Inhalation

Our noses are perfectly designed to capture scents. When we inhale an essential oil, its aromatic molecules are converted into chemical signals that the nervous system can interpret. These signals interact with the olfactory bulb, located at the top of the nasal cavity, and then travel along the olfactory tract directly to the limbic system in the brain.

The limbic system is one of the most ancient regions of the brain, governing fundamental survival instincts such as hunger, thirst, and temperature regulation. It plays a central role in processing emotions and storing memories. It is also closely connected to the pituitary gland, the body’s primary hormonal regulator. The limbic system influences not only our feelings and recollections but also our hormonal balance.

Topical application

Even though our skin is a protective barrier, it is also porous, meaning that tiny molecules can pass into the bloodstream.

Essential oils are composed of lipid-soluble molecules small enough to pass through the skin’s barrier. They enter the bloodstream and can be transported around the body. Depending on the individual therapeutic action of an essential oil, it can interact with different bodily systems, for example, calming the nervous system, supporting digestion, or influencing hormones.

All plants have a Latin/botanical name. For example, Lavender is Lavandula angustifolia. The first word, Lavandula, tells us what the genus is, and the second word, angustifolia, tells us the species.

This is important in Aromatherapy because some plant species, again using Lavender as an example, have many different ‘varieties’, some with cautions attached. It is therefore important that you know which variety you are using. The Latin/botanical name tells you just that!

Essential oils from the same plant can smell different because natural factors like soil, climate and harvest time can change the chemical composition of the oil, which alters its aroma. Also, as explained above under Latin/botanical names, you may be smelling a different species, e.g. two Lavenders that are two different species. 

Carrier/blending oils are extracted from nuts, kernels or seeds and are used to dilute concentrated essential oils, making them safe for skin application while also adding nourishing benefits.

They are needed because essential oils are highly potent and can cause irritation if applied undiluted to the skin.

When we smell something for a long time, our nose ‘switches off’, this is called Olfactory fatigue.  It’s a natural occurrence and doesn’t mean that the essential oil has stopped working. The aromatic molecules are still in the air, and you are still inhaling them. 

If you are applying a blend via a topical (skin) application, then the oils will be working internally.

So, even if you can no longer smell the essential oils or blend, be assured that the effect of the oils is still occurring.

Aromatherapy has roots stretching back many thousands of years, beginning in ancient civilisations and evolving into the modern wellness practice we know today. It stems from our use of plants as medicine. 

We know that in ancient Egypt, plants and resins were burned in ceremonies and applied to the skin for medicine, perfume and to beautify. The practice spread to ancient Greece and Rome, where physicians used herbs and plants therapeutically for everyday health issues. 

Between the 8th and 13th centuries, plant medicine flourished in the Middle East and regions of the Islamic Empire.
It is during this time that the first known distillation of an essential oil (Rose) took place by the alchemist Avicenna.

During the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance, plants and herbs were used extensively throughout Europe. There are examples of using plant medicine during the plague, and their use continued into the 20th century alongside the emergence of modern medicine.