Aromachologist is a person who practices aromachology, which is a method of using smells

or essential oils to create, either in isolation or through blending in formulations, essential oils
that have a positive behavioral, physical and emotional benefits. The sense of smell is the
least studied of all the senses, but aromachology is being used increasingly not just in
healthcare and building science, but also in the world of sports and in practical matters such
as selling a house.
While all aromachologists have a refined sense of smell, some employ other senses including
sight, sound and hearing. These are synesthetes and history document various famous
synesthetes such as American painter David Hockney, Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky,
Austrian composer Franz Liszt and English poet William Blake.

Contents
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1 Aromachologist

2 Synesthesia

3 Universal synesthesia

4 Effects of Aromachology

5 Role of an aromachologist

6 References

7 External links

[edit] Aromachologist
Aromachologist is a person who studies the effects of fragrance on human psychology and
behavior and works with essential oils for positive effects on behavior and feeling. An
aromachologist is a practitioner of aromachology, which is a term coined in 1982 by the
Olfactory Research Fund, now known as the Sense of Smell Institute (SSI), a division of the
Fragrance Foundation in the USA, which has funded numerous medical, university and
individual studies on the effects of scents on sleep and performance. Aromachology differs
from Aromatherapy.
An aromachologist is a formulator who works with essential oils for their aromatic and
physical effects and is an expert in the way essential oils can be blended and articulated
together to create behavioral fragrances [1] to establish the positive effects of aromas on
human behavior including feelings and emotions.

The aims of aromachology are to study the interrelationship of psychology and the latest in
fragrance technology and to transmit through odor a variety of specific feelings (such as
relaxation, exhilaration, sensuality, happiness and achievement) directly to the brain.[2]
When odors activate the olfactory pathways that lead to the limbic portion of the brain, they
trigger the release of neurotransmitters that affect the brain and mental state of the individual
in a variety of ways. Further, stimuli transmitted to the limbic system cannot be consciously
blocked and all olfactory stimuli therefore influence our emotions.[citation needed]
Smell as a sense is the last frontier of neuroscience and has not been studied in as much depth
as vision and hearing. The brain is able to process small differences in smell [3] and the sense
of smell may last longer in the aging process than sight and hearing. The olfactory bulb is that
portion of the brain which processes smells information and its oscillations alter dynamically
according to the tasks involved.

[edit] Synesthesia
There are some people who process smells differently, hearing them as sounds. Canadian
aromachologist, Nadine Artemis, author and formulator for Living Libations,[4] is one such
synestheste.[not in citation given]
When Nadine Artemis picks up a scent, she also sees colors. Therefore, when she is creating
in aromachology, she is not only combining a palette of smells, she is also mixing a palette of
colors to blend the purest, organic essential oils into an array of beneficial products. For
example, when Nadine Artemis sniffs tainted or synthetic fragrances, she sees them as murky
gray or muddy brown. Discovering this extraordinary sense of smell at a young age, Nadine
Artemis sees different distillations of rose, one of the worlds most expensive essential oils,
as hues and tones of pink and red. Calming chamomile comes across in hues varying from
oceanic teals to deep royal blues.

[edit] Universal synesthesia

It is believed that we all possess a small degree of synesthesia [5] according to Dr Jamie Ward
of College University, London, which is the rare quality of intermixing images, sounds and
other sensations. Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky is believed to have employed four
senses:touch, smell, color and sound.
There are any instances of literature that may have portrayed synesthesia. Here are a couple
of examples.
Famous poet William Blake (17571827) was probably a synesthete. In his poem Wild
Flower Song, he writes: As I wander'd the forest,
The green leaves among,
I heard a wild flower
Singing a song

In the book Perfume by Patrick Sskind, the main character, Grenouille, is born with a
hyper-acute sense of smell but lacks his own bodily scent. He goes on a life quest consisting
of several murders, to recreate the scent of innocence he sniffed on a beautiful girl.

[edit] Effects of Aromachology

Studies have been conducted to show that those parts of the brain which govern alertness and
concentration can be influenced positively or negatively by the olfactory substances used.
Jasmine in a testing room enhanced the problem-solving cognitive skills of participants and
also lead to them demonstrating more interest and motivation to the task at hand [6] A
combination of eucalyptus, peppermint oil and ethanol has also been shown to improve
cognitive performance, and participants, after a monotonous stressful task, were shown to
demonstrate a greater for motivation after being exposed to a blend of peppermint, bergamot,
sandalwood and lavender.[6]

[edit] Role of an aromachologist

Pleasant aromas cause people to linger longer, a boon to retail stores, museums, spas and
casinos. Pleasant smells have been shown to improve productivity, and improve physical
performance with athletes running faster and doing more pushups and experiencing recovery
time after an extensive workout when the room was scented with either peppermint or lemon
[7]

By blending specific smells, an aromachologist can create a more restful environment and
improve health conditions. A study in 1987 [8] showed that the smells found in nutmeg oil,
maze extract, neroli oil, valerian oil, myristici, soelemcin and elemicin reduces stress in
humans as well as reducing stress-related blood pressure. The Mind Lab, an independent
consultancy in the UK, studies the odor of a building as part of its research on the brains
responses to various stimuli.[9] Real estate brokers have been recommending to their clients to
have smells of freshly baked cookies or the aroma of coffee in the house when it is being
presented to potential buyers to create a sense of home. By bottling and releasing appropriate
smells to evoke comfort, safety and joy, an owner may be able to accelerate the sale of a
house.
Worker productivity can be enhanced by improving the quality of air in a building, not just by
removing the negative pollutants, but also by introducing through ventilation or air
conditioning systems olfactory stimulations to get a mix of ventilated air and odor.
It is necessary to ensure that the dosage is such that the odor is not excessive and should be
kept just above the detection level. Also, these olfactory substances are very different from
perfume and should instead replicate the smell of natural outdoor air[8]
A skilled aromachologist can concoct combinations of oils to reduce road rage, reduce fatigue
and improve concentration while driving. Peppermint decreases anxiety and fatigue while
driving, in combination with cinnamon, it reduces the level of frustration encountered in
traffic and also heightens alertness.
Jasmine is used as a sleep aid and the scent of vanilla is useful for those who want to cut the
craving for sweets after lunch