The Power of Perfume: The Values of Scent and Aroma

The perfumes of life are all around us. Freshly mown grass, a pine forest, baking bread, the sea and the seashore all provide refreshing and welcoming fragrances, while the clinical smell of a hospital or the pungent stench of a farmyard may be less appealing. Our own personal aromas play a large part in the quality of our life as well, whether they are natural or chosen. The author demonstrates how fragrances in all forms can have life-improving values - as wearable perfumes, as flowers and spices to enhance the taste and appearance of food and drink, as plants to create beautiful gardens, as scents to calm or enliven the mind and spirit, as gentle, aromatherapeutic remedies for bodily ailments. The book also touches on the use and significance of perfumes throughout history and around the world, from ancient Egyptian temple decoration to ritual American smudging to floral feng shui. There are chapters on astrological associations and ghostly fragrances, as well as recipes for making personal perfumes for yourself and your home. Most people already have some idea of the power of perfume. This wide-ranging, informative book will help you to make it work for you.