The world of Aromatherapy in a nut shell

I have been a huge fan of aromatherapy since ages.It started when I got a facial done with a mix of rose and geranium essential oils at a salon and day spa in Hyderabad. The peacefulness I felt was awesome .All most all of my beauty products will contain essential oils as much as possible. I am a fan of Lush because they use a lot of essential oils in their products which are organic n blended with right ingredients and so do the aroma magic by Blossom Kochhar. I have also studied aromatherapy in my masters as a subject hence probably I know more about it technically as well as application wise than most people. However when explaining it to others I have always had to come to a very simple definition for it. Therapy through aroma or smell. And trust me it works . That’s why a certain perfume will lift the spirits and some work as aphrodisiac.. 😉

And this is not a modern day concept. Aromatherapy dates back to the ancient Egyptians and there is evidence that even Romans used it. Our very own rose water is a by product which is produced in the process of extracting the rose essential oil from rose petals..

Definition- aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of plant aromas for beauty and health purpose

What are essential oils-?

They are the plant extracts which contain anticeptics,antibiotics,vitamins,or hormones and are located between a plant’s cell and cause the pant’s fragrance. they are extracted ( distilled) from plant for use in beauty treatments.essentail oils are not true oils such as coconut oil, sunflower oil etc. rather they are highly complex molecular structures that contain many chemical compounds. the chemical compound exhibit numerous properties. They have worked for various skin and hair need and conditions.

Function of essential oils-

Essential oils benefit several parts of the body including skin, nervous system, muscles, blood and the lymphatic system. They are sometimes used in a serum , day creams ,night creams or in face masks and toners. In salons and spas they might be added in base oil and massaged or used in body wraps and body scrubs to take the experience to a new level..

How to use Essential Oils

  • Essential oils are available in pure single form in dark colored bottles. Note that not all essential oils available in market are pure and organic..
  • Always use pure and organic essential oils to get the maximum therapeutic effect.
  • While using always use pure and organic cold pressed oils from known source.
  • However one should never directly use essential oil over skin or take it internally.
  • They are very potent and strong hence should always be diluted in base oils and then used.
  • They should be always used in drops for home use and different droppers should be used for different essential oils.
  • One should never mix the droppers or use one dropper for all essential oils.
  • They are very volatile i.e. they evaporate very fast hence the bottle cap should always be tight and closed when not in use.
  • They should also be kept away from sunlight because sun rays react with these oils and they loose their efficacy.
  • All essential oils have shelf life after which they loose their properties after which they can only be used as room fresheners etc.(another article on that )
  • Never use metal spoon or metal plate, katori while mixing essential oils and base oils. Always use glass bowls for mixing
  • Never mix and keep the blend for hours together. The essential oils keep evaporating even when mixed with base oils hence when u need to use them use fresh
  • If you do need to store. Store them in dark colored non used glass bottles with preferred aluminum caps and store them away from sunlight

Base oils-

The base or oils in which the essential oils are mixed and applied are known as base oils. They should always be pure organic and cold pressed. One should use base oils according to skin types eg olive oil for normal to dry skin, jojoba oil for oily combination, acne prone skin. Coconut oil for hair usage along with sesame oil, castor oil can also be used for hair recipes. Almond oil is for all skin types however best avoided by acne prone skin. Some popular base oils are- olive oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, almond oil, safflower oil, jojoba oil etc

Companies which use essential oils in their products-

  • Aroma magic
  • Lush
  • Dr Jain
  • Ayur
  • Jovees
  • Lotus
  • Lakme
  • Fab India
  • Fresh line cosmetics (available only in Delhi as of now)
  • H20 plus
  • Carol’s daughter
  • Juice beauty
  • And many more

Another article on properties of 12 essential oils, their effect. These are oils with no contraindications hence will tell more about them and can be used in general and some recipes with the 12 oils for skin hair and therapeutic usage. Until then

Love and light

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39 thoughts on “The world of Aromatherapy in a nut shell

  1. I like using the oils only as an air freshener :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: – and while I love Lush I think their products are overscented … lushies dont kill me :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin:

