After examining some basic safety guidelines in the use of essential oils, we’ll also learn how exactly essential oils work and what physiological mechanisms make them so effective. Now I will then guide you through the different kinds of extraction, and unveil some tips for a do-it-yourself at home!

Aromatherapy: A Journey in Time

The use of aromas and fragrances dates back to the dawn of mankind. The word perfume comes from the Latin "per fumis", by means of smoke; it refers to the ancient practice of burning wood and scented material in religious ceremonies to deepen and enhance the connection between men and God. The ancient Egyptians were the first great civilization to have used essential oils for mental and physical health, beauty and well-being. In their long and complex religious ceremonies, they used benzoin, cedarwood, juniper and thyme to dispel evil spirits, which in modern times might be equated to healing emotional or psychological problems. They also anointed their bodies with aromatic oils to keep their skin healthy and beautiful and to protect it from sun damage. Perfumed bodies were, for the Egyptians, particularly alluring. Story has it that Cleopatra soaked the sails of her boat in jasmine oil, a potent aphrodisiac, when she went to meet Mark Anthony... While the Egyptian civilization was developing, Ayurvedic medicine started in India. Based on Vedic texts, it utilized the healing properties of many aromatic plants such as ginger, sandalwood, rose and myrrh. Besides burning aromatic plants during religious ceremonies, scented woods and aromatic oils were part of wedding rituals. A Hindu bride would have her feet anointed with aromatic oils while sandalwood would be burned to dispel evil spirits and ensure a long and happy life to the newlyweds. In the ancient China and Japan, aromatic woods and plants were burned during funeral ceremonies, providing a connection between this world and the after-life. Like in the rest of the world, fragrances were used for health and beauty purposes.Greeks and Romans believed that mind and body health were closely interconnected and utilized fragrant aromas and aromatic plants for mental and physical healing. In Greek mythology, the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, spread perfume on the Earth from Olympus, the mythical abode of the Gods.