 

Energetic Qualities—the way an essence’s energetic properties support the gifts of the deity:

• Persephone contains cypress, which helps with transitioning between life and death, just as she so gracefully moves between Hades and Earth

• Many moon goddesses contain a touch of clary sage, which enhances women’s natural cycles

Aroma—what truly makes each blend a perfume in the purest sense:

• I carefully balance base, middle, and top notes, adding accents and fixatives so each perfume reveals surprises as it unfolds and lasts 

• I match the perfume family requested by each deity as well, be it floral, spicy, chypre, or woody, among others

All of these factors come together to create rare, alchemical botanical perfumes.

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A Guide to Natural Perfume Fragrance Families

Chypre…Fougère…Aromatic…the olfactory families of fragrance may sound somewhat exotic at first, but dive in and they become welcome allies on the path to perfume creation and selection.

Fragrance families are scent classifications used in perfumery, and each family has its signature ingredients and overall aroma. In this article, we’ll cover the main classifications of fragrances—though to be fair, there are several different versions of fragrance categories out there and no one seems to agree on a definitive version.

A Brief History of Fragrance Families

At the turn of the 20th century, when most perfumes were still made with pure botanical ingredients (though synthetics had been introduced with Guerlain’s Jicky), there were seven main families: single floral, floral bouquet, oriental, woody, chypre, fougère, and leather. 

In general, these pure botanical perfumes contained resins, woods, flowers, spice, and citrus notes—we’ll go into more detail below.

Modern chemistry and access to new aromatics led to what we might think of as more green, fresh and aquatic notes in perfumes, primarily created through synthetic aldehydes. In the mid 1900s, new fragrance families emerged on the scene as a result:

• Bright floral—combined the single and bouquet floral families

• Citrus—citrus doesn’t last long on its own, so synthetics made this family have staying power

• Green—like a bright, fresh chypre

• Gourmand—edible notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and fruits

• Ozone/Aquatic—this actually didn’t come around until the 90s…think clean and unisex

In 1983, popular perfume consultant Micheal Edwards decided to simplify the traditional and growing perfume families into a perfume wheel. The wheel has four main families and their sub-families around its circumference—woody, floral, oriental, and fresh. 

In recent years, there’s been a movement to rename the traditional “oriental” family to “amber” or “ambrée”—as it’s become clear the former term is outdated and can be offensive. The updated Micheal Edwards perfume wheel reflects this:

Given the varied and changing history of fragrance families, it comes as no surprise that modern perfumery resources all use slightly different terms and organizations.

In general, several families appear regularly: fresh, floral, floriental, ambrée, fougère, woody, chypre, fruity, aromatic, citrus, green, aquatic, leather, and gourmand. 

The Perfume Society has a fun interactive site that features eight of these families, each clickable to continue exploring subfamilies.

An important note on synthetic vs. natural fragrances:

Unless specified otherwise, most modern perfumes contain synthetic ingredients. Even “natural” perfumes commonly contain isolates, which are somewhat controversial in the world of natural perfumery.

For those switching to pure botanical perfumes, a few popular families will be off the table—perfumes considered aquatic/ozone, fresh, or green are almost always dominated by synthetic aldehydes, so these family classifications just aren’t useful in natural perfumery.

Botanical/Natural Perfume Classifications

Given the history of fragrance and the ingredients available, I use nine main families in my own perfume classifications. No guarantees these won’t continue to evolve, but for now, they wonderfully describe the main classifications of natural perfumes available:

Chypre Perfumes

One of my personal favorites, chypre (pronounced shee-pra) is named for Cyprus, the island of Aphrodite’s birth and home to the world’s oldest large-scale perfumery. The name in perfumery comes from François Coty’s 1917 perfume Chypre, which had notes of bergamot and citrus on top, a full floral middle with jasmine and rose, and an earthy base of oakmoss, patchouli, incense, musk, and styrax. 

Chypre perfumes are characterized by a mossy accord of bergamot, oakmoss, patchouli, and labdanum. Some may be more floral, with strong notes of jasmine or ylang ylang, while others might be more citrusy, woody, or herbaceous. Both traditionally masculine and feminine fragrances have fallen in the chypre category.

Fougère Perfumes

A fougère is what is known as a fantasy scent, originating with Fougère Royale from Houbigant in 1882. Named for the French word for fern, these perfumes tend to have green and aromatic notes. 

Lavender, geranium, vetiver, bergamot, oakmoss, and coumarin are commonly found in these perfumes, and while they were created for women, today masculine perfumes are dominated by the fougère family.

Floral Perfumes

The name speaks for itself with these perfumes—fragrant jasmine, carnation, rose, orange blossom, ylang ylang, magnolia, and more take the center in a floral perfume. While many beloved flowers simply aren’t available as naturals except through the laborious process of enfleurage (lily of the valley, helitrop, and lilac for example), many precious flowers are found naturally—they just cost a pretty penny ($1000 USD per ounce is not uncommon!). Lotus, narcissus, boronia, osmanthus, jonquille, cassie, broom, kewda, frangipani, champaca, and tuberose fall into this realm.

Within the many floral sub-families, two are worth mentioning here: soliflore, or single note perfumes that focus on celebrating and enhancing a single flower, and floral bouquets, which present well-balanced floral arrangements that make it difficult to single out any one flower among the many, 

Today, floral fragrances are most popular among women, though in cultures throughout the world this isn’t necessarily the case—you’ll find kewda and rose among other florals throughout men’s fragrances in India and the Middle East!

Ambrée Perfumes

Also called amber—the post-oriental name is still settling in—these fragrances are characterized by rich, resins, vanilla, musk, and occasional spice. In perfumery, “amber” doesn’t refer to the stone but to ambergris, the precious and strangely fragrant bile of whales. 

Today, ambrée perfumes tend to be rich, long-lasting, and have an exotic flavor about them. At least half of the botanical perfumes I’ve designed have been ambrée, as they smell divine and last forever, even as all-natural creations. 

Sandalwood, coumarin, orris, vanilla, labdanum, and resins give ambrée perfume its signature notes, and the floral amber sub-family is one of the most rapidly growing fragrance families today. I’m not surprised, as the synergy of exotic florals, precious woods, and rich ambery notes truly nourishes the soul.

Aromatic Perfumes

The aromatic family is characterized by herbaceous notes—rosemary, basil, and tarragon are popular here. Though mainly found in men’s fragrances, I find aromatics work beautifully to create green and fresh notes in natural perfumes. Fresh florals like lavender and geranium, along with citruses, often overlay aromatic perfumes. Traditional colognes would found in this family.

Citrus Perfumes

While citrus notes are found in nearly all perfumes, pure citrus fragrances are light and bright. In mainstream citrus perfumes the tenacity will come from synthetics, but citrus scents in botanical and natural perfumes are perfectly possible. Some citrus perfumes will be lighter and a bit more fleeting, while sub-families like floral citrus, spicy citrus, and woody citrus will delight the wearer as citrus top notes give way to various lasting undertones.

A wide variety of citruses can be found in the citrus family. Bergamot and bitter orange are probably the most common, but yuzu, lime, mandarine, sweet orange, lemon, grapefruit, citron, and cedrat can all be found. I have blood orange, tangerine, mandarine, and kumquat in my collection, and use other lemony plants for citrus notes, such as lemongrass, lemon myrtle, and lemon verbena.

