“The individual is not the sum of his common impressions but of his unusual ones. Thus familiar mysteries are created in us which are expressed in rare symbols. It is near water and its flowers that I have best understood that reverie is an ever-emanating universe, a fragrant breath that issues from things through the dreamer.”

~Gaston Bachelard, Water and Dreams

It was this quote that has brought me here to discuss what can only be referred to as a perversion of the Arts. Art, as I understand it, is highly subjective. It is reminiscent of the old adage ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.’ There are as many opinions as to what constitutes ‘Art’ as there are people alive in the world and they are all correct in their understanding. Classically speaking, art consisted of painting, sculpting, poetry and song, among a few other minor trades. I’ve gotten pretty good at drawing, all manners of sewing including needlepoint and knitting, prose and painting, although I would not consider myself an artist at any of them. Yes, I can hold my own against every other person who has a passing interest in these things but an artist? Not so much. That said, I will not be speaking of these things because I do not have the working knowledge to do so. I do, however, have more than a smidge of talent in the art of scent and so it happens that this is where I will be focusing my argument.

I once read of an experiment in which two perfumers were given the task of creating an essence around a single scent. Now keep in mind one of these was a professional, commercial perfumer working in a big ‘house’ in the perfume industry. The other was not a casual perfumer in the least, but not employed in the same line of work and they are not central to the point here anyway. The single essence is not what is to note here but the process. The commercial perfumer took a bit of time thinking and considering the single scent with which to center his universe. He then proceeded to ‘compute’ his perfume in his head. 5ml of this….3ml of that….6ml of the other…and whatnot. This formula no doubt recalled charts, diagrams and classifications whereupon he remembered what essences typically married well with others and being careful to include 4 base chords, 4 middle chords and 4 top chords, possibly a little more or less. Now remember, this man is a professional and probably makes more money in a year than you or I will see in a lifetime.

Bringing this perspective into another area, we have the commercialization of religion and its accoutrements. I am fortunate enough to personally know more than 5 people who are running their own establishments. These range from a bookstore to a tattoo parlor to…well, the others are mostly Pagan oriented shops. While each owner has their own distinct personality, the bookstore is the same as all of the others, the tattoo parlor (with the exception of quality of service) is the same as the others, the Pagan oriented shops are the same as all of the others. Every person who comes across a little bit of money wants to open their own shop for whatever reason. Why are they all the same? Because they have all conformed to what they think the general public wants without any thought to what they, as individuals, want. Or maybe they do so with full knowledge and money is the leading cause. Whatever the case may be, what is missing is the Art.

I have heard from many different people that my essence blends are more effective in ritual and magick than others that are made and sold in the various shops in this area, and beyond. And they are, I should know because I have fully tested and compared each one to my limits before they are marketed and sold. Sometimes I will go on a binge of sorts and create two or three blends in a week and sometimes I will not create for months. Even during my highly creative moments, there is always a process by which additions are made or proportions adjusted after the initial creation.

In order to create, I have to set the mood. Many times this involves changes in music and lighting, other times I am inspired by reading poetry or a highly descriptive work. Other times inspiration comes from a movie or an argument with my husband. Still other, the mood is already in place when I wake in the morning, having spent some time in lucid dreaming. I have even woken up in the middle of the night with a memory or feeling that I absolutely must begin to capture in scent before I can retire once again.

Once the mood is set and I have a particular feeling ready to be evoked, I turn to my oils and slowly begin to remember each scent, one by one. I tend to think of essences in terms of personalities. Some are gentle and silently coax you to leave everything behind you and run away with the wind. Others are immediately beautiful but fade with no depth or lasting impression. There are a few that are high and bright, where you can’t help but giggle with their cheerfulness. Others still must be seduced into submission. Then there are those who must be encouraged to shine amidst other, more recognizable essences, where one precious drop stands between perfection and destruction of the relationship so carefully nurtured. There are scents that are beautiful on their own, such as tuberose, musk and patchouli. Each must be allowed to shine in their own place, in their own time.

At the risk of sounding like a snob, you are not creating anything special or mystical when you mix 4 oils together and appreciate the resulting scent. Just as our emotions are complex, so are the essences inspired by them. My simplest blend contains 9 different scents. My most complex, no less than 15. This is why no one can duplicate my blends and why they smell like nothing else. Smell one, the most practiced nose will not be able to discern the ingredients.

It seems like everyone has decided to become all knowing. Why fully learn an art when you can learn just enough to get by and make some cash? Learn the first five minutes and then move on to the next and call yourself a master. How many mediums do you know who cannot also read Tarot? And how many Tarot readers do you know who do not also offer Reiki? How many Reiki ‘Masters’ do you know who do not also offer spiritual counseling or Life Coaching? Classic cases of Jack of all trades, master of none.

You know the old saying, “Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining”? Well, don’t rip of the head of a doll, stuff roses down it’s neck and call it a ‘vahz.’