After reading about how scents influence people’s emotions, I realized that I have never used perfume in my daily life. This made it difficult for me to fully understand how certain scents can impact feelings. So, I decided to attend a workshop to create my own perfume.
In this workshop, it wasn’t just about making a perfume for myself; the instructor provided in-depth knowledge about perfumes, scents, and how to blend different fragrances to create harmonious combinations. The workshop owner, who studied perfumery in France and has over 10 years of experience in the fragrance industry, shared their expertise with us.
Through this workshop, I discovered that scents can originate from a variety of sources, even from everyday items around us, and these scents can evoke distinct emotions and feelings.
During the session, I had the opportunity to smell jasmine and conducted a brief interview with the workshop owner about this scent. Here are the key takeaways from our conversation:
- The scent of jasmine from European countries differs from that of jasmine in Southeast Asia.
- In Europe, the scent of jasmine typical to Southeast Asia might actually be associated with a completely different flower.
- The owner personally finds jasmine from Southeast Asia more pleasant, as it provides a more relaxing and soothing fragrance, which they feel is also richer in aroma compared to European jasmine.
- They understand these cultural differences well because they have frequently traveled to Southeast Asia and their work with scents has helped them develop a clear understanding of the contrasts between continents.
- When asked about the scent associated with spas or massage shops, the owner explained that in Europe, spa scents tend to be mild and do not usually highlight a specific floral note. If there is a floral element, it’s often lavender. However, when it comes to spas or massage shops in Thailand, the scents are often more relaxing and floral, especially jasmine. Additionally, other plant-based scents, such as lemongrass, are commonly used. These scents not only provide a pleasant aroma but also offer therapeutic properties, as many of these plants are herbs that can be mixed with oils for massage or used in scented candles commonly found in massage shops.