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4. Preserving Incense's Fragrant Legacy: A Journey into Plant Sustainability with Kelly Ablard

Incense Explorer: A Deep Dive into Incense History, Culture, Ritual and Lore

Release Date: 06/28/2023

The World Makes Scents with Dave and Smey Schultz

Incense Explorer: A Deep Dive into Incense History, Culture, Ritual and Lore

Frankincense and the Importance of Traceability in the Supply Chain with Stephen Johnson

Incense Explorer: A Deep Dive into Incense History, Culture, Ritual and Lore

Stephen Johnson, founder of Fair Source Botanicals, shares his journey into working with aromatics and his focus on frankincense and myrrh. He emphasizes the importance of transparency in the supply chain and the need to respect the communities involved. Johnson discusses the challenges and opportunities in the frankincense and myrrh trade, as well as the need for conservation efforts. He also mentions other botanicals, such as rosewood and palm, and the importance of sustainable practices in the industry as a whole. In this conversation, Stephen Johnson and Alyssa...

Exploring the Fragrant Forest with Bonnie Kerr

Incense Explorer: A Deep Dive into Incense History, Culture, Ritual and Lore

Summary Bonnie shares her background and journey with aromatics, from her childhood experiences in nature to living in different environments like New York City, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. She discusses how these experiences shaped her connection with nature and her approach to creating incense. Bonnie emphasizes the importance of using whole botanicals in her incense-making process and the unique scentscapes she creates. She also explores the history and uses of aromatic plants like myrrh and frankincense in ancient cultures. In this conversation,...

For the Love of Frankincense with Dr. Anjanette DeCarlo

Incense Explorer: A Deep Dive into Incense History, Culture, Ritual and Lore

Summary Anjanette discusses her background and how she became interested in frankincense. She talks about her work as an environmental activist and her transition into working with companies on corporate social responsibility. Anjanette explains why she chose to focus on Somalia and Somaliland and the challenges and issues in the region's frankincense supply chain. She emphasizes the importance of transparency, traceability, and sustainability in the industry. Anjanette also discusses the impact of the essential oil industry on the demand for frankincense and the need for consumer...

9.Sustainable Aromatics: Redefining Incense

Incense Explorer: A Deep Dive into Incense History, Culture, Ritual and Lore

In this episode of the Incense Explorer Podcast, host Alyssa Severeid takes you on a journey through the world of aromatic wonders. Join us as we dive into the realm of incense, explore sustainability, and learn about a new line of botanical incense with a mission to change the industry for the better. Stay tuned for valuable insights, a call to action, and a commitment to transparency and ethical practices! Episode Highlights: Updates on Season Two, which will return later in the fall, likely in November Alyssa introduces her new line of sustainably sourced plant-based...

8. Memoir in a Perfume Bottle: A Journey into Japanese Incense with Maria McElroy

Incense Explorer: A Deep Dive into Incense History, Culture, Ritual and Lore

In this episode, we are joined by Maria McElroy, and she is just an utter delight. Maria has synthesized her love of blending colors and textures with her passion for scent. After receiving an MFA in painting from the San Francisco Art Institute, Maria continued her studies in Australia, becoming a certified aromatherapist. Later, she went on to live in Japan for seven years, where she studied Kodo (Japanese incense ceremony) and Japanese flower arrangement, along with other traditional Japanese arts. Maria shares her journey into the world of perfumery, inspired by her experiences with the...

7. From Temples to Tombs: Exploring the Mystical World of Ancient Egyptian Incense with Shane Clayton

Incense Explorer: A Deep Dive into Incense History, Culture, Ritual and Lore

Welcome to Incense Explorer! In this episode, we dive deep into the fascinating world of ancient Egyptian incense practices with our special guest, Shane Clayton, an ancient Egypt aficionado and expert on fragrance, specifically incense. Shane discusses the usage of incense for purification and consecration of temple sanctuaries and the significance of different incense types. He reveals his experience of encountering the kyphi incense recipe on temple walls during his visit to Egypt. Tune in to learn about the sacred oils, the mystical rituals, and the mysteries of ancient...

