Aromatherapy is using extracts from plants, flowers, trees, nature, and other organic compounds in the form of essential oils for therapeutic uses. The therapeutic use is often for relaxation, rejeuvenation, clarity of mind, improvement of skin and hair conditions, mind/body/spirit connection, spiritual growth, memory, and mood enhancement. Forms of therapy range from baths, foot scrubs/soaks, essential oil diffusers, incense, candles, massage oils/lotions/creams, spritz bottles for room and/or body, and occasionally as poultices. Additionally essential oils can be used to improve or mask various odors in rooms, deter bugs, and improve spiritual energies of rooms.

Extraction of oils is done through a number of different means including: Steam, Maceration which is actually a infused oil where the organic matter is soaked in an oil, cold pressing which lends to a short shelf life, and solvent extractions using primarily a hydrocarbon or carbon dioxide.

Warning: Essential oils are not tinctures! Aromatherapy is not herbal medicine and essential oils are only for outside the body. Do NOT take essential oils internally. Look into herbal remedies for herbs and oils that may be used. If you are unsure of allergies use very limited and dilluted amounts to determine if you may have an allergy. Some allergies may be upon use on the body so test a very small area with a well diluted essential oil for reaction. If you are going through various essential oils and are not allergic to coffee keep coffee beans near by to help cleanse the sinuses between smelling the different oils. If you are pregnant, suffer from allergies, or have injuries to the surface of the skin it is always best to check with a health care provider, do your own in-dept research, or seek other professional expertise. Many essential oils before they are dilluted or mixed can be high flammable, corrode plastic/paper/rubber materials, leave stains, and when placed on the body cause skin irritation.

Purchasing essential oils is both easy and requiring of some research. Many fragrances are not essential oils and have other compounds mixed in with them that may promote allergies or a scent that is different than the actual essential oil - something that smells "perfumy" often has a form of musk or chemical added and will not often give the same benefits. Essential oils even when listed as already diluted still need to be further diluted. Oils should come in a dark bottle and need to remain in a dark bottle unless/until diluted or mixed with other items such as massage lotion. While most oils have a long shelf life they can loose their scent or change their scent over even a short period of time, especially if not kept at a constant temperature. Purchasing oils online or at events can be beneficial for ease, but there is larger benefit in working with an aromatherapist or person who has been working with oils and making blends for a number of years - even if just to gain understanding and knowledge before purchasing elsewhere. Additionally, by purchasing by/through a local aromatherapist or supplier you can often by lower quantities or the end product (bath soaps, spritzers, etc) cheaper than making yourself or purchasing online. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and give children only the gentlest oils at extremely low doses. For essential oils not listed below it is best to do further research and speak with an aromatherapist or similarly experienced practitioner as some oils are dangerous and must be highly diluted, others are more prone to cause allergic reactions, and in general may not be the safest.

Research Resources:
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy & Herbalism: Julia Lawless

Kathy Crist is a local Aromatherapist in the Tampa area. She has a selection of her own blends for various uses and also helps people to create their own blends. You can reach Kathy at 813-385-3447.

Various studies and notes over the years along with personal experience.

General/Common Oils and Properties:
Anise - With a distinct scent of licorice the oil of anise and star anise are often used and sold interchangeably. Because of a primary constituent of anethole, a sweet substance that solidifies at room temperature, you may need to warm the oil before usage. Anise is said to have a cheery and mildly euphoric scent. It is suggested that Anise benefits upper respiratory problems, muscle aches, and flu symptoms.

Bergamot — With a fresh, citrusy, and floral scent Bergamot, which is cold-pressed does have a shorter shelf life. The lively, fruity aroma is said to be uplifting, inspiring, and assist in building confidence. It is great to use as a room deodorizer in the form of a dilluted water spritz. Bergamot oil even in dilluted amounts can highly increase the skin's sensitifity to sunlight. However, it is known to assist with acne, oily skin, itching, and stress.

Camphor, White - Do not use this as a pure essential oil unless under advisement of an experienced aromatherapist. It is a rather clarifying, energizing, and purifying scent and can be found in detergents, sopas, disinfectants, room sprays, and household products where it is highly dilluted. When used under advisement white camphor is an analgesic with antiseptic properties and while being cooling on the skin it is reported to assist with muscle, nerve, and bone problems and when used in a vaporizer relaxing the throat and sinuses. If pregnant, suffering from asthma, or epiletic do not use camphor even in household products. Additonally Brown and Yellow Camphor are extremely toxic.

Cedar, Atlas - The Atlas cedar grows in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria and has a woody, sweet, and sharper aroma than the red cedarwood. The essential oil is stabilizing, centering, and strengthening and blends well with other woody as well as floral scents. Often found in soaps and perfumes. It is said to be beneficial for dandruff, dermatitis, and stress.

