What is Aromatherapy?

The ancient art of Aromatherapy involves the use of pure essential oils to heal the body, mind and spirit. These essential oils are extracted from flowers, roots, seeds, herbs, spices, woods and resins. Aromatherapy can invigorate and stimulate, or sooth and calm. It can help you concentrate, inspire, arouse, cleanse and cool you. It can help you sleep, repair damaged skin, and treat burns or stings.

Olfactory experts have identified around 1500 natural aromas. The right combination of scents can enhance concentration, lower blood pressure, and even alleviate depression. The medicinal qualities of essential oils have been revered for centuries. The Egyptians were using aromatics more than 4000 years ago for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. They also used them to embalm their dead.

"The glory of the garden lies in more than meets the eye"
- Rudyard Kipling

The Ancient Greek and Babylonian doctors swore by the powers of plant. Hippocrates - the "father of modern medicine" wrote of a huge range of medicinal plants. In China and India, an unbroken tradition of Aromatherapy dates back to thousands of years. The term "aromatherapie" was invented by Rene Maurice Gattefosse, a French perfume chemist. After burning his hand in a laboratory explosion, he plunged it into a jar of pure lavender oil. It healed extraordinarily fast and it left no scar. With the development of synthetic drugs, the use of essential oils all but disappeared in western societies, particularly during the 20th century. Fortunately their value is being rediscovered, and in these fragrances can be found the key to dealing with the pressures of modern living.

How Aromatherapy Works

Aromatherapy combines the two most basic primitive senses: touch and smell. Some 300 essential oils are used by aromatherapists, and each contains an average of 100 components. The process of extracting essential oils from plants is an art in itself, and requires infinite patience. Over 300 Jasmine blossoms are required for one 12ml bottle of oil. Each flower must be handpicked before the sun becomes too hot on the very first day it opens. The petals of 30 roses yield just a single drop of Rose oil, which explains why it is the worlds most precious essential oil. One of the greatest advantages of essential oils is the wide variety of ways in which they can be used - through bathing, vaporisation, massage, compresses, inhalation, foot baths, direct application and perfume. Essential oils can effect many subtle changes and best results will be achieved by alternating your choice of oils regularly.