Defining Aromatherapy



Aromatherapy is an incredible holistic and complementary therapy that is gaining recognition more and more each year. However, in the United States especially, the term has often been used as a meaningless buzz word to sell you smelly products. As a result aromatherapy is often misunderstood and very much undervalued by the general public. In this first lesson I will try to shed some light on what aromatherapy actually is.

Defining aromatherapy can be a difficult task in some ways. This is primarily because of the common misuse of the word. This misuse in addition to some of the elitist behaviors in the essential oil world itself has led to a gross lack of understanding by the common person. That is not to say all people who deal with essential oils are snobs by any means but I have witnessed personally certain people who work in the field behave snobbishly towards the public. Instead of making polite conversation and attempting to enlighten them they simply turn their nose up at the “obvious stupidity” and leave them flapping in the wind. When I witness this it annoys me to no end. If it has not been for the kindness of the woman mentioned in my last post I may have never had the same depth of understand I do now. She was kind to me and helpful in my quest for knowledge, despite my young age at the time.

I think that knowledge should be shared. Learning is vital to life and kindness is a virtue to cultivate. So here I will pass the kindness forward. I will teach you as best I can.

To begin with lets start with some history.

There is virtually no group of people in the history of humanity who has not at some time used plants for medicinal purposes. Aromatherapy is the use of aromatics or aromatic plants to support well being. Modern aromatherapy, as most people know it today, is quite young and has a rather short history. However, the history of medicinal and aromatic plants has an ancient lineage indeed.

Our primitive ancestors may have learned that smoke from a certain herb or berry dropped into the fire made them feel calm or opened there chest to breath easier. The Egyptians used resins, barks, oils and balsams for medicine, food preparation, spiritual activities and burials. It is thought that the Greeks learned much of there aromatic knowledge from the Egyptians and of course added there own experience to the history of it’s use. Hippocrates, considered to be the “father of western medicine” and a renowned Greek physician, is often quoted has having said, “the way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage every day” And, of course, the Romans where well known for there decadent aromatic bathhouses.

In the middle ages aromatics where often burned in the streets and in homes to ward off infections and the bubonic plague. It is commonly suspected that tanners, perfume and glove makers where often immune to the plague because they where constantly surrounded by the aromatic essential oils of there trade.


During the eighteenth century essential oils where used extensively and much research was being done on their medicinal properties. However this was also a time that a growing specialization of medicine was occurring, which would eventually attempt to take medicine out of the hands of the common person. In the nineteenth century the family doctor was established.

In many ways the history of aromatherapy is the history of herbal medicine. Aromatherapy as we know it today, however, is a modern development based on how these aromatic plants where previously used. For this I would most like to thank Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, who coined the term in 1937 and the respective Gattefosse family.


Rene-Maurice Gattefosse



Rene-Maurice Gattefosse was the son of Louis Gattefosse, who owned and operated the Gattefosse perfume business, which still remains today. During Rene’s youth perfumes where still created with a mixture of natural essential oils, alcohol extracts and floral pomades. He, his father and brother worked closely together to define the compositions under which perfumes where prepared to set a standard of quality in strength and odor.

One of my most lovingly prized possessions, a gift from my husband, is a book called, “Formulary of Perfumes and Cosmetics” by R.M. Gattefosse. This first American edition published in 1959 being the English translation and revision of the French text published by the family in 1906, 1911 and 1920.

The original publication being based on the efforts for mentioned.

Due to this connection to essential oils for there perfumery business Gattefosse was already well connected with the herbal trade but it was not until the now famous laboratory explosion took place that aromatherapy, as we know it, came to be.

The story has been retold just a little different here and there but here is the quote from Rene’s book, “Aromatherapie” (1937)

“…External applications of small quantities of essential oils rapidly stops the spread of gangrenous sores. In my personal experience, after a laboratory explosion covered me with burning substances which I extinguished by rolling on a grassy lawn, my hands where covered with a rapidly changing gas gangrenous. Just one rinse with lavender oil stopped the gasification of the tissue. This treatment was followed by profuse sweating and healing began the next day. (July 1910)….”

Rene-Maurice Gattefosse had some 50 years experience with essential oils before he wrote this book. It is was this above mentioned incident that led him to a lifelong passion and commitment for uncovering the therapeutic benefits of essential oils. He is the forefather of “aromatherapy” and therefore aromatherapy is defined, most simply as “the therapeutic application or use of aromatic substances (essential oils).”

