Scents and Sense
Aromatherapy utilizes the interaction between humans and the naturally occurring properties of plants, minerals, or other earth-based substances. While many fragrances are beneficial to humans, most carry the potential to be curative or harmful, depending on the amount used and the manner of use. A breath of the wonderful freshness of lavender or the sweetness of tea rose clear away the mental fog and lift our emotions. Lavender has demonstrated many benefits in healing wounds and burns, and in calming mental distress or hyperactive children. But lavender in its pure form can also overwhelm the sense and cause headaches or burning if too much is applied directly on the skin. Pure rose oil in its absolute form actually smells too strong to smell good. Headache, in this case, is only one of the problems this oil can cause.
The D’ni seem to have also utilized naturally occurring substances in their daily lives, and possibly in maintaining their health. They certainly made use of the interaction of certain substances in Ercana and organisms in the Ae’gura Lake. Teledahn is known to have provided foods to the D’ni — it is not such a long leap to speculate that they would also have found certain plants in the other ages to smell nice (or not) and to be beneficial to their health (or not). The Guild of Caterers would have known about these properties, since dangerous plants could not be used for food; the Guild of Healers may also have involved themselves in the study and use of plants. While little is known about either of these guilds, it only increases the questions about the flora in the ages.
This interest has driven my study of the plants as well as I am able. Because very little is known about specific plants and their properties for health and healing, I have proceeded slowly and cautiously. I’ve contacted the DRC for any information regarding the plants, but of course they have been mainly silent about that. The Zoological Society has been helpful; but so many questions specific to aromatherapy and medicinal use simply cannot be answered without more D’ni information or a great deal of experimentation and analysis. It is in the second way I have to progress, since I have so little to guide me from the first.
Make ample use of cavernsense before you make use of your olfactory sense. What you don’t know can kill you when it comes to poisonous plants. Gather gently, study carefully, walk quietly. Keep your KI and Relto book close at hand, always.