What Is Aromatherapy?
By Lindsay Martin of Wicked Sniffer Aromatherapy Co.
Hi there! My name is Lindsay and I'm so glad you've made it here. I'm the owner and founder of Wicked Sniffer Aromatherapy Co. and a student of aromatherapy. It's nice to meet you. I'm excited because this is Wicked Sniffer Aromatherapy Co.'s first blog, and I thought, what better way to begin then to explain what aromatherapy is? Let's dive right in!
So, What Is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the suggested use of aromatic substances derived from plants (aka essential oils) in a holistic way to improve the health of the mind, body and soul, by an Aromatherapist.
What Exactly Does That Mean?
In Aromatherapy, certified aromatherapists formulate blends for skin and inhalation based on what we know about the chemical components of the essential oil. We use peer reviewed studies, scientific research, case studies, anecdotal & historical evidence to guide us in knowing just how the essential oil can work for specific issues and circumstances.
Certified aromatherapists are required to learn about anatomy and physiology so as to have a keen understanding of how the essential oils affect the human body, as well as learning about chemistry and botany. Aromatherapists work closely with clients with the goal of formulating the most effective blend possible for them. This involves questions about medication use, allergies, health issues, and paying attention to any emotional issues that could be present due to their ailment.
Last but not least, an aromatherapist often blends based on intuition. The more an aromatherapist gets to know about plant parts, chemical components, synergy, and which aromas blend together best, their ability to come up with effective blends oftentimes comes straight from the intuition.
What is an Essential Oil?
Have you ever smelled a rose? It has a fresh, sweet aroma that's unmistakable. Through solvent extraction, we can capture the aroma of the rose and bottle it. This is what's known as an Essential Oil, the volatile aromatic substance of a plant. The essence of the plant, as it's known before it's removed from the plant, is generally extracted from every part of a plant:
- Flowers
- Seeds
- Roots/Rhizome
- Wood/Trunk
- Resin
- Leaves
- Fruit
As we all know, plants are a powerhouse when it comes to eating, and it's no different when it comes to using essential oils (just don't eat them). There can be as many as 500 or more chemical components in one essential oil, each component offering its own type of therapeutic benefit.
Essential oils are effective when used for emotional, mental, and spiritual support as well. When we speak with clients about their physical needs, we also pay attention to what we think their emotional needs might be too. Is their ailment stressful? Then adding a good anti-stress oil to their blend is a great idea in order to combat more than one issue.
Some of the ways we introduce essential oils into the body in aromatherapy:
- Inhalation
- Applying to the skin
How do Aromatherapists Apply Essential Oils to Skin?
Part of becoming an aromatherapist requires learning about the dilution guidelines for each individual essential oil. (Yes, I said individual!) After all, essential oils are very concentrated substances, so they should never be added neat to the skin unless under direct supervision of a qualified aromatherapist. With their special knowledge of how and what to blend, aromatherapists blend essential oils into some of the following mediums for skin application:
- Body butter (made from all natural butters like coco, shea, and kokum)
- Carrier oils like jojoba oil, argan oil, & hemp oil
- Beeswax-based salves
- Lotion or cream
- Aloe Vera
- Castile Soap
At Wicked Sniffer Aromatherapy Co, we utilize gorgeous butters and carrier oils for making all kinds of essential oil blends for the hair, skin, & nails. (Our product selection will be expanding soon to offer more of these types of products.)
We also offer aromatherapy through the route of inhalation with our convenient pocket-sized aromatherapy inhalers, otherwise known as Wicked Sniffers. They are colorful little lip balm-sized tubes with organic cotton soaked in pure therapeutic grade essential oils, perfect to use just about anywhere, anytime!
Aromatherapy is a Great Supplement to a Healthy Lifestyle
All in all, adding aromatherapy to your self-care routine can offer surprisingly good benefits to an already healthy lifestyle. At the bare minimum, essential oils are known mood elevators and are great at making people feel calm, and who doesn't want to feel happier and calmer?
Warm wishes & until next time,
Xoxo-Lindsay