smudging: art Elena Ray

The term “alchemy” is often tossed about in reference to perfumery and herbal arts. While unerringly true, there is more to an alchemical ritual than turning lead to gold or even herbs to perfume. Rarely found in the modern world are perfumers who are, by profession, actual healers. Their craft is not just one of aesthetics, but of wholistic healing, such is the case with Quebec's Blue Eagle. A First Nations medicine man and shaman who has been initiated into Chippewa, Apache, Cherokee, Mohawk, Innu, Algonquin and Wampanoag nations and a member of the Circle of Wisdom of The Union of Ancestral Traditions and Ancestral Shamanism Council.

Blue Eagle of Invocation

Often sought for medical emergencies, in 1997, Blue Eagle was asked to the bedsides of several Native patients in Quebec City. While the medical community often tries to allow for the sacred rituals of the Native people, intensive care units and oxygen prevent one of the most fundamental of all rituals: purification through smudging. This sent Blue Eagle home with a new thought: “How to bring indigenous medicine to a patient under modern care?”

(L) Michel Roudnitska, Blue Eagle (aigle bleu) and Mikael Zayat

Although his first attempts at using essential oils or tinctured traditional plants was somewhat successful, the resulting aroma was less than pleasant. His determination to create a usable formula took him to France and a meeting with none other than Michel Roudnitska (with aid from essential oil specialist Mikael Zayat.) Three years later, “Liquid Smudge” was born- out of the traditional French perfumery methods and the plant wisdom carried by Blue Eagle. Now called “Chiiyaam” (an Algonquin word meaning “peace”), it is perfectly formulated to replace the burning bundle with the same relaxing and purifying properties through 16 carefully selected essential oils and plant extracts.  Says Blue Eagle, “ I undertook a spiritual search as well: my creation had to qualify as an offering if it was to be equivalent to traditional smudging. I therefore included a ritual aspect to the manufacturing process. I call this encoding since it adds specific intentions to the liquid, such as 'purification', 'protection', 'healing' and 'inspiration'. I realized that it could be useful to many people. So I decided to add a purifying plant essence to the formula—one for each human race: lavender for the European race, frankincense for the African race and sandalwood for the Asian race.”

Blue Eagle working with essential oils and plants

Blue Eagle created the company Invocation (one of the functions of smudging is to invoke, or call in the Ancestors) after other healers, both traditional and non-traditional and people seeking 100% botanical perfumes started to seek out Chiiyaam.  Responding to the women working at Invocation, and their desire for an equally medicinal but sweeter smelling aroma, Blue Eagle returned to his organ and the wisdom of Michel Roudnitska—  Miwah (short for the Algonquin word “Miwahimoon”, meaning “something natural that promotes well-being and brings energy”) was born in 2011.  Together they form The Essentials Series.

Chiiyaam

Chiiyaam is a relaxing blend redolent of the untouched Canadian forest.  The scent is also that of a fresh, unburned smudge stick- both sweet and camphorous.  The addition of tobacco and juniper add to the idea of something smoldering while cistus and rose provide the sweet inclination of perfume.

photo of  healing flowers, herbs and plants Blue Eagle

Blue Eagle and Michel still work together to distill and extract many of the ingredients directly from Canada- including a rare sweet grass extract (Hierochloe odorata.) It is interesting to note that while Chiiyaam is a relaxing aroma, it's initial burst is refreshing and awakening.  It's intended uses include serenity before an important event, to enhance personal rituals (yoga, meditation, healing rites) and to induce a good night's sleep. Notes: Canadian cedar, lavandin, mandarin, spearmint, Canadian hemlock, rosemary, white sage, gum rockrose, frankincense, Indian sandalwood, tobacco, spikenard, juniper, sagebrush, Damask rose, sweet grass.

Miwah

Comprised of 22 oils, dominated by sweet grass, Miwah, (which Michel Roudnistka was very involved with the creation) opens with the soft but encouraging scent of bergamot and mandarin, soon joined by a heart of vetiver and clary sage. Tempered and transformed by the sweet grass extract perfected by Blue Eagle. It's soft nature is complimented by benzoin, vanilla and oak moss. Floral aspects are comprised of neroli, lavender,  linalol (a natural isolate), while spices are reflected in clove, rosemary, and spearmint. As interesting as Chiiyaam is refreshing while relaxing- Miwah is a soft amberish spiced flower which, throughout the day grows in intensity.  It's energy grows as you wear it, and should not be considered the rush of unsustainable energy found in specialized drinks or caffeine. Notes: bergamot orange, linalol, mandarin, lemon, sweet grass, nerol, Sumatra benzoin tree, lavandin, rosemary, tonka bean, red cedar, neroli, basil, gum rockrose, clove, West Indian vanilla, vetiver, oakmoss, spearmint, anisaldehyde, clary sage.

Each batch of Chiiyaam or Miwah takes 14 months to produce from ethically harvested ingredients in traditional ways which offer great respect for the bounty of the Earth.  Blue Eagle supervises and ritualizes every batch with prayer and encodes with the wisdom of the Ancestors.

-Einsof, Natural Perfume Editor

(disclosure: My samples were provided by Invocation for review For Invocation's FACEBOOK Page please like here

March 23, 2010, almost five years ago, our first ÇaFleureBon blog post went live. Editor in Chief Michelyn Camen interviewed Michel Roudnitska on Ethical Perfumery. I encourage you to read it here. 

Thanks to the healing vision and generosity of Blue Eagle & Invocation (invocations d'aigle bleu) we have a 15ml bottle of of Chiiyaam and 15mL of Miwah, one each for two CaFleurBon readers anywhere in the world. Please choose which you'd like to experience, where you live and what you learned from this article. Draw closes March 10, 2015.

We announce the winners on our site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume