This is an activity that I really like to offer. It can be done with a group or as an activity at a stand during an event—and it’s all about making your own aromatherapy sniffer.
In a group setting, I’ll bring a selection of essential oils, and we’ll start by talking about top, middle, and bottom notes—sometimes also called head, heart, and base notes. There’s a bit of different terminology for this. At first, people often think, “I don’t know, I can’t tell the difference.” But as we go through the process of smelling a variety of essential oils, people pretty quickly start to say, “Oh, that’s a base note,” or “That’s a top note.” It starts to click.
We sort out the oils together, and then I ask each person to come up with one word that will be the theme or intention for their scent. We talk a little about intention and formulation and how an intention organizes the creative process of formulation.
Then, based on that word, each person chooses a top, middle, and bottom note that corresponds with the theme they’re going for. I show them how to smell the components together and decide if it makes a good blend. We do a bit of formulation work—this part gets a little technical, but people enjoy it—and once they’ve settled on a blend, we go ahead and assemble the sniffer sticks.
Everyone goes home with their own custom fragrance, which they can pull out and use whenever they need a moment of calm, clarity, or just something pleasant in a smelly environment. It’s a very nice activity. And if you’d like we can even make custom labels with your organization’s name or logo, how ever you want to do it. For a group it has a bonding quality, they go home with something to remind them of the day, and it involves a lot of mindful presence. When you’re smelling things carefully it really brings you into the moment.
It’s also a great activity to offer at an event booth. It’s accessible and rewarding—people can walk up thinking they know nothing about essential oils or fragrance blending and walk away having created something they’re really proud of, something they can keep and use for a long time.
So I think it’s a lovely class, whether as a group session or a drop-in activity. Please be in touch if you’d like me to provide it for your group or event.
Ok, take care!