Glossary

If you do it, acknowledge it: a tenet we hold resolutely in mind.

The people of ancient Greece, as identified in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey; in historical context, the poet was likely referring to Mycenaeans.

A literary device common in Homeric works – a cryptic micro-narrative containing a hidden message; the listener/reader mustengagewith the narrative intellectually, morally and emotionallyin order tocomprehend it. (Alsoan ancientliterary genre in ancient Greece and beyond, centred on expressing praise.)

A long, slender flask crafted from stone, ceramic, glass or precious metal, used in ancient Greece as a container for expensive perfumed oils.

Truth, in the sense of sincerity, integrity, sanctity. That is, truth as a moral and ethical standard. 

‘On a level plain, simple mounds look like hills; and the insipid flatness of our present bourgeoisie is to be measured by the altitude of its great intellects.’ Karl Marx 

The thirteenth element in the periodic table. Post-consumer recycled (PCR) aluminium was chosen for most To My Ships packaging on grounds of its durability, lightness, corrosion resistance and infinite recyclability.

Adjective denoting ‘enduring’, ‘unfading’, ‘everlasting’ – derived from the Greek noun for amaranth. In ancient Greece, the resilient plant symbolised what was imperishable.  

A small ceramic vessel for carrying oil, predominantly used by ancient Greek athletes, who oiled their bodies lavishly prior to training sessions.

Light-hearted, deep-thinking, habitually curious.

Sadly, we must use a bank, even if it’s virtual. Happily, we’ve landed with HSBC and Revolut.

These happen quarterly, with mood lighting. They hold us to account for all from which we deviate. 

The product itself is brand emissary; quality conveys more than logos and platitudes. 

No act of production returns more than it absorbs. Our work is to move as lightly, efficiently and respectfully as possible.   

A spirit of trust, respect and affinity shared by people in group settings and collective endeavours. Non-transactional; near-antithetical to networking. 

From the ancient Greek ‘kédros’ and the Latin ‘cedrus’, meaning‘resinous tree’.The genus is valued for its durable, often fragrant timbers; some species are also prizedfor their resin and oil. 

An adjective to describe people or circumstances that are threatening, severe or dangerous. Used frequently in ancient Greece during times of political disquiet and upheaval. 

Symbolic gestures of the hands, or pantomimic gesticulation during a performance – especially in dance.  

Fellow workers. Ascertaining and understanding their Enneagram types is usually helpful in maintaining cordial (or at least functional) relationships. This might take some quiet subterfuge.

A responsibility that’s taken seriously. Every ‘i’ dotted, every ‘t’ crossed.

Handling differences with grace and a modicum of humour.  

Welcoming fresh perspectives without losing our own.  

Considered in everything we do; the reason we exist.

Ought to be embedded in our thinking, not an added extra. Good design reduces and resolves existing problems rather than introducing hindrances. 

Fragrant powders used in antiquity to scent the body. Created from dried flowers and herbs, they were rubbed over the skin or placed in sachets to be worn.

An inalienable state of being, per Immanuel Kant; a human right, as defined by the United Nations and two International Covenants; crucial to the exercise of human rights and social justice, according to Pablo Gilabert.

(For a deep philosophical dive, see Gilabert's Human Dignity and Human Rights.)

The carefully chosen pathways through which To My Ships products become available to you.  

In ancient Greek, the quality of being righteous and just – in a legal sense, and in terms of being committed to ethical conduct.  

A descriptor (when used as an adjective) for an imaginary or actual location/situation marked by despotic rule and impairments to freedom.  

Near-effortless purchasing, with efficient delivery to your doorstep.

Light, undemanding, easy to bear.

Common sense advocates for it; and recent research provides evidence that empathy is integral to our collective health.

(See, for example, the work of Stanford University's Social Neuroscience Laboratory, led by Jamil Zaki.)

The title (from ‘skepsis’: ‘investigation’) for the Sceptical philosophers of ancient Greece. It denoted those who withheld assessments of what they investigated, favouring enquiry over theory. 

To yearn/harbour affection for.

A pleasing fragrance, a sweet scent.

Attractiveness, elegance, decorum.

Esteemed, glorious.

An overwhelming listlessness characterised by feelings of tedium, dissatisfaction and melancholy. 

A situation in which ludicrousness holds sway, to detrimental or possibly humorous effect; and one covered frequently at the International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama.

Taken seriously, created by professionals of many years’ standing.