As a note, you may find the citrus family also referred to as the “hesperides” family. Legend has it that the Hesperis were three Greek nymphs who watched over “golden apples”—citrus fruits–giving immortality to any who tasted them.

Woody Perfumes

As with florals, the woody family name speaks for itself. Precious woods such as oud and sandalwood, dry notes like cedar and juniper, and woody herbs like patchouli and vetiver can be found in just about all woody perfumes. Some are warm and spicy with sweet resins, while others can be more aromatic, citrusy, and crisp. 

My personal favorite woody perfume is Daikoku—with notes of buddhawood, sandalwood, and Japanese cedar and cypress, it smells like Japanese mountain temples laced with fragrant incense.

Leather Perfumes

Leather became a fragrance family thanks to the many aromas tanners would use to disguise the off-putting scents created during their processes (think ammonia, yuck). The smoke, resins, and woods used to mask the leather tanning process ended up mixing with the leather itself, creating a much-desired fragrance that spread to the world of perfumery. 

Over time, this family has evolved to include many traditionally masculine notes—tobacco, cognac, smoke, woods, tar, and resins are common, with the leather notes being either forefront or nearly undetectable. In natural perfumery, which uses animal products, the leather notes might not be cruelty free. In botanical perfumery, however, there are many great alternatives—styrax, birch tar, and choya nakh are a few options.

Gourmand Perfumes

Relatively new on the perfume scene are the gourmands—those perfumes with a somewhat edible flavor profile, typically warm and spicy. The vast majority of gourmand perfumes contain synthetic ingredients and dessert-like scents—caramel, cotton candy, toffee, and bubblegum to name a few. 

However the world of botanical perfumery has plenty to offer here if you’re willing to splurge on the pure, natural versions—chocolate, coffee, cognac, almond, vanilla, and even spices and amber notes can create lovely gourmand perfumes. 

Within all the perfume families above, subfamilies are used to further delineate each perfume’s aroma. Here are a few of the terms you’ll see attached to each family:    

• Spicy—coriander, cinnamon, clove, pepper and more 

• Fruity—may contain citrus, berry, or other sweet notes

• Soft—typically contains a powdery, musky element

• Musky—similar to soft but heavier on the musk

• Green—fresh herbs, bright florals

• Fresh—similar to green, may also have more citrus

• Aquatic—typically synthetic aldehydes, in natural perfumery can signify more animalic, seaweed-based notes

What do you think? Which aromas are your favorites? Let me know in the comments!

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The Venusian Mysteries: Awakening the Sacred Feminine

I awoke before dawn, set the kettle for tea, and gazed out my windows into the still dark sky, just a soft glow on the horizon suggested the light was returning. 

As I peered between the giant evergreen bows that reach across my yard, I was greeted by the most beautiful sight—Venus. Rising in her morning star phase, Venus lit up like a beacon in the lapiz sky, calling my soul to recognize her presence.

my morning view of Venus

Venus is a planet but also a celestial deity, and her gifts for humanity lie in helping us come into cosmic balance with the sacred feminine qualities of beauty, love, relationships, sensuality, and pleasure. 

Venus is a planet of beauty—symbolically and literally. Her presence shines brightest from our vantage upon the earth, and her trajectory creates a magnificent, symmetrical pattern.

The only planet named for a female deity, Venus is a loving and bright ally in restoring the sacred feminine to cosmic balance.

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Restoring the Feminine to Cosmic Balance with Beauty and Astrology

Anyone who’s gazed at Venus in her bright morning star phase can understand why the ancients associated this planet with beauty. I wonder if they also knew her trajectory through our skies is the most symmetrical of all the planets: Over an 8-year period, Venus makes 13 orbits around the sun and has 5 conjunctions with the earth. Visually, this creates a beautiful mandala based on the golden ratio—a pentagram of petals—which you can see in the image below. 

The 13 orbits that bring Venus back to her place of origin in our skies tie this planet to the feminine—13 has long been associated with women because of how we cycle and bleed with the 13 moons of the year. 

Even the symbol for the planet Venus is the same as that which commonly represents the feminine—a circle sitting upon a cross: ♀ If we see the circle as the infinite cycle and wholeness, and the cross as representing the four elements and four directions—that which makes our material reality—we can see this symbol as also calling forth the intersection of spirit and earth. 

In this symbol, we can see how Venus helps us bring spirit into manifest form—just as women bring spirit into form through the birthing process.

In astrology, Venus rules both Taurus and its home, the 2nd house, along with Libra and its home, the 7th house. Together, these elements celebrate the many qualities of Venus — the earthy, sensuality of Taurus, the values and emotions and sexiness of the 2nd house, the high culture and beauty of Libra, and the love and partnership of the 7th house.

Here, not only are the sacred qualities of the feminine celebrated, but they once again symbolize the harmonization of earth and spirit. Anytime we’re able to ground into the beauty of nature and the present moment, we experience Venusian blessings.

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The Venusian Deities

Though Venus is represented through a few male deities in different cultures (see below!), the vast majority of Venusian deities are female, especially within the cultures that have most influenced my own Western heritage.  

The Greek goddess Aphrodite is perhaps the most well-known Venusian deity for many of us, as she even carried the name Venus to the Romans. Yet if we trace the evolution of Aphrodite through time, we find that she may well have been born from earlier goddesses—Isis, or Auset, in Egypt, and Inanna, also known as Ishtar and Astarte, in Sumeria. All three goddesses carry the mantle of being Venusian goddesses of the ancient world.

Psst: You can get a free booklet filled with rituals to connect with Isis and other Egyptian deities here.

In the Norse worlds, we see both Freya and Frigg associated with Venus. Both goddesses embody qualities of love, romance, fertility, and sacred sexuality, though Freya is more independent in her expression and Frigg, as the wife of Odin, is more matrimonial (many sources also conflate the goddesses into one). Interestingly, Friday is named for Frigg, and guess which planet rules Friday? Venus. 

“Freyja and the Necklace” by James Doyle Penrose (1890)

Now, let’s get a bit heretical…Do you know what the Roman word for Venus was? Lucifera. Yup. The very same word co-opted by Christans to describe the devil. Lucifera was used almost as suffix to many goddesses and sacred women’s names—Diana Lucifera most famously, but also Mary Magdalene, who was sometimes referred to as Mary Lucifera. 

Sex & Resurrection

Saint Mary Magdalene by Bernardino Luini

From what we know of Mary Magdalene, it’s likely she was not only a consort of Jesus but also a priestess in her own right. At the time, the art of sacred sexuality was practiced in the temples for communion and healing. And sex, in this sacred sense, is as Venusian as it gets—the sensuality, the romance, and harmony between masculine and feminine, and the fertile outcomes once again bringing spirit into material form. 

And while we’re looking at sacred sexuality in this Venusian context, it’s interesting to note the parallels between Isis bringing Osiris back to life and immediately consummating with him (which led to not only the birth of Horus but brought fertility to the land), and Mary Magdalene being the first to witness the resurrection of Jesus. I wonder if the way in which she anointed him before death, loved him beyond life, and cried tears of power into the earth, contributed to the magic that brought him back to life like Osiris. 

The Path of the Myrrhophore

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As a note on the theme of resurrection, we also see another Venusian goddess Aphrodite bring Adonis back to life through her pleas after he was killed by a wild boar.

It seems the Venusian power so naturally held by women—the power to commune with spirit, enjoy sensual pursuits, and bring life into being through the force of love—was a bit too threatening for the Church…

These tales of resurrection are also reflected in Venus’s orbit, as the planet cycles towards and away from the sun, symbolizing a natural cycle of birth and death.

