Tag : Aromatherapy | Essential Oil

You’ve seen those mysterious little brown bottles in the health food store. But do you really know what Essential Oils are? Have you seen outrageous claims about Lavender instantly curing wounds and found yourself thinking “Whoa!”? Let’s take a look at one of the biggest fads to hit North America in years and try to separate some of the fact from the fiction.

Aromatherapy — What is it?

Though the use of aromatic plant materials dates back millennia, Aromatherapy is a relatively new idea. In fact, the term Aromatherapy wasn’t even coined until the 1920s. Though you’ll find people who claim Aromatherapy can cure everything from AIDS to dandruff let’s first look at Aromatherapy in its purest form– the use of fragrant plant materials to alter mood, create an atmosphere, and personalize a room.

Ask an Aromatherapy aficionado and he’ll tell you that “true” Aromatherapy uses only pure, natural plant materials. But the truth is, mood can be influenced by any scent — natural or not. Ask any realtor about the use of Scents and he might just suggest baking a batch of Cinnamon rolls or an apple pie while showing your home to prospective buyers. An old wives tale? Some people think so but others swear by it.

If it quacks like a duck…

Let’s face it — there are folks out there hawking Aromatherapy as a cure for cancer, a treatment for depression, and even as an aphrodisiac. But good scientific studies on Aromatherapy are rare. Even among natural health experts Aromatherapy isn’t taken all that seriously. At best it’s a complimentary therapy.

And while we’re on the subject of quackery, let’s also clarify another common misconception. There is currently no standardized certification Aromatherapy program in the US. When you hire an aroma expert you’ve no way to be sure the person knows what he or she is doing.

Ok, it’s not a miracle cure. So, what’s it good for?

Aromatherapy may not cure terminal illness or heal burns in the blink of an eye but it’s a wonderful way to bring natural Scents into your home. Essential Oils don’t have the sickeningly sweet scent of artificial air fresheners or the solvent scent of room sprays. Whether you use them to freshen potpourri, diffuse them into the air, or use them to scent your linens, Essential Oils are a quick, easy way to inject a bit of your own personality into your private space. Let’s look at some of the most popular uses of some of the more common oils:

• The medicinal scent of Eucalyptus or Tea Tree will make your bathroom or kitchen feel cleaner, instantly. Rose in the bathroom, however, harkens back to Victorian times, when rose was the scent of choice in perfumes, face creams, and soaps.

• Lavender is the classic “linen closet” scent. Try lightly spraying your sheets and pillowcases about half an hour before you retire in the evening.

• Citrus oils like Orange or Lemon make a room feel happy and alive while warm, woody oils like Patchouli or Sandalwood impart a mysterious, moody feeling.

• In your bedroom, the deep, exotic scent of Ylang-ylang urgently whispers “This is a romantic space”.

By: Lisa Taylor Barger

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Tag : Aromatherapy Candles | Essential Oil

Aromatherapy practice uses natural Essential Oils that are absorbed through Massage, ingestion or olfaction (also called sensory). Aromatic oils are also use to make Candles, which Candles have a physiological or therapeutic effect on mood through their Fragrance.

However, scented Candles should not be confused with Aromatherapy Candles. Scented Candles simply contain a Fragrance, most probably artificial, whereas Aromatherapy Candles contain natural Essential Oils.

Probably, one of the most well-known Aromatherapy Essential Oils for alleviating Stress and anxiety is Lavender. A bowl of floating Lavender Aromatherapy Candles to accompany your Bath will help you relax after a long day.

For every mood and moment, there is an Aromatherapy candle. Some of these top-rated Essential Oils might be found in Aromatherapy candles:

Sage
This essential oil helps with insomnia and relaxation.

Chamomile
Exciting essential oil used for relaxing, helps with sleeplessness and anxiety.

Rosemary
An out of the world essential oil, which is stimulating and uplifting and good for mental stimulation.

Grapefruit
Freshly uplifting and refreshing.

Eucalyptus
A strong essential oil which helps with respiratory problems and boosts the immune system.

Ylang-ylang
Soothing essential oil as a good antidepressant that helps you relax and sleep.

Geranium
Its sober effects help with relaxation while also being uplifting; helps balance hormones in women.

Peppermint
Sweet aroma helps with digestive disorders, headaches and muscle aches.

Lemon
Invigorating essential oil which uplifts and relaxes you senses.

As with any health product, you should understand what you are using when burning Aromatherapy Candles. You must know which type of essential oil is used in your Aromatherapy Candles. Certain Essential Oils can be harmful; it is always advised to be careful. Any type of candle can be formulated to serve as an Aromatherapy candle, whether it’s a floating, pillar, gel, votive or even jar candle.

Even though the doubts around the effectiveness Aromatherapy are still present, all of us do know that Candles and aromas are effective for evoking mood and emotions. You will notice Candles labelled as “Aromatherapy” Candles range greatly in price; the price ranging from a low to high cost depending on the quality and availability of essential oil. Several factors effect the price such as types and qualities of wax, additives or purity, as well as other factors related to manufacturing. However, one main ingredient which can make or break the success of Aromatherapy Candles as well as the price is its Fragrance.

You can make your own Aromatherapy Candles too at your home! The best waxes for Aromatherapy Candles are of course a bit more expensive. Many natural waxes such as soy, palm and beeswax burn cleaner and do not emanate soot and are not petroleum or polymer based such as paraffin or gel waxes. More natural cotton or zinc core wick should be used instead of leaded wick because of health hazard issues.

Instead of adding dye to color the Aromatherapy candle, include natural substances like Herbs and flower petals. Always use pure Essential Oils for Fragrance. This is definitely expensive, but worth it plus you can mix and match your own blends. Palm wax or palm/beeswax blend Candles are always better, because they burn so long and clean and they blend quite easily with your Essential Oils. Essential Oils should be added after the wax has melted and started cooling to preserve the integrity of the Fragrance as they easily breakdown and evaporate.

Decorating your Aromatherapy candle can be as easy as tying a ribbon around it to adding pressed flowers to it. Make several small motifs or round Candles and add to a basket for a great Aromatherapy Candles gift idea. Candles attach emotional importance to any occasion and moments; a great Aromatherapy candle has that great ability to enhance the mood and ambience of any environment.

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