PART ONE careful career choices

It has been suggested that my profession is one of glamour and intrigue, steeped as I am in herbal water and surrounded by exotic unguents. It is true that 'smelling the roses' is indeed part of my job. But there are downsides that the wistful observer may not consider (reading the 'Fennel Bibliography' at bed time could be considered one of them).

So today's post will consider: Are you cut out to be an Aromatologist?

The most irritating career hazard you will repeatedly face is the question "Does it work?"

The question is perplexing, as there are a squillion ways to respond. Do they mean "does manuka oil reduce infection on a scratch?" OR "does my negative karma waft away when i bathe in patchouli?"

As an aromatologist, you owe each person a decent answer, but find out what level they want it on. Have they really thought about the question? You must realize the motive of the questioner.

Some people smugly ask because they associate aromatherapy with quackery: they haven't applied thought to what it actually is, and its potential. Some people get a thrill thinking they may have an opportunity to show off general knowledge, or share conspiracy theories, or scoff pseudo science. Some people may on occasion be genuinely curious.

Define the motive, and you can pitch your answer most helpfully. What you must do next is answer a question with a question. "What do you believe aromatherapy can do?"

I have heard of 'scientific' studies that debunk aromatherapy on the basis that someone's hand is submerged painfully in icy cold water, and yet their pain is not reduced when they are given lemon oil to sniff.

This type of ludicrous test would be hilarious if it wasn't exasperating. I am a trained aromatherapist and through all my years of work with aromatics, I have never heard an aromatherapist even claim that sniffing lemon oil reduces the pain of icy cold water immersion. I would not give someone a snort of citrus as they suffered, and called it a good day's work. (I could have made a fortune flogging smelling salts at Lyall Bay beach.)

This sort of study is a sham, run by 'scientists' who seem to deliberately not work in a serious, considered manner to find out about aromatics. They do us all a disservice. There is a perception that aromatherapy is new age nonsense, snake oil for deluded hippies who burn fairydust-flavoured incense cones and sleep with smoky quartz under the pillow. These scientists milk this perception by presenting tests based on irrelevant and ridiculous expectations. This creates more deep-seated skepticism of credible aromatic science. Tut, tut!

Aromatics have fascinating chemical properties, with real effects on humans, bacteria, animals and atmospheres.

During your studies you will be well placed to answer the "does it work" question. But play smart. Find out why the person wants to know: where did they get their expectations? On the back of a WeetBix box? What did that womens magazine promise them? Did they read a scaremongering article on the internet? Did they use mineral oil with synthetic smells in it, and become hard-hearted when their scars did not evaporate?

If you probe, and ascertain the doubts / fears / ignorance / skepticism of your questioner, and answer from your wealth of serious aromatic knowledge, then before you know it, your cynic will be cured.