Pg. 76-79 - 3-minute read I’m here today to meet and speak with Caroline Ingraham, an animal expert in aromatic medicine, whose non-conventional and inspiring start deeply resonated with me as a pet owner interested in holistic animal care. Her journey began with her German Shepherd, Gunner, who was bitten by a rattlesnake and wasn’t responding to anti-venom, yet recovered remarkably fast after taking remedies—an experience that sparked her work in Applied Zoopharmacognosy an

Pg. 10-19 - 8-minute read The term aromatherapy  was coined by René-Maurice Gattefossé in the 1930s and first appeared in print in his book Aromathérapie: Les Huiles Essentielles, Hormones Végétales , later published in English in 1993. Over the decades, passionate professionals—both scientific and non-scientific—helped shape its education and global reach. As our world and this beloved therapy continue to evolve beyond its roots in the healing properties of essential oils, w

Pg. 22-28 - 6-minute read The term aromatherapy  was coined in the 1930s by René-Maurice Gattefossé and later introduced through his book on essential oils. Over the years, many passionate individuals—both scientific and non-scientific—helped shape the education and spread of aromatherapy. As the world continues to change, we also see shifts and challenges within this therapy that was originally rooted in the healing power of essential oils. With a new generation emerging, we

Pg. 132-136 - 4-minute read Lemon Myrtle is a native Australian rainforest tree with a powerful, sweet lemon aroma and a long history of traditional use by Indigenous peoples. I first encountered its scent in the early 1990s and found it more vibrant and attractive than any other lemon-scented oil. Its limited natural range along Australia’s east coast and its reintroduction to modern food and cosmetic industries have made it both unique and highly valued. After years of work

Pg. 70-75 - 5-minute read I view sustainable aromatic plant distillation as a practice that must balance ecological, ethical, and economic responsibility. Traditional distillation methods are often energy-intensive, inefficient, and reliant on outdated equipment, producing large amounts of waste while extracting only a small fraction of usable compounds. This inefficiency increases environmental impact, carbon footprint, and production costs, making it clear to me that improv

Pg. 90-96 - 6-minute read I see fixatives as the quiet backbone of perfumery—the elements that give a fragrance depth, continuity, and soul. Historically, they held scents together and allowed perfumes to evolve beautifully on the skin. While traditional fixatives often came from animal sources, modern natural perfumery now relies on botanical materials that offer richness without ethical compromise. I embrace this shift, seeing the natural evolution of scent on the skin not

Pg. 48-60 - 12-minute read "Perfume is more than scent and fills the hollows within us, guiding our evolution toward the discovery of our innermost, scented selves. We are the perfume of our own lives, where we impact others with the subtle notes that emanate from our skin, breath, and hair. In these quiet exhalations we reveal our longing: for inner peace, for tenderness, for a deeper communion with ourselves and with one another." - Michael Scholes Natural perfumery has

Pg. 64-68 - 4-minute read Artisan aromatherapy distillation in the Philippines is still a young practice, but its growth over the past several years has been inspiring. When I first started learning about essential oils in 2018, there were no local brands or small-batch distillers. Over time, I met a few pioneering local distillers and witnessed the country slowly embracing this craft. This inspired me to begin my own distillation journey. My first still, a stunning copper al

Pg. 6-10 - 4-minute read Twenty years into my aromatherapy journey, I thought I understood distillation. I knew the science, the chemistry of essential oils and hydrosols, and I had worked with them extensively. But standing before my own copper still, with yarrow from my garden ready to be distilled, I realized that true understanding comes from participation, not observation. Distilling yarrow is a two-day devotion: preparing the still, cleansing it with care, and clearing

Pg. 28-33 - 4-minute read Perfumery has travelled a long path—from sacred rituals of ancient civilizations to a global industry rooted in chemistry and commerce. For millennia, scent was inseparable from spirituality, healing, and the natural world, shaped by flowers, woods, resins, and spices extracted through age-old methods like enfleurage and distillation. The 19th century, however, marked a turning point: synthetic molecules opened an endless creative playground for perf

