Different Varieties of Lavender

I think that it is safe to say that lavender is one of the most favorite essential oils in aromatherapy.  It is simple to use and can be used by nearly everyone.  Lavender essential oil also has a number of therapeutic properties.  However, did you know that there are about 39 species of lavender, some of which are suitable for therapeutic use and some of which are not.  In addition, some varieties are also called by the name of the country from which they are produced, adding to further confusion!  Lavender is simply not just lavender :)

If you want to learn a little more about the different varieties of lavender and their uses read:

Different Types of Lavender

Aromatherapy Wedding Bouquets

Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of 42nd U.S. president Bill Clinton, got married over the weekend to Marc Mezvinsky.  At Chelsea's request, the wedding invite list did not include a long list of celebrities and well known people - but was kept mainly to close family and actual friends.  However, I was more interested in Chelsea Clinton's wedding bouquet than anything else!

Some of you may know that I also have a web store called Aromatherapy Wedding.  It was inspired by my experience of working as a wedding hair assistant last summer - and because Sedona is a huge wedding destination.  My object was to bring some aromatherapy and fragrance into the life of brides as they began their new journey :)  However, many brides subconsciously choose to have aromatherapy in their wedding through their choice of wedding bouquets.  Fragrant flowers are a popular choice for wedding bouquets and include:

• roses
• gardenia
• lilies
• lily-of-the-valley
• hyancinth
• hydrangeas.

Chelsea Clinton's wedding bouquet was a simple, white ball of gardenia flowers - and apparently, "organic" and "natural" were of considerable importance to Chelsea in planning her wedding.

So, if you are getting married in the near future, or know someone who is, take the time to decide not just what color you want to add into your wedding - but what message you want the day to convey through the fragrance of your wedding bouquet too! Fragrances form memories that stay with us for a lifetime..... :)

Can You Use All Essential Oils Produced by Fragrant Plants in Aromatherapy?

Many plants produce essential oils.  However, some plants produce a limited amount of essential oil, or it takes a large amount of plant matter to produce just one drop of essential oil; rose is a good example of this scenario. According to Shirley Price, in Aromatherapy Workbook, there are over 200 plants that produce an essential oil.  However, there are actually only 21 plant families which produce enough essential oil, free from toxicity, that are safe to use for pure aromatherapy work.

If you have access to The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, by Julia Lawless, you will see that Lawless profiles over 160 essential oils.  However, if you read the descriptions of each essential oil carefully you will further see that some essential oils do not have a use in aromatherapy.  Many are used in the fragrance and perfumery industry, where the purity and healing powers are not as vital to use - and many more still can be extremely toxic in any situation.

So, the answer to the question, "Can you use all essential oils produced by fragrant plants in aromatherapy?" is no.  Although many essential oils have many therapeutic properties that can be used in aromatherapy, there are those that are best avoided too - for several reasons :)

For further information read my article:

Essential Oils Not Suitable for Aromatherapy Use

A Lifetime of Aromatherapy Learning

In case you haven't read my previous posts, I recently created a new web site called Aromatherapy Library.  My idea for Aromatherapy Library is to provide a "hub" of all my aromatherapy articles that I have written for various other web sites and magazines, as people frequently ask me if I have written anything on a particular subject.  This way, I can direct them to the one web site, instead of trying to reach into the far depths of my brain and remember when/where/if I wrote a particular aromatherapy article!  Although I have a relatively good memory, in my opinion :) , I must have written in excess of 700 articles, blog posts and web site pages (not all on aromatherapy but a wide range of subjects) in the past couple of years, a number which is forever increasing, so even my memory isn't that good!

However, in the process of building my new Aromatherapy Library web site, I decided to amend and re-write my original aromatherapy articles, with a link back to the original place it was published.  Therefore, I find that I am "re-learning" or "re-discovering" some facts about aromatherapy once again!

