Tags
creative writing, essential oils, health, inspiration, north carolina writers, writing, writing process, writing prompts, writing workshop

Use aromas as writing prompts.
Our strongest sense is our sense of smell. The aromas we encounter in our surroundings are not just a part of our environment, when we inhale them small particles get absorbed into our bloodstream. This promotes involuntary biological reactions. Sometimes these smells encourage healing, other times they foster immunity, and in the right balance – creativity.
I’ve held a handful of writing workshops in Raleigh over the past few years where we use essential oils as writing prompts. The essential oils distributor wrote a short post about our writing workshops and explains:
How do essential oils and creativity come together? Our sense of smell is a powerful stimulant of memories and thus, feelings. When we inhale the aroma of an essential oil the molecules enter the nasal cavity and are received by thousands of olfactory nerves, they are then sent directly to the limbic system; this is the part of the brain responsible for memory…
We all have different sources of inspiration, but we share a universal connection to our environment.

Lavender is not just helpful for sound sleep.
In our workshops we were guided by a holistic health coach who introduced various (anonymous) essential oils as writing prompts. (She kept the names of the oils private until after our writing exercise because she didn’t want their names to influence our work. This was very helpful as on many occasions, no one could correctly identify the scent and mistook lemon for orange and vice versa!) Several writers have had the stories they generated at workshops develop into novels, published in literary journals, or spark new chapters in their memoir. Our coach even researched the specific effects of each oil and developed a ‘Creativity Potion’ – a specific blend for writers that can help foster creativity. (Historians speculate that Shakespeare used essential oils in his creative writing process.)
Some essential oils and their purposes are fairly mainstream in modern products. Lavender is generally associated with sleep promotion, tea tree oil with antiseptic qualities, and rosemary for indigestion relief. Did you know these oils also treat respiratory problems, sinus infections, and increase concentration, respectively? The Telegraph reported a few years ago that a study showed how memory recall improved through the use of rosemary.
Poet and historian Diane Ackerman wrote a book all about the history behind our senses. She says:
There is no way in which to understand the world without first detecting it through the radar-net of our senses… Our senses define the edge of consciousness…
Every person reacts to essential oils differently. The memories I associate with a certain smell are not necessarily what another individual will experience. For example, poet Bartholomew Barker attended one of my “smelly workshops” (as he likes to call them) and was reminded of being in church after smelling frankincense. His father was a Quaker preacher, so Bart has a lot of childhood memories associated with church. When I smelled the frankincense though, it reminded me of my parents’ attic. Quite a different place than church!
Have you been surprised by memories that different smells evoke?
Registration closes this Saturday for ‘Scents of Creativity & Memory Workshop,’ an event I co-facilitate with holistic health coach Traci Philips on Saturday, September 26th in Pittsboro, North Carolina. (If you miss the deadline, contact me about a waiting list and last-minute possibilities.) We will spend half our time learning about how our body and health align with various aromas, and then we will use scents as writing prompts and discuss publishing opportunities. Coffee, pastries, and essential oil samples included, as well as a dessert bag to-go and a discount on lunch in town. Class is $59 and no walk-ins are permitted.
I believe I refer to these as “stinky” workshops and they are some of the best prompts you can get. Highly recommended!
Yes, that’s right! “Stinky” workshops! 🙂
This is a very cool workshop idea. If only I were closer to attend…
Thanks. Yes–too bad for the distance. Plus, this type of workshop isn’t cohesive with a virtual format.
Still fun to try on your own. 🙂
The essential oils would not work for me. I am very sensitivity to something used in the processing of them. I use the idea of scents, however, in my classes but I use things like real lemons, oranges, spices and natural scents that I can stand. I have a fragrance free classroom. I hope no one wears perfume or cologne Saturday at our workshop in Hayesville.
I’m also very sensitive to manufactured smells. Just walking by a candle shop or perfume dept triggers migraines. I do like the idea of using the real items though. I’ve read that DaVinci always had unique aromas in his creative space also.
I don’t care for those highly manufactured/artificial aromas near perfume departments and candle stores either. In the past classes we have used pure essential oils – and only in small amounts that each student can have a private sensory experience with. We toyed with the idea of diffusing an aroma to the entire room, but it works much better if the oil is just dispersed in a few drops on a cotton ball and each student has an isolated experience.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Da Vinci employed aromas in his process. He was ahead of his time! An exhibit featuring his work is coming to our area soon and I’m soooooo looking forward to it!
Yes, you the aromas might not be a good fit if you are especially sensitive to smells. If you haven’t worked with pure essential oils before, you might try it once. Generally the aromas are so mild (only a drop or two is added to a tissue/cottonball for each writer to hold) that you only smell it if you hold it close to your nose. HOW you react is what triggers what you write. If you are repulsed by the smell that might inspire you to write something you never intended to write before.
One thing I’ve enjoyed with these workshops is that we pass around a jar of coffee beans–did you know coffee completely cleanses your ‘nose’ palate? Might be good to sprinkle around your classroom in the future. 🙂
Tara,
I enjoyed you workshop very much at Moss Memorial Library in Hayesville, NC. I found the information on “Building Your Platform,” to be very interesting. I would love to take this workshop on scents. That would be great. I hope to study under you again.
Thanks again, Brenda! The current aroma class here in the Triangle is full. I would love to bring this format to WNC at some point. Stay tuned. 🙂
Pingback: Film Production Tapped Little Pittsboro | Write Naked
Pingback: Street Piano in a Small Town | Write Naked
Pingback: Minimize Freelance Stress | Write Naked
Pingback: Intent Behind Your Creative Work | Write Naked