Burning this year? You are invited to participate of course!
AROMATHERA POTTY PROJECT 2017
My theme this year is Water is Life. To learn more and for complete instructions on how to participate and what to do, scroll down...
"Burners have said that there's no sense of smell on the Playa.
Yet visitors to the porta potties testify otherwise.
I am Tracey of Lamay Camp, Kidsville and in 2011 I 'found my Gift'.
I had brought some essential oils and essential oil blends I created to the Playa to scent my tent for hypnotherapy experience sessions. Finding my visit to our local porta potties less than inspirational, I scented every third porta potty with a blend and put a sign up on the outside of the door indicating the blend and its all-botanical ingredients. When I returned a few hours later to check on the scented porta potties, I found line ups for them! Soon, the Aromathera Potties were the talk of Kidsville. One person even said that it was the highlight of his Burn! So I started to think: What if Aromathera Potties appeared all over Black Rock City? What if aromatherapy enthusiasts shared their gifts at their local porta potties throughout the Burn?
In 2012, The AromaThera Potty Project exploded to over a dozen porta potty sites and AromaThera Potty Super Heroes.
So here's the deal with the Aromathera Potty Project:
1. Contact me so we can get on the same page and so that I can get an overview of the spread of the Project.
2. Select/collect/create a handful of blends or singles (I suggest 30ml of each) to scent your local porta potties with. Here are the 'Anarres Emo Oils' I used: http://www.anarreshealth.ca/catalog/3/essential_oils?page=3 I suggest every third or fourth porta potty to make the job manageable for you and to ensure that scent averse folks have a choice not to use an Aromathera Potty.
3. Create non moopy signs to post on the Aromatherapy Potties. Bring 2 per blend in case one goes missing. Be sure that the signs state boldly 'Aromathera Potty Project', name the blend in a fun but accurately evocative way ('Furry Forest' rather than 'Fun Fur' for an evergreen blend) and list all of the ingredients with the common and latin botanical names so that we don't endanger anyone with allergies to specific botanicals. NO SYNTHETIC SCENTS OR PERFUMES, PLEASE AS THESE ARE ALLERGENIC AND NOT NATURAL AND NOT AROMATHERAPEUTIC ETC.
4. Once on the playa, implement your Aromathera Potty Project at your local porta potties! Visit every 4 hours or so, tidy your porta potty and flick drops of essential oil goodness on the walls. It only takes a few minutes and you're done!
5. Marvel at the line ups at 'your' scented Aromathera Potties! Bask in praise, directed and overheard! Rejoice in the gift you are bringing to the Playa Experience!
You can see some blends created for 2012 here:
http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/274
I've already created a Truth Serum... I'm excited. That's how I roll."
HOW TO BECOME ONE WITH US
You officially come on board by reading this: http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/1488
and telling me the who what where when how and why of your project.
We will let Burners know where to find "your" potties and what to expect (blends, number of scented potties, special features etc).
Join our Facebook Group, but please check in with me by email to sign up with your:
name & playa name
address and camp and how likely you are to really be there
range of porta potties you plan to artfully improve
your plan for obtaining/blending essential oils and the varieties
ANARRES HEALTH AT GMAIL DOT COM
I look forward to hearing from you.
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Potties Adopted IN 2012:
1. MA has adopted potties nearest Kidsville. Expect EMO Oils!
2. Carrrie! has adopted potties nearest Tottenkitten. Expect variety.
3. Wynn has adopted potties nearest Lip Service, 8:45 and Begonia. Expect Scentsational blends!
4. nearest Short Attention Span Theatre
5. AO has adopted potties nearest 3 and F. Expect fancy blends!
6. Pants has adopted potties nearest 5 & D Hushville plus Arctica. Expect lavendar, eucalyptus & geranium, plus surprises!
7. TF has adopted porta potties nearest Otic Oasis.
8. Bionic has adopted potties nearest somewhere E or F between 4 and 7.Expect Grounded Tripping http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/1518 and aphrodisiac delights.
9. Craig has adopted potties nearest 430 plaza. Possibly also near 715 and D. Expect lime, lavender, eucalyptus and spearmint.
10. Emilie the Rogue Scenter will be on the loose with scented pompoms.
11.Drew Holly nearest 9 & 1. Expect fruity forest-y deliciousness.
What IS The AromaThera Potty Project?
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AROMATHERAPY ENTHUSIASTS: JOIN IN THE AROMATHERA POTTY PROJECT
Tracey writes:
"Burners have said that there's no sense of smell on the Playa.
Yet visitors to the porta potties testify otherwise.
