Perfume & Religion - Part I: reflexion

Franz Kafka - The metamorphosis

"All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. All these aspirations are directed toward ennobling man's life, lifting it from the sphere of mere physical existence and leading the individual towards freedom"

(Albert Einstein Physicist - Nobel Prize- 1879 - 1955)

Since the early ages mankind has been challenged by questioning its own existence. Who we are, what we are, where we are going, what is the meaning of our lives, whether we are alone in the universe, where are we going from here. Who came first, the egg or the chicken...

In pursuance of these questions, we bump into other difficult issues to torment us. What are our values and traditions? What is faith? Are we the result of divine intervention? Is there a divine entity ruling our lives? Life, death... What did I become? Why did I become what I am today? Does Santa really exists? What about the Easter rabbit? (I am just kidding, I could not help it, sorry LOL)

Philosophy, metaphysics, history, science and religions through centuries have been questioning, digging into our minds and souls, offering some kind of existentialism fulfillment.

The fact is, questioning our own existence can bring a roller coaster of emotions. Can either make you sink deep into despair, or make you come out as a better man. In the drawers of existential files, we have the another hard-to-cope issue: aging. To many of us, maturing is not an easy process. As long as the rose bud is blossoming into a beautiful flower, we are in the safe zone. But once you have reached the B.E.P. (the break-even-point) of your so-called chart of life, things can become messy. Like stocks nowadays, the Dowjones index of our youth is going negative!

(One has the option to recreate oneself with tons of botox, silicone boobs, viagra and all that crap we see people doing...But one cannot fool the clock, it is ticking and ticking fast.)

"To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly."

(Henri Bergson - French Philosopher - Nobel Prize - 1859 - 1941)

The truth is, getting older means to be able to make better decisions. To have the responsibility of looking around more carefully. We need to ask ourselves if we are becoming better individuals, if we are rats or men, if we turned into roaches or frogs that turned into princes. And much more than that, we need to make a stop sometimes to think how we can master our own destiny. After all, aren't we the captains of this ship called MY LIFE? All we just have to find is the route to pacifc seas! And to remember...the captain is always the last one to leave the sinking ship!!

"If you won't be better tomorrow than you were today, then what do you need tomorrow for?"

(Rabbi Nachman - Jewish faith)

Many questions, many doubts... some buy porsches (the rich ones), some get a new bimbo wife (also the rich ones), some turn to less material solutions.

More spiritualized beings search in religion for inner peace, and some balance to emotional turmoils existential questioning can bring. A connection to a supreme force that has universal and endless love and compassion.

Why am I approaching this subject today?

Religion involves rituals, symbolisms, communication and beliefs. Religion can be also a way to express your own self. So does perfumes!

Perfumes were once the way to pursue welfare, health and emotional comfort. They were a way to connect to gods (Egyptian and Israelites).

Many perfumes today are inspired by religious faiths, symbolisms and ideals. There are many fragrances inspired by temples & shrines, by gods, entities and spirits or by oils that once were used in rituals such and frankincense, myhrr, incense, rose, jasmine...

+ Q Perfume Blog intends to bring them in the next article....don't miss!