Aromatherapy. Maybe you’ve heard people talk about all the amazing, sometimes miraculous-sounding benefits they’ve experienced with aromatherapy. Maybe you’re curious to know if it can offer you similar benefits. Maybe you’re just looking for a way to elevate your life. Whatever the reason, let’s get to know the aromatherapy basics before you dive in.
What Is Aromatherapy?
To start, it’s important to know what exactly aromatherapy is in the first place. Scents and smells are very closely related to the areas of our brain that are responsible for memories and emotions, and as such, can be used to influence our moods and state of mind. Because of how interconnected our mind and body are, aromatherapy is the use of those scents and aromas to influence physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Our essential oils offer a unique aromatherapy experience because each oil is extracted from different parts of the plants to create strong, distinct scents.
What Are the Benefits of Aromatherapy?
The benefits of aromatherapy can vary widely, depending on who you ask. You’ll find some people who talk about it as if it’s the cure-all (spoiler alert—it’s not), while others are convinced the whole thing is a waste of time. Part of the reason for the intense controversy is because while essential oils tend to have the same general effect on most people, the level of impact is often unique from person to person. The quality and purity of each oil also impact the level of effectiveness. In short, the truth is found somewhere in the middle.
Aromatherapy is often used to help support healthy mental health, de-stress, and uplift. Some people find it helps them sleep better, which can also help improve mental health. Physically, the essential oils in aromatherapy are sometimes used to help with tired muscles, improve blood flow, support healthy digestion, and aid the skin’s appearance.
In essence, aromatherapy can be used as a holistic method to improve your life, complementary to traditional healthcare practices and behaviors. It’s not meant to be a cure-all, just an added bonus!
What Are Some Different Aromatherapy Methods?
When it comes to figuring out how to use aromatherapy, there are a lot of different methods you can try. Let’s take a look.
Take a deep breath. Ever caught wind of a smell that sent you back in time, made you smile, or reminded you of your favorite person? That’s the most common aromatherapy, just smells. This can be done straight out of a bottle of essential oils, perfume, or even spices. Taking a deep breath of smells that you know you like can brighten even the cloudiest of days.
Get it in the air. Diffusing essential oils in a diffuser is one of the more common methods of aromatherapy, but it’s far from the only one. If you don’t have a diffuser, get your smells into the air by applying the oil to a cotton ball or tissue and putting it in your pillowcase or a bowl nearby to enjoy the scents. You can also make your own diffuser by adding essential oils to a steam treatment. Add a few drops of essential oils to hot, steaming water, positioning your face over the bowl with a towel over your head to trap the steam, and breath in the steam (with your eyes closed). Or if you’re looking to get an entire room smelling nice, try a room spray. Add a few drops of the desired essential oil to some water in a spray bottle, shake it up well, and spritz it around the room to distribute the scent.
Soak it in. For topical use, essential oils can be added to carrier oils and lotions and then used for massages and relief. You can also add them to bath salts and use them the next time you take a nice, hot bath. Just make sure to not add oils directly to bath water. Water and oil don’t mix, so the potent oils will sit on the top of the water instead of being distributed throughout.
Aromatherapy can be a great way to elevate your life, regardless of where you’re at now. If you’re ready to begin your aromatherapy journey, take some time to understand what you want to get out of it. This will help guide your essential oil and scent choices and how you use them.
Ready to dive in? Check out our selection of Pure Essential Oils for a wide variety of high-quality oils that are excellent for aromatherapy.