The tale of the Venusian goddesses Inanna offers us a good reflection of how women can embody this cycle within themselves. Unlike the goddesses who resurrect their lovers to bring fertility to themselves and the land, Inanna is the one resurrected in her tale, modeling the feminine drive to face our shadows and integrate into wholeness. (Interestingly, she is hung on a cross before becomming resurrected…sound familiar?)

The Venusian Masculine

Back to the male Venusian dieties…by far the most well-known masculine Venusian deity in modern days is Quetzalcoatl, a meso-American god. Quetzalcoatl was known as a feathered-serpent deity who brought fertile growth to the land. Again, we see the liminal meeting of spirit and earth in bird and snake, as well as sacred sexuality and fertility. In many ways, Quetzalcoatl offers us a model for how those in men’s bodies can embody the much-needed gifts of Venusian blessings, reminding us that we all have sacred masculine and feminine qualities within.

It’s time to allow Venus to upgrade our hearts.

As a planet that reminds us of the power of love, Venus could not be more important for us to connect with right now. 

I am, like I’m sure many of you are, an empath. 

Being an empath is not only a gift but is also the natural state of all humans, the state we are born into before culture and trauma cuts our hearts away from our innate ways of knowing. 

But being a really strong empath during times of mass hysteria, conflict, and trauma can be rough, even with the knowledge and skills to navigate these times. 

I find the vitriol, judgment, and especially righteousness I see online and in social media pressure cookers to be acutely painful. Just about all news—from left to right and mainstream to alt—has become a web of incendiary propaganda. When I turn into certain locations, I can energetically sense oppressive webs of fear hijacking people’s sovereignty. 

In all of these examples, I think what I find most heartbreaking is that people are being pulled off their path of spiritual evolution and heart-centered living. They are losing touch with what will actually help humanity survive the changes upon us: love and connection, with each other and the earth. 

Venus is a powerful ally in coming back into our hearts and allowing the wisdom of love to lead the way. 

Right now, Venus is in her heliacal rise toward the sun, allowing her divine beauty to be strengthened with solar blessings. Now it’s time to let the light of Venus and the Sun illuminate and strengthen the love within all of us. 

A PRACTICE

If possible, locate Venus in the sky — depending on her movements, dawn or dusk will be the best time.

Anoint your heart center with a sacred oil, preferably one containing rose — one of Venus’s favorite flowers. (The perfumes below are perfect for this practice.)

See the fragrant oil or perfume open a portal into your heart, a protected one that can only be entered by Venus herself.

Inhale, and feel Venusian blessings flow into your heart center.

When this practice feels complete, see the portal in your heart seal safely and give thanks to Venus.

As you go about your day, notice feelings of love and being loved fill your being. Practice seeing the world through a gaze of appreciation and gratitude for the beauty of life. Delight in the sensual experience of being embodied. Remember your true value and worth.

The Sensual Delight of Venusian Perfume

What could be more Venusian than a perfume dedicated to the goddess?

As a triple Libra, Venus is my ruling planet — meaning she’s especially influential in my life. It’s no wonder beauty is my core life code (you can read my artist statement here, just scroll down a bit). While I’ve always been an artist and experiment with many mediums, when I create perfumes I know they come straight from my soul. 

Many of the perfumes I’ve designed are dedicated to Venusian goddesses — so many, in fact, that I’ve decided to offer them all in a single discovery set. 

The Venusians Discovery Set includes six 1ml samples in glass vials, each perfume is all-natural (I’ve studied with the preeminent natural perfumers of today) and infused with the Venusian energy of goddesses from around the world.

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Wildcrafting with Fireweed

Every late July and through August, the mountain meadows are dotted with neon pink blossoms. It's fireweed season.

Both medicinal and edible, fireweed is one of the first plants to come back after wildfires. I've heard that the young shoots can be eaten like asparagus, though I've never tried. I do decorate summer salads with the blossoms, however.

Fireweed is also an excellent tonic for the digestive system and has massive amounts of Vitamin C. When the blossoms are peaking, I like to either tincture or make a vinegar infusion with all the aerial parts to create a natural dose of Vitamin C throughout the year.

Fireweed also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which make it wonderful to infuse in oils for healing salves (I made a limited amount of fireweed oil to use in my newest batch of healing salves this year—be sure to grab them while they’re in stock!)

One of my personal favorite ways to work with fireweed is with fireweed flower essence. The flower essence is one of my favorites for encouraging resilience, energy, and passion.

Fireweed is also a fairly common smoking herb, often used in herbal blends. Personally, I enjoy adding it to my wild smoke bundles for joyful wishes, to help carry our enthusiasm for all we wish to create up to spirit.

Fireweed grows abundantly almost all over North America, so it’s a great flower for foraging. Go out and see if you can find some!

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• Great Northern Bedstraw: A Beloved and Underrated Wild Plant

• The Magic and Medicine of Elephant's Head Flower

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Great Northern Bedstraw: A Beloved and Underrated Wild Plant

One of my favorite fragrances as I hike through the mountains is that of Great Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale). It smells of honey and fresh hay, and was often used as bedding because of of it's sweet scent. Some native tribes would even add it to perfumes.

Though it's not commonly used in modern day herbalism, northern bedstraw has a few important internal uses. It was traditionally made into a tea for intestinal issues and internal bleeding. It's also very mineral rich, so I like to infuse it into wild greens vinegar so I can have a wild nutrient boost throughout the year.

But before you consume―some literature suggests that great northern bedstraw was taken by indigenous people to prevent pregnancy. Though I haven't found much evidence on this, if you're trying to conceive, it's probably best to be safer than sorry!

Externally, great northern bedstraw can be used to soothe a variety of skin conditions—rashes, burns, cuts, eczema, and more. And, its roots make a beautiful red dye!

Energetically, great northern bedstraw helps bring about sweet dreams and deep rest. It can help cultivate feelings of love between partners, as well, and I recommend misting your bed with the flower essence before sleeping…or participating in other bedroom activities ;)

Carefully separating the delicate flowers of great northern bedstraw for perfuming tinctures.

During my most recent foraging adventures, great northern bedstraw gifted me with much medicine to share.

First, I carefully removed the delicate white blossoms from the green stems to make a tincture in organic alcohol. The scent is of fresh hay and delicate florals, a beautiful sweet green note that I can’t wait to share through new perfumes. Combining my own wildcrafted aromas with rare oils from around the world allows to me to create fragrances that you just can’t find anywhere else. They are beautiful and love making them and wearing them.

I also infused the entire areal plant into organic sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is a long-lasting carrier oil with a lovely texture, and infusing it with bedstraw gives the oil the same lovely scent as the tincture―with benefits! The potent nutrients fill this oil with healing benefits for your skin, joints, and muscles, so I’ve included it in this year’s healing salves.

You can also find this year’s harvest of great northern bedstraw in the psychic dreams smoke bundles, as well as in a flower essence.

Have you ever worked with this lovely plant? Send me note and let me know. :)

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Ethical Wildcrafting and Making Mountain Medicine

Every summer, I head to the mountains at about 10,000ft for my annual botanical medicine making retreat. I hike for hours each day, communing with the plants and making wild medicines. This medicine making trip is by far my favorite time of the year, in my favorite place in the world. 

