Have you ever noticed how certain essential oil scents can make you feel more relaxed, refreshed or more focused? This is aromatherapy!
Aromatherapy, also known as essential oil therapy, is the inhalation or physical application of essential oils for therapeutic benefits.
In this blog, we’re going to go through everything you need to know from the history and what it does, to which oils to use and how to use them!
Contents
- What are Essential Oils?
- History of Aromatherapy
- How Does Aromatherapy Work?
- What Does Aromatherapy Actually Do?
- Which Essential Oils Can You Use in Aromatherapy?
- How to Use Essential Oils For Aromatherapy?
What are Essential Oils?
Essential oils (also known as aromatherapy oils) are concentrated natural oils obtained from plants. They can be extracted from leaves, flowers, roots, trees or fruits!
There is a huge range of essential oils and they each have their own unique aroma. The main scent groups are floral, citrus, woody, earthy, spicy and herbal.
To produce essential oils, the plant matter is steam distilled to release the natural oil. For some plants, this process can involve distilling kilos upon kilos of plant matter to produce just 1 litre of oil!
History of Aromatherapy
Technically, the term ‘aromatherapy’ has only been around since the 20th century. The term was first written in a book called Aromathérapie: Les Huiles essentielles hormones végétales, written by the French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé.
However, aromatherapy has actually been around for centuries, just not in the way we know it today. So let’s start from the beginning…
Aromatherapy is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt and was also practiced in Ancient Greece, China and India. However, instead of essential oils, they would make natural plant extracts, infused oil from the aromatic plant and burn incense. They would use the plants for spiritual, medicinal, perfume and cosmetic use.
In the 11th century, the invention of the coiled cooling pipe was a breakthrough for essential oil distillation. Over the next few centuries, more and more plants were discovered to produce essential oils and they were studied for their medicinal benefits.
In the 16th century, more essential oils were introduced and essential oils became available for purchase in apothecaries. Perfumery then became increasingly popular in the 17th century.
In the 20th century, René-Maurice Gattefossé became increasingly interested in essential oils for medicinal benefits. He experimented with the essential oils, like lavender, and in 1937 he wrote the book Aromathérapie: Les Huiles essentielles hormones végétales, where the word ‘aromatherapy’ was first used.
One of the first individuals to bring his knowledge and education of aromatherapy to England was English aromatherapist, Robert Tisserand. He published the first English book on aromatherapy (The Art of Aromatherapy) in 1977.
Today, essential oils have become even more popular and are used for their therapeutic, aromatic and cosmetic benefits.
How Does Aromatherapy Work?
You may have noticed in your day to day life that certain scents trigger emotions or memories. Whether you love using the same scented candle in your home or the smell of lavender reminds you of a happy memory, scent plays a big role in our lives.
Essential oils are just concentrated scents and they contain natural components that trigger emotions when inhaled. They can make us feel calmer, balanced or energised depending on the essential oil.
In technical terms, when the essential oil is inhaled it stimulates the olfactory system, which is the part of your brain that is connected to smell. This then sends a message to your limbic system, which is the part of the brain that involves emotions and behaviour.
What Does Aromatherapy Actually Do?
The answer to this question depends on who you ask.
General Public Perspective
When it comes to aromatherapy, the opinions are pretty mixed. Some people find aromatherapy is good for supporting sleep, improving mood, aiding relaxation and reducing cold symptoms. However, many remain skeptical or find that aromatherapy doesn’t work for them.
Our Customers Perspective
We asked our customers for their perspective on aromatherapy and found a range of views.
Most of our customers view aromatherapy as a way to relax and reduce stress in everyday life. As one customer shared, “I use it all the time on a daily basis. Essential oils in diffusers in different rooms, in oil for skin and on the pillow at night.”
Other customers found aromatherapy works best in specific situations. One customer shared that they use “eucalyptus to soothe a cough, lavender on burns, peppermint for nausea, and lemon as a kitchen cleaner.”
However, not everyone agreed on what aromatherapy actually works for. One person explained, “it worked for me if I was in the right frame of mind and relaxed. If I was stressed out, it tended to be less effective.” Another customer also shared that not every essential oil is good for aromatherapy, explaining that “in general I would say they're over-hyped and while there are a few very useful ones I find most not very effective.”
Aromatherapists Perspective
We asked an IFPA qualified aromatherapist what aromatherapy actually does and this is their perspective.
As we’ve mentioned earlier, aromatherapy is widely used to support mental and emotional wellbeing. The aromatherapist explained, “Emotionally, essential oils can calm nerves, can be used as a sedative, help with depression, anxiety, can uplift the mind.”
They also explained how aromatherapists use essential oils for physical benefits, stating that “essential oils can be used for skin problems, cuts/wounds, bites/stings, pain relief, inflammation, indigestion and also added to creams/serums for anti-ageing benefits.”
Mainstream Medicines Perspective
In modern medicine, aromatherapy is mainly offered as a treatment for mental wellbeing to calm and uplift mood. It is becoming more popular as a secondary treatment that can be used alongside medicines.
