Interview with Filipino Aromatherapist, Distiller, Educator, and AIA President Jirbie Go By Ildikó Berecz
- Aromatika Magazine
- 15 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Pg. 18-25 - 8-minute read
From the bold steps of the trailblazers (Giants), a new generation of aromatherapists emerges, who we call Cultivators. They are driven to preserve the discovered paths, and have a deeper calling: to tend, refine, and elevate the wisdom already entrusted to us. Rooted in botanical knowledge and guided by both science and intuition, they honour the delicate intelligence of plants while shaping the future of aromatherapy with clarity and care. These stewards move beyond innovation for its own sake; they cultivate meaning, integrity, and connection in every drop, every formulation, every practice.
In their hands, aromatherapy becomes not only a craft, but a living continuum – where tradition is preserved, knowledge is expanded, and the essence of nature is carried forward with purpose. In this edition, Aromatika editor Ildikó Berecz interviewed Filipino aromatherapist, distiller and educator Jirbie Go, who gave up her business career for aromatherapy, joined AIA (Alliance of International Aromatherapists), tried herself as AIA Philippines rep and in 2025, she was elected as President.
How did you initially get involved with aromatherapy, and what made you start working with essential oils? Where did you start your career?
I used to belong in the corporate world, having worked in multiple multinational companies, with a background in Finance and Marketing. I've also been rescuing animals since 2014, and when my rescues started giving me allergy attacks, I didn't want to go to the doctor because I knew they'd tell me to get rid of my cats (which I'm never willing to do!). For a time, I was popping antihistamines daily and sometimes multiple times a day. I know it was
hurting my liver and kidneys in the process. So, I Googled for alternative ways to support my health, and I found out about essential oils.
What do you think of the greatest achievement in your aromatherapy career so far?
I carry many stories from my work as an aromatherapist, and I'm intentional about getting involved in as many aspects of our field as possible. But one of my favourite stories to tell is about this farmer I worked with during the pandemic. Most of the farmers I met here, who have become curious about aromatherapy after seeing it boom during the pandemic, still
didn't fully understand the value of what they were producing. In fact, many were discarding their hydrosols, not realising they were just as precious as the essential oils themselves.
One farmer, in particular, was distilling rosemary (and you all know how hard it is to grow rosemary!). When I learned that he had been throwing away his rosemary hydrosol, I encouraged him to start bottling it in litre quantities so our aromatherapy students could purchase it.
I don't earn a single centavo from this, as I would always ask our students to reach out to these producers straight. After selling his first two production batches, he reached out to me with a message I'll never forget. He shared that, through those hydrosol sales alone, he had paid off his debt to the government. The story still brings so much joy and warmth to
my heart whenever I get to talk about it. For me, my greatest achievement is not the accolades; it's about the number of lives I have touched through my work.
What would be your tips for a new or upcoming aromatherapist new to the field?
Knowledge is power. Take time to learn from a reputable school. In the age of unregulated access to information and AI, formal education is always best. Then, keep the fire burning! And don't let the naysayers affect you. If you think the external noise is too overwhelming, reach out to me, and I'll be your personal cheerleader!
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