I've been cultivating my relationship with the plants and nature spirits at this sacred spot for nearly a decade now. My understanding of the unique gifts each plant offers, my ability to discern what is actually being offered and what wishes to remain untouched, has grown deep with time and intention. 

There’s something about being at such a high elevation when I collect and commune with these plants. I know it’s silly, as spirit is within and around us always, but I do feel just a bit closer, as if the veils thin with the atmosphere. Plus, the resilience in these high-altitude plants is astounding―to survive the alpine winds and winters and then the scorching summer sun...they have so much to teach us. 

As I've nurtured my relationship with the plant spirits over the years, I've refined the “mountain medicines” I'm able to share, as I call them. This year, I'll be adding new flower essences, teas, smoke bundles, elixirs, healing salves, and maybe a few tinctures to the apothecary, all full of wild botanicals.

All geared up and on the trail for some legit mountain foraging!

In order to gather the plants I work with, I hike for miles and miles everyday. This is in part because the plants I work with are spread throughout various micro-climates. But it’s also to support sustainability: When I make my smoke bundles, I clip only one or two sprigs from each Great Western Sagebrush. When I gather my resins, I take only what falls from a tree easily, so as not to hurt its defenses. Gathering this way might be a slow, laborious process, but it’s an enjoyable one. And the sustainability of the forest always comes first.

As interest in wildcrafting and foraging grows, attention to the sustainability of our wild places becomes ever more important. During my most recent stay in the mountains, I encountered another woman gathering rose petals. I must have come at the end of her harvest, because when I arrived almost no roses were left at all.

Part of me wants to give her the benefit of the doubt―it was the end of a bumper rose season and many hips had formed already, so perhaps there weren't many blossoms left to begin with.

Still…I have an especially protective instinct when it comes to wild roses. When I harvest rose petals, I do so very judiciously. The bees and pollinators need the flowers more than I do, so I want to make sure they have plenty to enjoy during the rose's short season. Plus, roses also turn into rose hips―one of the most important food sources for many animals during the winter months.

This is why when I harvest rose petals, I ask myself, "Could 10 people come to this same spot and harvest the same amount without making a visible dent in the blossoms?" The answer must be yes.

These sacred offerings are true gifts from the spirits of nature and provide us with a deeply wild healing—a healing so many of us could use these days. In a world where we’ve become overly domesticated, it’s critical that we remember to rewild a bit. When we touch into our innate wild natures, we tap into a well of resilience, sovereignty, and inner knowing. 

Preparing a basket of mountain medicine ❤️

Whether or not you have the desire or the ability to escape into the natural world, I hope the wild offerings in my apothecary will bring the healing wisdom of nature to you. Each carries the energetic imprint of the wilderness, an imprint which is passed onto you when you use the products. Plus, wild plants are especially potent healers on the physical level. I really can’t say enough about how much these products have changed my own life. 

As for those roses… 

I have a longstanding love of rose medicine, which you can read about here. But what did I make with the petals I carefully gathered?

Wild rose elixirs! They are my favorites. Sweet and floral, these elixirs open and protect our hearts. To make the elixirs, I use wild rose honey with organic wild rose-infused grape vodka and wild rose flower essence. If you happen to grab one before they sell out, take one dropper full three times a day to bring more love and sweetness into your body and energy field. (Rose elixir is also delicious added to sparkling water!)

A strawberry cupcake? Nope! Wild rose-infused honey in the making :)

And, if this looks like way too many petals for such a small jar of honey…it is! I hike with only a small jar, cover the petals to preserve them, and transfer this to bigger batch of honey when I return home. But it is quite the image :) 

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The Magic and Medicine of Elephant's Head Flower

Elephant's Head, or Pedicularis groenlandica, is one of my favorite mountain friends. I adore the magical little purple flowers and the "elephant trunks" they display. While the beauty of this plant alone is enough to celebrate, its healing gifts bring even more blessings.

The tiny flowers look like elephant trucks!

The Many Benefits of Elephant’s Head Flower

Native to the alpine regions of North America, the Elephants Head flower has a long-standing history of medicinal use. You can tincture the entire areal plant, infuse it in oil for healing salves, or make a tea with just the flowers — a rare delight when I'm on my annual mountain medicine making personal retreat. 

I love elephant’s head because it's so beautifully relaxing for mind, body, and spirit. Its calming and sedative properties have been utilized to alleviate anxiety, nervous tension, and promote restful sleep; while its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties make it a valuable ally for releasing tension from the body and managing pain naturally. (It’s a key ingredient in my Tension Tonic tincture, which I created using organic grape alcohol and only wild mountain plants and those grown in my own organic gardens, all gathered by hand with reverence. There are a few bottles left at the time of this writing.)  

One of my favorite uses for elephant's head is for smoke, and many people add this plant to smoking blends, as did Native tribes. I prefer to add it to my Dreamtime smoke bundles — burned before bed, they clear stagnant energy and welcome a peaceful night’s sleep. It's even said that elephant's head has almost hallucinogenic properties and can enhance lucid dreaming (I’ve added some to my magical Blue Moon Lucid Dreams tea if you want to try any!).

Elephant's head has so many uses that I'd love to harvest heaps of it. But I don't, and neither should you if you come across any. While it's not a threatened or endangered plant, it's not overly abundant either. And, elephant's head can draw poisonous components from other nearby plants into its roots, so you really want to know what you're doing in the plant world if you plan on using it internally.

I gather my elephant's head from a particular patch in a secret location, a place I've been visiting for years. I took the time to develop a strong relationship with elephant's head before ever asking it to share its medicine with me. Now, as I go back each year, I'm able to see that more elephant's head is growing than the year before, letting me know that my collections are sustainable.

Which brings us to the most sustainable and magical way to work with elephant’s head — the flower essence. I created a batch of essences on site in an elephant’s head grove, at over 10,000ft in the Rocky Mountains. This essence carries vibrational attunements to enhance clairvoyant gifts, astral travel, and intuition.

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Have you ever worked with magic and medicine of elephant’s head flower? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments. 

You might also like:

• Flower Essences 101: How to Partner with Plants for Whole-Self Healing

• Gnome Plant & Meeting the Queen of the Underworld

• The Magic and Medicine of the Rose

• Great Northern Bedstraw: A Beloved and Underrated Wild Plant

• Ethical Wildcrafting and Making Mountain Medicine

• Wildcrafting with Fireweed

• Gathering Arnica

The Magic and Medicine of the Rose

Perhaps no other flower has been so exalted throughout history, in mythology and for sacred purposes, as the rose. 

The rose appeals to our senses, opens our hearts, and enhances our beauty and health. As June ushers in the rose season here in the Northern Hemisphere, it is the perfect time to celebrate the magic and medicine of this sacred flower.

The Rose in History

The symbolism of the rose is highly complex and has inspired a variety of associations across cultures and times. It has represented both heavenly perfection and earthly passion, fertility as well as virginity, and life and death.

Primarily associated with the feminine, this complexity carries into the variety of important women the rose is associated with, from Cleopatra and her magical perfumes to the Queen of Heaven in Dante’s Divine Comedy to the Virgin Mary of Biblical times. 

In ancient Rome, the rose was a sign of pleasure, a companion of mirth and wine, and was also used at funerals. 

In Middle Eastern traditions, only the red rose was allowed to accompany one into the afterlife.

Roses filled the great gardens of Persia, and according to legend, the first bloom of the rose had an aroma so heady that it caused the nightingale to sing. Overcome by the rose’s perfume, the bird dropped to the earth, spilling blood that turned the first petals red.

