When I first started looking into aromatherapy, I came in with a mindset that it consisted of a bunch of over hyped, useless products marketed to new age nuts who didn't know better. Little did I know that I was already an aromatherapy junkie myself, being addicted to the allure of scented candles for quite some time. When I had my favorite scents burning, my house seemed a lot more inviting, and I felt invigorated and even happier! So why was it so hard for me to believe that aromatherapy could actually impact one's health and well being? Everyone knows the power of scent to transport one to a memorable moment in the past, or to awaken one or more of the other four basic senses. Perhaps because it has been lumped in with new age-y stuff in the past few decades. However, it is not so new, people have been benefiting from essential oils for ages.
Whoa, essential oils, what are those, you might ask. Essential oils are, essentially (so to speak) the basis of most aromatherapy treatments. They are concentrated plant liquids that are used in aromatherapy to improve one's mood or health. They are the essence of plants. Each plant typically contains around .01% to 5% of essential oil, which explains why some aromatherapy products are much pricier than others.
These aromatic liquids are distilled from various plants, then placed in candles, in bath and body products, or sold as pure oils for people to place on their skin or to use in an infuser or other aromatherapy accessory. These are various ways for people to enjoy the benefits of these plant essences.
The number of different plant essential oils used in aromatherapy is great and varied. You can typically find essential oils from every type of plant from culinary herbal plants to different seeds to fruits to flowers to woods. And the different essential oils offer different benefits as well.
Once these natural essences are captured, concentrated, and wrapped up in a nice little bottle for us to enjoy, we can then use them for a number of different benefits. If you want to relax, try taking a bath with lavender oils, or using any aromatherapy product with lavender. This popular fragrance not only has relaxing effects, but also can also reduce stress, and help you get to sleep easier. Ylang ylang is another popular scent known for its relaxing effects.
If it's energy you're looking for, consider infusing some citrus oils or burning a lemon, lime, grapefruit, or lemongrass candle. Citrus scents have an invigorating effect, and utilizing them can be a real pick-me-up.
Lavender and citrus scents are some of the most popular fragrances used to balance out moods and improve overall well being. But these are just a few of the numerous scents and benefits to be gained from the world of aromatherapy, there are many more - some that help one get in a romantic mood, some that help joint pain, some for skin care, and more. Not to mention that aromatherapy helps our culture, a culture that is becoming more indoor-bound all the time, reconnect with the natural world. So try it out - it's not as absurd as it might sound!