Sylla's Aromatic Thoughts TodayThis interview was originally published in the Aromatika magazine (11.1. 2024. SPRING)This book may be more relevant today as more and more people are exposed to essential oils and hype. The information is relevant to home and...
Sylla’s Confessions
Giants Interview Part I
Sylla's Aromatic BeginningsThis interview was originally published in the Aromatika magazine (11.1. 2024. SPRING)I discovered essential oils in a scent shop in Austin Tx in 1977 and then at local health food stores or co-ops. I started collecting scents and using them...
In Memory of Tony Burfield (1946-2023)
In Memory of Tony Burfield (1946-2023)A.B.P., M.I. Biol., C.I. Biol., M.I.F.S.T., F.L.S. Anthony Graham Burfield was born July 7, 1946, in Tunbridge Wells, England. He passed away suddenly May 17, 2023, in Tunbridge Wells. Tony spent most of his working life in the...
Turtle Totem
This is a special poem by Sylla's brother, D, to whom she was very close. He introduced her to many things in his life, including her favorite essential oil, Patchouli. Turtle Totem February 1, 2001 I am a warrior of the Turtle Clan. It is not a path I choose, but one...
Last Confession: Use Me! I Will Not Die an Unused Life.
Last Confession: Use Me! I Will Not Die an Unused Life. My brother turned me on to a lot of musicians after the Beatles came to A starting when Dylan came to Raleigh, D worked concessions. Of course it progressed from there. One of the earlier ones was Dave...
Thank you, Rob Pappas (Why I Love Dr. P)
During the Purdue classes in 1996, we went on a field (peppermint!) trip to the Lucac farm to see peppermint distillation. While we were there, we met Rob Brown of Lebermuth, who had with him their new chemist Rob Pappas. Rob was new to the industry, and our meeting...
Confession #7: I LOVE MLM Companies
I confess. I've said many negative things in the past about the multi-level marketing (MLM) companies that have sprung up in the last 20 years. I don't like the way they operate using “pseudo” science, promoting extreme undiluted use and daily doses in water or...
Confession #8: Why I Really Need Help in Restarting
I've accepted that at the awesome age of 63, my silver hair is lovely and I have thin skin that shows experience and feelings. I've learned to appreciate the joy in the beautiful experience of “croning," or becoming an elder. I have a new appreciation of where I've...
I did not set out to form a disaster relief organization (Thank you Doug E)
Doug E. Rasmusson was my inspiration to get involved with disaster relief. Affectionately known as "Doug E", he had over the previous years become a very good friend, mentee, supporter and instructor for the Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy. We first met when he...
I did not set out to write a book….
By 1994, I had so many books to look up information on specific oils, I decided to create a wall chart for quick reference. Thanks to my hubby who set up the chart format on his computer, I was able to began typing it all in. Then I cut and pasted the first sections...