I am Tracey of Lamay Camp, Kidsville and last year I 'found my Gift'.
I had brought some essential oils and essential oil blends I created to the Playa to scent my tent for hypnotherapy experience sessions. Finding my visit to our local porta potties less than inspirational, I scented every third porta potty with a blend and put a sign up on the outside of the door indicating the blend and its all-botanical ingredients. When I returned a few hours later to check on the scented porta potties, I found line ups for them! Soon, the Aromathara Potties were the talk of Kidsville. One person even said that it was the highlight of his Burn! So I started to think: What if Aromathera Potties appeared all over Black Rock City? What if aromatherapy enthusiasts shared their gifts at their local porta potties throughout the Burn?
So here's the deal with the Aromathera Potty Project:
1. Contact me so we can get on the same page and so that I can get an overview of the spread of the Project.
2. Select/collect/create a handful of blends or singles (I suggest 30ml of each) to scent your local porta potties with. Here are the "Anarres Emo Oils" I used:http://www.anarreshealth.ca/catalog/3/essential_oils?page=3 I suggest every third or fourth porta potty to make the job manageable for you and to ensure that scent averse folks have a choice not to use an Aromathera Potty.
3. Create non moopy signs to post on the Aromatherapy Potties. Bring 2 per blend in case one goes missing. Be sure that the signs state boldly 'Aromathera Potty Project', name the blend in a fun but accurately evocative way ('Furry Forest' rather than 'Fun Fur' for an evergreen blend) and list all of the ingredients with the common and latin botanical names so that we don't endanger anyone with allergies to specific botanicals. NO SYNTHETIC SCENTS OR PERFUMES, PLEASE AS THESE ARE ALLERGENIC AND NOT NATURAL AND NOT AROMATHERAPEUTIC ETC.
4. Once on the playa, implement your AromaThera Potty Project at your local porta potties! Visit every 4 hours or so, tidy your porta potty and flick drops of essential oil goodness on the walls. It only takes a few minutes and you're done!
5. Marvel at the line ups at 'your' scented Aromathera Potties! Bask in praise, directed and overheard! Rejoice in the gift you are bringing to the Playa Experience!
The By-line for the AromaThera Potty Project is:
Aromatherapy, eh?
You can familiarize yourself with aromatherapy by tooling around my website www.AnarresHealth.ca - there is a handy SEARCH box near the upper left hand of every page. and an essential oil category in my store http://www.anarreshealth.ca/catalog/3/essential_oils .
Emo oils, eh?
Also check out my "Emo" Oil Blends for inspiration, or if you'd like to buy them, I will sell them to AromaTheraPotty Project participants for half price. Just mention the AromaTheraPotty Project in the comments with your order. http://www.anarreshealth.ca/catalog/3/essential_oils?page=3
The Big Rule: essential oils only!
The only criteria for participating is that you use real essential oils, not perfume or scented oils. You can probably get real essential oils locally. You can create your own blends, too, but they should be 100% essential oil, not essential oils in a carrier oil so that we don't grease up the porta potties! Ask for 50% off in the Comments with your order. DON'T pay until I edit in the discount. http://www.anarreshealth.ca/catalog/3/essential_oils
What Do I Do If I Haven't A Clue?
Some of us have aromatherapy experience and some of us don't.
That's totally okay!
If you aren't an aromatherapist, or well equipped amateour, you will want to buy:
simple inexpensive real pure essential oils
OR
100% essential oil blends
Please note that you don't want to buy a carrier oil (ex walnut or sunflower seed)
and you don't want to buy an absolute 10% or 3% in jojoba
because then the walls of the porta potty will get greasy.
If you are an aromatherapist, then you know what to do.
Suggestion: Essential Oils To Avoid, But Then Again, Try Variety
AVOID ALLERGENS, WICKED SKIN IRRITANTS AND PET PEEVES
I do suggest avoiding scents that some people HATE or are allergic to.
(ex Ylang ylang can give some people headaches, some people LOATHE lavender. I'm allergic to cinnamon, plus it burns the skin and causes hives...)
But then, your AromaTheraPotty will be labelled on the outside door
and people will know what they are about to walk in to and could choose another!
Variety solves the problems of Taste here!
DON'T USE FOR THIS PROJECT:
~ RESINS: These are sticky, won't flick out of the bottle, and will act like playa glue. So while myrrh, fir balsam resin and gum benjamin are awesome, they won't work in the potties.
~ ABSOLUTES: These are a percentage (3% or 10%) of precious oil such as vanilla, neroli, rose or jasmine in a carrier, usually jojoba. They are kinda thick, usually expensive, and the jojoba will make the walls greasy.
