The Earthy smell in Nature after a Summer rain, is called “petrichor” which is caused by a bacteria in the soil called actinomycete. Earthy Fragrances have the power to ground us, making us feeling calmed, reducing our stress, and evoking a connection to Nature. These earthy Fragrance notes are used in Wellness products  for stress reduction, mindfulness, evok-ing memories and mood enhancement.

The ingredients creating an earthy fragrance are: Woods, Moss, Resins, Roots, Vetiver, Patchouli. Woods take a role in providing a grounding and comforting base note that can go from creamy, dry, dark, smokey, fresh, amber aroma facets: Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Bud-dha Wood, Tobacco, Eucalyptus, Palo Santo, Vetiver. Moss notes add a natural earthy, flo-ral and damp aroma facet: Oakmoss, Tree Moss. 

Roots, like Orris root have a powdery floral and earthy aroma facet. Ginger brings a shiny sparkling facet with earthy notes.
Vetiver is a grass that offers woody and earthy aroma facet with a hint of spice. It grounds us.
Patchouli is a very strong earthy aroma with a slightly sweet undertone, perfect as a base note and fixative.

The aroma components from natural products have been used for mental, spiritual and physical healing for millennia. 
Aromatherapy came to be a therapy through the need to treat various disorders by us-ing “fragrance substances” from natural sources.
Aromatherapy’s purpose is to heal a person’s mind, body and soul. Many ancient civilisations up to modern times have used aromatherapy, herbal medicine, and essential oils for the treatment of psychological and physical disorders such as headache, insomnia, eczema, stress-induced anxiety, depression and digestive problems.

There are various methods in Aromatherapy to uses for healing, using “substances” in small quantities, including inhalation, massage or simple applications on the skin surface and, in some cases,“substances” can be administered internally via capsules.

Among the various natural fragrant components, essential oils are the ones mainly used as therapeutic agents. These are highly concentrated volatile and complex mixture of aro-matic components obtained from different organs of the plant. There are about 17,500 aromatic plant species from different angiosperms families producing essential oils, particularly the Lamiaciaceae, Rutaceae, Myrtaceae, Zingiberaceae and Asteraceae families. Essential oils contain between 20 to 60 different components in various concentrations. These components are classified into two major groups: terpenes and aromatic compounds. The terpenes are the largest group used in natural fragrances.

In Aromatherapy, the most used aromatic plants for the healing of variety of physical and psychological disorders are: Bergamot, Caraway, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Juniper, Laven-der, Lemon, Lemongrass, Mint, Orange, Peppermint, Pine, Rosemary, Sage, Tea Tree, Thyme and Ylang Ylang.  Nowadays, a variety of consumer products such as candles, per-fumes, personal care products, fresheners, detergents, just name a few, have Aromatherapeuthic benefits as well.

The Art of Natural Perfumery is no longer focused on just making perfumes from the aesthetic point of view. Aside from the aesthetics, there is also a therapeutical function impacting our health in a positive way. The fusion of Natural Perfumery and Aromatherapy is bringing “Perfumotherapy” as a new Art Form.
The International Perfume Foundation (IPF) is offering this Certification in Perfumotherapy as a complementary certification from training in Olfaction, Natural Perfumery and Aromatherapy. 
Should you be interested in enhancing your Natural Perfumery skills, you are welcome to visit the variety of Certification Courses IPF offers.

REFERENCES:
“What causes the earthy smell after rain?” CGTN - Earth - Haylun, Wan - 
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“Influence of Fragrances on Human Psychopysiological Activity: with special reference to human electroencephalographic response” - Sowndhararjan, Kandhasamy; Kim, Songmun - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

​Fall is the season we go into soul connection, looking at what we have done so far to prepare for our winter retreat and the year ahead. It’s a difficult season for many as it marks the end of summer and its strong energy and the onset of winter. Losing the exciting summer light is difficult for many of us.
 
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, autumn is linked with the energy of the lung, symbolized by melancholy and the work of the breath. This season, it is important to focus on real breathing work in order to open and lighten your emotions, to let go and reconnect with yourself. In many traditions, breath is the energy of life. The work of breathing increases vitality and dynamism. While physical exercise is work on the body, meditation on the mind, respiratory work acts on the emotions. When we breathe automatically, we exchange ½ liter of air roughly with each breath, but when we breathe consciously, we exchange 5 liters of air. Combine with breathing work, natural essences chosen for their properties on the psyche, you will thus increase the well-being of the body and also of the mind.

In Traditional Indian Medicine, Pranayama is the 8th discipline of yoga and it focuses on the breathing work to balance the body and mind. For example, solar breathing or "surya bedhana", energises the body and mind, while lunar breathing, "chandra bedhana", on the contrary, promotes the inner calmness. Solar breathing is practiced by inhaling through the right nostril and exhaling through the left nostril. For lunar breathing, it is the other way around.
​When we accompany each breath with a natural essence, I advise you to pour one to three drops on a paper tissue to breathe prior the exercice.

This fall, five essences will wonderfully help all the physical and energetic work to accompany you well during this season. They will help to relax the body, lighten the emotions, energize the vital energy, calm the mind and regain enthusiasm.
 
1. Bergamot essence awakens enthusiasm and joie de vivre while allowing you to let go of the mind. It goes very well with the essential oil of Roman chamomile and its honey-like note.
 
2. Roman Chamomile essential oil is solar. It brings the mind back to inner calm by allowing the mind to let go. It is the essence to fight against minor anxieties, anxiety and negative moods (in combination with the essence of bergamot).
 
3. Cardamom essential oil brings flavor back to life. It also helps alleviate the emotional burdens that you keep to yourself. Breathing in its essence helps to regain the desire for ... Mix it with bergamot and you will have a sparkling and joyful note that will make you want to sink your teeth into life.
 
4. Black spruce essential oil is the one that saves you from fatigue in the fall and also in winter. To breathe it is to dive into Canada's boreal forests. Its fragrance is woody, fresh and balsamic. It goes very well with other facets such as woods, balsamics, hesperides, ...
 
5. Scots pine essential oil stimulates the body by acting directly on the adrenal glands (it increases cortisol levels when used on the skin). It also brings a feeling of solidity and anchoring. Mix it with the essence of bergamot to make you feel light and light on the ground or that of black spruce to combat physical and mental fatigue.
 
If you've never breathed as directed, don't be afraid to take the first step. This is the one that matters!