Kismet Potions :: Scents Awareness

Aromatherapy is the use of aroma in the natural plant and flower essences, for therapy of mind, body and spirit. Scent has the power to affect people on many different levels through its connection with the limbic system, a part of the brain that stores memories. It first passes through the olfactory system (sense of smell) to the limbic system. Most smells are strongly attached to good memories, childhood or holidays past. Aromatherapy takes this one step further when applied topically for physical and physiological benefits. It travels quickly to the immune system, helping a body improve health & energy levels.

Aromatherapy also works on a spiritual and religious level, being used for thousands of years in sacred ceremonies by people of all nations. In ancient Egypt it was believed that frankincense, a rare and precious oil, was needed for safe passage into the next world. Most bodies were "mummified" with a combination of this and other essential oils to ensure that safe passage. Incense is still used today in many religious ceremonies ~ spanning a wide range of religions. It is also common practice around the world to smell someone when greeting them: in the Middle East, the kisses on cheeks are really to smell if a person is in good spiritual health. Eskimos do a similar gesture when rubbing noses.

Our sense of smell is programmed deeply into our memory. Smells can trigger fear, anger, happiness, hunger, elation, sexual arousal and more. Animal musks, which are used in nature to attract the opposite sex, have been used for years as an ingredient in perfumes. These pheromones or "attraction chemicals" are typically found in human sweat. Some researchers say that a person can be more attractive to another on a subliminal level based solely on their pheromone level.

The modern use of essential oils has its roots in the art of perfumery. Master perfumers or "Noses" develop perfumes using pure essential oils. The manufacturers then come up with a chemical likeness to reduce cost, which also greatly reduces the richness and body of the fragrance. Perfumery in its true from is really liquid memory... lingering deep in the brain. In this way aromatherapy is a synergy of emotions and feelings, ranging from spiritual and sacred to sensual and warming. This makes aromatherapy a wonderful healing art that is accessible, affordable and easy to incorporate into your daily ritual.

Oils and Their Effects:

Spruce.....................................refreshing
Rosemary..............................reminiscent
Peppermint..............................energizing
Orange......................................cheering
Lemon................................clean, homey
Sandalwood................................sensual
Cinnamon..................................warming
Lavender....................................calming
Grapefruit................................refreshing
Rose.............................................loving
Ylang-Ylang..........................aphrodisiac
Jasmine...................intoxicating, euphoric
Tea tree....................................medicinal
Spearmint.....................crisp, invigorating
Marjoram..............comforting, mothering

Source: Kris Wrede

The following article featuring an exclusive interview with Kris Wrede of Kismet Potions was printed in the Chicago Tribune Magazine on October 31st, 1999.

The science of aroma wafts its way to credibility.

Six years ago Kris Wrede gave up a merchandising career in the fashion industry to open Kismet Potions Aromatherapy in Chicago. Her company creates custom blends of essential-oil-based products such as gels, scrubs, back soaps, lotions, skin-care products and environmental fragrances for individuals, spas, salons and corporations.

Given her longtime interest in natural cosmetics and healthy foods, Wrede's segue into aromatherapy products seemed natural.

Operating out of her studio apartment rather than the proverbial garage, she looked first for packaging, then bought ingredients, including essential oils, which are concentrated essences of plants, fruits, flowers, herbs and seeds.

She now sells through stores or directly to individuals and businesses. In an interview, Wrede talked about the increasing mainstream acceptance of aromatherapy and its role in setting a mood and in improving overall well-being.

Question: Define aromatherapy and the difference between an aromatherapist and an aromatic consultant.

Answer: Aromatherapy works on many levels and represents a synergy of physical, spiritual, emotional and aesthetic uses. Aesthetically, the topical application of essential oils can rid the skin of acne, but it can also be helpful with mature or sun-damaged skin. Spiritually, certain scents have the capacity to lower your breathing rate and put you in a meditative state. Physically, ginger and cypress are good for arthritis.

Traditionally, an aromatherapist used aromatherapy only for therapy - for a massage - and I think that term has a limited connotation. I think of myself as an aromatic consultant, which is broader because I do many things.

Q: You have earned certification, studied at schools, institutes and even Purdue University's International Training Program in Essential Oils. You teach. Why is this subject now taught in a formal way?

A: In America, we tend to want scientific proof of esoteric concepts because we're such a pragmatic society, which explains why it's being studied and taught.

In contrast, the Native American culture relies much more [for explanations] on ethereal and spiritual aspects of life and Mother Earth. Native Americans have always embraced plant life as sacred and spiritual and used medicine men and women to help them know which plants to use for all types of healing.