In 15th century Europe, the secret society of Rosicrucians chose a rose on a cross as their symbol, for the rose represented the perfection of paradise to these alchemists and philosophers.

Early Christianity associated the rose with the blood of martyrs, and therefore life after death.

Some Native American tribes turned to rose for not just medicine and food, but to keep ghosts away.

And yet, of all that the rose symbolizes, love is perhaps its most enduring association.

Indeed, within the ancient Greek and Roman pantheon, the goddess of love herself, Aphrodite, holds the closest association with the rose.

Have you ever really studied Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus? In addition to sacred myrtle leaf Aphrodite holds, the rose appears floating through the heavens as she emerges from the sea.

The poetess Sappho was christened “the rose the queen of flowers” in 600BC, and has since inspired lovers throughout the ages.

The Rose as Healer

Just as the rose carries rich and complex symbolism, it also offers us one of the most chemically complex essential oils known, containing over 300 compounds, which contribute to the its many healing gifts.

And, when it comes to these healing gifts, ancient uses are almost identical to our modern ones, as we can see in part thanks to extensive medical compendiums like Pliney the Elder’s Natural History.

Though complex, rose medicine is remarkably consistent: the energetic, mental, and physical effects of rose medicine all assist us with the very things rose symbolizes most―love, beauty, and romance. 

Perhaps rose’s affinity for both the nervous system and heart center are part of what makes it such a well-known aphrodisiac: Mentally and emotionally, rose is wonderful for soothing a troubled mind and helping you relax, while physically, it nourishes the nervous system, so you can get into your body and enjoy a bit of pleasure.

Interestingly, Rose’s symbolic connections with the heart center and femininity are found in medicinal uses across cultures.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine rose is a well-recognized heart tonic and increases yin, the feminine and cooling energy of the body. 

Rose also supports skin care, which enhances beauty, and helps regulate the female reproductive system. (And for this reason, rose as herbal medicine is contraindicated during pregnancy, so do be careful!)

The wild roses of North America were used as food and medicine by many tribes, with similar but even more diverse applications than their European counterparts: Roots were made into hot compresses for reducing swelling, tea was taken for stomach upsets and reducing labor pains, and seeds were eaten to relieve sore muscles.

Today, we still use rose medicine in many of the same ways, as rose is known to soothe digestion, relieve cold and flu symptoms, relax the body and mind, and support the immune system.

On a spiritual and energetic level, rose is cooling, nurturing, and widely associated with the heart chakra. Both the essential oil and flower essence can balance our ability to give and receive love. 

In her fascinating book The Fragrant Mind, Valerie Worwood explores the subtle shifts in how different varieties of roses can act upon our energy bodies and our consciousness: She describes Rosa damasca, most commonly found as an essential oil, as a gentle type of rose with a truly feminine personality, one that is pure-hearted and opens us to unconditional love. Rosa centifolia on the other hand, which is what we most often find in botanical absolutes, is passionate, sensual, and erotic, helping us tune into our own sexuality and enjoy life’s romantic pleasures. 

As flower essences, Damask rose and other fragrant garden varietals are known to increase feelings of confidence when it comes to sexuality. 

I find that wild rose carries rose’s typical connection to the heart center with an added dose of resilience, joy, and independence.

The flower essence of wild rose is known for supporting feelings of love and joy, particularly how they karmically manifest in our physical experiences. According to the Bach Flower Essence Repertory, wild rose can help cultivate a will to live in those who struggle with lethargy or depression.

Rose’s magical uses include cultivating love, peace, sex, and beauty, with its planetary ruler being Venus and its element being water (I love that again, we see the connections between the rose and Aphrodite, as her Roman name is Venus and she was born of the ocean...).

The prolific author of many books on Western magick, Scott Cunningham notes that magical rituals to be done with rose include spells to draw in emotionally satisfying relationships and to enhance inner and outer beauty.

The gifts of rose will affect us in slightly different ways depending on the form of our “medicine”―be it in a tea or tincture, spell, flower essence, essential oil, infused oil, or living flower. That said, here are a few of rose’s many benefits at a glance…

Benefits of Rose

• Opening and balancing your heart chakra

• Sensuality and appreciating life’s pleasures

• Awakening and empowering your erotic, sexual nature and confidence

• Enhancing your feminine nature

• Love in all its forms―passionate, romantic, familial, friendship, spiritual, unconditional

• Supporting the reproductive system―regulating menstruation, toning the uterus

• Relaxing, anti-depressant, supports insomnia

• Enhancing beauty inside and out―wonderful for mature or sensitive skin, inner confidence

• Soothes the nervous system, sedative, cultivating feelings of peace

• Releasing negative emotions

• Clears heat and inflammation, cool and moist energetics

• An emotional stabilizer, relaxes untended tension and provides mothering love

• Supports digestion and boosts the immune system

• Soothing a tender, broken, or grief-stricken heart

• Attracting love and joy into your life

How to Use Rose Magic and Medicine

If you’d like to bring the magic and medicine of rose into your own life, here are a few ideas:

• Make a rose petal infused honey, glycerete, or tea 

• Spritz some rosewater or a rose hydrosol on your skin

• Infuse a nourishing oil with rose petals for skin care

• Enjoy rose hips dried in tea or fresh in jams and jellies

• Add a few drops of rose or wild rose flower essence to water or tea

• Diffuse rose essential oil, or a rose-forward blend

• Anoint yourself with a rosy perfume or ritual oil

• Display a bouquet of organic and sustainable roses

• Grow your own roses to really deepen your relationship with rose spirit

• Place fresh roses on your altar

• Stop and smell the roses whenever you can ;)

May rosy blessings be upon you!

Rose Offerings

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• All About Flower Essences: How to Partner with Plants for Whole-Self Healing

• Great Northern Bedstraw: A Beloved and Underrated Wild Plant

• The Magic and Medicine of Elephant's Head Flower

• Gnome Plant & Meeting the Queen of the Underworld

References

1. Mojay, G. (2014). Proceedings from NAHA ’14: The World of Aromatherapy VII: Beyond Aromatics. Seattle, WA.  

2. Battaglia, S. (2003). The complete guide to aromatherapy (2nd ed.). Brisbane, Autralia: The International Center of Holistic Aromatherapy.

3. Worwood, V.A. (1996). The Fragrant Mind: Aromatherapy for Personality, mind, mood and emotion. Novato, CA: New World Library.

4. Mojay, G. (2000). Aromatherapy for healing the spirit: Restoring emotional and mental balance with essential oils. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.

5. Cunningham, S. (2013). Magical aromatherapy: The power of scent (7th ed.). Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications.

6. Keville, K. & Green, M. (2009). Aromatherapy: A complete guide to the healing art (2nd ed.). Berkley, CA: Crossing Press.

7. Pliny the Elder. The natural history. J. Bostock, M.D. (Ed.). (F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., Trans). B.A. London: Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855. (Original work published 77-79 AD). Retrieved from: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D13%3Achapter%3D2

8. Wiles, B. (2018). Mountain states medicinal plants: Identify, harvest, and use 100 wild herbs for health and wellness. Portland, OR: Timber Press.

9. Kershaw, L. (2016). Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies. Edmonton, AB: Lone Pine Pub.

10. McIntyre, A. (2010). The Complete Herbal Tutor: The Ideal companion for study and practice. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group.

