5.30 a.m. and another magnificent (or, as the Australians say, 'boomer') day forecast! This sustained period of glorious weather (how long is it now?) really does make a difference to life. For some, like the elderly, it is too warm but, for me, it is a reminder of long, hot, days spent in the Tropics. Marvellous!

My nose operation last year, to restore smell, achieved nothing but, with this warm weather, both smell and taste are restored. Maybe I shall not now be as dependent upon Jan and Janny to do the olfactory testing for me. At least, I can now really enjoy what I eat.

However, I do detect the odd drawback. Obviously the good weather is a therapy in itself as I do perceive a dip in sales, but this is a small price to pay. However, the lengthening period that it takes the pump to bring our well water to the surface does concern me a little!

Meanwhile, as I write, a pair of roe deer are gently cropping the apples and a proud mother partridge is strutting about with her chicks. It is nice to see the English, or grey, partridge again rather than the more familiar French, or red legged, relative. Idyllic!

All this leads naturally to the continuing saga of Kunkler, the parrot, who despite the best efforts of Nelly Grosjean continues to savage me whenever I am within nipping range. However, and why I never thought of it, all has been explained by our American Aloe (USA Best and shortly to be added to our list) supplier, a parrot enthusiast herself, who pointed out that, at five years of age, Kunkler is now aware of 'the facts of life' and probably views me as a rival! Considering that he probably has another forty years to go, and that I have a limited pain threshold, I am (as he no doubt is) on the lookout for an attractive lady parrot!

At last! We have hit the magic 10,000! Our winner, SUZANNE HOUGH, sounded rather surprised when I phoned her and I suspect wondered what on earth I was blathering about .... it was her first order! Still, well done Suzanne, the cash is on its way!

Some have asked me what happened to the GREAT AUSTRALIAN TOUR. You may recollect that I was most enthusiastic about this proposed foray to the Outback. Well  my partner in the venture, DON MILLER, had to undergo a series of operations on his spine, which confined him to bed for several months, and then the worsening Aboriginal situation ('all the land blong me') forced us to abort the project.

Meanwhile, Don has bought another hotel (even more remote and exotic) but, tragically, his wife KAY has just suffered two minor heart attacks and so we have had to put plans on the backburner again. Sorry, but we shall get there....eventually.

Last month, I had a slight 'dig' at one or two aspects of the aromatherapy business with which I was not completely happy. Of course they were purely personal observations, as are all my mutterings, but they did elicit some responses. One of which was from the NATURAL OILS RESEARCH ASSOCIATION (NORA), the organizer of which is (or probably now was) an old and valued friend.

I totally accept his conjecture that there was no intentional "pushing of product" and that strict instructions had been issued to prohibit the same. Secure in this knowledge, I am confident that the NORA 'SCIENCE OF ESSENTIAL OILS' Course will continue to fill a gap in our much needed knowledge of essential oils. Meanwhile, I am pleasantly surprised by how widely read is my "scruffy sheet"!

Another cause for muttering crossed my desk last month. By the way I do not intend this to become a regular feature but, with a readership now approaching 3,000, I suppose that it does provide the opportunity for the airing of the odd 'grumble'. If you have one, let me know.

On the basis of 'No names, no pack drill', I shall relate the following for your comment.

For various reasons, Miss X wanted to take up the full international accreditation and insurance of the IFA (the International Federation of Aromatherapists) and duly sent off the appropriate fees, etc. The one thing that she had not got was a chit from the IFA examiners to say that she had actually passed the exams. It transpired that this had not been sent out to the school where she was trained nor to Miss X direct. Suggesting to the Secretary that all she had to do was verify the examination result on the relevant database, in order to issue the requested certification and insurance, Miss X was amazed to be advised that the IFA do not retain a list of those who have passed such exams, nor those who are accredited, and that it is something they are thinking about! Can this truly be correct? Perhaps someone will let me know, and very soon.

