There are deep and mysterious relationships among the soil, water, sunlight, air, and the bodies of plants that absorb and transform these elements. These relationships create wondrous alchemies, transforming these elements into foods, medicines, and fragrances.
An aromatic plant creates its fragrance from the nutrients of the soil and its symbiotic microbial ecologies. When we breathe that perfume, we are breathing the breath of the living soil. These plants also derive their fragrance from radiant solar energy, in a biorhythm set in motion by the sun, moon, and stars. When we breathe that perfume, we are breathing the breath of the celestial heavens.
Additionally, aromatic plants create their fragrance from springs, dew, rains, snowmelt, and underground streams. When we breathe that perfume, we are breathing the breath of the living waters. They also capture the essence of wind and breezes, making us breathe the breath of the sky.
There are deep and mysterious relationships among the movements of the heavens, the environmental elements, the aromatic molecules created by plants, and the atmosphere that serves as their medium of travel. These relationships extend to the atmosphere and human breath, creating a connection between the aromatic molecules, human breath, and the neurochemical changes that occur as fragrances enter the brain. These changes influence consciousness, highlighting the profound effects fragrances have on our mental state.
Ultimately, these interconnected relationships form one living mystery, from the movements of the heavens to the creation of reality by the human mind. Understanding this, we can purify the world.
Unpleasant odors arise from conditions of poverty and hunger, war and violence, ignorance and unawareness, lack of sanitation, and toxic pollution. These smells are the breath of pathogens, the scent of epidemics, and the aroma of death, causing unhappiness, agitation, aggression, and dullness in the human mind.
In contrast, fresh, clean, attractive, enjoyable, and pleasant smells come from conditions of environmental stewardship, ecological balance, sanitation, and cleanliness. They represent social and spiritual well-being, promoting health and vitality. These pleasant aromas cause happiness, serenity, compassion, and greater awareness in the human mind.
To transform the realms of human misery into realms of happiness and fulfillment, we must cooperate to plant gardens perfumed with beautiful fragrances and filled with aromatic medicinal plants. Humanity does not need more weapons; it needs balms of lavender, rose, and neroli that promote peaceful sleep, reduce stress, calm anxiety, and free the mind from depression and fear.
The world needs unguents of frankincense and vetiver to cool fevers and inflammation, elixirs of OSHA, rosemary, and ginger to stimulate and strengthen the immune system, and purifying essences of pine, fir, spruce, and cedar to disinfect the mucous membranes. Salves of helichrysum, chamomile, and champa can cure skin diseases.
Society does not need more electronic gadgets or high-tech entertainment devices. We need to anoint each other with fragrances that promote emotional openness, quiet the mind, build inner strength, overcome isolation, enhance intimacy, and support truthful communication. Noble aphrodisiacs of sandalwood, jasmine, and lotus can help men transform pathological lust into passionate love and help women transform their fear and hatred of men’s violence into nourishing, powerful sensuality.
When peaceful cities are blessed with myriad sweet floral scents, when healthy forests are filled with balsamic coniferous perfumes, when farms are enveloped in the earthy aromas of healthy soil and robust crops, and when homes are infused with temple essences that bring joy and tranquility, we will understand why the ancients taught that plants were gifts from heaven.