11. Kamininski, P. and R. Katz (1994). Flower Essence Repertory: A Comprehensive Guide to North American and English Flower Essences for Emotional and Spiritual Well-Being. Nevada City, CA: Earth Spirit, Inc. 

12. McIntyre, A. (1996). Flower Power: Flower Remedies for Healing Body and Soul through Herbalism, Homeopathy, Aromatherapy, and Flower Essences. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Co.

Ritual Beauty: A Sacred Skincare Routine

There is something about taking time to care for the precious body that you live in that nourishes your soul as well as your skin. 

We are spiritual beings, yet we came into these amazing bodies for a reason. And though experiencing various lessons and challenges is often cited as our soul’s motivation, this is not a complete picture…

We also came into these bodies so we could experience sensual pleasure. 

Only embodied can we smell the aroma of lilacs in spring, witness the explosion of color in a sunset, listen to masterful melodies, taste perfectly paired spices from around the world, and feel the touch of a beloved’s arms. 

Our skin covers and protects our entire body, providing us with a portal to experiencing the physical sensations of life. When we nourish and care for our skin, we’re showing ourselves that we matter. Our bodies matter. Our pleasure matters. 

Of course, pausing for pleasure in the midst of our overpacked schedules and often monotonous lives seems to slip off the list of priorities all too easily. At least, it does for me. 

But whenever I finally do take time once again to treat my senses and embrace the beauty of this physical life, I’m always so grateful that I did. A simple skincare ritual really can transform your life ;) 

Here’s the kicker though―what you put on your skin matters. Endocrine disruptors, reproductive and developmental toxicity, contaminants, and cancer-causing ingredients are sadly common―even in “natural” brands.

(You can check your favorite products at the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database.)

This is why I began making my own skincare products years ago, and I started selling them to friends and family soon after. The following are my personal skincare rituals―one for everyday care, and one for a once-a-week treat (usually done after a bath...I like to go all out on my self care days).

I’ve linked to the products I personally use whenever possible, but feel free to use whatever you already love (just check that database first!).

Your Botanical Beauty Ritual

Opening the Ritual

Before beginning, be sure to set the scene. Light a candle, put on some music, grab a tea or glass of wine...whatever helps you remember that this is a special time for you to connect with yourself and your senses.

Step 1: Cleanse

Massage your favorite cleanser is into your skin and gently rinse with a damp cloth.

Wondering what to cleanse with? There are endless options on the market, but my favorite is a simple mix of nourishing oils and aloe vera. I use one part jojoba and one part aloe (unscented and undyed), along with a few anti-inflammatory essential oils, like German chamomile and blue tansy.

Other simple, eco-friendly face wash ideas: You can oil cleanse with pure jojoba oil, or for a more luxurious experience, cleanse with your face oil. Sometimes, I’ll use my Alchemessence skin serum as a face wash—it contain nourishing oils, aloe vera, botanical extracts in glycerin, and essential oils, making it a wonderful cleanser.

Step 2: Mask

Apply a clay mask. Mix your dry clay mask with a bit of carrier, such as honey, oil, or pure water. Apply to skin, avoiding eyes, and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes. Gently remove with a warm cloth.

One of the oldest beauty secrets, clay masks have been used since in ritual beauty for thousands of years. I love a “dry” clay mask. Dry masks tend to have less ingredients like stabilizers and preservatives, so they’re a wonderful choice for natural beauty rituals.

Clay removes impurities and excess oil from the skin, smooths and evens skin tone, and can even provide moisture, depending on which clay and carriers you use. I’ve added special botanical powders to each of my dry clay mixes to give your mask even more skin-saving benefits―bamboo extract, iris root, green tea, olive leaf, blue-green algae, and frankincense resin, to name a few. You can explore all five masks here.

Step 3: Tone

Next comes toning. If you’re using a liquid toner, such as Queen of Hungary water, apply with a reusable cotton or bamboo pad. If you’re using a mist, close your eyes and spray your skin.

Toning is an essential step in any beauty routine. It balances your skin, helps purify toxins, and gives you an opportunity to add even more of a botanical boost. I alternate toning between homemade Queen of Hungary water (apple cider vinegar and rosewater infused with toning herbs), and facial mists. 

I offer several facial mists at Alchemessence. Each is made of hydrosols, botanical extracts, essential oils, and other nourishing ingredients to balance and tone your skin. They are non-drying and wonderful for even the most sensitive skin types. 

Step 4: Boost

Step four is optional but fun―add a boost of nutrients to your skin with a skin serum. Simply place a few drops of serum in the palm of your hand and massage into your skin. 

Alchemessence serums contain nourishing oils, soothing aloe vera, and potent botanical extracts like edelweiss, green tea, and açaí, along with essential oils. 

This step is a good time to add a gua sha massage, as the serum helps the gua sha tools move smoothly over your skin.

Step 5: Moisturize

Your final step is moisturizing. Place a few drops of a botanical face oil into the palm of your hand and gently massage into your skin, avoiding contact with your eyes. If you didn’t gua sha in step 4, now is the time.

I love botanical face oils because their ingredients are so pure and full of nutrients―they really are like food for your skin. Contrary to popular belief, they don’t leave you feeling greasy or breaking out either. Your skin really doesn’t need all the extra ingredients in cosmetic creams, as pure oil soaks in without clogging your pores.

My Alchemessence face oils contain around 40 ingredients, each chosen for very specific reasons. (You might like to read more about my process in this Insta post.)

Closing the Ritual

Once you’ve finished your ritual, give thanks to yourself for taking this time for you and for committing to natural beauty. Affirm that you love your skin and yourself, and you gratefully allow your inner radiance to shine forth.

Simple Daily Ritual

The daily ritual is a simplified version of the above. Cleanse, tone, and moisturize — that’s it! I actually like to keep my toning mist with me throughout the day. A couple of spritzes and my skin feels totally revitalized. 

If you’d like to put together your own ritual beauty kit, you can explore everything mentioned here and more in the Alchemessence Apothecary.

You might also like:

• Here’s What You Need to Know about Buying Natural Perfumes and Essential Oils

• A Guide to Natural Perfume Fragrance Families

• Which Should I Choose? Sprays, Oils, and Solid Perfumes

• How I Make Natural Perfumes: Art, Aroma, and Alchemy in a Bottle

Aphrodisiacs - essential oils, flower essences, and crystals

Aphrodisiacs, named for one of my patron goddesses, the great Aphrodite, enhance sexual desire and pleasure. Some work by helping us relax, while others rev us up. The following are just a few of the many aphrodisiacs you might like to incorporate into your Valentine’s Day ritual.

Crystals

Place some crystals in your bath water to absorb their essences. Place the rest around the ledges of your bath and on your bath tray. You can also add crystal essences directly to your bath water.

• Rose Quartz — to open your heart and enhance feelings of love

• Garnet — for passion and physical connection

• Carnelian — for a healthy sacral chakra and creative expression

• Moonstone — for tuning into your natural cycles and enhancing connection and passion

• Lapis Lazuli — for enhancing love on a spiritual level 

• Green Aventurine — for luck in lasting love

• Amber — for spontaneous, passionate encounters

Flower Essences

Add 2-3 drops of desired essences to your bath.

• All Lilies — for connecting with the divine feminine, healthy sexual energy and expression

• Rose — for romantic love and an open heart

• Basil — to integrate sexual and spiritual energy

• Bleeding Heart — to feel unconditional love

• Hibiscus — to enhance sexuality and connection with the body

• Pomegranate — for joyful feminine expression

Essential Oils

Add about 6 drops of essential oils to either a bit of oil or bath salts first, and add this blend to your bath once it’s fully run.