Of course, not all my correspondence is related to WATCHDOG scenarios (in fact, very little) but the mailbag is certainly large and I apologise for the tardiness of my replies. However, I continue to be delighted, and frankly surprised, by the scholarly response to some of my requests for knowledge.

Unfortunately, on occasions, the documentation becomes parted from the donor (the undoubted disadvantage of working from two locations) and, therefore, I am unable to credit the kind donor of information about FRANGIPANI. Perhaps she would like to contact me as I was most interested by her extract from BETTY MOLESWORTH ALLEN's Malay Tree Book ... 'the plant has many uses, medicinal and otherwise, but the scent can be heavy and overpowering'. I should like to know more about the medicinal applications. Certainly the scent can be overwhelming, as I recollect from my days in Thailand when every morning my driver would garland the driving mirror with a necklace of freshly picked frangipani flowers!

This month, I am very indebted to Mrs. G. CHELVAIYAH for a most scholarly piece on AMYRIS, in response to my request last month.

Much as I should like to recount much of Geraldine's information lack of space precludes me from so doing. Suffice to say, AMYRIS has a rich and long history, having been taken to Rome by the generals of Vespasian and given by the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon. Also known as Amyris Gileadenis (after Mount Gilead) or Balm of Mecca, this oil has long been prized as a cosmetic therapy for removing wrinkles and relieving skin dryness. Mentioned favourably in the Bible, the 12th century Damascan physician, Abd Allatif, noted that the juice was exuded spontaneously during the summer months.

The whitish-grey, thick oil which exudes from the tree sweetens on the skin within a quarter of an hour and the rather honey-like smell changes to a 'rooty' fragrance. Geraldine suggests that the Haitian Amyris, however, is produced by steam distillation from the bark and branches and is inferior to the exuded oil. I would not disagree.

Often labelled as sandalwood because, she feels, it is easier to translate for European usage, she informs me that it should not be confused with sandalwood (Santalum album), having a valuable character of its own. Whether the steam-distilled product is the therapeutic match of the exuded oil I do not yet know, but I do feel that there is a case for giving it a try. Certainly there is some evidence that its therapeutic application is similar to that of its illustrious namesake and, in all probability, because of incorrect nomenclature it has often been sold and used as such!

Recently we have started imported FRANKINCENSE (Boswellia ?) directly from Africa. You will note the ? after Boswellia. Why? Too often we, in common with others, botanically classify an oil’s plant origin from an accepted reference book, but are we correct? No doubt, I would have done the same on this occasion were it not for the fact that the chemical composition of this particular oil reflected characteristics of oils from several, different, geographic areas.

However, I KNEW the origin of this batch. It transpires that the resin is collected by pastoralists who, as they follow their cattle around, also harvest the resin. To them, it is purely a source of supplemental income and, being neither botanists nor taxonomists, they are not too particular about the botanical species from which they collect the gum. Interestingly, upon consulting several classic profiles of Somali oil, I find that they are all very different! I just wonder how thorough are others before they classify an oil, or is it simply frankincense?! Having consulted taxonomists familiar with the area, I believe that this oil is from the resin of a species hitherto not mentioned in the standard aromatherapy textbooks. Still, it is none the worse for that and conforms to a profile of oil traditionally used for clinical aromatherapy and classified Boswellia carteri! I begin to wonder how much the French really know!

QUESTION TIME! Currently sitting on my desk, in addition to BAOBAB OIL (Adansonia digitata) which we are now going to import, I have OYSTER NUT, or Queme, OIL and WAX (Telfairia pedata) and WILD BORAGE (Trichodesma zeylanicum). All have substantiated reputations on the African continent, but can anyone tell me more?

Also, I have the sweetest smelling CEDARWOOD I have come across in a long time - EAST AFRICAN CEDARWOOD (Juniperus procera). I recollect that it was THE standard for perfumers years ago, but fell from grace due to lack of availability. Anyone know more? Probably my old friend rom NORA, who is a bit of an expert on the subject. Let's hear from you.

previous     next