Fragrance Energetics
12:57 PM Posted by jo
'Fragrance energetics' was developed by Peter Holmes and it is a system where the aroma of essential oils is linked to their impact on their psyche. Jennifer Peace Rhind, in her book A Handbook for Aromatherapy Practice, writes that Peter Holmes "suggests that it is the energetic dimension of a fragrance that elicits responses within an individual, that manifest on cognitive, emotional and spiritual levels." Rhind also writes that Holmes "suggests that if the root of disease is in the psyche, the fragrance of the essential oils will work via the psychoneuroendocrine pathway, thus healing the physical dimension, and vice versa."
There are three fragrance parameters in fragrance energetics:
tone - The quality of the odor and the most significant
intensity and note -The evaporation rate
There are also six fragrance categories adapted to include the most common characteristics and odor types that can be found in essential oils. The different categories are rooty, lemony, spicy, green, sweet and woody. Specific therapeutic effects can be brought out by these six fragrance characteristics according to Holmes.
High/top tone oils such as citrus oils, niaouli, eucalyptus, ravintsara, mimosa absolute, ylang yland extra, and lavender will have an uplifting and stimulating effect.
Low/base tone oils such as sandalwood, vetivert, patchouli, most pine oils, woody oakmoss, and cinnamon will have a sedative and depressing effect.
According to Rhind, Holme suggested that:
"•Spicy oils are stimulating, invigorating, intensifying, awakening, opening and dispersing.
•Sweet oils are relaxing, calming, harmonising, regulating, moistening, dissolving, nourishing and regenerating.
•Lemony oils are clearing, clarifying, sensitising, focusing, energising and invigorating.
•Green oils are balancing and regulating, cooling, relaxing, clearing and clarifying.
•Woody oils are centring, contracting, grounding and strengthening.
•Rooty oils are stabilising, grounding, solidifying, tonifying, desensitising and calming."
Jennifer Peace Rhind. Essential Oils: A Handbook for Aromatherapy Practice Kindle Edition.
Holmes also explored the application of essential oils using the Chinese medicine philosophy, where they correspond in terms of warm/cool qualities and their meridian tropisms. He also explored the essential oils' relationship with Zang Fu, (Chinese organ) models, and their relationship with the Chinese Five Elements.
He also explored acupoint applications, which means that essential oils are applied on the skin with a Q-tip before the acupuncture needle is inserted.
I found this very fascinating and I highly recommend Jennifer Peace Rhind's book, A Handbook for Aromatherapy Practice. Peter Holmes has also written books which I haven't read yet but they are on my wish list. A list of his books can be found here.
Source:
Jennifer Peace Rhind. Essential Oils: A Handbook for Aromatherapy Practice. Kindle Edition.
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