As people assume a more take-charge attitude towards their health, the value of holistic therapies has gained global recognition. Aromatherapy, the use of essences from plants is a major part of this holistically oriented direction. There remains a lot of misunderstanding about what aromatherapy is and is not.

So, what is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is somewhat of a misleading name for this healing modality. It suggests that it is a form of therapy with aromas. It is not just about smelling something that makes us feel a certain way, although that is a part of it. Aromatherapy is the use of essences that are extracted from different parts of a plant - root, seed, flower, leaf, bark and fruit. These essences are called essential oils. Essential oils have numerous properties and various scents that affect us on a mental, emotional, spiritual and physical level.

Essential oils are highly volatile, concentrated substances which contain natural antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. They provide relief and healing for a variety of skin conditions. Additionally, products containing essential oils can provide relief from common conditions such as - stress, sleep difficulties, headaches, low energy, to name a few.

The benefits from the aromas of the essential oils are due to the fact that our sense of smell can evoke immediate and vivid emotional reactions, memories and associations, positive or negative, like no other sense. For example, if you went to visit your beloved grandmother every summer as a child and she made you fresh orange juice each morning, you would have very pleasant memories associated with oranges. Each time you smelled oranges, you would be reminded of a pleasant time and experience.

There are many products, marketed as aromatherapy that use synthetic substances that might smell like the real thing but are made in the lab, not in the fields of nature. True aromatherapy only uses essences from plants. There are several different processes that can be used to extract these essences - most commonly steam distillation.

Is aromatherapy new?

Aromatherapy has been around since at least 3000 BC. The word was coined in the 1920s by a French chemist, Rene Maurice Gattefosse. He burned his hand in his laboratory and plunged it into a bowl of pure lavender oil. Dr. Gattefosse was so impressed with how his hand healed from the lavender that he spent the rest of his life studying plant essences.

An interesting quote from Hippocrates in 500 BC: The way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage every day. Wouldn’t that be nice?


How can aromatherapy be used?

Cosmetics: Essential oils are used in face and body care products as well as hair and scalp care products.
Massage: Different blends of essential oils are combined with massage oils to target specific conditions.

Inhalation: Essential oils can be sprinkled on a tissue or cotton ball and then inhaled for a specific effect, such as calming or energizing. They can also be used in a diffuser, such as a light bulb ring, a candle diffuser or an electric one. A diffuser can be used to scent an entire room.

Therapeutic: Because of the therapeutic effects of essential oils, they can be used to ease the pain of headaches, sports injuries, arthritis. Additionally, for colds, sleep difficulties, stress, fevers, stomach troubles, cuts and brusises to name a few.

Environmental: Scenting a room through the use of a diffuser or using them as cleaning products. Lemon, for example is an excellent cleaning agent. You can put pure lemon oil directly on a sponge to clean the walls of your kitchen or bathroom.

Can I use the plant essences directly on my skin?

Essential oils are highly concentrated, so they are typically blended into lotions, shower and bath gels, and massage oils and are not used directly on the skin. There are exceptions, but before using them straight on the skin, a trained aromatherapist should be consulted.

What are some of the most popular oils and their properties?

Bergamot: Uplifting and mood enhancing, excellent for the blues and low energy. Lavender: Calming, analgesic, effective for sleep difficulties. Eucalyptus: Invigorating, commonly used for respiratory conditions. Marjoram: Sedative and relieves anxiety. Peppermint: Refreshing and cooling. Grapefruit: Detoxifying and uplifting. Rosemary: Energizing, enhances concentration.

Can children use aromatherapy?

Most definitely. There are many products out on the market today for young children that contain the milder essential oils, such as orange, mandarin and lavender. Since most children have a fine tuned sense of smell, aromatherapy is a wonderful addition to their lives.

How can I get started using aromatherapy?

There are many products on the market today. Just make sure that they are made with pure plant essences. Additionally, there are lots of informative books on the subject that you can read to get started.

Written by international aromatherapy expert Valerie Bennis. Click here to view Valerie Bennis products Vali Essence

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