Aromatherapy Overview
| The absolute & essential oils used in Aromatherapy are distilled from plants that come from every continent on the globe. Each essential oil comes from a specific plant. Each plant shares a vibrant aromatic energy. |
Aromatherapy is the use of pure essential and absolute oils. Essential oils are complex, highly
fragrant and volatile substances, with varying degrees of complexity, fragrance, and volatility.
They are the most potent and concentrated extracts of various parts of flowers, fruits, leaves,
spices, roots, and woods. The plant's essence molecules are approximately 75-100 times more
concentrated as an essential oil than in the dried plant.
While in the plant, the essence molecules play a key role in the biochemistry of the plant --
they are located between the cells of the plant and these molecules act as regulators and
messengers. By giving the plant its aromatic essence, they are also thought to give the plant its
"life force". They also protect the plant from parasites and disease, and play an important role
in fertilization and assist the plant's adaptation to its environment.
To obtain essential oils the aromatic essence molecules of the plant must be captured by
using a technical distillation or extraction method. In earlier times, the art of distillation was
held in the hands of the few and was considered to be an alchemical transformation of spirit,
a bridge between the two realms.
The term "essential oil" is used somewhat loosely as it is often applied to all aromatic
products such as essence oils, absolutes, resinoids, and concretes. In Aromatherapy, the most
common method of extraction is steam distillation. However, cold expression is used for citrus
oils, and a method of solvent extraction for absolutes, concretes and resinoids. The newest
technological process of extraction is the hypercritical carbon dioxide method: in part due to
high cost, it is not as commonly available.
In Aromatherapy it is held that once extracted, the chemical constituents of a particular
essential oil will determine its primary action. Generally, essential oils consist of chemical
compounds which have hydrogen, carbon and oxygen in their building blocks. The primary
functional groups of the essential oils used in aromatherapy are:
Monoterpenes: anti-viral, antiseptic, bactericidal, and can be highly irritating to the skin.
Examples: lemon, pine, frankincense.
Esters: fungicidal, sedating, and very aromatically pleasing. Examples: bergamot, Clary sage,
lavender.
Aldehydes: sedating and antiseptic. Examples: melissa, lemongrass, cirtronella.
Ketones: ease congestion, aid flow of mucus, can be toxic. Examples: fennel, hyssop, sage.
Alcohols: very antiseptic, anti-viral with uplifting qualities. Examples: rosewood, geranium,
rose.
Phenols: bactericidal and strongly stimulating, can be highly irritating to the skin. Examples:
clove, thyme, oregano.
Oxides: expectorant and bactericidal. Examples: rosemary, tea tree.
How an Essential Oil Differs from other Oils
Essential oils and fatty/vegetable oils are two completely different types of oils. Understanding
that essential oils are volatile by nature (most essential oils tend to evaporate or change to
vapor quickly when exposed to air) should help to dispel frequent confusion about the
relationship between essential oils and fatty/vegetable oils such as Almond oil or Sesame oil.
It is both interesting and useful to note that essential oils are soluble in fatty/vegetable oils.
Because of this, in Aromatherapy, fatty/vegetable oils are called carrier oils. Since essential
oils are often too potent to be used directly on the skin full strength, diluting an essential oil in
a carrier oil is an excellent way to facilitate safe use of the essential oil. Carrier and essential
oils also compliment one another’s effects in a synergistic way; they are nourishing and easily
absorbed by the skin.
Absorption of Essential Oils
In the Aromatherapy it is held that essential oils have a relatively small, simple and lipid-
soluble molecular structure that allows them to pass easily through the skin. Once diluted
essential oil is applied directly to the skin it is completely absorbed and penetrates deeply into
the tissues, interstitial fluid and bloodstream. Different oils have varying rates of absorption,
between 20 and 120 minutes.
In the field of Aromatherapy it is held that in skin care essential oils regulate the activity of
capillaries and restore vitality to the tissues. In Maguerite Maury’s Guide to Aromatherapy,
she states “essential oils are natural rejuvenating agents which facilitate the elimination of
waste matter and dead cells and promote the regeneration of new and healthy cells.”
In Aromatherapy it is held that when essential oils are applied in a body massage, they are
carried by the to specific organs and systems of the body where they enhance the natural
functions of these organs.
In aromatherapy it is held that simply inhaling an essential oil elicits an immediate olfactory
response and provides for ready absorption in the bloodstream. Essential oils as implied by
the term “Aromatherapy”, have a powerful effect through our sense of smell.
Smell (olfaction) is the least understood of our five senses and yet is perhaps the most
powerful. The olfactory membrane is the only place in the human body where the central
nervous system is exposed and in direct contact with the environment. When an olfactory
receptor cell is stimulated, an impulse travels along the olfactory nerve to the limbic portion of
the brain where memory, hunger, sexual response or emotion is evoked. Before consciously
knowing we are in contact with an aroma, our subconscious mind has already received and
reacted to it.
