My Trip to France for an Aromatherapy Adventure to Explore the Power of Plants

During the spring of 2000, I attended a three-day seminar at AMBROSIA essential oil Apothecary in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This seminar, titled “Advanced Aromatic Study & Seminar: Spirituality of Medicinal Plants, Biochemistry of Essential Oils, Medicine of the New Millennium,” was hosted by Dr. Malte Hozzel, world renowned Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology & Health, Aromatherapist, Naturalist, author, and lecturer. He is also the founder of Ayus GmbH, Oshadhi GmbH, Aham Academy, and the Aromatherapy Essential Oil Seminar Center, Orto de Prouvenco.

During the seminar held from March 31 to April 2, 2000, I delved into the benefits and healing power of premium quality essential oils. Since then, I have stayed in touch with Dr. Hozzel over the years, and he was aware of my research on Neem, which I had been conducting since 1994. Dr. Hozzel included Neem oil from India in his program of essential oils, cosmetics, and personal care products, which proved highly successful for addressing skin problems.

Dr. Malte Hozzel and his sister Monika Vierlinger aduring their tour of the distillery

In 2019, I had received an invitation from Dr. Hozzel to deliver a lecture about the versatile medicinal Indian Neem tree at the Aromatherapy Seminar Center in Aurel, France. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to the cancellation of his seminars.

Thankfully, in early 2023, I was once again invited to present a “Neem PowerPoint Slide Presentation” in France. This seminar took place at the Hotel/Resort Hotellerie Du Val De Sault in Sault-de-Vaucluse, and lunch at the Orto de Prouvenco Aromatherapy Center in Aurel.

The seminar drew participants from 14 different countries including Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Malaysia, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and the USA.

Throughout the event, we enjoyed a diverse range of speakers, including myself who spoke on “The Magic of Neem”. As well, we had the opportunity to visit two local essential oil distilleries — one organic and the other quite large. The surrounding area was adorned with extensive lavender fields, filling the air with a delightful fragrance. We also explored a botanical garden and ventured to the Gorges de la Nesque and Mount Ventoux.

Sampling the goods at a local essential oil distillery in Aurel, France

Each day, our lectures commenced at 10 am, with a lunch break from 12:30 to 1:30 pm. The lectures continued from 2:00 to 4:30 pm, followed by dinner at the hotel. The location was picturesque, offering a relaxed atmosphere, and we were blessed with sunny weather, with temperatures ranging between 25 to 30 degrees Celsius throughout our stay.

The seminar included captivating video presentations and sparked lively discussions among participants. We even enjoyed a pool party on one of the days!

Orto de Prouvenco Aromatherapy Seminar Center, Aurel, France

At the end of the seminar, Dr. Hozzel kindly provided all attendees with a seminar text book titled “Holistic Aromatology.” This comprehensive 40-page book featured a list of 33 well-known premium essential oils, along with detailed information about their benefits and healing properties.

Within the book, Dr. Hozzel shared an educational article titled “Aromatherapy for Healing and Spirit.” In this article, he discussed the emerging trend of combining essential oils with massage, chakra therapy, auric cleansing, visualization, meditation, and other holistic approaches to healing and self-development. He emphasized the importance of understanding the subtle workings of aromatic molecules, opening doors to their application in energy medicine.

Dr. Hozzel also highlighted how this approach aligns with the wisdom of ancient healing traditions like Ayurveda in Indian and Chinese medicine, which have always recognized the significance of subtle energies in the healing process. He noted that fostering touch and our sense of smell is crucial for our well-being, and he praised the plants for their timeless wisdom, calling them messengers from beyond, connected to cosmic energies.

In conclusion, plants – through their essential oils – carry concentrated cosmic energy and serve as messengers of the universal “power plant.” They offer nourishment and care to all living beings and deserve our gratitude, love, and ecological ethics.

This seminar was an enriching experience, bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds to explore the wonders of aromatherapy and the healing power of nature’s gifts.

Aromatherapy seminar room Hotel Du Val De Sault, France

Words of Wisdom
“Plants remind us that all health lies between heaven and earth. Man and plants are created for each other, woven
together into the great cycles of evolution.” Dr. Malte Hozzel

Dr. Hozzel is the author of the following books:
Essays on Holistic Aromatherapy
Man and Plants – An Ancient Alliance
Aromatic Reflections in Times of Crises
Fragrant Light – Healing Energy of Nature

Additional resources:

NEEM OIL: a sacred oil from India