Another of my crazy ideas...

[Whisper]

I absolutely adore perfume. Adore it, especially niche perfume. Essential oils, aromatic oils, ouds, woods, spices, incense; fragrances that originate in the souks of the Middle East and waft along desert winds.

 

And I love my Tarot cards, my oracle cards, my Lenormand...

 

So, I decided to put them together and see if that would also enhance both my relationship with the various decks and my bonding with them.

 

I just bought Tarot of the Hidden Realm. The fey, denizens of the forest, the sidhe... I thought they would be more comfortable if they could be surrounded by the wonderful odours of their forests and streams.

 

I have this wonderful essential oil combination that smells like Christmas. Not the cinammon and the spice, but the fresh spruce and pine. I rubbed some of that oil really well into my hands and then stroked each card, the book and even the inside and outside of the box. It's now sitting ten inches from me on my desk and I can smell the pine forest. I picked up the cards and it's as if they are alive.

 

I cannot tell you how wonderful it is!!

 

For my Journey into Egypt, I used my attars of frankincense, myrrh, amber, turkish wood and other similar fragrances.

 

My Fin de Siecle Kipper, I have imbued with Black Jade, a perfume inspired by Marie Antoinette and believed to have been originally made for her.

 

Thinking, now, about my Gilded Reverie Lenormand.

 

I am amazed at the difference this has made. Feels as though I have better captured the essence of my decks.

 

Do you think this is a good idea, or am I just a little eccentric?  ;D

[RavenOfSummer]

This sounds wonderful! The sense of smell is so powerful in bringing the subconscious to the forefront of your mind. This seems like a great way to immerse yourself in the world of your deck by engaging the senses. I could see this really enhancing readings, or at the very least the reading experience!

 

Thanks for sharing this idea- I think I will try it!

[AJ-ish/Sharyn]

fine idea if you only use the cards for yourself, not reading for others. There are so many who have allergies these days.

 

I bought my Legend the Arthurian off ebay and it came smelling of some scent. I loved it, and wrote the seller asking what it was. She didn't remember but said it was from her hippy days, maybe sandlewood :)

[Flaxen]

Lovely idea! I love perfume/incense too and you've now got me thinking about the perfect pairing for some of my decks.

 

My Ancestral Path deck still smells of Nag Champa as I used to keep it in a drawer where I kept my incense. It hasn't lived there for years now but the faint aroma is still there.

 

 

[Cobweb]

I haven't tried perfuming the cards but I like to burn incense while I'm reading. Sandalwood especially seems to get me in the right frame of mind for tarot.

[Whisper]

Lovely idea! I love perfume/incense too and you've now got me thinking about the perfect pairing for some of my decks.

 

My Ancestral Path deck still smells of Nag Champa as I used to keep it in a drawer where I kept my incense. It hasn't lived there for years now but the faint aroma is still there.

 

Yes!! That's a great pairing, Flaxen. I have that Tarot, too. Love it, so it deserves Nag Champa. :D

[Whisper]

This sounds wonderful! The sense of smell is so powerful in bringing the subconscious to the forefront of your mind. This seems like a great way to immerse yourself in the world of your deck by engaging the senses. I could see this really enhancing readings, or at the very least the reading experience!

 

Thanks for sharing this idea- I think I will try it!

 

Do, please, let me know what happens, alright? :D

[Whisper]

I haven't tried perfuming the cards but I like to burn incense while I'm reading. Sandalwood especially seems to get me in the right frame of mind for tarot.

 

Sandalwood is one of my top favourite fragrances of all. What you say makes perfect sense to me. Have to hunt around for some and see what deck wants the Sandalwood.

[Whisper]

fine idea if you only use the cards for yourself, not reading for others. There are so many who have allergies these days.

 

I bought my Legend the Arthurian off ebay and it came smelling of some scent. I loved it, and wrote the seller asking what it was. She didn't remember but said it was from her hippy days, maybe sandlewood :)

 

Your're right, Aj-ish. Something to keep in mind. I haven't actually ever read for anyone sitting across from me, so that slipped my mind. One day, I hope to change that, so I will remember. Thank you.

[faerybraids]

Huh! I've wondered about storing my decks in herbs or near incense to pick up some of the scent, but I hadn't thought of putting the scent directly on the cards with essential oils or perfumes... Honestly, I think I'd be too scared I'd accidentally stain them. I'm terrible at waiting for stuff to soak into my hands before touching things. (˶◕‸◕˶❀)

 

Spraying some of my glitter or sparkles on them, however... Hmmm... Not sure I have the guts, but I might try it if I can find a decent pink one that doesn't have a scent. (Why do all the pink ones I find have to be scented? orz)

[Whisper]

Huh! I've wondered about storing my decks in herbs or near incense to pick up some of the scent, but I hadn't thought of putting the scent directly on the cards with essential oils or perfumes... Honestly, I think I'd be too scared I'd accidentally stain them. I'm terrible at waiting for stuff to soak into my hands before touching things. (˶◕‸◕˶❀)

 

Spraying some of my glitter or sparkles on them, however... Hmmm... Not sure I have the guts, but I might try it if I can find a decent pink one that doesn't have a scent. (Why do all the pink ones I find have to be scented? orz)

 

I just finished giving my Victorian Romantic Tarot the Patchouli treatment. Sparkles?! Now, that's a great idea!

[Albadawn]

I did something similar once! I had a wooden box I was storing a deck in, and dropped in some Frankincense essential oil. The wood soaked it up and it was divine!

[Whisper]

I did something similar once! I had a wooden box I was storing a deck in, and dropped in some Frankincense essential oil. The wood soaked it up and it was divine!

 

That's what I did with the Patchouli. Let it soak into the pine box where I keep the VRT. :D Frankincense is lovely!

[EmpyreanKnight]

Perfumes! I <3 em!

 

For some of my favorite decks, I spritz some perfume on the inside of the cloth I wrap them in so that when I use them I'd be heady with delight. :D Before I do this, I put the deck in the original box that it came in so that the chemicals won't come into contact with the cards themselves. The fragrance still seeps into the cards tho so it's all good.

[Whisper]

Perfumes! I <3 em!

 

For some of my favorite decks, I spritz some perfume on the inside of the cloth I wrap them in so that when I use them I'd be heady with delight. :D Before I do this, I put the deck in the original box that it came in so that the chemicals won't come into contact with the cards themselves. The fragrance still seeps into the cards tho so it's all good.

 

Great idea for perfume, EK. I'll definitely adopt it, if I may!

[Tanga]

Great.

 

But put it on a cloth surrounding the cards - not actually on them.

Essential oils with stain/bleach/burn through, your cards depending on what oils and what strength they are.

 

And also - as has been said - watch out if your using them for others. Lots of people are allergic.

 

I'm pretty sensitive and allergic myself (and I got that way after a year of working as a Clinical Aromatherapist - but I've always been sensitive anyway).

I don't have scent on any of the decks that I read with face-to-face.

But for my favourite personal reading or ritual decks - I've added a small herb and essential oil sachet into the Tarot bag with them.

Herbs and oils selected according to the use of the deck (I'm Wiccan and I'm into magickal correspondences etc.)  :)

 

[Whisper]

Great.

 

But put it on a cloth surrounding the cards - not actually on them.

Essential oils with stain/bleach/burn through, your cards depending on what oils and what strength they are.

 

And also - as has been said - watch out if your using them for others. Lots of people are allergic.

 

I'm pretty sensitive and allergic myself (and I got that way after a year of working as a Clinical Aromatherapist - but I've always been sensitive anyway).

I don't have scent on any of the decks that I read with face-to-face.

But for my favourite personal reading or ritual decks - I've added a small herb and essential oil sachet into the Tarot bag with them.

