All good things come to an end December 3, 2008

No, I am not talking about my fabulous blog. I am, however, talking about my aromatherapy course. I have been interested in aromatherapy since high school, and was excited to find an accessible way to pursue that interest while living here. I signed up for a course in August through the Australasian College of Health Sciences. It is a fully accredited college in Oregon, and offered a beginner course online. The school shipped me my books and oils and I was soon experimenting with them to concoct cleaning products, air fresheners, medicines, and perfumes. I even found a wonderful supplier of high quality oils here in Istanbul (which was a huge problem in the beginning). The course was very informative and there were many opportunities to interact with the other students and professor in the class. At the end of every module we had to take a test and submit a written project. My favorite assignment was to spend a whole day writing down all the aromas, good and bad, I encountered and how they made me feel. Here is the short paper I wrote:

Living in Istanbul is an experience for all the senses, but most of all for the nose. A casual walk through a particular neighborhood becomes an olfactory adventure. There can be dangerous traps and wonderful treasures depending on where your nose takes you.

On a recent Saturday, I woke up and enjoyed a shower using my favorite Lush products. It was a kaleidoscope of scents from ylang ylang and jasmine to lemon and fennel. I left my flat feeling wonderfully refreshed and awake.

As soon as I made it to the main street I was immediately hit by the overpowering stench of exhaust mixed with freshly laid asphalt. Not a welcome combination after a great morning, but not at all out of place in traffic clogged Istanbul. My nose was only assaulted briefly before the autumn wind whipped it away.

Not long after, I smelled the wonderful aroma of summer BBQ, and remembered I was hungry. Then came the sickeningly sweet middle note, and I realized it was kokoreç (sheep intestine grilled on a spit) and not my favorite 4^th of July franks.

Moving on down the street, I passed the juice seller, making a cup of fresh orange juice, I savored the sweet citrus aroma before it was replaced by the sweet and nutty scent of the chickpeas roasting next door.

I slowly made my way to the Marmara Sea, past the grilled fish sandwich sellers and ferries, to sit and enjoy the view. The sea air smelled salty and fresh amidst the other big city scents. That scent always reminds me of the summers I spent in Monterey and Bodega Bay (my favorite places in California). I continued on to the tea gardens to sit and read for a while, and enjoyed the aroma of cut grass that floated to me from somewhere nearby.

On my way home I walked by the many bakeries and patisseries that line Moda Avenue, and was rewarded with the scent of fresh baked breads, cakes, and börek. My mother and I made fresh bread often when I was a small child. That scent always takes be back to the kitchen and makes me feel so comfortable and warm.

I went to drop a friend off at the bus station in Üsküdar as the early evening call to prayer sounded. As I passed by an old mosque, the scent of rose water was in the cool evening air. A lovely reminder of the custom Muslims have of cleansing with it before prayer time.

As I settled down with my evening pot of tea, my “Turkish Delight”, I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. I was surrounded by vapors of black tea from Rize near the Black Sea, bergamot from the west coast of Turkey, and rose from Isparta (my special blend). I thought about my day and how scents are such a powerful reminder for me. Scents help remind me of home and loved ones when I am so far away. They also are important in reminding me I am somewhere new and exciting, and they help me build new memories and connections.