Introduction Aromatic Alchemy Scents can stimulate, inspire, and enchant us. Because our sense of smell is so closely linked with memory and emotion, scent and the power of place go hand in hand. The most vivid memories I have of early childhood are linked with my grandmother’s house. It was a place of wonder, full of plants and big old furniture. Most of all I remember the smells. With her potpourris, gardens, and big kitchen, Nanny’s house was a wonderland of fragrance, full of life and magic. While my Nan was a Christian, her folkways with plants and midwifery whispered of a more complex and multifaceted set of beliefs. Of course, as a child I didn’t realize it, but I think her way of looking at, questioning, and exploring the world was the seed of Paganism that took root in me. By the time I reached my early teens, I asked far too many questions for my parents and Sunday school teachers to adequately answer. As a result, I was drawn to the notion hinted at by my grandmother that a different power existed everywhere in nature—we just had to open ourselves to it. I have been fortunate to meet people who seemed to show up at the right time to help me learn about magic and Paganism. I have practiced ritual with several loose-knit covens and led a group at a Unitarian church, where as part of the lay clergy I regularly conducted several annual Pagan-based Sunday services. Although I am a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids and have done OBOD coursework, I mostly follow a solitary, eclectic path through the Druidic woods. I am a perpetual student. I love learning and studying, a great deal of which I do on my own, along with the occasional class or workshop. This holds true for my spirituality as well as my other interests, and sometimes the two overlap, as is the case with essential oils.
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