Herbs and oils selected according to the use of the deck (I'm Wiccan and I'm into magickal correspondences etc.)  :)

 

Thank you! That's wonderful. Ohhh, I could learn so much from you. :D

 

May I ask, what are, then, the best magickal correspondences for Tarot cards? How would one determine such correspondences?

 

[Canid]

I scent some of my decks too! I’ll annoint essential oil just on all 4 corners of a deck, not too much & just for definite ‘keepers’. I’ve fallen in love with spikenard.

[Whisper]

I scent some of my decks too! I’ll annoint essential oil just on all 4 corners of a deck, not too much & just for definite ‘keepers’. I’ve fallen in love with spikenard.

 

That's a good idea, the four corners of the deck. Hmmm..., not acquainted with spikenard. Aromatic, woodsy, herbal?

 

I just rubbed patchouli on the inside of the box I keep my Journey into Egypt Tarot in and it smells heavenly.

[Canid]

I scent some of my decks too! I’ll annoint essential oil just on all 4 corners of a deck, not too much & just for definite ‘keepers’. I’ve fallen in love with spikenard.

 

That's a good idea, the four corners of the deck. Hmmm..., not acquainted with spikenard. Aromatic, woodsy, herbal?

 

I just rubbed patchouli on the inside of the box I keep my Journey into Egypt Tarot in and it smells heavenly.

 

Spikenard, aka Nard, has a sweet musky scent. Some say that’s the costly oil that was used to wash Jesus’ feet, (one of the Mary’s, it’s controversial which one for sure), then dried with her hair, that Judas bitched about. Whatever, I love the scent, & it doesn’t smell like feet.

[Whisper]

I scent some of my decks too! I’ll annoint essential oil just on all 4 corners of a deck, not too much & just for definite ‘keepers’. I’ve fallen in love with spikenard.

 

That's a good idea, the four corners of the deck. Hmmm..., not acquainted with spikenard. Aromatic, woodsy, herbal?

 

I just rubbed patchouli on the inside of the box I keep my Journey into Egypt Tarot in and it smells heavenly.

 

 

 

Spikenard, aka Nard, has a sweet musky scent. Some say that’s the costly oil that was used to wash Jesus’ feet, (one of the Mary’s, it’s controversial which one for sure), then dried with her hair, that Judas bitched about. Whatever, I love the scent, & it doesn’t smell like feet.

 

LOLOL...

Have to find some. You've spiked my curiosity. (No pun intended...).

 

Well, it turns out that it wasn't just Jesus' feet that were anointed with that oil, after all.

 

According to this, "When the tomb of the young pharaoh Tutankhamun was opened, among the luxurious contents found within were various beautifully crafted jars and containers. To the excitement of the excavators, one particular jar was discovered to contain a perfumed unguent, still radiantly fragrant after so many centuries. ... The perfume was analyzed in 1926 and was found to consist of a "neutral animal fat" and a resin or balsam. At the time they were unable to be more specific. However, the primary fragrant component is now believed to be valerian's close cousin, the ancient and precious spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi)."

 

Well, as an amateur Egyptologist /lover of Ancient Egypt, now, I'm reallycurious to find out what Spikenard smells like. :D

[Canid]

Yes, nard is in the valerian family, I forgot that! I grow valerian & when it’s dried (you use the roots) it smells like year-old dirty socks, seriously skanky, yet the flowers smell awesome sweet! Once at work I hid a pinch of the dried under a co-worker’s telephone (we still had landlines & he deserved it), it stunk up the whole department. Wot fun that was!

[Canid]

I haven't tried perfuming the cards but I like to burn incense while I'm reading. Sandalwood especially seems to get me in the right frame of mind for tarot.

I love sandalwood. But I hate lavendar, go figure.

[Whisper]

 

I love sandalwood.

 

Love Sandalwood! I'm finding, though, that patchouli seems to be working best to scent the cards without any of the oils or fragrances touching them.