When you breath the aroma of essential oils it effects you in many ways, and this is the essence of Aromatherapy

Everytime you breath in the aroma of an essential oil, it evokes the memories of the past or creates your memories of the future.

The scent of Pine can remind you of a cleansed house, the scent of Orange, freshness in the morning, the scent of Lavender perfumes of loved ones in your childhood.

Aroma has a massive effect on our well-being and can be associated with good or bad events in our life.

Every essential oil is made up of individual components that not only define the scent of the oil, but the effects of the oil.

Everytime we inhale an essential oil, we inhale the unique chemical profile of the essential oil, which has the power to alter out state of mind, mood, stress levels and wellbeing. Although it is not completely understood how this works, researchers have for example proven that inhaling certain essential oils has an effect on blood pressure and breathing patterns.

Using essential oils in the home not only provides a fragrant and ambient environment, it gives you the power to alter the wellbeing and frame of mind of all those in your home.

You can use oils to encourage calmness and feelings of wellbeing, or equally when family members are studying, burning oils such as Rosemary can help aid concentration.

Inhalation

Inhaling essential oils in a confined space is one of the most effective ways of using essential oils.

The best way to achieve this, is by filling a bowl of hot water in a sink, adding some drops of essential oil to the hot water, then placing a towel over your head and bend over the sink to create a vapour bowl.

Adding a couple of drops of essential oil to a tissue and inhaling from the tissue is an effective way to use oils on the go.

Popular oils for inhalation

  • Chamomile (sleepiness)
  • Eucalyptus (congestion)
  • Frankincense (anxiety, feeling low, depression)
  • Myrrh (coughs and sore throat)
  • Peppermint (pick me up, energise)
  • Rosemary (concentration)
  • Clary Sage (tension)

Room Vapourisers

Oil burners are readily available and easy to use.

Typically you fill the dish of the oil burner with some water and a few drops of your chosen essential oil. Light a Tea Light below and allow the vapour to gently emit across your room.

Electric Oil burners are also available, the save the need for a candle and provide an emergency cut off in the event of over-heating.

Popular oils for Room Vapourisers

  • Bergamot (Uplifting, Feel Good, Euphoria)
  • Eucalyptus (Congestion, Spa Scent)
  • Geranium (Energising, Balancing)
  • Jasmine (Confidence, Scent)
  • Lavender (Tension, Calmness, Tiredness)
  • Mandarin (Soothing, Calming)
  • Neroli (Tension, Stress)
  • Peppermint (pick me up, energise)
  • Sandalwood (relaxing, mellowing, romantic)
  • Ylang Ylang (sensual, aphrodisiac)

Room Sprays

Room Sprays are an easy way to spread the scent of essential oils throughout the home.

Add around 20 drops of essential oil to 250ml of water (deionised is best) and shake well before each use.

To improve the stability of your room spray add around 1ml of of Polysorbate 20 to solubilise your essential oil into the water to ensure it is fully mixed.

Pump 4 or 5 sprays in the air to disperse around your home.

Pot Pourri

Pot Pourri is one of the most traditional ways of fragrancing your home. It can also add a visual element to the calming atmosphere that you wish to create.

Combine dried flowers and blossoms of different types. Spice up the blend with Cinnamon Sticks, Cloves, Nutmegs and All Spice.

To keep your Pot Pourri fresh and fragrant make your own natural Potpourri fragrance by sealing in an airtight container for 2 weeks a combination of up to 30 drops of essential oil and 3 tablespoons of talcum powder. After 2 weeks when the oils have been soaked fully into the talcum powder, mix with your Pot Pourri.

Wood Fires

Using the heat from a wood burner is an ideal way to spread the aromatherapy oils quickly around your home.

Adding the Oil to the Wood

Around 15 minutes before placing the wood on the fire, add around 10 drops of essential oil to each log. When they are placed on the fire, they will give off the aromatherapy scent. This works best on open fires.

For Wood Burners / Wood Stoves

Place a heat proof container on top of the burner and fill with water. Add your desired oil blend to the water and when the water is heated by the Wood Burner it will gently emit the scent around your home.

Radiators

Place a couple of drops of your favourite esential oils on to a tissue and place the tissue on your radiator. Ideal to fill a bedroom with the scent of Lavender before bedtime.

Lovely Oils for Wood Fires

  • Geranium
  • Neroli
  • Jasmine
  • Orange
  • Lavender
  • Patchouli
  • Lemon
  • Rose
  • Lime
  • Sandalwood