Connect

research links

Become involved, and join the research of the natural treasury and the cultural arts of fragrances!

The following links may serve as starting points towards identifying scholarly gaps.

Contents: I. Perfumery traditions of Asia II. Nature medicine and therapy III. Natural resources IV. Green care V. Political framework and institutions VI. Chemical compounds VII. Global industry VIII. Research centers IX. Museums, libraries and platforms X. Western perfumery education

I. perfumery traditions of asia

Please, note: It is impossible to cite all publications – though limited in number – in this field. Alternatively, the following publications serve as starting points to sketch the Asian landscape of perfumery traditions.

• First International Scholarly Workshop on the Perfumery Arts of Asia: „Perfumery and Ritual in Asia“. Special Issue. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 23, Iss. 01, January 2013.
• Article: Perfumery in Asia. Reflections upon the Natural, Cultural and Intangible Heritage. (2015)
• Exhibition catalogue: Das Parfumerbe Asiens / The Perfumery Heritage of Asia (Bonn/Germany, 2015–2016)

II. nature medicine and therapy

Generally

• PubMed/ US National Library of Medicine

Nature and forest medicine

• International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine (INFOM)
• Forest Medicine Therapy Society, Japan

Asian Medical Systems

• Ayush Research Portal

Phytotherapy

• European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy
• Herbal and Traditional Medicine Conference Series
• Herbal Medicine Conferences Portal
• American Botanical Council Herbal Library

Aromatherapy

• Consensus Building Institute Factsheet Aromatherapy
• WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants
• National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy

Ecotherapy

• International Community for Ecopsychology (ICE)
• International Ecopsychology Society (IES)

III. natural resources

World Natural Heritage

• Cropwatch    
• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species        
• Plant List – Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden

Trade regulations

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 

IV. green care

Please, note: Green care studies have not thematized perfumery issues yet. The following links may support ideas towards such a goal.

Public discussion

• Mind & Life Institute

Children’s education

• Children and Nature Network

V. political framework and institutions

Health

• WHO Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCI)

Environment

• Agenda 21
• Convention on biological diversity

Protected areas

• National parks
• Biosphere reserves

Sustainable development

• Sustainable development goals

Culture

• UNESCO
• Cultural and natural heritage sites
• Intangible cultural heritage

VI. chemical compounds

Health

• Fragrance Product Information Network (FPIN)  
• Odournet – Air quality and odour research consultants  
• Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM)    

Trade regulations

• Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)    
• Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM)    

VII. global industry

Industrial information

• Fragrance Foundation(s)    
• International Fragrance Foundation IFRA    
• Leffingwell & Associates  

International meetings

• International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades (IFEAT) Annual Conference  
• Sustainable Fragrances Conference
• World Perfumery Congress

Top ten global leaders

• Firmenich, Switzerland    
• Frutarom, Israel  
• Givaudan, Switzerland    
• IFF, USA    
• Mane, SA, USA    
• Robertet, France    
• Sensient Technologies, USA    
• Symrise, Germany  
• Takasago, Japan      
• T. Hasegawa, Japan

VIII. research centers

Sense of smell research institutions and clusters

• Association for Chemoreception Sciences (AChemS)    
• DFG Priority Programme/ SPP 1392: Integrative Analysis of Olfaction, Konstanz
• Sense of Smell Institute, New York    
• Warwick Olfaction Research Group, School of Engineering    

IX. museums, libraries, and platforms (primarily highlighting western perfumery history)

Museums

• Fragrance Museum, Farina House, Cologne  
• Musée International de la Parfumerie, Grasse    
• Museo del Perfum, Barcelona    
• Osmothèque, Versailles    
• Parfummuseum, Mehlingen-Baalborn       
• Toyoda Museum of Fragrance, Iwata    

Libraries

• Centre de documentation et d’information d‘ ISIPCA, Versailles
• Schimmel Library, Miltitz  

Bibliographies

• Bibliographie sur les parfums   
• Scented Pages 

Various

• OsMoz – Miscellaneous perfumery business information  
• World Sensorium – A world social olfactory sculpture     

X. western perfumery education

Practical education

• Institut Supérieur International du Parfum, de la Cosmétique et de l’Aromatique alimentaire (ISIPCA), Versailles
• ICAT International Centre for Aroma Trades Studies / International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades (IFEAT), Plymouth

diving into scents

It is not necessary to import aromatics from Asia, or to buy and consume industrial products, for getting an idea of Asian perfumery arts. The fragrant nature of our immediate surrounding itself offers us the possibility for such an adventure.

The first step to approach the fragrant world is to sharpen one’s own olfactory sensitivity.

Select aesthetical practices from Asian cultures help with ideas of how to achieve this sensory ‚grounding‘. The following step-by-step instruction is an invitation to become familiar with local aesthetics from Eastern Asia, and to open up for the fragrant world.

Beyond getting an idea of the fragrant world, the following practice – if done regularly – will let you experience beneficial effects on physical and mental health. Expressed poetically, you will experience ‚whiffs from the fragrant Paradise‘ (according to Asian notions), or simply relaxation and joy!

step-by-step

1. Set your intention. Choose which landscape, which surrounding, which nature area, or which plant or part of a plant or refined perfumery good you want to discover in regards to its fragrant character, and on which day.

2. Don’t use any body perfume, and try to avoid as many scent additives as possible on that day, such as scented soap, scented washing powder, scented cremes and lotions, as well as all kinds of smokes and drugs.

3. Leave behind everything that distracts you, such as your mobile phone, music, and work papers.

4. Forget all expectations, open up for the present sensory experience.

5. Take time, slow down.

6. Close your eyes, and breathe in the air. How and where do you feel the fragrant air? Which olfactory character do you notice? Does it change?

7. Deepen your attention. Also feel the tactile quality of the air. Is it humid, warmed up by sunlight or glowing charcoal, swirled up by wind, purified by rain?

8. Take note of the fragrance‘ source. Use all your senses. Listen to the surrounding, welcome its visual appearance, possibly taste it (if you are sure about its safety!!).

9. Observe your feelings. Does the fragrance arouse any special emotional tuning in you?

10. Observe your intuitive thoughts. Which images, ideas and stories does the fragrance evoke in you? Are they related to earlier experiences in your life? Or could you give expression to their kind and quality by the help of poetry or painting?

last but not least: enjoy!