Pg. 22-26 - 4-minute read I begin by honouring the traditional owners of the lands where I gather my native ingredients, work, and live. Their stories and culture continue to inspire me deeply. Although I’m not a perfumer in the classical sense, my work revolves around creating odour-signature blends based on my understanding of Australian essential oils. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea that every person has a unique “smell print,” shaped by genetics, hormones, diet,

Pg.- 44-50 - 6-minute read I began our journey by planting immortelle (Helichrysum italicum) and, each year, added two to three new plants to our garden. We named our brand after immortelle because, in Spanish, it is called "siempreviva," meaning forever alive. Over time, our plantation grew to include lavender, lemon balm, mint, Roman chamomile, yarrow, sweet wormwood, St. John’s wort, and rose, among others. Today, we cultivate 36 different medicinal plants, each with its o

Pg. 88-94 - 6-minute read Elemi has always been more than a resin to me; it’s a piece of Filipino heritage with untapped potential. For generations, local communities have used it in everyday life—from fire starting to salves and incense—often unaware of its global value in perfumery and aromatherapy. Its fresh, lemony-pine scent and grounding, clarifying properties make it a treasure in wellness circles, yet it remains underappreciated compared to mainstream oils. That gap,

Pg. 30-34 - 4-minute read When I distill plants, I always see how the most polar volatile compounds prefer to remain in the hydrolate, while the essential oil only holds what doesn’t dissolve in water. A classic example is Rosa × damascena: its phenyl ethyl alcohol largely ends up in the hydrolate, making up about half of its aromatic profile, while only around 1% appears in the essential oil. Distillation is also far from gentle—boiling or steaming plant material for hours a

Pg. 22-29 - 6-minute read The Indus Valley civilisation featured advanced urban planning with wide roads, brick houses, drainage systems, and even early distillation technology, proven by a 1975 excavation that uncovered a terracotta still. As attacks increased in the western regions, distillation practices and red rose cultivation gradually shifted toward the Ganges River. In ancient Ayurveda, the native red rose (Rosa indica) was highly valued for its medicinal properties,

Pg. 54-66 - 12-minute read For centuries, Greek beauty and wellness traditions have embodied harmony between inner health and outer beauty. Ancient Greeks viewed physical beauty—clear skin, bright eyes, and athletic form—as a reflection of overall wellness. Their beauty rituals were deeply intertwined with nature, using botanicals and oils associated with goddesses like Aphrodite and Athena. Museums today still hold remnants of this culture, with delicate glass jars and ceram

Pg. 36-40 - 4-minute read Essential oils capture only a fraction of a plant’s therapeutic properties. While they contain the volatile compounds that produce aroma, the distillation process leaves behind many beneficial water-soluble compounds such as flavonoids, vitamins, and polysaccharides. Because essential oils are highly concentrated and require large amounts of plant material, sustainability and mindful use are crucial. Whole plant preparations—like infused oils, tinctu

Pg. 74-77 - 2-minute read Aromatherapy works by using essential oils—highly concentrated plant extracts—to influence both the body and the mind through scent. When inhaled, aromatic molecules travel through the nose to the olfactory receptors, which send signals to the limbic system, the brain region that governs emotion, memory, and mood. This direct connection explains why certain scents can instantly trigger powerful emotions or memories. Through this pathway, essential oi

Pg. 120-122 - 2-minute read When supporting women who prefer to avoid hormone replacement therapy (HRT) during menopause, aromatherapy combined with proper dietary guidance can help them transition through this stage comfortably. Essential oils—volatile, aromatic plant essences with therapeutic properties—offer natural support that can positively influence both physical and emotional well-being. These oils, produced in various parts of plants such as leaves, flowers, bark, or

Pg. 70-73 - 3-minute read CO₂ extraction takes advantage of carbon dioxide’s unique properties under high pressure, where it acts like a liquid solvent to draw out a wide range of active, fat-soluble plant compounds. When the pressure is released, the CO₂ returns to gas form and leaves no residue, ensuring a pure final product. The process allows precise control of the extract’s composition by adjusting pressure and temperature—lower pressures capture volatile components like