Within To My Ships, generative AI is regarded as a tool to support human creativity and ingenuity rather than an incipient threat, and used accordingly.

Steering the ship with a steady hand and an attentive eye.

Pleasurable to the senses, sensually arousing.

Sweet-smelling.

Knowing where we come from, and using the past to inform the way forward.

Soundness, in the sense of being complete.

An ancient Greek epic poem that renders a timeless survey of the human condition, estimated to have been written the mid to late eighth century BCE, and attributed to Homer. Translated brilliantly by Robert Fagles in 1990 and by Emily Wilson in 2023.

(Judith Thurman's incisive 2023 New Yorker interview with Emily Wilson about her approach to translating Homer is a rich read. Absorb it at an attentive, unhurried pace.)

Taken seriously, with much time, care and research devoted to checking provenance, quality and processes.

Established in 2017, observed annually on 9 February, which marksthe 1857 death of the Greek national poet, Dionysios Solomos; and the 1863 birthday of similarly revered poet Constantine Cavafy. A good day for reading the classics.

An expensive peace of mind.

Behaving well and building trust.

Beautiful, also praiseworthy – denoting beauty of a type that inspires others to embrace what is both attractive and good.

A probiotic, microbiome-supporting ingredient, derived from fermentation of the Lactococcus lactis bacterium. Helps to support the skin’s natural barrier function. Utilised in Of The Gods Polygonum Roll-On Deodorant and Spray-On Deodorant.

An elegant ancient Greek flask – a container for oils used for bathing, cooking and ceremonial purposes.

Understanding the impact of our products from start to finish.

The behind-the-scenes ballet that keeps things moving.

Generosity founded in altruism, honour and grace. The antithesis of self-interest,  cruelty and rancour. 

Effected with restraint, because product on skin is the strongest way to communicate what we do and why we care.

A versatile herb native to the Mediterranean basin and parts of Asia, valued for the subtle pine and citrus flavours it brings to both savoury and sweet dishes. The essential oil lends earthy, camphorous and herbal notes to formulations and fragrances in which it’s used. 

Details essential to skilful product formulation.  

A certain strength of character, evident in fortitude, heart and tenacity exercised in difficult circumstances. For examples in Homeric literature, see Andromache, Penelope and Penthesilea. 

A symbolic, often sacred narrative, intended to make sense of the human condition. Jung held myth to be a means of connecting individuals and societies to a collective unconscious; Dr Martin Shaw describes myth-making as ‘the correct response to uncertainty’.

In the beauty industry, natural ingredients are defined as those readily available in living botanicals and other natural materials. In order for their molecular structure to remain intact, they must be extracted by means such as steam distillation, maceration, pressing, or solvent extraction.

Naturally derived ingredients are obtained from natural sources, but require a means of chemical modification before they can be utilised – for example, fermentation, condensation or esterification. 

To be obtained with the lightest possible footprint; and used with care, transparency and respect.

(To remain abreast of activities and policies regarding the use and protection of natural resources worldwide, bookmark The International Institute for Sustainable Development's website.)

Thinking/awareness that stems from intuition; related to nous (see below), but unlike nous, nóêsisfunctions without discursive reasoning. Plato regarded itas the paramount aspect of human knowledge. 

In part, from the Greek ‘nóos’ – ‘to know’, in the sense of an enquiring intellect achieving understanding. Etymologically tangled, butgenerally taken to denote acapacityto discern and understand truths, and to formcanny assessments.

Warm, sharp and efficient; where creativity meets productivity.

The process by which we encounter and evaluate smells. It relies on the first cranial nerve (CN 1), which reaches from the brain to the upper interior of the nose; and the olfactory bulb, which sits at the front of the brain. Jointly, these perform as receptors for airborne molecules that carry scent, and convey associated information (pleasant, malodourous, stimulating, dangerous, etc) to the limbic system, including parts of the brain linked to emotion and memory.

From the Greek ὀλιγαρχία, or ‘the rule of a few [persons or families]’; see Aristotle and Plato for finer details. Governance defined by the convergence of political power and extreme wealth, in the interests of a ruling few. It mightencompass, say, the evisceration of democratic institutions, erosion of social justice,and suppression of the fourth estate. 

Yearning, appetite, fervent desire.

A fragrance or aroma.

The olfactory sense, the act of smelling.

Openness, candour, boldness, particularly in speech.