Floral essential oils open us to love on spiritual levels and enhance romantic, sexy moods. Warming and spicy essential oils can increase circulation and energy. And citrus scents add joy, ease, and playfulness. 

• Rose — enhances love and supports a balanced loving heart 

• Jasmine and Ylang Ylang— seductive, sexy flowers with a special affinity for the sacral chakra

• Patchouli — this earthy, musky scent grounds us into our sensual natures

• Black Pepper, Ginger, Cardamom, and Coriander — these spices can help spice up your sex life

• Sweet Orange — adds some playful joy

• Myrtle — sacred to Aphrodite, myrtle enhances true love and increases physical pleasure

• Lavender — melt away tension

• Sandalwood — has an affinity for the sexual centers

• Vanilla — warm, playful, and edible

Recipes

These above all go together beautifully—feel free to mix and match anything from these lists. Or, try one of the following magical blends. Each blend can be added to a mist, diffuser, bath, or body oi:

An Erotic Blend — 2 drops jasmine, 2 drops ylang ylang, 2 drops sweet orange, 1 drop garnet essence, 1 drop amber essence, 1 drop basil essence

A Sensual Blend — 2 drops rose, 3 drops patchouli, 1 drop ginger, 1 drop moonstone essence, 1 drop lily essence

A Loving Heart Blend — 1 drop rose, 3 drops lavender, 2 drops bergamot, 1 drop rose essence, 1 drop bleeding heart essence, 1 drop rose quartz essence

A Balancing Blend — 3 drops lavender, 3 drops geranium, 1 drop moonstone

A Spicy Blend — 1 drops cardamom, 1 drop vanilla, 2 drops rose, 2 drops patchouli, 1 drop amber essence, 1 drop hibiscus

A Stress Relief Blend — 3 drops grapefruit, 2 drops ginger, 1 drop ylang ylang, 1 drop pomegranate, 1 drop green aventurine

The Alchemy of Making Spiritual Perfumes

John William Waterhouse - The Soul of the Rose, 1903

Updated! This is article is currently being updated — check back soon for what is becoming a rich resource for you aromatic studies!!!

In the meantime, you might enjoy taking a look at the Complete Guide to Magickal Anointing Oils and my growing collection of Spiritual Perfumes.

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Scent holds the unique power to transcend the physical realm and connect us with the spiritual. Across cultures and civilizations, the use of fragrances in spiritual practices has been a common thread that weaves together the human experience with the divine. 

It seems our ancestors intuitively knew the wisdom we’re reclaiming today: Fragrance can invoke emotions and trigger memories, shift both our vibrational frequency and our chemistry, and alter our state of consciousness. Fragrance elevates our rituals, creates sacred spaces, and facilitates a deeper connection with the unseen realms.

Of all the many historical and ritual uses of fragrance, it is the art of perfumery that inspires true soul-level alchemy. Through spiritual perfumery, the healing spirits of nature and the gods themselves are invited into elixirs of beauty and transformation.

The alchemy of making spiritual perfumes is one of the lost temple arts.

As someone who walks the path of the wild priestess, I’ve been initiated into ancient temple arts by guides in both human and spiritual form. I’ve studied with shamans throughout the world, apprenticed in Taoist anointing practices, become clinically certified in aromatherapy, been mentored in Western magickal practices, and professionally trained with the preeminent natural perfumers of our time. I’ve traveled to temples and perfumeries in India, Egypt, and Greece. 

Many people who are drawn to natural perfumery are motivated by their spiritual connections with plants and perfume — yet it’s been incredibly challenging to find teachers in human form who truly bridge the artistry with the depths of spiritual practice possible when it comes to the alchemy of spiritual perfumes (though my teacher Roxanna certainly brings spirit and art into her creations). And so, I also learned perfumery as a temple art from the goddesses themselves. 

In the deepest part of my soul, I’ve always known that perfume is a path to the sacred. 

Through the alchemy of beauty, art, ritual, intention, and the healing power of the plants themselves, perfume has the potential to shift us out of the mundane and into the magical. 

It breaks the spell of our collective sleep. It rewires us for pleasure and delight. And it bridges the physical with the spiritual.

In this article, I’ll share an overview of the alchemical art of making spiritual perfumes. Together, we’ll dive into the aromatic history of spiritual fragrances and the importance of the priestess path when it comes to aromatics. We’ll explore the divine nectar of fragrant plants — and look at why spiritual perfumes must be made with natural materials. And we’ll look at rituals and ceremonies for both creating and using sacred scents.

You are about to step into the endless world of spiritual aromatics — a world that has been subtly and intentionally removed from us, with devastating effects on our psyches and feminine power (read “Severed from Scent” for more on this). But we are reclaiming the true potency and transformative power of these lost arts. And your journey of remembering is just beginning. 

Creating an Elevated Perfume and the Feminine Reclamation of Beauty

Fragrance is sacred. Aroma is healing. And the spiritual use of scent has taken many forms throughout history. 

So what sets spiritual perfumes apart? 

The word “perfume” can be a bit of a confusing word because of its dual meaning: It can refer to both a pleasing aroma in general, as well as the liquid fragrances you probably first think of when you hear this word. 

While I adore fragrance in all its forms, this article is about perfumes in the “perfume in a bottle” sense — and why bringing back the sacred and the natural to the art of perfumery is a divine act mandate for bringing our world back into cosmic balance. 

Okay… yes, that probably sounds a bit over-the-top. But bear with me. Perfume is powerful.

Part of what sets perfume apart from other spiritual fragrances is its emphasis on beauty. Far from the superficial reputation “beauty culture” often has today, beauty is actually an essential part of the cosmos. 

Beauty reminds us that we are not here only to survive but to thrive. We are not here only to learn and grow but to delight in pleasure and the sensual nature of our embodiment. 

Pausing to fully experience the beauty of life is an act of rebellion in a culture that’s always pushing us to go and grow. It is a reclamation of feminine value, power, and ways of knowing.

Beauty awakens our hearts to gratitude. It is the celebration of the natural world and the potential of elevated human creativity and culture. 

And all of this comes together in an elevated spiritual perfume. 

When I create true spiritual perfumes, I bridge the magic of nature — partnering with plant spirits and using only natural materials — with inspiration from spirit — filling each aromatic bottle with a transmission of spiritual power. And, I always do so within the context of artistry and beauty. An aromatic blend might be healing and spiritual (many aromatherapy blends are), but it’s not a perfume unless it ignites the senses with blessings of artistry and beauty. 

This is why the alchemy of making spiritual perfumes is so close to my heart. And why I hope you become inspired to reclaim the temple arts of the priestess path and journey into the world of spiritual perfumery. 

Mountain Medicine: Making a Healing Salve with wild plants (and more)

Y'all. The cosmos has been doing a number on me. This full moon lunar eclipse, on the 4th of July no less, was in Capricorn. Capricorn and it's ruling planet, Saturn, govern structure—including our bones. And low and behold, I broke my toe under the light of that full moon. 

Breaking a toe always sucks. But this time it was especially disappointing: I look forward to one magical week in the mountains all year. This is a week when I hike for miles everyday, commune with the animals and nature spirits, make my plant medicines, and soak up the healing power of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. And I broke my toe on only my second night. 😞

And, even though I have a pretty epic natural first aid kit, full of homemade remedies of herbs and oils, I’d left everything at home this week. Oops.