Cedarwood, Red - This is the common eastern cedar of Virgina and is actually a type of juniper. This is the scent found in cedar closets and trunks and helps with emotional stress, evokes sence of inner strength, provides centering, and gives relief to feelings of anxiety and weakness. In addition to the same benefits as Atlas Cedar, red is known to assist in detering bugs and helping with upper respiratory problems.

Chamomile, German - Sweet and fruity the color of this oil is deep blue, turning green then brown with age and exposure to light. The oil inspires a sense of relaxation, calm, and is soothing as it adds sense of warmth. Chamomile is used for relieving stress, pms, headaches, nausea, insomnia, and anxiety. It is often found in combinations for massage and use in baths.

Cinnamon Bark - Also known as Ceylon cinnamon,the aroma is stronger than the ground cinnamon. It gives a warm, semi-floral scent that is comforting, warming, and refreshing. Cinnamon is good for exhaustion, stress, and for reviatlizing the body.

Cinnamon Leaf - Cinnamon leaf oil is distilled from the leaves of the same tree that produces cinnamon bark oil the aroma is a bit closer to that of cloves. This essential oil is more apt to irritate the skin and often is used for room deodorizers.

Clary Sage - Clary sage oil has a spicy, earthy, and bittersweet aroma that is long-lasting and promotes other volatile oils to last slightly longer in mixes. Clary sage is centering, euphoric, dream and visualization promoting, and headache reducing. Additionally, it has been used to assist with pms, headaches, exhaustion, and upper respiratory problems.

Clove Bud - The best clove oil is distilled from the whole dried flower buds of the clove tree. The oil is spicy with a hint of fruityness, woodsy, rich, and warming. Being highly irritating to the skin it should be handled with care and highly dilluted. Clove does create a comforting, warming and relaxing environment. It can be beneficial to headaches specifically related to tmj, tension, and muscle aches.

Eucalyptus - Eucalyptus globulus is the best known of the 300 species of eucalyptus trees in the world, . Having a long history of being used in topical preparations such as liniments and salves eucalyptus has antiviral and antibiotic properties. It is a purrifying and invigorating scent very good for upper respiratory problems, cold sores, sinus problems, poor circulation, and revitalyzing the skin. The oil when used in a room also helps to deter bugs.

Fir Needle - This fresh, earthy, and sweet scent promotes feelings of rejeuvenation while bringing a sence of relaxation, warmth, and strength. Is is good for upper respiratory problems and muscle aches.

Frankincense - This spicy, balsamic, lemon-like and peppery scent is very calming, good for meditation, and promotes dreaming and visualizations. It is said to benefit stretch marks, scars, and reduce anxiety and stress.

Ginger - Ginger oil has a warm, spicy-woody odor that is strengthening, centering, and warming. It promotes circulation and helps with muscle aches and tension.

Lavender - Lavender oil, with its floral, sweet, and fresh scent is often used in baths, room sprays, perfumes (mixed with musk), , massage oils/lotions/creams, sachets, and in salves. It creates a very soothing, calming, normalizing, and balancing sensation that promotes healing. It is beneficial to numerous skin disorders including acne, scars, and stretch marks.A note on lavender - it is not uncommon to be allergic to the frangrant lavenders but still be able to handle the essential oils; especially those of northern Europe.

Lemon - Richer in sweetness and similar to the scent of the peel lemon oil is often cold-pressed and has a shorter shelf life. Lemon oil must be diluted in any bath or massage product as it can cause skin irritations and highly increases the effects of sunlight on the body including burning. It is an uplifting, cheerful, and refreshing oil that also is good for dry skin, varicose veins, warts, and dull skin.

Lemongrass - Lemongrass oil is distilled from a tropical grass native to Asia and has a lemony, earthy, and very fresh aroma. It is often used in insect and bug repellents (that are safe for the body), room sprays, soaps and detergents. As a scent it is vitalizing, cleansing, and helps in mental clarity.

Myrrh - Natural myrrh resin is one of the oldest known perfumery materials with a warm, woody, and slightly spicy aroma. It is very centering, promotes visualizing, and benefits the meditative state. It is beneficial for dry and chapped skin, itching, and tension during pms.

Neroli - This strongly floral, exotic, sweet, and slightly citrusy oil is distilled from the flowers of the bitter orange tree. It is often used in perfumes and colognes and promotes a sense of love, sensuality, calmness, and a soothing environment. It is beneficial for stress, insomnia, shock, and depression.