A key ingredient in Of The Gods’ constituent fine perfume, obtained
through an extraction process that eliminates the heaviness often associated with Patchouli. Distinctive in its warm, stimulating notes of wood, camphor and balsamic.

In reference to packaging, an acronym for ‘post-consumer recycled’ materials manufactured from input materials that have been recovered from consumer recycling such as plastics, cardboard and paper, aluminium and glass.

A wide-bodied ceramic vessel with two handles, usually decorated, used in ancient Greece for storing large quantities of oil (and possibly wine).

Indomitable Amazon queen and warrior who supported the Trojans during the Trojan War, and was slain by Achilles. Her name, derived from the Greek penthos and laôs, means ‘mourned by the people’. 

They really matter very much.

A naturally occurring mineral derived from volcanic glass (aka obsidian). When finely powdered, it makes an excellent physical exfoliant that is gentle on the skin and harmless to natural environments. Utilised in Of The Gods Polygonum Hand & Body Wash.

Plural of ‘peripatos’; shaded avenues and colonnades such as those in ancient Greece that were walked by the students of Aristotle’s Lyceum – hence his Peripatetic School of philosophy (literally, ‘thinking while walking’).  

Together with written references, archaeological finds indicate that the use of scented oils, fragrances and cosmetics by ancient Greeks stemmed back to the 8th century BCE, and possibly earlier. For a richly evocative picture, see The Iliad, Book 14, lines 204-229 (‘Hera cleansed her enticing body of any blemish, then she applied a deep olive rub, the breath-taking, redolent oil she kept beside her...’).

An evergreen tree, also known as bitter orange. Oil extracted from the leaves, characterised by green citrus, floral and woody notes, is utilised in the Of The Gods range, as one of the key ingredients of its constituent fine perfume.

Understanding, insight – in the sense of practical wisdom.

Also known as Fragrant Solomon’s Seal, a herbaceous perennial related to Lily of the Valley, bearing sweetly scented white flowers. Archigenes of Apamea, an ancient Greco-Syrian physician, apparently recommended a Polygonum garland placed on the head as a treatment for headaches. Polygonum is naturally high in aldehydes and is a key ingredient in the fine perfume created for Of The Gods.

Keeping plans on track with a smile and a well-delineated path.

Investing and being prepared to fail through early prototyping is the best way to refine our offer and resolve potential problems.

Ensuring the bar is set high – almost out of reach.

A highly desirable if increasingly elusive state.

Giving new life to old materials.

Harnessing the power of nature sustainably.

A path to doing better, ventured with judicious attention to detail.

Creating space to communicate our intentions.

Keeping pieces of the past to help inform the future.

Anticipating challenges, with a view to opportunities.

An enticing taste of what's to come.

The result of much self-reflection around product usage and provision of responsible refills, ensuring every demand is considered.

A widely used method of extracting essential oils from natural materials, using food-grade solvents to isolate the oils in question. It is favoured for resinous plant materials and for delicate aromatics unsuited to steam distillation.

Of the body, corporeal.

A skin-conditioning ingredient
derived from the Sphingomonas hydrophobicum bacterium. Utilised in Of The Gods Polgyonum Roll-On Deodorant and Spray-On Deodorant.

A state/attribute worth striving for constantly, in all senses of the word.

The quality of holding fast in the face of obstacles. In Homeric literature, Penelope, Queen of Ithaca, is a salient example – shrewdly and determinedly fending off impassioned suitors for 20 years while awaiting her husband Odysseus’ return from the Trojan War. (Whether he was worthy of her efforts and fidelity, though, is debatable.) 

Safe, steady growth for a secure future.

Comprehensive, taking no shortcuts; products must be safe, effective, and properly validated. 

To be courageous, confident and of good cheer.

The ‘father of botany’ in ancient Greece, and author of On Odours [De odoribus] – a collection of detailed treatises on scent, olfactory sense-impressions, and the use of botanicals in the creation of perfumes. For a brilliant contemporary reflection on his life, see Laura Beatty’s LOOKING FOR THEOPHRASTUS: Travels in Search of a Lost Philosopher.  

Aka: working with reliable partners in order to get our products to you.

Continuous learning for continuous improvement.

A genus of giant clam. Tridacna shells, often carved to beautiful effect, were used in ancient Greece to hold cosmetics and unguents.

The people of ancient Troy, which in Homer’s time lay on the Aegean coast, on a site that is now part of the Republic of Türkiye. 

Handling the requirements of HM Revenue & Customs with grace and precision.