Some NHS Foundations use aromatherapy treatments to help reduce anxiety, nausea and insomnia caused by cancer symptoms (1, 2). It is also claimed to be useful in labour for mental wellbeing and even relieve symptoms of pain (4).
Other websites like Cancer Research UK (3), explain that many aromatherapy studies are not in-depth enough. They also explain that they found some research showed it helped reduce certain symptoms while others did not.
Our Perspective
At The Soapery, we believe aromatherapy is a great way to improve mental wellbeing and physical wellbeing, to a certain extent.
It is an amazing way to help the mind relax, improve focus and uplift overall mood! Aromatherapy is also a great way to ease minor physical symptoms like aches and pains, colds and headaches.
Aromatherapy can help you feel better, which is why it works well alongside conventional medicine to support overall wellbeing. However, there is a difference between something that helps you feel better and something that can treat a medical condition.
There are many claims that aromatherapy can treat medical conditions and mental health issues, but there is currently not enough scientific evidence to support these claims.
We hear loads of personal experiences about how its impacted them positively, but these are based on individual experiences rather than solid evidence.
Which Essential Oils Can You Use in Aromatherapy?
Each essential oil has its own natural properties and benefits for aromatherapy. Here are some of the most commonly used essential oils and their uses in aromatherapy:
- Bergamot essential oil - This is used for its uplifting benefits.
- Chamomile essential oil -This is used for its calming benefits and to aid sleep.
- Clary sage essential oil - This is used for its calming properties.
- Eucalyptus essential oil - This is used to improve focus and to help relax muscles. It can also be used to clear congestion.
- Frankincense essential oil - This is used for its calming effect and to help relax muscles.
- Lavender essential oil - This is used for its calming properties and to aid sleep.
- Lemon essential oil - This is used for its energising and uplifting benefits.
- Peppermint essential oil - This is used for its energising benefits and for relaxing muscles. It can also ease headaches and clear congestion.
- Rosemary essential oil - This is used for its energising properties. It can also be uplifting and help improve focus.
- Sweet orange essential oil - This is used for its uplifting and energising properties.
- Ylang ylang essential oil - This is used for its calming properties.
How to Use Essential Oils For Aromatherapy?
Essential oils can be used in a few different ways for aromatherapy. The main ways to use them are in massage oils, diffusers, baths and steam inhalation.
Let’s go through each use in a bit more detail…
Diffusers
This is one of our favourite ways to use essential oils. It’s simple but so effective!
A diffuser simply disperses the essential oil through the air, filling a room with the fragrant aroma.
All you need to do is add some water to the diffuser, then add a few drops of an essential oil, or a blend of oils, to the top of the diffuser. Now switch it on and let the diffuser do its thing!
Massage Oils
This is the classic way to apply essential oils. It is great for calming the mind, soothing muscle aches and pains, as well as nourishing the skin!
It is important to note that you should not apply essential oils directly to the skin as it can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. To apply essential oils for a massage, you need to dilute them in a carrier oil. The most popular carrier oils for massages are sweet almond oil, jojoba oil and grapeseed oil.
We recommend adding 1% of essential oil to a carrier oil. For example, this would be 1ml essential oil in 100ml of a carrier oil.
However, you also need to check category 5A in the IFRA document to find the maximum usage rate for the essential oil you choose. If the usage rate is less than 1%, then you must follow what the document tells you. If it is over 1%, then just use 1% essential oil in the massage as you don’t need any more!
Steam Inhalation
If you have a cold or congestion, this is the best way to inhale essential oils. Both the essential oils and the steam will help to reduce congestion and other cold symptoms.
For steam inhalation, you will need to fill a heatproof bowl with boiling water and then add a few drops of your essential oil. Then place a towel over your head and lean over the bowl to allow the aromatic steam to enter your airways.
Try our decongestant recipe here: DIY Natural Decongestant | For Inhaling | TheSoapery
Bath Salts
Essential oils in bath salts are great for relaxation and soothing muscles.
All you need to do is mix the salts, essential oils and a solubiliser (like polysorbate 80). Our favourite salts for this are epsom salt and Himalayan pink salt.
We recommend adding 3% essential oils to the bath salts. For example this would be 15g essential oil in 500g of salt.
However, you also need to check category 9 in the IFRA document to find the maximum usage rate for the essential oil you choose. If the usage rate is less than 3%, then you must follow what the document tells you. If it is over 3%, then just use 3% essential oil in the bath salts as you don’t need any more!
Try our bath salt recipe here: Make Your Own Bath Salts With Essential Oils | TheSoapery
Sources:
1 - Aroma sticks in cancer care - Overview | Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
2 - Complementary therapies, Dimbleby Cancer Care - Overview | Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
3 - Aromatherapy | Complementary and alternative therapy | Cancer Research UK
4 - Serenity Aromatherapy - North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
Continue Reading
Now you know what aromatherapy is all about, why not read more?
- Want to use aromatherapy to reduce stress and calm the mind? Try our natural calm balm recipe!
- Read about the best essential oil for sleep with our in depth blog!
- Want to learn how to blend essential oils? Learn about the different notes with this blog!
Do you love aromatherapy? Let us know on our socials! Tag us on Instagram or Facebook or use our hashtag #thesoaperyuk
