Advanced Certificate Workshop in

Aromatherapy Product Blending

with Alan Stuart

"Creative blending is an aesthetic alchemical process... learning to 'listen through the nose'. To listen is to be receptive, to be empty. Every drop shifts the orchestrations of olfactory vibrations, the 'song of the blend'. A blend is not made at once, rather it evolves, it organically grows and interacts not only within the essential oils, but also with the blender." John Steele

Growing awareness and interest from both the public and certain regulatory agencies have brought the 'therapy of scent' to the fore. Increasing sales of 'aromatherapy products', inspired by a desire to self-nurture, have reacquainted us with one of our most direct and instinctual senses: smell. As our high street shelves have given more space to aromatherapy, so the powerful licensing agencies, primarily the MCA (Medicines Control Agency) and the EC, have become more watchful of how aromatherapy markets itself.

If we define aromatherapy as the use of essential oils to promote physical, psychological and spiritual well-being, how as responsible practitioners can we utilise the tools of our art - essential oils , vegetable oils, creams, gels etc - within the various guidelines and restrictions, whether in a therapist to client setting or within a more commercial market?

The main objective of this two-day workshop will be to enable trainee and practising Aromatherapists to enhance and develop their blending skills. It will provide practical guidance on confidently creating and marketing one's own unique range of Aromatherapy products — with a special emphasis on labelling and meeting EC regulations. The training will be very 'hands-on' and will include a number of in-class exercises and practical blending work with essential oils and bases.

COURSE COMPONENTS

Creative and Advanced Blending Techniques
Aesthetics of blending; odour families and fragrance energetics; the synergistic approach to blending; physiological, psychological and spiritual aspects of blending; the art of smelling and the psychology of fragrance; olfactory influence; blending preparation; the Tao of blending.

Use of Base Products
Active constituents within base materials; natural vs. synthetic ~ their variance and uses; blending bases to your own preference; introduction to aromatherapy and cosmetology; hydrolats; giving a 'signature' to your bases; storage; adding essential oils.

Suppliers; Production Hygiene and Control
Working with and building relationships with suppliers; health and safety; utensils and sterilisation; purchasing raw materials; batch-blending.

Labelling; EC Regulations
Latest information and regulations concerning label information; catalogue literature and promotional material; MCA (Medicines Control Agency) ATC (Aromatherapy Trades Council); medicinal claim restrictions; what you can and can't say!

Pricing; Marketing; Promotion
Pricing for both the private client or the commercial market; market analysis and techniques to evaluate your product market; trade and health fairs; methods of promotion.

EQUIPMENT
Participants are asked to bring their own essential oils. Base materials, containers and utensils will be provided.

The course includes printed notes.
An Institute Certificate is issued on completion.

Alan Stuart
Workshop Instructor

Alan completed the Institute's Diploma Course in Aromatherapy and Therapeutic & Acupressure Massage in 1994, establishing a successful therapy practice in north London.

Together with his aromatherapist wife Juliette Preston, Alan produced organic essential oil products for women during pregnancy, and held regular workshops in aromatherapy in pregnancy for couples and for midwives. He also gained considerable experience in aromatic product design for both private clients and aromatherapy companies, and has engaged in all aspects of product creation — from formulation, design and materials sourcing to production, marketing and distribution. He produces a range of specialised aromatherapy products sold worldwide, and has written a number of articles on the safe therapeutic use of essential oils.

Alan worked closely with Carola Beresford-Cooke and Gabriel Mojay in developing the Institute's unique approach to Aromatic Acupressure and Meridian Massage. He has been involved in teaching this approach since 1995 — as well as Qi Gong meditation and healing. He is former Vice-Chairman of the Register of Qualified Aromatherapists (RQA) and has served as a Council member of the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (IFPA).

LOCATION, DATES AND FEES

Location: Regent's College, Regent's Park, London NW1.
Dates: Saturday & Sunday, April 28-29, 2012 (2 days).
Times: 10 am to 5 pm daily.
Course Fee: £175 incl VAT, payable on booking.
Payments made on booking are non-refundable, but are transferable to any subsequent course.
Tel: 0207 708 2626 (2-6pm) or 0798 501 2565 (10am-2pm) for further info, or to make a debit/credit card booking.

Accommodation
For overnight accommodation near Regent's College, our course venue, we recommend that students visit the following website featuring several reasonably-priced local hotels:
www.hotels-london-hotel.com/hotels/marylebone

We can also recommend:

The Wyndham Hotel
30 Wyndham Street, London W1H 1DD
Tel: 0207 723 7204
www.wyndhamhotel.co.uk

York Street Hotel
22 York Street, London W1U 6PX
Tel: 0207 224 2990
www.22yorkstreet.co.uk

Mary Blewitt (Institute graduate)
39 Penywern Road
London SW5 9TU
marykblewitt@gmail.com