FLOURISH ~ Women’s Wellness Day-Retreat
FEBRUARY : Flourish by adopting the French art of fragance. Join Our February Retreat!
LOCATION: Southwestern University, Georgetown Texas
INCLUDED: Brunch in Southwestern University Cafeteria
Sojourner Tours invites you to an immersive, transformative retreat where you’ll explore the power of fragrance and scent as a tool for wellness, identity, and connection. In this unique day of workshops, discussions and sisterhood, we’ll dive into how scent can shape your mood, evoke memory, and enhance your personal wellness practices. This special in-person event will take place at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and is a wonderful Valentine’s gift to yourself.
DISCUSSION The Role of Scent in French Traditional Culture:
Scent is central to French culture, often woven into daily life in ways that go beyond mere fragrance. In the home, scent is used to set the ambiance, lift or calm mood, and enhance emotional well-being. Lisa Gustavson, MA in Anthropology and International Studies, will lead a presentation on how the French use scent to elevate their environments, nurture wellness, or even create theatrical anticipation of meals. You’ll learn inspiring ideas that you can integrate into your own life from diffusing calming lavender before bed, to using invigorating citrus to start your day, or creating a peaceful atmosphere with eucalyptus and rosemary.
WORKSHOP Essential Oils & Wellness: A Sensory Journey:
Robin, the owner of Sanctuary Kitchen in Georgetown, will guide you through an Essential Oils & Wellness Workshop. In this session, you’ll learn about individual scents and their stand-alone properties. You’ll learn how to use single notes of essential oils to create your own wellness sanctuary at home. Robin will teach you how fragrance can be a tool for emotional balance and self-care and highlight specific oils and their traditional effects on mood, emotion and feeling. In France, essential oils are also used in natural medicine for their healing properties. So, Robin will also touch on oils like rosemary and thyme which are often used in steam inhalations or diluted in massage oils to treat respiratory issues or muscle tension.
LUNCH BREAK
DISCUSSION French History and Traditions of Perfume:
Lisa will share with you a brief enchanting history of perfume in France and explain a bit about the French perfume industry. Discussions will then focus on how fragrance functions as a tool for memory and emotional connection in French culture and for you. You’ll consider how certain scents can trigger memories, evoke specific moods, and even transport you to different moments in time. Whether it’s a whiff of a beloved perfume, a floral note from childhood, or the calming scent of lavender, fragrance is a tool for connecting with yourself, your past, and the present moment -and others. Just as many women in France are known by their signature scent, which evokes a sense of nostalgia and recognition, you’ll explore how fragrance can be an integral part of your own identity, creating lasting impressions and deepening your connections with others. Then, you’ll then be invited to dive deep into your own identity and consider what constellation of characteristics make you unique.
WORKSHOP: Your Identity, A Signature Scent:
In French culture, scent is more than just an accessory—it’s an expression of identity, a personal signature that tells the world who you are. At this retreat, you will have discovered how fragrance plays a central role in the French art of living. Learning the basics of how perfumes are created can help you choose and wear a signature scent that becomes part of your personal story, evoking powerful memories and emotions.
During our Perfume-Making Workshop, led by Crystal from Libertine: Holistic Wellness & Botanical Perfume Studio in Austin, you’ll create your own signature fragrance using essential oils, absolutes, and botanicals . Crystal will guide you through the art of blending scents to express your individuality. You'll walk away with a foundational understanding of the process, tools, and techniques involved in creating a balanced botanical fragrance. Plus, you'll have crafted your own bespoke perfume, with Crystal’s expert guidance every step of the way.
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The French have long known that the power of scent lies in its ability to evoke emotion, spark memory, and influence mood. This retreat is your opportunity to be inducted into the French ways of fragrance. Spending the day connecting with other women, discussing memories and identities that relate to scent and laughing together while you explore and create in the workshops you’ll become part of a sisterhood while explore the role of scent in your lives together.. Whether you’re seeking to capture the essence of a cherished memory or create a signature scent that reflects your personality, fragrance can become a powerful, transformative tool and source of joy, nostalgia and wellness. Our expert guides will help you unlock the secrets of scent and teach you how to incorporate it into your daily life, offering an opportunity to deepen your emotional connection to the world around you.
Retreat Highlights:
PRESENTATION & DISCUSSION: The Role of Scent in French Culture with Lisa Gustavson
WORKSHOP: Essential Oils & Wellness with Robin from Sanctuary Kitchen
WORKSHOP: Creating Your Signature Scent with Crystal from Libertine Perfume
SISTERHOOD: Connect with like-minded women and join a supportive community.
Expect delightful surprises, fun activities, and plenty of opportunities to connect with yourself and others throughout the day!
Date: February TBD, 2025
Time: TBD
Location: Southwestern Olin Building 305, Georgetown, Texas
Vibe: A fun, informative, and culturally enriching day filled with connection to self, identity, and sisterhood.
Ready to discover the French art? Join us and flourish with fragrance!