It is regrettable that we also must include artificial chemical scents and perfumes in our list of potential negatives that endanger our health. Commercial toiletries including skin perfumes and body oils are usually complex in their make-up, unless they come with a guarantee to be pure, natural products. We must examine the list of ingredients in all chemical products and assess them according to our knowledge of their safety. We must do so on the understanding that many chemicals are not proven as yet regarding safety for general use.

Many of us who have allergic reactions or are hypersensitive to chemicals and suffer irritation or negative reactions demonstrate the factor of individual response in health matters. For those who fall into this category, there is no alternative but to mistrust every item until cautiously tested by personal trial.

Fragrances can affect the body through inhalation, ingestion or absorption through the skin. The most common signs of irritation from, or an allergic reaction to a fragrance in a product develops as a skin rash immediately or soon after using a perfume, cream or lotion. This is a clear warning sign that something is not right and the product must be avoided.

Scents can affect not only the person wearing the fragrance, but anyone who comes into contact with them.  Depending on the degree of sensitivity, some will experience symptoms of varying intensity from nausea and headache, to skin itchiness and respiratory symptoms such as asthma.

This can be a very real and serious issue in a workplace both for co-workers and for the employer who has a duty of care and who must ensure the working environment is safe and free of health risks.

The only sure way to avoid these reactions to scent and chemical deodorizers is to have a policy of a workplace rule to be entirely ‘scent-free’ as achieved with tobacco free zones.

The Canadian Lung Association and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has suggested scent-free policies as such an option for workplaces and public places. If this is adopted it will accentuate the need to use artificial perfumes as a private matter rather than in general public use.  Although this does not include natural essential aromatics, caution and discrimination is advised in employing all aromatics and perfumes.

It will not be long before the need to address this issue attracts general focus.

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Eliphas Levi was one of the earliest writers on perfume and the relationship with colour.

Charles Lilly – quoted in the Tattler – refers to his skill in preparing “snuffs and perfumes, which refresh the brain …”

Rene-Maurice Gattefosse was perhaps the earliest pioneer of modern aromatherapy in the 20th century. A distinguished French scientist, he had a laboratory accident that burned his hand. He plunged it into pure lavender oil and its immediate healing initiated further research.

Dr. George Kurti, born in Budapest in 1909 and who attended the Royal Academy of Music, invented a Scent Organ and was interested in developing the subtle healing powers of both music and scent. He believed that essential oils offer regeneration of cells and organs of the body.

Dr. Alexander Cannon K.C.A. of London, applied the developing science of aromatics to the alleviation of neurotic disorders.

Dr. Carrell of Michigan reported good results with perfume used in therapy with the insane and mentally disturbed.

M.T. Chole, of Bombay believes odoriferous matter reaches the parts of the brain not under conscious control and that its perception affects our psychic life and transforms our predispositions.

Roland Hunt, author of many works on the importance of the subtle sciences including the correlation between the musical scale and the harmonics of perfume as aids to elevating human consciousness. Ivah de Bergh Whitten encouraged Roland Hunt, teaching him of the additional influence and importance of colour.

Marguerite Maury, Austrian biochemist from her laboratory in France, introduced aromatherapy into Britain and Europe, as an adjunct to beauty treatments – offering rejuvenation and psychological help, as well as relief of physical ailments. Her scientific work provides the basis of the modern profession of aromatherapy, firmly providing this most ethereal of sciences with a scientific anchorage.

In modern London Danielle Ryman (M.Maury’s Aromatherapy, Piccadilly London) uses radiesthesia to determine which oils and in what combination they are to be used.

Micheline Arcier who trained under Mme Maury concentrates on the individual as a whole and includes dietary reform.

Marietta Kavanagh (William St, London) has developed her own specific formulas for each personality.

Philippe Mailhebiau of France, together with his research into the healing power of aromatics, has researched physical healing related aromatics to the qualities of the soul.

We await further development of the science as we use the essential oils proven to be effective in relieving both physical and psychological ailments and continue to explore the natural delights offered us as we inhale perfumes of our choice.

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