6. The Power of Scent: Exploring the Sense of Smell with Frauke Galia

Incense Explorer: A Deep Dive into Incense History, Culture, Ritual and Lore

In this episode, Alyssa welcomes her guest, Frauke Galia, who is known as the "smell lady" and an expert on the sense of smell. Frauke shares her journey of working in the fragrance industry and her passion for helping people use their sense of smell purposefully. She discusses the importance of the sense of smell for safety and its unique connection to emotions and memory. Learn about the tips on refining the sense of smell and training the nose to pick out nuanced fragrances, similar to a sommelier picking out flavors in wine. Tune in to this episode to discover the...

5. From Roots to Rituals: Harnessing the Healing Power of Plants in Incense and Herbalism with Kerry Hughes

Incense Explorer: A Deep Dive into Incense History, Culture, Ritual and Lore

In this episode, Alyssa welcomes guest Kerry, an ethnobotanist with a passion for plants, herbalism, and incense. Kerry explains how her love for plants started in her childhood, spending time in nature and developing a deep connection with the natural world. She initially pursued a career in medicine but discovered her true calling when she stumbled upon ethnobotany during her university studies. Kerry shares her experiences working in the herbalism and nutraceutical industries, particularly focusing on bringing new plants and plant products to the market. She highlights the importance...

4. Preserving Incense's Fragrant Legacy: A Journey into Plant Sustainability with Kelly Ablard

Incense Explorer: A Deep Dive into Incense History, Culture, Ritual and Lore

In this episode, Alyssa introduces Kelly Ablard, founder of Airmid Institute, and expert in aromatic plant sustainability. They discuss the lack of transparency in the incense industry regarding the sourcing of ingredients and the importance of demanding transparency from manufacturers. Kelly shares her experiences in Peru, where she worked with indigenous communities and went on an expedition to find wild populations of Rosewood, an endangered plant used for its aromatic properties. They discuss the significance of Rosewood and its role in perfumery, pharmaceuticals, and other...

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Kelly shares her experiences in Peru, where she worked with indigenous communities and went on an expedition to find wild populations of Rosewood, an endangered plant used for its aromatic properties. They discuss the significance of Rosewood and its role in perfumery, pharmaceuticals, and other industries. Kelly explains the challenges of sustainable sourcing and the issue of adulteration in the trade of Rosewood oil. They also touch upon the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) and its role in regulating the trade of endangered flora and fauna.

About Kelly Ablard:

Kelly Ablard holds a Doctorate in Biology, an MSc in Conservation, and is a certified Conservation Aromatherapist. As Founder and CEO of the California-based NGO Airmid Institute, she is dedicated to the global education, research, and sustainability of medicinal and non-medicinal aromatic plants, and their traditional uses in Indigenous communities. Kelly’s work has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and she has presented for multiple international professional aromatherapy associations. She received the BCAOA Achievement of Excellence Award and was highlighted as an outstanding alumna by Simon Fraser University as CEO of Airmid Institute.

Kelly is also Co-owner and Co-principal of Essence of Thyme College of Holistic Studies, which is internationally recognized for their high-quality online aromatherapy certification diploma programs.

Check Out Episode Highlights:

Lack of transparency in the incense industry regarding ingredient sourcing
Kelly's background in biology, conservation, and aromatherapy
Research on the conservation status of essential oil-bearing plants
Experiences in Peru and the search for wild populations of Rosewood
Significance of Rosewood and its uses in various industries
Challenges of sustainable sourcing and the issue of adulteration
Introduction to the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES)
Importance of considering both plant and human populations in sustainability efforts
Supporting impoverished indigenous communities through sustainable sourcing
The importance of supporting ethical sourcing and transparent supply chains for threatened plants like frankincense.
Alyssa raises concerns about the resource-intensive process of extracting essential oils and the need for responsible usage to avoid excessive accumulation.
The state of agarwood, one of the most expensive and threatened products in the world, highlighting the challenges in its production and the impact of human intervention.
The discussion emphasizes the need for conscious buying decisions, using oils sparingly, and considering alternative plant species for therapeutic benefits.
The critical status of agarwood species

And so much more!

Featured in the episode:

Airmid Threatened Species List: https://airmidinstitute.org/subscribe-to-the-biannual_list/

Connect with Incense Explorer Host:

Instagram: @incenseexplorer and @floboincense

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-severeid-16535a7/

Website: incenseexplorer.com

Stay Connected with Kelly:

Kickstarter:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects

Instagram: @airmid_institute

Website: https://airmidinstitute.org/

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