26 September 2023

A Scented Life: Aromatherapy Reimagined

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Reviewed by Rama Gaind.

By Pat Princi-Jones, Hardie Grant, $29.99.

This is a sweet-smelling, intoxicating read that will linger in your senses forever!

Discover the power of a simple scent and its many benefits with the help of this beautifully illustrated hardback. Melbourne-based aromatherapy advocate and specialist Pat Princi-Jones says this book “takes you on a journey of the senses, from the history of aromatherapy and the basics of essential oils and their contribution to our wellbeing, to a list of scent groups that makes it easier to understand the unique make-up of essential oils (including a dedicated section on precious petals), before outlining blending techniques, complete with a suggested starter kit”.

A Scented Life is a delightful voyage of discovery into the beauty of nature and the complex aromatic substances found in plants. The focus is on using essential oils for self-care, inviting you to relish the experience and explore ways of using scent to enhance your lifestyle for pleasure or as a remedy.

This is a contemporary take on aromatherapy, the practice of using pure essential oils extracted from plants as remedies for emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing. The healing properties of essential oils can relieve headaches, muscular pain and cold and flu symptoms. A few drops in your skincare regime can increase hydration, treat acne and regenerate damaged skin. What’s more, essential oils can shift your mood, improve your sleep patterns and lower feelings of anxiety to make you feel restored, relaxed and renewed.

Now you can bring beautiful blends of essential oils into your life in meaningful ways. It is followed by applications of massage, bathing and skincare, as well as health and wellbeing, complete with recipes for each method. It even discusses essential oil used in the context of motherhood and ageing.

This guide to discovery, if used correctly, will result in essential oils offering unimaginable swift and profound benefits. Pat eagerly shares her proven remedies for ailments.

Moisturising skin with jojoba and the heavenly combination of sandalwood and bergamot, conditioning hair with rose geranium and frankincense, soaking in an Epsom salts bath with a few drops of lavender and rosemary to ease stiffness.

Her solution for a dull, aching headache is a winner! Prepare a compress bowl with cool water and add a few drops each of lavender and basil. A soaked face washer in this aromatic water, when placed firmly on the back of your neck, will ease the tightness in the forehead and the tension in the neck.

Then there are massage blends with lemon and eucalyptus to ward off winter colds, frankincense tissues to boost confidence before business meetings and bergamot-infused tissues to pacify anxious students before taking exams. The list goes on.

Do take note of a disclaimer to interpret carefully and always consider your state of health, level of experience and nature’s strength in her highly concentrated form.

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