Aromatherapy is growing in interest in the U.S., perhaps not in the traditional way, but with the help of celebrities who use products containing essential oils. Although these products are often high end 'aromatherapy' products, and not a simple bottle of essential oil, it is helping to get aromatherapy noticed. Stars such as Jennifer Anniston are often seen talking about their 'health habits'.
Traditionally, the aromatherapy market has been predominately female in the 40 - 60 age range. However, I became interested in aromatherapy at the age of 34, and many younger women are turning to aromatherapy products, seeking a more natural solution to synthetic skin care products.
Aromatherapy is still seen very much as a 'female thing' by a vast number of the male population. However, many of the pioneers in aromatherapy were, in fact, male; these include:
- Rene-Maurice Gattefose - the French chemist who 're-discovered' aromatherapy
- Robert Tisserand - a pioneer in English aromatherapy and author of several books
- Kurt Schnaubelt - a pioneer in American aromatherapy and author of several books.
Many women who use aromatherapy introduce their children to aromatherapy too; although not as popular in the U.S. as in the U.K. and the rest of Europe, natural aromatherapy (that is essential oils, not the use of fragrance oils) is growing in interest. Aromatherapy has many uses and properties, depending on the essential oil chosen.
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Who Uses Aromatherapy? please leave them below!
Silver Fir essential oil is probably not as well known as Scotch Pine essential oil, yet it has very similar properties, being from the same botanical family. To learn more read my latest essential oil profile - Silver Fir Essential Oil....
There is quite a lot of information about the extraction of essential oils but not so much about carrier oils. Yet carrier oils are used in aromatherapy too. True carrier oils used in aromatherapy have therapeutic properties and can be used on their own or combined with essential oils. To learn more read my latest article - The Extraction of Carrier Oils....
Hydrosols, in the words of Suzanne Catty, are "the next aromatherapy". I recently purchased my first hydrosol and was amazed at the potency of it. I'm familiar with essential oils but not hydrosols. Hydrosols, sometimes called hydrolats or flower waters, used to be discarded in the essential oil process, as a 'waste' product. It is only recently that they have become more popular. So what exactly is a hydrosol? A hydrosol is the by-product of the distillation process so it naturally contains some of the properties of the essential oil from which it is distillled. Hydrosols are popular in skin care. Unfortunately though hydrosols are open to abuse as much as some essential oils and can be adulterated, so check your supplier carefully. Hydrosols should also not be confused with fragrance oils, which are popular in the U.S - fragrance oils are synthetic and not naturally extracted from plants.
As 2010 approaches, I've been reviewing my aromatherapy plans for next year. When I started my aromatherapy business two years ago, my practice was more treatment based than it is now. In the past year, I've learned a lot about the opportunities available on the web and how to promote my aromatherapy business. I've added one additional aromatherapy webstore this year, Chocolate Aromatherapy, and have another ready to go in January 2010. I'll probably be adding a few more aromatherapy web sites in 2010 but these will become more information based as I start the next stage of my aromatherapy business. In April 2010, I will be taking some aromatherapy teaching training in Florida with Andrea Butje at the Aromahead Institute and following that I'll be planning one and two day aromatherapy classes here in Sedona, Arizona. I have yet to plan the exact class schedules but should you: 
In an earlier blog post, way back in July, I posted a link to an article I wrote on Essential Oil Quality Testing. Quality testing essential oils is important to know that you are getting the 'real deal'. GC/MS stands for Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectometry and reputable essential oil suppliers will provide you with the copy of this report if you ask. It will give you information on what an essential oil is composed of, but remember each batch of essential oils is going to vary, depending on a number of factors, such as weather and growing conditions. Reports will vary slightly.