In addition, I plan to start some advanced aromatherapy studies at the end of the year, if all falls into place (fingers crossed), so I will be learning some new aromatherapy information too!  It just made me realize that you can never have enough facts and information about aromatherapy, however much you think you know!  Its a bit like life I suppose - a continuous learning curve....  :) :)

So, although I hope to provide a wide array of aromatherapy information through my blog, articles and web sites, I still challenge you to go out there and read as many aromatherapy books, articles and other information as you can!  And if you come across something that's simply too good not to share, please let me know.... :)

Essential Oils in Aromatherapy for Women

Some esential oils are specifically useful for the many problems women are plagued with.  From teenage skin problems, to PMS, to pregnancy and the menopause, women endure a number of problems in life that are accompanied by several unwanted symptoms.  So, its nice to know that certain essential oils will help with some of those problems!  Although many essential oils can be used in aromatherapy to help women's problems, these are some of the most popular oils in my experience....

To find out read:

Five Popular Essential Oils in Aromatherapy for Women

Insects, Bugs and Ant Bite Treatment With Aromatherapy

A month or so ago, I posted about my deck problem with ants and the use of peppermint oil to deter them.  As "bug season" seems to be in full swing here in Arizona, I had another experience yesterday with the insect variety, this time with fire ants.  Fire ants, although small, bite big.  I couldn't believe the size of the bite that came up from such a small insect!  However, as soon as it happened, even before the bite began to show, I slapped on some tea tree and geranium essential oil, in a white lotion base, and the swelling/bite was reduced and relieved in a matter of minutes.  I continued to apply the lotion throughout the day and although the bites are still there (yes, they got me more than once before I realized what was happening!), the use of aromatherapy in this instance certainly helped!

I have used a combination of tea tree and geranium essential oil in a white lotion base previously, specifically to treat:

•  mosquito bites/repellant
• other bug bites
• heat rash.

I've also used it on my niece (who was about three years old at the time) with success - unfortunately, she is also prone to being a prime attraction where insects and bugs are concerned!  Just remember to reduce the quantity of essential oils used for a young child and do a patch test first, if possible.

And good luck with the insects this summer! :)

Fragrant Trees of Australia

Australia is home to a number of fragrant trees that have been used medicinally both by Aboriginal people and, more recently, as essential oils in aromatherapy.  Scented trees of Australia, such as tea tree, eucalyptus and niaouli, are well known for their antiseptic and anti-viral properties.  Like many other essential oils which possess similar properties, these particular essential oils all belong to the same botanical family too - the Myrataceae plant family.

To learn more about the fragrant trees of Australia and some of the essential oils which they produce read:

Medicinal Use of Scented Trees Native to Australia

Growing Lavender in Arizona

I posted on June 1, 2010 about Lavender in the Arizona Mountains and Red Rock Farms.  Unfortunately, as seems to have been the way for me this year, my plans to visit Red Rock Farms during the lavender festival did not happen as planned.  Although frustrating, all is not lost.  It is possible to visit throughout the rest of the year and I already have some thoughts on how to utilize lavender in my own back yard.

Our property consists of just over an acre of land here in Sedona.  Most of that, is "au naturelle" landscaping - you get the picture :)  However, landscaping with lavender, even here in Arizona, is possible.  Imagine awakening to the fragrance of lavender each day (when in bloom) - and as a base for an aromatherapy business, what could be more fitting?

Several years ago, a few vineyards started to spring up around Sedona.  California is probably more noted for its wine than Arizona but now the vineyard business in Sedona seems to be taking off.  So, perhaps lavender in Sedona, as oppose to lavender in Provence, is also a contender!  At the moment, I'm just thinking of landscaping but who know where that may lead to? :)

Watch this space over the coming year for an update on my lavender landscaping!

Aromatherapy Library: A Resource for Aromatherapists

A couple of months ago I launched a new aromatherapy web site called Aromatherapy Glossary, an introduction to familiar words used in aromatherapy.  As a follow-on from that web site, I have just launched Aromatherapy Library which will be an eventual round-up of all my aromatherapy articles that I have written in the past couple of years, in addition to being a resource and starting point for further information for aromatherapists.  The web site is new, with only a few articles posted as present - but it is a long work-in-progress, so check back often for new articles and updates!