~ BLENDS WITH CARRIER OIL: ... such as any vegetable oil, see above. It will grease up the Porta Potty and smell rancid= ewww!
~ PERFUME & FRAGRANCE OILS: No no no no please Goddess no! Perfume oils are made from petroleum (eww!) and are carcinogenic, allergenic and patently toxic. The FDA even has reports of horrific reactions such as nose bleeds, respiratory arrest to blood flooding the lungs. Give your perfume/candle/"incense" oils to your worst enemy. Or take it to a Toxic Waste Disposal. Trust me. Or trust these folks: http://www.cleannaturalhealthy.com/WHAT_STINKS_ABOUT_SYNTHETIC_FRAGRANCE... Or trust these folks: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/702512/FRAGRANCE/
What This Gift Costs: Inexpensive Essential Oils
The Lavender and the Peppermint Japanese AromaTheraPotties were quite popular last year as was the Cedarwood Himalayan - and all of those oils are inexpensive! All the citrus oils are inexpensive, too. So there is no need to stress out about cost or create a blend unless you want to. You might expect to pay $10-15 for a 10ml bottle of essential oil in a health food store. I sell and distribute essential oils wholesale to DIYers and stores, so my prices are very low, but expect to pay @$10 for postage costs. Here are some prices, with an emphasis on inexpensive choices, to give you an idea of what this Gifting to the Co-Immunity will cost you:
Basil http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/62 30ml $7.03 BM 50% off $3.52
Bergamot, Sun Safe http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/1261 30ml $12.19 BM 50% off $6.10
Lemon, lime, grapefruit and orange essential oils are VERY inexpensive.
Cajeput http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/66 30ml $8.32 BM 50% off $4.16
Cedarwood Himalayan http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/66 30ml $5.83 BM50% off $2.92
Clary Sage http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/79 30ml $10.01 BM 50% off $5.01
Clove Leaf http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/96 30ml $3.30 BM 50% off $1.65
Cypress http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/673 30ml $14.88 BM 50% $7.44
off
Eucalyptus Blue Mallee http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/81 30ml $6.97 BM 50% off $3.49 The other eucalyptuses are similarly inexpensive!
Fennel http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/455 30ml $21.34 BM 50% off $10.67
Fir Balsam http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/84 30ml $17.10 BM 50% off $8.55
Frankincense frereana http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/85 30ml $18.47 BM 50% off $9.24
Ginger http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/185 30ml $17.42 DIY50%off $8.71
Ginger grass http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/184 30ml $9.65 DIY50%off $4.83
Lavender Croatian http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/806 30ml $10.45 DIY50%off $5.23
Lemongrass http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/335 30ml $13.82 DIY50%off $6.91
Niaouli http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/95 30ml $11.46 DIY50%off $5.73
Nutmeg http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/566 30ml $26.41 DIY50%off $13.21
Palmarosa http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/100 30ml $10.39 DIY50%off $5.20
Patchouli http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/101 30ml $37.10 DIY50%off $18.55
There are also limited quantities of a muskier smelling patchouli that's half the price.
Peppermint Japanese http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/598 30ml $5.35 DIY50%off $2.68
Pine, Scotch http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/457 30ml $16.97 DIY50%off $8.49
Rosemary http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/1153 10ml $7.00 DIY50%0ff $3.50
Tea Tree http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/107 30ml $21.58 DIY50%off $10.79
Turmeric http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/108 30ml $18.45 DIY50%off $9.23
Wintergreen (non therapeutic) $2.03/100ml!!! DIY50%off $1.02/100ml
What To Look for When Buying Essential Oils?
The bottle should be opaque, frosted or coloured glass.
The bottles should be stored out of direct light in a cool place.
Jasmine should not cost the same as lemon. If they are all $10 they are not real essential oils but rather synthetic, perfumes or concoctions of aroma chemicals.
The label should tell you:
~ Common name ex Lavender Bulgarian
~ Latin Botanical name ex Lavandula angustifolia aka officinalis
~ That it's 100% pure essential oil = only 1 ingredient and not "in" a carrier
BONUS FEATURES:
~ Ethically sourced, or even Fair Trade Certified
~ Bought from an aromatherapist, a natural healer, a local store, an ethical supplier rather than a big box store, pharmacy or multi level marketing corporation.
~ Labeled and packaged without plastic (except the cap). Is the label plastic or paper?
~ Does your local source refill? Reuse? Accept returns for a discount? If not, ask for these awesome eco business practices.
