It's obvious that I love essential oils. I believe in the rejuvenating and healing properties of high quality therapeutic oils. And I love sharing them with other people - personally and professionally.
That doesn't mean that I love smells, nor do I want odors to permeate all aspects of my life. I particularly don't want imposed scents invading my nasal passages without my permission, especially when they are man-made and petrochemically-based, and most scents are. But I, like zillions of others who read newspapers and magazines daily, will be having the experience of surprise scents wafting up from our reading material very soon.
The "smell" industry is coming to get us, and they're coming fast. Why not? We're a captive audience with pages that can hold scent right under our nose. What great opportunity for advertising. Well, I'm freaking out. I already have a hard time walking through perfume counters in department stores. And don't even talk to me about Bed, Bath, and Beyond. I get a headache every time I'm in that place from the "perfume-grade" aromatherapy items that line just about every aisle. My friends don't understand this about me. They say "how can you feel that way when 'aromatherapy' is a main thrust of what you do?"
I remind them "not all aromas are therapeutic", as a matter of fact most of the identifiable smells we have are man-made and petrochemically based. That is one of the main reasons why I rarely use the word "aromatherapy" to describe what I do. Instead of saying that I do "aromatherapy", I say that I work with the "use of therapeutic grade essential oils". There is a huge difference. As a matter of fact, I inhale my therapeutic oils to counteract the effects of these artificial scents.
In the past few years we have seen an increased interest in "smelling-ness" as evidenced by the popularity of "aromatherapy". Large corporations are sniffing out advertising opportunities that this can offer. In 2006 companies spent $80 million on scent related marketing in 2006. And its only the beginning. Here are some examples:
--Kraft Foods sent a holiday issue with "rub and smell" ads for Jell-O and Chips Ahoy.
--Verizon Wireless had chocolate "scent strips" to promote a mobile phone and music player called Chocolate.
--Diet Pepsi has their ads, coupons, and store signs smelling like their new soft drink's fruit and vanilla fragrance.
"Scent Marketing" is catching on. Darn. And I was so glad when my invoices from Macy's and Strawbridges stopped wearing those headache-causing perfumes. Oh well. What does this all mean (besides the consideration of dumping the papers and reading everything online?) Well for me it just means more education is necessary. We need to let people know that there is a difference in an "aromatherapy" marketing venture and the therapeutic use of essential oils for health, healing, and beauty. I hope you join me in that effort.
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