In addition to the Gattefosse family, Dr Jean Valnet was another individual who contributed greatly to the shape of modern aromatherapy. Dr. Valnet was trained as a traditional physician at the University of Lyon in 1945. By 1953 he began his research into essential oils. He focused mainly on the best methods of application as well as dosage levels needed for maximum benefit without risk of side effects. During World War II Dr Valnet was successful at treating the wounds of war by using essential oils as antiseptics. He additionally created a number of effective remedies for issues ranging from skin conditions, respiratory conditions, muscular aches and pain and so on, utilizing essential oils. In 1964 he published, “The practice of aromatherapy” and it has since grown to be considered a classical text on the subject.

Also, Marguerite Maury deserves special notice as she pioneered the dermal application of essential oils for both psychological and physiological benefits gained threw pathways of the skin. She also is notable for emphasizing the importance of the individual. Thus contributing to an evolution of aromatherapy.
In modern practice, aromatherapy is dynamic, diverse and often divided. This is perhaps a reflection of both the industries youth and seemingly endless growth.

In England, holistic or traditional aromatherapy was made popular threw standardization. There a standard aromatherapy program includes, basic pathology, basic counseling skills, basic nutrition, anatomy and physiology, Swedish massage and basic reflexology. Oh, and of course, Essential oil therapeutics. This is to a lesser degree similar to many of the more comprehensive massage therapy programs offered in the united states. However, aromatherapy as a standardized practice has yet to be established in the US.

The original introduction of aromatherapy into the US mainstream was threw the retail and gift industries rather than threw the profession. With this original introduction so came poor quality oils and synthetic fragrances being sold as “the best of the best”. It’s no wonder that the average consumer is confused about what aromatherapy is and if there is a difference between essential oils and synthetics.

In my next article I will address this issue of synthetics vs. essential oils further.

I hope you have enjoyed this first lesson and that the content has been enlightening. If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below and I will try to address them as either in return comment or in the next lessons as they follow.

Smells like Christmas - Part one - Fir and Frankincense

Christmas is a beautiful time and there is so much emotion related to the memories we take in every season. Be it the joy of giving, the love of the season or the hope of good will and humanity. Christmas is a special time indeed. Can you smell the fir tree? Can you smell the spices in that fresh baked pie? Candy canes, nuts, and other foods. Smell is amazing. The littlest whiff can bring us soaring with elation or crashing in despair all because of the powerful connection aroma has to the body.

Fir Needle essential oil is one of my personal favorites, especially for this time of year. It is wonderfully earthy, crisp and refreshing. It can conjure to the mind the heady scent of a fairytale forest just after the first winters snow. It is steam distilled from various types of leaves and twigs. Some commonly sold varieties are the European silver fir (Abies alba), the Siberian fir (Abies sibirica) or the Balsam fir (Abies balsamea) but they can be derived from any number of species of Abies, Larix, Picea and Pinus.

This oil can be inhaled for all sorts of respiratory ailments, bronchitis for example, and is a gentle tonic to the nervous system easing the mind and relaxing away aches. It tends to be uplifting of mood while at the same time promotes “grounding”, thus making you feel more comfortable and at home.

One thing I enjoy is a few drops into the well of my steam cleaner to freshen up the house. If you don’t have a steam cleaner you can always add a few drops to a spray bottle, shake and sprit’s above the carpets before vacuuming. If your inclined to make crafts like potpourris, wreaths or sachets it can be a wonderful addition to add an extra kick of holiday feel.

For some, live Christmas trees are considered too much hassle. I personally prefer a live tree. Yet, if you’re so inclined to go artificial, one way you can have the illusion of a real tree is to add a touch of this lovely oil to the branches. Voila! You have the beautiful smell without the needle shedding.

Of course there is simply burning the oil in a common diffuser but another method is to add a few drops to your steam humidifier to aid with winter sniffles. The scent aids with common cold and flu symptoms such as coughs, sore throat and sinus complaints. It is also said to be good for muscle aches.