Care of Essential Oils:
fragrant and volatile substances, with varying degrees of complexity, fragrance, and volatility.
They are the most potent and concentrated extracts of various parts of flowers, fruits, leaves,
spices, roots, and woods. The plant's essence molecules are approximately 75-100 times more
concentrated as an essential oil than in the dried plant.
While in the plant, the essence molecules play a key role in the biochemistry of the plant --
they are located between the cells of the plant and these molecules act as regulators and
messengers. By giving the plant its aromatic essence, they are also thought to give the plant its
"life force". They also protect the plant from parasites and disease, and play an important role
in fertilization and assist the plant's adaptation to its environment.
To obtain essential oils the aromatic essence molecules of the plant must be captured by
using a technical distillation or extraction method. In earlier times, the art of distillation was
held in the hands of the few and was considered to be an alchemical transformation of spirit,
a bridge between the two realms.
The term "essential oil" is used somewhat loosely as it is often applied to all aromatic
products such as essence oils, absolutes, resinoids, and concretes. In Aromatherapy, the most
common method of extraction is steam distillation. However, cold expression is used for citrus
oils, and a method of solvent extraction for absolutes, concretes and resinoids. The newest
technological process of extraction is the hypercritical carbon dioxide method: in part due to
high cost, it is not as commonly available.
In Aromatherapy it is held that once extracted, the chemical constituents of a particular
essential oil will determine its primary action. Generally, essential oils consist of chemical
compounds which have hydrogen, carbon and oxygen in their building blocks. The primary
functional groups of the essential oils used in aromatherapy are:
Monoterpenes: anti-viral, antiseptic, bactericidal, and can be highly irritating to the skin.
Examples: lemon, pine, frankincense.
Esters: fungicidal, sedating, and very aromatically pleasing. Examples: bergamot, Clary sage,
lavender.
Aldehydes: sedating and antiseptic. Examples: melissa, lemongrass, cirtronella.
Ketones: ease congestion, aid flow of mucus, can be toxic. Examples: fennel, hyssop, sage.
Alcohols: very antiseptic, anti-viral with uplifting qualities. Examples: rosewood, geranium,
rose.
Phenols: bactericidal and strongly stimulating, can be highly irritating to the skin. Examples:
clove, thyme, oregano.
Oxides: expectorant and bactericidal. Examples: rosemary, tea tree.
How an Essential Oil Differs from other Oils
Essential oils and fatty/vegetable oils are two completely different types of oils. Understanding
that essential oils are volatile by nature (most essential oils tend to evaporate or change to
vapor quickly when exposed to air) should help to dispel frequent confusion about the
relationship between essential oils and fatty/vegetable oils such as Almond oil or Sesame oil.
It is both interesting and useful to note that essential oils are soluble in fatty/vegetable oils.
Because of this, in Aromatherapy, fatty/vegetable oils are called carrier oils. Since essential
oils are often too potent to be used directly on the skin full strength, diluting an essential oil in
a carrier oil is an excellent way to facilitate safe use of the essential oil. Carrier and essential
oils also compliment one another’s effects in a synergistic way; they are nourishing and easily
absorbed by the skin.
Absorption of Essential Oils
In the Aromatherapy it is held that essential oils have a relatively small, simple and lipid-
soluble molecular structure that allows them to pass easily through the skin. Once diluted
essential oil is applied directly to the skin it is completely absorbed and penetrates deeply into
the tissues, interstitial fluid and bloodstream. Different oils have varying rates of absorption,
between 20 and 120 minutes.
In the field of Aromatherapy it is held that in skin care essential oils regulate the activity of
capillaries and restore vitality to the tissues. In Maguerite Maury’s Guide to Aromatherapy,
she states “essential oils are natural rejuvenating agents which facilitate the elimination of
waste matter and dead cells and promote the regeneration of new and healthy cells.”
In Aromatherapy it is held that when essential oils are applied in a body massage, they are
carried by the to specific organs and systems of the body where they enhance the natural
functions of these organs.
In aromatherapy it is held that simply inhaling an essential oil elicits an immediate olfactory
response and provides for ready absorption in the bloodstream. Essential oils as implied by
the term “Aromatherapy”, have a powerful effect through our sense of smell.
Smell (olfaction) is the least understood of our five senses and yet is perhaps the most
powerful. The olfactory membrane is the only place in the human body where the central
nervous system is exposed and in direct contact with the environment. When an olfactory
receptor cell is stimulated, an impulse travels along the olfactory nerve to the limbic portion of
the brain where memory, hunger, sexual response or emotion is evoked. Before consciously
knowing we are in contact with an aroma, our subconscious mind has already received and
reacted to it.
Care of Essential Oils:
- If properly cared for, essential oils can have a shelf life up to seven years.
- Direct sunlight and exposure to air are most damaging to essential oils. Keep your oils
out of the sun and make sure the caps are tightly secured.
- Try to keep your oils in a cool dry place. They are sensitive to extreme temperature
changes.
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