One of the most important things we are doing in this course is Organoleptic Testing. This is a process of using our senses to test each oil so that we have a personal experience with it and get it "kinesthetically". I purchased smell strips from Abundant Health http://www.abundanthealth4u.com/. You put one drop on the smell strip and begin smelling the oil, first at 5 minute intervals and then 1/2 hour intervals, then 1 hour, 2 hour, 4 hour and so forth to 48 hours.
The proper way to smell an oil is to put the strip down by your waist and slowly move it in circles up to your nose. Inhale deeply. You can cover one nostril, and then the other to get another impression. Also, coffee grains are good to use inbetween to cleanse your nose, not unlike eating a cracker to cleanse your palate while tasting wines.
Have you ever had to write a description of a smell? For me, and probably many others, it is quite difficult. I will be sharing with you my impressions of each oil we study. We also taste the oil, look at the color of it, the feel of it and we learn its latin name (family name), genus, species and parts of the plant used. We will also be studying the chemical constituents. Fortunately for me, I have a study partner, which is making this whole experience much more fun. If it wasn't for my study partner, I don't think I could do it.
Further, we learn recommended daily dosage and the cautions and contraindications, as well as some of the uses for the oils. This is what I refer to as the "practical applications" of the EO, which, for me, is the most important part. I know it's important to know whether an EO has phenols or phytoestrogens or linalool or monoterpenes, but what is most important to me is HOW and WHEN to use a particular EO.
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