~ Does your local source help you use the essential oils safely? Do they offer workshops, info sessions, informed advice, online materia medica?
What's In It For Me? What Support Can I Get?
~ DOPAMINE. LOVE. THE RUSH OF GIFTING. Maybe even sex. More women line up at porta potties. Men stand out. Everyone in betwixt and between gathers and has time to chat. You can't lose.
~ FREE INSTRUCTION: Please feel free to request free Aromatherapy Workshop (value $10!) notes when you sign up with your:
name & playa name
address and camp and how likely you are to really be there
range of porta potties you plan to artfully improve
your plan for obtaining/blending essential oils and the varieties
ANARRES HEALTH AT GMAIL DOT COM
~ FREE MATERIA MEDICA: My Materia Medica - a mini encyclopedia about essential oils, what they do, their constituents and how to use them, etc - is online here under the Essential Oils. Look under STORE, then click on the picture of the copper still to the right of the black caldron, second row from the top, second from the left. Essential oils are listed alphabetically with a picture and the price for 10ml. Generally, look for essential oils priced below $10 per 10ml.
~ Ask me anything, anytime. Anarres Health at gmail.com
~ Receive my DIY Discount of 50% off any essential oil or Emo Oil Blend you buy from me. You can also buy reeds and terra cotta pendants. Because I am coming across the US border from Canada, I will be mailing these up to August 16.
Where Can I Get Real Essential Oils?
1. Locally - Seek out your neighbourhood health food store, aromatherapist or witch?
2. Online - you could order from me - single essential oils http://www.anarreshealth.ca/catalog/3/essential_oils
or blends http://www.anarreshealth.ca/catalog/3/essential_oils?page=3
if you like and I'll apply a 50% DIY discount. If you order, be sure NOT to pay with PayPal. I'll edit your order to apply the discount. THEN you can mail me a cheque. Seriously. Select "Pay By Check". That way PayPal doesn't profit.
3. Collect Donations from Family, Friends and FreeCyclers - Ask and you shall receive. Many people have essential oils at the back of their cupboards, in their abandoned craft kits and medicine cabinets. People give ME essential oils and I have scads (I use these when I offer free DIY workshops). I am sure that if you ask, people will give you some. So after you've collected a total of 90ml of a variety (30ml per porta potty I am estimating is needed), create blends of 30ml...
How Much Oil Should I Bring/Buy?
I suggest a minimum of 30ml times 3 porta potties. If you choose to use citrus and wintergreen, this could cost you as little as $10. On average, it might cost you $30. If you ask for donations, it will cost you nothing but your Loving Time.
I estimate that it takes 30ml to scent 1 porta potty throughout the Burn. Last year I used up the random blends I brought in 10ml bottles. This year I plan on bringing 2x each 15ml blend and 30ml bottles of singles.
What Kind of Sign Should I Make and What should It Say? Most Perplexingly, How Can I Affix It to the Porta Potty?
I am also working through in my head distinctive signage. If you are graphically Gifted, Would You mind terribly making up a Word template and running it past me?
I boycott plastic, so making a durable sign that is affixed without MOOP-Y tape is tricky.
Please let me know your thoughts.
I have plenty of paper tape to share, but don't know how suitable that is.
I am also thinking of removable velcro dots.
I know it's plastic, but at least it's removable. Is there removable tape?
And laser printed cardboard signs. Laser printing is the way to make sure the ink doesn't smear - no plastic necessary. And cardboard will prevent shredded paper MOOP.
What Can I Do To Up The Amazing Factor?
~ Wear a SuperHero Cape, Maid's Outfit or Full On Super Hero Costume when servicing your porta potties. I plan to wear my RRRevolutionary aprons - the pockets are handy in a way that trying to hold many glass bottles of essential oil in my bra wasn't.
~ Make unglazed fired terra cotta pendants, or bracelets, or buy these to Gift. I can't really discount these, but they are seriously discounted in quantity http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/210. The ones listed are made by an aromatherapist-potter family team in New Brunswick. If you'd like to buy more than 10, I will buy them with my wholesale account for you and pass them on to you at my cost. The idea is that you apply a drop or two of essential oil to inhale your scent personally to treat your ailing respiratory system, your addled thinking or your emo self. Or just because! 
At least two RRRevolutionary Guerilla Scenters are considering making their own fired terra cotta pendants.