A Wildly Healing Oil

Given that I came up here in part to work with plant medicine, I decided to view my broken toe as an opportunity to practice what I preach and see how well I could treat myself with mountain remedies. 

The toe in question is my fourth toe, so I’ve been able to hobble around slowly. The morning after my injury, I buddy taped my toe and set to the trails for some plants I know are in season and can help:

• Bluebell—similar to comfrey in its ability to mend bones, but a bit milder

• Arnica—you've probably used the homeopathic remedies, and the fresh flowers and leaves can be infused into healing oils

• Yarrow—one of my favorite protector plants, wonderful for wound healing

• Goldenrod—for inflammation, topically, it’s similar to arnica

• Aspen—the bark has pain relieving properties, so I collected only fallen twigs

I had a bit of sunflower oil on hand, so I decided to do a quick oil infusion using a double boiler method. I tore apart the flowers, leaves, and twigs by hand and added them to the oil, holding the intention of healing and gratitude for the ability to work in partnership with nature to make medicine. I then gently infused the oil for a couple hours. The result was the most divine smelling brew, full of healing goodness.*

*Side note … the infused oil smelled sooo good that I’m now tincturing aspen twigs for use in my perfumes :) 

To tend to internal support for healing, I've gathered fresh dandelion leaves, horsetail, and wild parsley—all full of bone-building minerals! The dandelion and parsley go into dinner each evening, while I simply suck the liquid out of the fresh horsetail.

I've been gently massaging the oil into my toe for a few days now, and keeping up with my wild greens, and I’m happy to say that the swelling has gone down significantly. 

Breaking a toe and limiting my hikes really sucks. But I'm grateful to be surrounded with nature's medicine and to work in partnership with the spirits as I heal. And lucky for you, I've made more than enough oil. When I'm back home, I'll turn what I have into some healing salves to share :) 

UPDATE This beautiful oil sold out quickly…but I generally have seasonal versions available in the apothecary :)

Wildcrafted Smoke Bundles 

Despite the broken toe, I did manage to commune with the plants this year. I hobbled around and gathered some of my favorite botanical friends to create more flower essences and just a few plant bundles for smoke clearing. 

When I wildcraft, I only use plants that I have developed a relationship with over the years, and I gather and make everything in sacred ceremony. I feel that the health of the forest always comes first, so I only take what is offered and do healing ceremonies for the land in return. 

This year, I was guided to create three types of bundles:

• Cleanse & Protect—This bundle is perfect for space clearing and protection, similar to traditional sage bundles. It contains protective, cleansing, and sacred plants including three artemisias, goldenrod, yarrow, golden aster, sulfur buckwheat, kinnikinnick, and pussy toes.

• Passion—A bundle to clear blocks and carry your wishes to spirit, this contains a trio of artemisias, fireweed, fairy trumpet, pussy toes, harebell, bedstraw, and wild geranium.

• Dreams—A bundle to encourage visionary dreams and protection at night, this contains the trio of artemisias, elephant head flower, mountain valerian, yarrow, northern bedstraw, pussy toes, and kinnikinnick.

Find your bundles in the apothecary!

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8 Essential Oils to Kickstart Your Next Creative Project + 3 Aroma-Rituals

Warmer weather and sunny days are finally upon us, and I’ve been feeling a big shift in energy lately—from the dormant and reflective energy of winter to the fertile and creative energy of spring and summer. The Earth is waking up, and so am I.

It’s only natural for us humans to join our animal friends in coming out of hibernation at this time of year, and I’m guessing that many of you are feeling the impulse to begin new projects, express yourself creatively, and bring a bit more celebration into your lives. 

Here’s the thing—feeling the creative impulse and acting on it are two different things. 

Maybe you’re flooded with ideas but don’t know where to start. Or maybe you feel out of practice or intimidated after a winter of rest. Or maybe you just want a creative boost. 

If you’re ready to ignite your creative spark this season, aromatherapy can help release blocks, increase inspiration, and motivate creative action. 

Essential Oils for Creativity

Floral essential oils and absolutes are wonderful for creative expression. Many floral oils have an affinity for the sacral chakra. As blossoms open to warm weather, these oils help our creative centers open to inspiration.

• Neroli—Relieves anxiety around creating while deepening our connection with our higher selves . . . even Leonardo da Vinci is said to have breathed in the perfume of neroli while he worked.

• Ylang Ylang—Brings us directly into our creative centers with its seductive fragrance. Especially useful for sensual creations—culinary endeavors, body products, and natural perfumes.

• Geranium—Eases perfectionistic tendencies, irritability, and frustration. This is the oil you want to help move through resistance to creative action.

• Rose—Opens the heart center, allowing us to trust and love with abandon. Use rose to merge the love in your heart with your creative impulses—a powerful combination.

• Jasmine—Shares a joyful energy that removes inhibitions and increases self-confidence, allowing you to more fully invest in your creative expression. 

In addition to the florals, citruses and spices can also enhance our creative works:

• Patchouli—Another wonderful oil for connecting us to our sensual, creative selves. Patchouli also introduces an earthy element into the creative process, helping us ground our inspiration in physical form.

• Sweet Orange—Orange is the color of creativity, and sweet orange carries this resonance perfectly. Plus, as a citrus, it uplifts us as we work, reminding us to take joy in the creative process.

• Ginger—Energizing and warming, ginger is perfect for those who have a creative vision but lack the motivation to see it through. Ginger essential oil helps us take optimistic action in our creative work.

These are only a few of the many essential oils that can assist us with releasing our creative energy this season. Let your own creative impulses guide you to the perfect oils and blends for your unique creative spirit!

Aroma-Rituals

Heart-Centered Ritual

• Add three drops sweet orange, two drops patchouli, and one drop rose to an essential oil diffuser. Run the diffuser throughout this entire process.

• Take a meditative seat and breathe deeply until you feel centered in your body.

• Bring awareness to your root chakra. Affirm, I am grounded and supported by the earth.

• Bring awareness to your sacral chakra. Affirm, I joyfully allow the creative impulses within to flow into form.

• Bring awareness to your heart chakra. Affirm, With an open heart, I infuse my creations with love. 

• Continue to diffuse these oils throughout your creative session.

Ritual to Break through Blocks

• To a 1oz glass spray bottle, add: 2 drops ginger, 2 drops geranium, and 2 drops neroli. Fill the rest of the bottle with spring water.

• Shake and mist yourself and your space. 

• Speak these words as you mist: I call upon the benevolent spirits of ginger, geranium, and neroli. May these plant guides clear any fears I have around expressing my creative truth. I gratefully receive their blessings of creative inspiration and motivation.

Magical Paint Water

• Take a meditative seat and breathe deeply until you feel centered in your body.

• Ask your intuition, Which essential oil or oils wish to support my creative process today?

• Allow the answers to arise. Trust what you receive. 

• Fill your painting water vessel and add 2-3 drops of your oils. 

• Whisper an intention for your painting into the oil-infused water—perhaps May this work of art carry the essence of divine love or May the truth in my soul take form in this painting.

• Use this magical water throughout your painting process, recharging with oils and intentions as needed.

You might also like:

• 5 Essential Oils for Mercury Retrograde (and how to use them)

• Severed from Scent

• 8 Tips for Buying High Quality Essential Oils

• Essential Oils for Respiratory Health

• Flower Essences 101: How to Partner with Plants for Whole-Self Healing

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