Nutmeg - Nutmeg oil is distilled from dried nutmegs has a very spicy, rich, and woody scent. It is highly uplifting, energizing, and rejuvenating. It is beneficial to fatigue, muscle aches, poor circulation and arthritis.

Orange, Sweet - This sweet, citrusy oil is very common and made in different ways from distillation and pressing; both leading to a shorter shelf life. It creates an uplifting, refreshing, cheerful environment that also is stress reducing and mind focusing. It is good for stress, dull or dry skin, and to ease symptopms of the flu or colds.

Patchouli - Used in countless perfumes and fragrances, patchouli is noted for its long-lasting woody, earthy, and rich fragrance. It is very good for meditation and evokes images of heady aromas, rich colors, candlelight, incense and intrigue. Patchouli oil is one of the few essential oils that will improve with age. It creates a romantic, soothing, and meditative environment. It is said to be beneficial to skin conditions and promote healthy hair.

Peppermint - Peppermint has a powerful, sweet, menthol aroma that is stronger than spearmint. It can make the eyes water and the sinuses tingle even with dillution it can cause irritation to the skin if not dilluted. It is vitalizing, refreshing, cooling scent that is also good for upper respiratory problems and to deter bugs.

Pine - Pine oil is distilled from the twigs and needles of the Scotch pine and has a fresh, resinous, pine needle aroma. The oil is often used to scent a number of household and personal care products. When used in skin care preparations, pine oil needs to be well diluted as it can be irritating to the skin. Pine is a very refreshing, invigorating, and positive mood enhancing scent. It is beneficial to upper respiratory problems in people who do not have allergies to pine.

Rose Absolute - This is a more economical, longer lasting, and high-quality alternative to distilled rose essential oils, (rose otto). It is a very sweet, deely rose, and long lasting scent that is very romantic, uplifting, and happy. It is great for stress reduction, depression, frigidity, and menopause.

Rosemary - Rosemary is known as the herb of remembrance and is strong, sweet and slightly medicinal in scent. Often used in rinses for dark hair deodorants, household sprays, disinfectants and soaps. The oil is good for clarifying, invigorating, and awakening the senses as well as for healthy hair, dull or dry skin, and sore muscles.

Rosewood - Rosewood with its sweet, woodty, and slightly floral scent is often found in soaps, creams, lotions, and bath products. It is a calming scent that promotes a sense of gentle inner strength, calmness, and control. It is good for skin conditions and is not often a skin irritant. Rosewood is also useful for headaches and tension.

Sandalwood - Sandalwood oil has a sweet-woody, warm, delicate aroma that improves with age. The oil is easily mixed with other oils and also mixed for use as a cleanser and astringent. The oil creates a rather relaxing, centering, and sensual environment. It also is good for skin conditions and is not often found to be a skin irritant.

Spearmint - This minty, slightly fruity aroma that is a bit lighter than peppermint promotes a refreshing, cooling, and vitazling sensation. It is great for energizing any space as well as the mind/body connection. It is useful for headaches, acne, oily skin, and nausea.

Tea Tree - The leaf of the tea, or ti, tree has a verh long history of use by the indigenous peoples of Australia. There are medicinal forms that can be used internally (as a mouthwash, toothpaste, or similar) however most of the essential tea tree oils you find are not meant to be used in this way. Do not attempt to make your own internal mix even if highly dilluting as tea tree can be highly toxic internally. The aroma of tea tree is quite medicinal yet also warm, spicy, and earthy. It creates an atmosphere good for cleansing, purifying, uplifting the spirits, and revitalizing thoughts. Tea Tree is a mild antibiotic, antimicrobial, and antiviral that is good for upper respiratory problems, numerous skin conditions, reducing stress and tension, and easing headaches.

Vanilla - The aroma is soft, sweet, and rich. Vanilla creates a calming, comforting, and balancing environment and can be slightly sensual. It is beneficial for the skin and hair.

Ylang Ylang - Ylang ylang oil has an intense, fresh, floral, sweet, almost narcotic aroma. The oil creates a very sensual, euphoric, and calming but mildly arrousing environment. Ylang ylang is said to reduce stress, calm anxiety, ease depression and hypertension, and stimulate feelings of sensuality and love.

By December 2010 this page will have links, book suggestions, information on healing, and other aspects of Aromatherapy posted.

Supporters and members who would like to have their own or anothers specific site or healing information mentioned (the person/business will be referenced) send an e-mail to achievinglife@gmail.com.

Disclaimer: I am not a Herbologist or highly trained Aromatherapist though I have been a licensed massage therapist for over ten years and studied these areas. An attempt is being made to provide cautions and suggestions within the health information that is provided. However, information presented here should be researched and your doctor or other professionals should be consulted.