~ Make or bring non plastic decorative essential oil diffusers. Plastic gets eaten by essential oils and then you get off gassing, so that's a no go, but if you are willing to transport and risk inadvertently gifting essential oil diffusers, then get on it! You will have to figure out how to attach them without damaging the potties. I suggest
hanging diffusers
or reed diffusers http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/263
~ Create Porta Potty Art, such as these paper mache heads
or stage a performance art moment (include trauma counselling if implementing the SWAT Team idea pictured)
or hold a special sensual porta potty event with orgasm enhancing Jasmine or euphoric clary sage, or decorate your porta potties for visual pleasure:
How Can I Recruit RRRevolutionary Guerilla Scenters to the AromaTheraPotty Project?
~ Email the original posting - that's the answer to the second question on this page..
~ Invite people to the Facebook Page.
~ Call for more RRRgs for your specific idea on Jack Rabbit Speaks and other Burner forums and lists.
~ Ask your camp to help you and make it part of your Group Gift.
~ Form a Neighbourhood Potty Improvement Association once you get to the City.
Please ask ALL participants to email me to sign up just so that I know what is going on and don't step on your porta potty toes.
Letting Burners Know What We are Up To
I am hoping to make a map of AromaThera Potties and even to get us into the Survival Guide and directories if possible. That's why I am asking for where you expect to be camping. Any ideas of how to do this?
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AROMATHERAPY ENTHUSIASTS: JOIN IN THE AROMATHERA POTTY PROJECT
Tracey writes:
"Burners have said that there's no sense of smell on the Playa.
Yet visitors to the porta potties testify otherwise.
I am Tracey of Lamay Camp, Kidsville and last year I 'found my Gift'.
I had brought some essential oils and essential oil blends I created to the Playa to scent my tent for hypnotherapy experience sessions. Finding my visit to our local porta potties less than inspirational, I scented every third porta potty with a blend and put a sign up on the outside of the door indicating the blend and its all-botanical ingredients. When I returned a few hours later to check on the scented porta-potties, I found line ups for them! Soon, the Aromathara Potties were the talk of Kidsville. One person even said that it was the highlight of his Burn! So I started to think: What if Aromathera Potties appeared all over Black Rock City? What if aromatherapy enthusiasts shared their gifts at their local porta potties throughout the Burn?
So here's the deal with the Aromathera Potty Project:
1. Contact me so we can get on the same page and so that I can get an overview of the spread of the Project.
2. Select/collect/create a handful of blends or singles (I suggest 30ml of each) to scent your local porta potties with. Here are the "Anarres Emo Oils" I used:http://www.anarreshealth.ca/catalog/3/essential_oils?page=3 I suggest every third or fourth porta potty to make the job manageable for you and to ensure that scent averse folks have a choice not to use an Aromathera Potty.
3. Create non moopy signs to post on the Aromatherapy Potties. Bring 2 per blend in case one goes missing. Be sure that the signs state boldly 'Aromathera Potty Project', name the blend in a fun but accurately evocative way ('Furry Forest' rather than 'Fun Fur' for an evergreen blend) and list all of the ingredients with the common and Latin botanical names so that we don't endanger anyone with allergies to specific botanicals. NO SYNTHETIC SCENTS OR PERFUMES, PLEASE AS THESE ARE ALLERGENIC AND NOT NATURAL AND NOT AROMATHERAPEUTIC ETC.
4. Once on the playa, implement your Aromathera Potty Project at your local porta potties! Visit every 4 hours or so, tidy your porta potty and flick drops of essential oil goodness on the walls. It only takes a few minutes and you're done!
5. Marvel at the line ups at 'your' scented Aromathera Potties! Bask in praise, directed and overheard! Rejoice in the gift you are bringing to the Playa Experience!
Let The RRRevolution Begin in Your Senses!
Best, Tracey aka Miranda Askew
Tracey TieF
Certified Natural Health Practitioner
from Tracey:
To my fellow Anarresti and community. I do apologize for the distress and embarrassment I caused by instigating a scandal around my and Petra's Aromathera Potty Project this year at Burning Man. De commodification is a BM principle and while I think of Anarres as a worldwide movement to institute alternative economics, some people saw our project as advertising. The arguments rightfully belonged on my personal page but were taken here (to the Facebook page for the apothecary) largely to the review section because I created a sign with Anarres on it. I perpetuated it by defending, and I know we all have much more important struggles to attend to than my confused and bruised ego. Tragically, the signs that were destroyed/removed were for Honour Water Protectors and Decolonize Water. Please take a moment to focus on the intention of the signs. This is the message we hoped to Gift. If you would like leftovers from any of the blends, please come in with a bottle and we are happy to share again. Thank you.
Please DO carry on the Aromathera Potty Project. Contact me TraceyTF AT gmail DOT com.