A lot of people now have turned to aromatherapy and other forms of complementary medicine because they're frustrated with the results they get from [mainstream] procedures. At the same time, they know it should not replace regular medicine, but enhance it.

Q: Why has this movement gained so much momentum?

A: Over the last 10 to 20 years, we have found that so many things that are synthetic, such as birth control pills, manufactured foods and cosmetics, sometimes are detrimental and pose health risks.

Therefore, a lot of people are searching for other answers that don't cause heart disease and cancer.

This might have been considered strange five years ago, but no longer. When I told my parents seven years ago that I was becoming an aromatic consultant, they thought it strange to give up what they considered a great career. Now, they think I was on the cutting edge.

Q: But what proof do we have that aromatherapy works?

A: In this country, we have lagged in scientific research, but there are many books, particularly from England, on medical aromatherapy based on clinical research. Jane Buckle, a nurse, authored a book, "Clinical Aromatherapy in Nursing," which was a comprehensive study of different therapeutic uses of essential oils in a clinical setting.

[Another researcher and author is Kurt Schnaubelt, who hold a doctorate in chemistry and runs an educational institute for aromatherapy in San Rafael, Calif. He has written two books on the subject and imports essential oils he sells to massage therapists and physicians. "You can witness the proof by seeing a scar diminish over time by using an essential oil, helichrysum, in combination with a fatty oil, rose hip see oil," said his assistant Carole Addison. "Another example is healing shingles, which can be done by using a fatty oil called calophyllum with an essential oil called ravenscare."]

Q: Your scents allow people and places to do more than smell nice. Tell us how they nurture mind and body, create soothing settings.

A: Stimulating certain parts of your brain creates a heightened response. When you smell something - good or bad - it stimulates your limbic system, which is the part of the brain that is thought to control emotions and behavior and trigger responses.

Let's take a common example. You can burn a candle for a romantic evening. If you use certain oils such as ylang-ylang, sandalwood or jasmine in the candle - you can buy candles with oils already in them - you can achieve an aphrodisiac effect.

Other oils, such as grapefruit, produce a sense of euphoria. Orange is a favorite among most people because it reminds them of their childhood and brings on a sense of cheerfulness.

Everyone's experiences, memory banks and physical properties differ, however, so a fragrance that might elicit a positive response in one person has the opposite effect on another. You might love jasmine; I might abhor it. Cultural influences also affect responses.

Q: How can you bring these scents into the home?

A: You can promote feelings of sensuality, relaxation, calm in a room in different ways. A diffuser can be plugged in; you can light a candle over a container of water so it's like a potpourri burner to which you add essential oils. Because of the heat, the oils are diffused into the air and enter the lungs. You can also spray fragrances.

Q: You walk into a room where you've never been. What do different smells tell you about the occupants?

A: It's a response and we don't know where it comes from. Someone's home with a lemon scent suggests cleanliness and cheerfulness.
During the holidays, smells of evergreens, spruce, spice, cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom give a feeling of being enveloped because they trigger a memory response of warm feelings and family.

Q: If there are these common connotations, why do people want custom smells?

A: So they can personalize their homes and offices. I have a number of doctor clients who want their offices to have a unique smell.

One is a podiatrist who uses calming floral and citrus smell in his waiting room to provide a soothing welcome. In his treatment room where he performs foot surgery, he uses a therapeutic blend that offers a clean, crisp scent that is reassuring. It doesn't smell medicinal.

Q: Where is the movement headed?

A: Some view it as a [passing] trend; I don't. I think you'll see more people embrace it, see more products and see more personalized ways of using them.

I'm lecturing at the Field Museum, which is sort of amazing. I'm tying my talk and classes in with an Egyptian exhibit, mentioning how Cleopatra and others used essential oils on their bodies, in their environments and ceremonies long ago. For them it was a ritual. It is now again because we're finally taking the time to nurture ourselves.

Q: Can you make your own aromatherapy formulas?

A: In addition to my classes, you can buy oils and books from such places as Transitions Bookplace and Cafe and the Aroma Work Shop, both in Chicago. Both places sell oils and help people make their own.

Q: What do you tell the skeptics who think aromatherapy is hokum or the "emperor's new clothes" syndrome?

A: Fortunately, I don't run into them, but if I did, I'd say if you're ready to embrace aromatherapy, great. I've had wonderful results. It's like telling someone that living together is better than being married or vice versa; it's a personal preference.

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