    Such a nice write up :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin:

      1. Lol I was so scared you were going to :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: me … I went to lush the other day to see that christmas soap – the one with the moon on it and you know it was a lil cake but a HUGE Chunch with the half moon design that you got a 100gm ka tukda out of – wheres the fun in that … I wanted to :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep:

        1. They always do that. Make pretty pretty biggie then sell tukdas.The tukdas dont look pwetty at all. . :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali:

          1. I knooooo the tukdas are sooooo UGLY !!!!!! Im going to send :poop: :poop: :poop: :poop: :poop: to Lush – Christmas :present: :present: :present: :present: :present: :present: :smug: :smug: :smug: :smug: :smug: :smug:

              1. Yes Yes – ten days till I leave – my mommy is coming on Monday for graduation :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot:

                SO am eating like a pig – wont get such food in bbay no :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep:

                Today was my last day at work – tomm is my last shoot … all last last days makes me sad sad :weep: :weep: :weep:

  2. i agree janhavi. i find lush products a bit nauseating in the smell department.
    btw great article akanksha. i had zero knowledge baout essential oils before reading this..thanks so much :-* :-* :-*

  3. I have used Aromamagic. it was ok ….but nothing can be compared to the experience of using pure EOs.May be cosmetic brands use very less EO (in parts per million/billion lol)

  4. Hi Akansha,

    Fantastic post. I use essentail oils mainly as room freshners. Sometimes i put a few drops of oil in my bath tub or face masks. I trust aromamagic oils a lot. Love them. :inlove:

  5. Heee Heeee Rati puts oils in her body wash :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: I remember Jomol now !!!! :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue:

  6. i want to buy something from lush , something atleast :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

    awesome article :yes: :yes: :yes:

  7. no lush in my city and i am shit scared of online makeup and beauty shopping , after shoppers stop people sent me rotten and used mascara .. :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep:

    moreover they are so fuckking expensive, dont wanna buy without sniffing or atleast seeing ?:) ?:) ?:) ?:) ?:)

  8. Omg! with so many precautions to be taken i am sure to give this one a skip (me so clumsy). all this is hard to handle if ur living away from home 🙁 mummaeeee…

  9. heyy thx all… will post article soon on 12 aromatherapy oils which can be used in genneral and have no contraindications at all…
    😀

  10. Akansha….I have been always reseraching on how to use aroma oils in facials…….i had a lemongrass oil that smelled like amrutanjan……….and i was not sure that i would’nt use it on my face…..you have put up a lot of information and covered everything that i need to know :waytogo: :waytogo:

  11. Nice and scientific article Akanksha… Am a little scared of using essential oils in their pure form.. but i do love products containing essential oils… :toothygrin: :toothygrin:

  12. Nice 🙂

    i mostly use essential oils in diffusers…my fav are lavender,vanilla and sumthing called “under the ocean”
    i also use few drops of lavender n rose e/oils in my moisturiser and night cream…they good for the skin 🙂
    few drops of rosemary in ur shampoo or massage oil helps control dandruff..

    and few drops of lemongrass e/oil in the “katka” water helps repel mosquitoes and flies from the house…

  13. Dear Akansha,this is what I read on an Aromatherapy website:If you want I’ll forward you the link:

    “Compounds found in essential oils that may be carcinogenic is methyl chavicol, which is found in basil oil. This statement does not make basil a dangerous oil, but care should be taken to select the basil oil with the highest linalool content and lowest methyl chavicol content.”

    Actually only few days I had purchased many Essential OIls and basil oil is one of them…but after I read this,I am scared to even open the bottle :bomb: :bomb:
    Pls do throw some light on this…

  14. heyyy sonam

    very interesting question u have here.. well basil oil as u said maybe carcinogenic howver we have no proofs as of now.. the trials are done usinf large amounts of them.. however what we use in salon spas or general use is very minute amount ..in drops and that too not frequently..basil essential oil is extracted from our very own tulsi leaves ..
    basil again has a lot other contarindications for use.. thts why will post an article on 12 essential oils with no contraindications and can be used by everyone..

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