Kateřina Polívková is a popular and respected aromatherapist, lecturer of educational courses and a specialist in the field of cleansing rituals, fragrant smokes, the use of resins in smoking and, last but not least, the use of vegetable oils in skin care. I met Káťa during our lovely online broadcast dedicated to Roses and their magic (Under the title “A story about roses from Bulgaria, their magic and usefulness” (you can watch it on the Dobré vůne YouTube channel). She is a very open and broad-minded person. In her practice, she combines her years of experience with new scientific findings. On the Dobré vůne website and in her lectures, you will find a lot of inspiring and eye-opening information. Káťa will reveal much more to us in our interview today.
Hi Káťa, thank you for your time and appreciation of the products. SoZoLe Rose. We really appreciate it. I have a few questions for you, with which I would like to introduce you more, for those who don't know you and your Good Scents project yet.
1. The first thing that caught my attention was your beautiful logo. Can you describe it and the origin of your project Dobré vůne??
Yes, it has a story. Like most things around me. I made the logo for my first project – Rybanaruby – myself, amateurishly. It was based on a drawing by Siberian shamans. But when I put it together Good smells, my current life project, so I wanted a kindred spirit for this work – an expert. I had been massaging and working with aromatherapy for two years. So somehow I knew inside what it was for me and what I wanted to pass on. I approached my friend and client of my massages and personal fragrances. She works as an illustrator and graphic designer. But I admit that I had not actually seen her work in advance. However, her personal radiance was absolutely enough for me to know that she would do it perfectly. Since she knew what and how I do, the assignment did not have to be very detailed. She pulled it off perfectly, we just slightly fine-tuned the details. I really like the logo. It still resonates with my intentions. Even though I no longer massage. Those hands are a strong symbol. You must have noticed those small droplets! Yes, they are supposed to resemble essential oils and other gifts that plants provide us.
2. How long have you been practicing aromatherapy? What does it mean to you?
To answer this question, I always have to look at the folder with the studio materials. Aromatherapy Institute. Only on it 2013-2014. So with proper education since 2014. Without it a few years longer, because I was looking for a lot of information about essential oils for the needs of my shop's offer. There I offered aromatherapy to customers. Sometimes I say that I got to aromatherapy through smoking. And through aromatherapy back again, but more in depth, to smoking. I have been working intensively with smokers for almost 20 years. For me, aromatherapy is a path to the soul of plants, learning the form of communication of plant species. I am absolutely fascinated by how closely the plant world is related to humans. Aromatic substances are usually created by plants as secondary metabolites for their needs. But with many of these fragrant substances, it almost seems as if the plants are thinking about us, people.
3. Body question:-) What is your favorite scent and what do you associate it with?
I'll try to be brief, but I don't know, I don't know... In my own way, I like all scents. Even the specific ones that often don't really "smell" - like angelica, cistus or patchouli. There's just potential in everything. Then I definitely can't help but mention my "holy" duo - frankincense and myrrh. Both in aromatherapy and in fumigation, these two scents are real "gold"! Each one separately and in combination. They even inspired me to create a course just for them. And then over the years, I've noticed a special cyclicality in my liking for floral scents, the most expensive and very powerful ones. I constantly alternate between rose, jasmine, neroli and linden. I associate all these scents with their effect on the psyche and soul. I'm amazed again and again how a little is enough to have a huge effect. I also use jasmine and linden absolue in fumigation mixtures. It's a very luxurious ingredient, but it adds exactly what I want to the blends!
4. You are a recognized figure in the world of Czech-Slovak aromatherapy. You participate in many lectures and courses. Where can we see you live in 2022?
The Brno conference and festival has been such an event of the year since its first year. Aromatherapy and Herbs. This year it is the weekend of September 17-18.9. As part of the Sunday festival, I offer incense burners at a stand and also some of my thematic lectures. And then mainly my own courses. In Brno, usually under the banner of the Aromatherapy and Herbs association. In Prague, I mainly organize them myself. Hopefully, my teaching journey around my homeland will return again - Ostrava, Pilsen. Slovakia is also looming. But we'll see. You can currently visit my courses on plant oils, on the use of resins and the year-round lecture series The Magic of Plants and the Cycle of the Year. Due to the situation of the last two years, I have gradually converted most of the incense burner courses to online form. The advantage is that you don't have to go anywhere and that you can also order a set of incense burners for the courses. The disadvantage is the lack of personal contact. However, I supplement the courses with live webinars in real time. At least that way we will meet, even if via the internet.
5. You also organize online courses. Which one is your favorite?
I put a lot of work into each course. I always connect my own experience, practice and knowledge from studying books, lectures, various studies, etc. I get great pleasure from passing it all on, every participant in the online course becomes part of the community. Our connection usually doesn't end with the end of the course. I answer questions and comments even after the end, and the FB groups for the courses continue to operate. In addition, it has happened many times that people then sign up for my other courses. Which makes me very happy. So all my courses are in a way heartwarming, they always come from the heart. Mine is towards the students. I'll see how it goes. Currently, year-round groups are actively operating A year on a wave of fragrant smoke and shorter (always for a few weeks) Purification and rituals with smoking and Resins not only in smoking. The course Vegetable oils in skin care and nutrition was also interesting. As an introduction to smoking, I offer the Basics of Smoking.
6. What do you offer to clients? What can you help with?
I mainly offer participation in courses in the online space and in live meetings. I like working in a group with more people. I feel like everything is amplified, the perception of the topic is then more intense. I will list new courses again, but there are already a lot. I also recommend following my YouTube channel Good Smells. I regularly add videos, interviews, tutorials, etc. There are also invitations to paid events, but I try responsibly to always bring something to the followers. And to make the topics as timeless as possible. Last year I also created several limited sets of therapeutic fragrance and smoking mixtures. I also offered them with an original hand-drawn box. That was great, but the right wave of inspiration always has to come. I tend to catch this in the warmer part of the year... So there's something to look forward to! Oh, and I'd also like to draw attention to my smoking mixtures and unique sets of smoking devices. All available at Good fragrances e-shop. I have a sophisticated and special offer there, most of what I offer you won't get anywhere else. I'm also preparing some new things! Mainly in the area of education and expanding skills.
7. What attracted you to the products? SoZoLe Rose and your favorite?
Well, I was mainly attracted by your approach. But I didn't know that at first. I only realized that when I met you in person. It's as if the products were enveloped by an aura of your care. :-) Personally, I really like the "locality" of choosing products from Bulgaria. And of course, a large selection of roses, including rosehip seed vegetable oil. Everything I've tried is of amazing quality. I also like organic products, mainly for better access to cultivation and soil. Another goal is your unique packaging of hydrolates in bag-in-boxes. So basically everything, right? And the most popular? Rose essential oil. She's my psychotherapist and healer. I like the wooden packaging, which smells on its own.
8. Are you planning anything new this year?
A completely new feature this year is my profile on the Czech platform Pickey.cz. There I am preparing high-quality paid content not only about smoking devices, but also herbs, various fragrant curiosities from the world, tips for production and creation, and also connecting aromatherapy and smoking. I am also preparing a new course on the production of oil macerates. That is a beautiful and beloved topic of mine! And this year I intend to start writing a book about smoking for the 21st century!
Thank you for the nice interview and I wish your Good Smells project all the best!
