Persephenie is an online mecca of aromatherapy treatments for your mind and body. From facial/body oils to lip balm to incense to perfumes, this is your one stop shop for it all. I am a big believer in aromatherapy and love scents, but actually never discussed the meaning or need for them before. Below, you will find my interview with Persephenie and learn a little more about how scents play a part in our lives.
I read through your bio and it’s amazing how scents have such meaning in our lives. Do you feel that certain scents are better for you at different times of day?
Scent is very personal, so particular aromas that are better for certain times of the day are individual. Personally if I rise very early, especially before the sun, I enjoy soft grounding meditative scents based around the scent of wood and resin. As the sun rises and I embrace the beginning of a new day, I tend towards brighter uplifting fragrances that are herbaceous, citrus, green, and lightly floral. By the end of the day, when my mind is slowing, I gravitate back towards earthy aromas that possess depth, warmth, sultriness, and sometimes gourmand aspects. Deep woods, spices, musky notes, and rich florals are my favorites for the evening.
Different times of our lives?
When I think of different times, I think of where we are at in our lives; age, love, sorrow, happiness, sickness, celebration, and so on. There are scents associated with these periods, as well as aromas that can help support us during challenging times. My general rule is choosing uplifting energetic notes when your down, flowers open the heart and are pretty much good anytime, and earthy grounding notes for when your feeling scattered.
D0 you find when you meet people you are in tune with their scents?
It depends on how intimate I want to know them! My sense of smell is in tiered sensitivities. I’ve learned how to tune myself down when needed. Smelling is not breathing and there is a wide varied spectrum of people smells. I can inhale my son and partner forever deeply with pure love and appreciation, and on the other spectrum, I have definitely held my nose around people I didn’t want to smell.
How would you tell someone to use essential oils? I love them, but I don’t necessarily know how to go about using them.
Essential oils are rewarding to use, smell great, and used correctly can support a healthy lifestyle. Essential oils are made up of complex structures of chemical components and therefore each essential oil needs to be addressed individually. The first thing I would suggest is to use them cautiously and consciously, and to get a good book. I know that sounds like work, but it’s worth it. Essential oils can be used in your bath, added to body and face care, used for cleaning, for scenting the home, directly inhaled, and even incorporated into cooking. The key is to educate yourself on safety, dilutions, and safe ratios. Start with one that your attracted to. You don’t need a kit or an essential oil encyclopedia. Start with one and do your homework. Lavender is a great place to begin.
What scent would you recommend for someone who is very sensitive to smell, to get them into oils, candles, etc.
I would suggest familiar scents. For the home, there are a wide variety of citruses which smell clean and fresh like grapefruit, orange, and lemon. Common garden plants like geranium and lavender can be added to an unscented product like shampoo or body oil. When you scent your own products, you can control the level of intensity. I would recommend not going above 1%, which means for every oz, do not go above 6 drops. Natural candles made with botanical oils will not smell aggressive.
Diffusing or direct inhalation from Italian bergamot essential oil, cold press from the rind of the bergamot fruit. It is calming, while being uplifting, fresh, and it’s a super essential oil for decompressing at the end of a long day when you want to unwind but not necessarily fall asleep. Smell it in your car, public transportation, or diffuse in your house when you get home.
Get energetic (maybe for a workout)?
Ginger essential oil, steam distilled from the roots of the plant, before and after your work out is great. Ginger is refreshing and energizing. Mentally wake up with direct inhalation, and you can warm up your muscles by making a simple body oil of one oz almond oil and three drops of ginger. Ginger is warming and may help loosen up tight muscles and relieve aches and pains. It’s also known to stimulate circulation and can be used in a sugar scrub in your after-work-out-shower. Add four to five drops to an ounce of unscented sugar scrub, and gently scrub on your body where you seek smoothness.
Where do you see Persephenie going in the next few years? What other products are in development?
There seems to be so much interest in classes, so I see more in depth perfumery teaching. Also, I manufacture my products in small batches, which gives me the flexibility to explore various types of apothecary. I definitely see soap, a face wash, perfume, and more incense in the future.
I also consider myself an artist and I’m embarking on Capsule Projects, which is a series of limited experimental design and art projects. I’m always making stuff on the side, so I thought I’d incorporate my ideas into my brand without the commitment of an ongoing product or of being a certain type of artist. The Capsule Projects will have a beginning and an end, they’ll contain twenty to fifty items, and besides working with exciting new materials myself, I get to collaborate with other crafters. My fantasy is to work with crafters across the globe. My first series will be jewelry and small sculptural items.