Some have said to use Fir Needle oil in carrier oils and creams due to it’s analgesic properties. In some cases it has even been suggested that it helps with rheumatism: a generalized term for aches in the joints and connective tissue. While I’m sure there is validity to these claims, I would caution a novice. Fir oils, while considered generally safe, can be a skin irritant. With proper dilution Fir should be fine on the skin but be sure you know the math before using it topically. It is better to first be knowledgeable on skin preparations. You can learn from books or by talking with a qualified aroma therapist. In future articles I will address making tinctures and balms. In the meanwhile, however, I suggest the average person enjoy the benefits of this classic Christmas scent, threw your olfactory system.

Another smell connected to Christmas, for me, is that of frankincense. No I’m not Catholic but after hearing the Christmas story over the years it occurred to me to investigate. I mean gold, frankincense and myrrh? To someone unknowledgeable this collection of gifts seems rather strange. Like those picture games from when you where a kid. Which one of these things don’t belong? Right? From a modern perspective one might think less of frankincense and not appreciate it’s value. However, there was a time when the gift of gold was not as important or valuable as these precious plant derived resins.

In modern times frankincense is still harvested by hand, just as it was thousands of years ago. The harvester takes a special knife and delicately scrapes down small sections of the Bosellia carteri or frankincense trees bark. The first cut produces a milky solution, this is not harvested. About ten days will pass and the harvester returns and scrapes the tree again removing the milky resin and cutting deeper into the tree. This produces a more fragrant liquid but it is still not useable frankincense. After another ten days pass the tree is cut again, at this point the resin produced is a yellow brown color and very aromatic. This is the true frankincense resin often called “tears”. These “tears” of the Bosellia carteri are then steam distilled and the result is frankincense essential oil.

It was said that the fragrance of frankincense “floats on an invisible thread to heaven to attract Gods attention.” It has been revered by almost all western religions including Judaism and Christianity. Hindus and Buddhist have employed it for daily rituals and offerings. In Japan it has been employed in Shinto meditation and ritual. Ancient Egyptians used frankincense not only as a fragrance but also as a fumigant and for medicinal prescriptions. Egyptian women used frankincense to make their black kohl eye pigment, made most famous by Queen Cleopatra, who’s extravagant use of frankincense is legendary. During Roman times when cremation was widely practiced it was customary to burn it in the funeral pyre. It has been said, to gain favor with the god but it has additionally been suggested that it was probably to cover up the smell of burning flesh. Historically it was used in everything from embalming to beauty tinctures but is still most prized for it’s spiritual significance

In Chinese medicine frankincense is used in applications for tissue trauma. It may also have a future in modern western medicine. I have just recently read that frankincense has become the focus of studies related to cancer therapies. The idea being it may have the potential to aid in the destruction of cancer cells without harming the surrounding tissue. Scientists are still in the process of isolating the exact compound needed to do this. It has been speculated that if scientists can be successful at accomplishing this it may be a viable and much safer alternative to chemotherapy treatments. We’ll just have to wait and see how that goes.

All in all, Frankincense oil very much promotes skin health. Especially for those with ageing skin or with infections such as boils or acne. It is an antiseptic, has astringent properties and is anti inflammatory. I have made tinctures with frankincense, rose and other skin promoting essential oils for my grandmother and diluted them in apricot kernel oil. She uses this on her body including her face and sometimes her hair to promote health. For an acne related tincture it might be more advisable to use something like Jojoba. Everyone’s skin is different but that’s the beauty of customizing home made beauty products, you can adjust it exactly how you like.

Frankincense has also been used for pain relief, to increase immunity, to support the respiratory system via its expectorant action and to act as an anti depressant.

Being considered nontoxic, non-photosensitizing and non sensitizing in general, I am fairly confident that it is safe for most people, even those with allergies. However, there will always be an exception to every rule. I’ve met people who claim to be allergic to lavender and I’m skeptical of that, but everyone is different so who knows.

Tying this all back to Christmas, frankincense is simply lovely for reflection and meditation. During the hustle and bustle of the holiday and the general anxiety sometimes caused by the modern season an opportunity for this kind of relaxation and spiritual connectedness is a long sought blessing. Regardless of your belief or perception related to Christmas, "peace on earth and good will towards men" is the bottom line. With a little bit of this thread to heaven you can connect to the divinity inside you as well as the greater divinity outside. Even if world peace isn’t obtained the peace within your own heart may be all you need.


I hope you’ve enjoyed this little peak into a couple of my favorite Christmas inspired essential oils. They are both lovely but really a matter of personal preference for which you choose to scent your surroundings. In part two I will explore some holiday food inspired scents, such as cinnamon.