Essential Oils

Essential Oils

The term "Aromatherapy" as we know it today was first coined in 1937 by the French chemist and perfumer Rene Maurice Gattefosse. He was interested in the properties that essential oils exhibited.

In 1910 he burnt his hand severely in his laboratory and being the first available compound handy, treated his badly burnt hand with pure undiluted Lavender Oil, which not only immediately eased the pain, but also helped heal the hand without any sign of infection or scar.

His research into Essential Oils found that minute amounts are absorbed by the body, either through the skin during massage or by inhalation when burning the Oils.

These minutes amounts  interact with the body chemistry, which explains in a simplistic way, why the Oils are grouped as Relaxing, Uplifting, Calming Grounding etc.

Essential Oils are produced using the raw plant material, consisting of the Flowers, Leaves, Wood, Bark, Roots, Seeds, or Peel.

The most normal method of production consists of various forms of Distillation or Cold Pressing.

The amount of raw material used to collect the "Essence" is indicative in the price.

Oils such as Jasmine and Chamomile need a much greater quantity of flowers to produce a small about of Oil in comparision to Lavender, hence the high price of the Jasmine absolute Oil.

Essential Oils differ immensely to Fragrance Oils,, these oils do not contain the essence and are chemically produced, therefore they do not have the Therapeutic effect of Essential Oils.

Uses of Essential Oils

Oils may be used diluted in a Burner, just add a few drops to water in the burner dish, place a tea light under the dish and soon the oils will start work. Which oil to use depends on which properties you want.

Add a few drops to a carrier Oil such as Sweet Almond, Advocado, or quite simply Olive Oil, to make up a  massage Oil.

A few drops may be added to a warm bath, try this next time you have a cold by adding a few drops of Eucalyptus Oil to the bath water.

If you do not have an oil burner drops of oil sprinkled on damp cotton wool and placed on a hot radiator can work very well. As the cotton wool dries, the oils are released into the atmosphere.

Another household use for these magical oils is in the tumble dryer. Many people buy the dryer sheets to fragrance their washing, place a few drops onto a piece of Kitchen roll and pop into the dryer, the result is wonderful smelling washing.

Use as an air freshener by adding a few drops to water in a spray bottle, much better than the canned air fresheners.

All Essential Oils are antiseptic therefore use can use then in floor washes and surface washers.

Magically they have many uses, although I do think the way they work above is magical.

Essential Oils may be added to herbal and/or incense blends. Just mix a few drops to the herbs or insence resin. 

 Use Essential Oils to annoint candles. Rub the oil into the candle. There are many ways of doing this. You could place a few drops on damp cotton wool. Damp cotton wool is used as it is not as absobment as dry cotton wool. You could use your fingers to rub the oil in to the candle with or without gloves on. Massage the candle and you will transfer the oil into the wax. Do allow it to dry  before using as Essential Oils are flammable.
If you use your bare fingers to anoint the candles make sure that you do not touch eyes etc and that you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.