The Yatlina Philosophy
There are many different approaches to aromatherapy. Some might say that mine is quite geeky, as I go very deep into the science and the traditions. Then there’s also the need in my mind to make blends that I know have a positive effect and are a complete fragrance. This is my focus on being a therapeutic perfumer if you like.
Three strands make up my philosophy when I start to create any blend: the chemistry, the traditions, and the scent.
The Chemistry
I spend a significant amount of time on research for each formulation. It’s my way of helping to ensure maximum effectiveness from each blend.
Every essential oil is unique, and the same essential oil can be different depending on where and how it’s grown and even when it’s harvested. An oil can be made up of anything up to several hundred different chemicals.
It’s never “just” anything.
When we say things like “it’s just lavender oil”, there’s no just about it! You’d be amazed at what’s going on inside each drop. This is the science part of what I do. I get to know each of the oil’s components and evaluate their effectiveness for the condition I have in mind. I apply the same rigour to my research, whether I’m using an oil on its own or creating a synergistic blend.
Why does it matter?
For me, it’s a critical step in choosing the right ingredients for the right action from each formula. I want to make sure that I’ve done the work so you get the best possible outcome from using any Yatlina product.
The Traditions
All around the world, people have been using natural ingredients for thousands of years. You’ll find it referred to in records and stories shared by people around the world, particularly women, in their roles as healers and herbalists.
I love to think of my role in continuing that long tradition, as well as now adding to the knowledge of tradition with evidence from science.
I enjoy researching these stories and documents to understand what lies behind these traditions. You begin to see how nature and the environment play a big part in forming and influencing the use of different plants and their extracts.
Tradition starts with location.
There’s always been a philosophy of using what’s around you and watching what the local wildlife touches and avoids. Did you know Helichrysum always grew in bare and struggling areas after forest fires? People in the area observed how it seemed to heal the soil and make it thrive again. They used it in many traditional remedies for the same purposes for centuries. And then, the science followed, with many studies on Helichrysum's “Immortal” properties.
More than just a story
Just because something is a tradition, or comes from a story, doesn’t mean there’s nothing behind it. Some people are quick to dismiss things as just folk tales, but as time, and research, goes on, we get to understand that they were quite possibly onto something.
The Scent
Our memories and emotions are both inextricably linked to aroma. The Sense of Smell Institute found people could recall a scent with 65% accuracy 12 months later, compared to being only able to recall 50% of visual elements after just three months.
And you have to be a fairly hardened soul to walk past a bakery just taking bread out of the oven and not feel a whole range of emotions, not to mention hunger!
From the first sniff to the last
Finding the right balance of ingredients is crucial to the effectiveness of each formulation. Chemistry and anecdotes only go so far if the resulting scent isn’t very pleasant. It’s one of the reasons I think of myself as a bit like a therapeutic perfumer. Blending natural ingredients is as much art as science. Getting the right scent takes experience, a bit of experimentation, and a passion for finding the balance between fragrance and effectiveness.
The skill of a perfumer
This is what people mean when they talk about a perfumer rounding out, or finishing, a fragrance. There’s nothing jagged or spiky in the smell, nothing that catches at the back of your throat as it develops. It’s why we then keep returning to scents; they smell good. And just because aromatherapy is about supporting your health doesn’t mean it shouldn’t smell wonderful. Equally, it can’t just smell great; you need the science and knowledge to make sure it does you good too.
As I hope I’ve explained, the three things work together to ensure the most effective product I can create.
Got a question?
Then please drop me an email, and I’ll do my best to answer it. Or you can find me on social media @Yatlina if you prefer.