In the meantime, take your first look at:

Aromatherapy Library .....

Scented Grasses in Aromatherapy

There are several scented grasses that are used in aromatherapy.  The most common use of scented grasses is as an insect repellent and citronella is probably one of the more popular scented grasses for the summer time control of mosquitoes and other insects.  However, other scented grasses, such as palmarosa and lemongrass have additional aromatherapy uses, in addition to having a long use in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine.

To learn more, read the full article:

Scented Grasses with Medicinal Properties

Different Types of Orange Essential Oil in Aromatherapy

Orange essential oil can be confusing.  As some of the varieties of orange oil come from the same botanical tree, even the Latin name can be confusing.  So you need to know both the Latin name and the part of the plant the orange oil is extracted from to know exactly which type of orange oil you are dealing with!

To learn more about sweet orange essential oil, bitter orange essential oil, petitgrain essential oil and orange blossom essential read:

Orange Essential Oil for Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy Update for 2010

As we are nearly half way through 2010 and its also a year since I started my aromatherapy blog, I thought it was time to give an update on my aromatherapy plans.  Those of you who have been following my aromatherapy blog in the past year may remember that back in December 2009 I talked about starting aromatherapy classes in 2010.

Unfortunately, my plans for that have been set back a little, partly due to personal reasons and health.  Although this has been a little frustrating for me, it has given me time to think out more clearly what I want to achieve with regard to aromatherapy teaching classes. For the remainder of 2010, I intend to concentrate on writing as much as I can about aromatherapy. I write aromatherapy articles for both LiveStrong.com and Suite 101, in addition to this aromatherapy blog.  I am also working on aromatherapy information web sites in order to accumulate a lot of my aromatherapy writing in one place.  My first aromatherapy information web site was Aromatherapy Glossary, and I have another one pending.

Of course, I continue to practice aromatherapy through Sedona Aromatherapie, Aromatherapy Wedding and Chocolate Aromatherapy.  I am hoping that 2011 will allow me to move ahead with my aromatherapy teaching plans as I have some creative ideas on how to do that here in Arizona!  So, all I can say, is watch this space - and in the meantime, enjoy my aromatherapy articles :)

Aromatherapy Blogs I Read

I started writing Aromatherapy Notes one year ago, in June 2009.  When I first started my aromatherapy blog, I knew little about writing a blog and had only been writing online for about a year before that.  In the past year, I've diversified my writing into other areas, and other publications, in addition to writing several new aromatherapy web sites of my own.

However, aromatherapy remains my first passion and I love to write about it! My plans for my aromatherapy business are a continual work-in-progress, but writing seems to be a natural part of it now, as I love to be able to pass that knowledge and information onto other people.  In the future, I hope to be able to expand that knowledge and learning process by eventually holding aromatherapy classes of my own here on our property in Sedona, Arizona.

In the course of research, I've come across other aromatherapy blogs, from which I've learned something too!  So, for now, here's some more aromatherapy information in the form of the aromatherapy blogs I read and follow:

• The Aromahead Blog 
• Heather Scent Aromatherapy
• The Fragrant Muse
• Aromatique Essential's Blog
• Creations from Eden.

If you have an aromatherapy blog and would like to exchange links with me, please drop me a line!

Tried and Tested: Peppermint Oil and Ants

In case there was any doubt as to the validity of the use of peppermint oil in deterring ants, I had first hand experience in the matter this week.  A number of ants decided that it was a good idea to hang out on my deck.  I didn't exactly share their belief - so set about putting down a few drops of peppermint oil in their vicinity.  It was amazing how quickly they dispersed themselves - and, to date, they haven't yet returned.  In addition, it was a safer route to go than toxic chemicals, as my dog particularly likes to laze on the deck in the sun of an afternoon :)

However, I would advise using slightly less peppermint oil than I did.  In my enthusiasm, I went slightly overboard to the point that I now have a very minty fragranced deck! :)