Diary of a Smell
Reconnecting with an unfamiliar scent.
Have you ever smelled something that took you by surprise? A scent that you never smelled before, but at first whiff smells so good you just want to bathe in it, forever? Well, that smell for me is plai essential oil (Zingiber cassumunar). The scent holds a place in my soul like no other I’ve ever experienced.
Here’s the funny thing though. I didn’t grow up with plai. In fact, I didn’t even know it existed until I came across it when I was studying to become a certified aromatherapist. I had to evaluate a lot of essential oils and most of them I was familiar with, having worked in the fragrance industry for 20 years. But when it was time to learn about plai, and I took that first sniff, I was completely taken aback.
Who are you? Why do you smell so familiar? What is it about you that feels so right?
Needless to say, I did what many of us do and began the intellectual exercise of diving deep into the plant and researching everything I could about its properties, all the while smelling the oil as often as my nose would allow. I learned that the plant is a wildly invasive rhizome closely related to ginger root, and grows vigorously in the warm, humid climates of Thailand. Thailand? That’s continents away!
In the end, the research - the intellectual exercise - didn’t fully satisfy my curiosity about why I was responding to this completely unfamiliar smell in such a visceral way. I resigned myself to the fact that I may never know and that was ok. Plai essential oil proceeded to become a part of my daily smelling routine, a comforting friend who understood me, although I didn’t understand her.
Fast-forward to this August when I was interviewing a guest on my podcast An Aromatic Life, psychologist Dr. Florian Birkmayer. We were talking about his work using aromas to connect with the unconscious parts of ourselves. I shared this experience of my love of plai essential oil with him and he immediately knew what was happening. He revealed that the plant was connecting with my soul. The spirit of the plant, the scent she reveals, was connecting with the unconscious parts of myself. Say what?
Dr. Birkmayer shared with me that our unconscious is a beautiful wilderness that’s meant to be explored. We spend so much time in our ego (ie. researching, trying to reason) that we forget there’s a whole other dimension to ourselves. He explained that “aromas are the royal road to the unconscious. They’re the molecules of connectedness. The aroma is saying welcome home, welcome to more of yourself.” I got chills.
I now know that smells can create connections we didn’t even know existed. I also recognize that we don’t always have to understand our experience, but rather simply allow it to take place. New wisdom will reveal itself, naturally. We just need to be open to going there.
Have you ever had an aromatic experience like mine? Do share in the comments as I’d love to hear. In the meantime, I invite you to listen to my full conversation with Dr. Birkmayer (see more below) as I believe you’ll find it as inspiring as I have.
I’ll finish by sharing my diary entry from 23. August 2023 smelling plai essential oil so you can get a glimpse of the connection I was having. I scent journal every morning to start my day. It’s a wonderful practice that I highly recommend (no essential oils required, just something smelly, anything really, to connect with). It’s an exercise in free-flow writing. No structure required. Just putting to paper whatever reveals itself. Reading the entry a year later, knowing what I’ve learned from Dr. Birkmayer now, I recognize how much time I spend in the ego, the intellect. I still have a long way to go.
Plai, how I love you so. I don’t know what it is about you, but whenever I smell you I can’t get enough. It’s a funny thing really because you come from a completely different part of the world than me - Thailand. Yes, I visited once, but I don’t recall ever being near you. The city of Bangkok was very industrial.
So, how do you smell? Slightly thick, seed-like, an aromatic camphor aspect that tickles the nose. When I first smelled you, you were rich, round, orange-yellow, but as you progress the thickness begins to dissipate. A structure that was once solid, but is now showing its skeleton over time. There’s a slight sweetness that comes through, but this seed aspect remains. It’s as if I was eating the seed of a cantaloupe or watermelon - that flavor. I guess what that smells like is a dry, not wet, wood. A woody aspect that’s surrounded by wet, moist freshness - I hate that word (what does it mean anyway!). Fresh here is bright, inviting, agreeable, opening.
What are you telling me? “Come closer, I know a few things, but don’t come too close. I’ll be here when you need me, but you need to figure this out yourself. I’m listening, but putting the thoughts back on you. What do you think you should do?”
Plai is a psychiatrist. Could be a man or woman really. The gender doesn’t reveal itself. But its aromatic aspect tells me to move, to open up and receive. Don’t close down. That seed smell - it’s always present! It’s wood with 1,8 cineole (not camphor) because it’s bluer, not green. Blue like a breeze on a crisp cold day, not a breeze in the forest. I feel like the seed is nestled in moist surroundings, happy there so it can shine.
Plai, you remain a mystery. I will be back to discover more!
This week’s episode of my podcast, An Aromatic Life, is a perfect segue to what I’ve been talking about today - this conversation will inspire you!
In this episode I sit down with Dr. Florian Birkmayer to discuss the role of aromas in fostering connection and reconnection, especially with the unconscious parts of ourselves.
This conversation is filled with aromatic tips to help you get through the difficult times we find ourselves in.
You’ll hear Dr. Birkmayer talk about the importance of a holistic view, which considers the impact of aromas on multiple levels, from the molecular to the cultural.
He explains that aromas can serve as a gateway to the unconscious, helping individuals transcend their ego and tap into their deeper selves.
He highlights the obstacles posed by the intellect and fear of the unknown, and encourages listeners to embrace the power of their unconscious and explore their shadow.
The conversation explores the different layers of the psyche and how to reconnect with them using aromas. Dr. Birkmayer discusses the different layers of the unconscious mind and their significance in personal and collective transformation.
He explains the importance of the ego as a tool for manifestation and the need to establish a cooperative relationship between the ego and the soul.
He also delves into the concept of the collective unconscious and its impact on world history, while emphasizing the urgency of reconnecting with each other and with Nature to address the current global challenges.
You can hear this episode and many more on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.