How to Practice Aromatherapy to Promote Luxury and Well-Being
Experts give tips and advice on how to make the most of the art of aromatherapy.
“I think it is impossible for something to be more luxurious than essential oils,” said Mayra Corrêa e Castro, president of Abraroma, Brazil's Association of Aromatherapy and Aromatology.
According to Vishwa Schoppan, aromatherapist at L’école de Santé Française-Graveson-Provence and owner of Terra Flor Aromatherapy, “the word comes from the Greek word 'aroma,' which is odor, and 'therapeia,' which means therapy or cure. It can be broadly described as the therapeutic use of essential oils."
The Ancient Practice of Well Being Through Smells
Therapeutic rehabilitation is not something recent. The ancient Egyptians, Hindus, and Chinese used perfumes and aromas for alchemy and inducing pleasant smells to use on the body. However, from the Spanish flu, René-Maurice Gattefossé found the benefits of essential oils. Gattefossé discovered that essential oils can be used as antiseptics and antimicrobials, bringing a series of benefits to the body.
“When we recognize an aroma in the air, it means that our olfactory cells have been stimulated by aromatic molecules. Over the years of study, the way in which essential oils interact with our nervous, epithelial, immune, and endocrine systems was established and also have therapeutic effects,” said Schoppan.
What are Essential Oils?
In summary, essential oils are the substances synthesized, stored, and released by aromatic plants. The formation takes place during the plant's secondary metabolism process. The benefits can include antimicrobials, antivirals, antibacterials, antifungals, analgesics, anti-inflammatory, relaxants, healing, and stimulants for a part of the nervous system—the limbic—responsible for the emotional response and memories.
Neuroscience shows that, with aromatherapy, it is possible to control anxiety and reduce sadness, loneliness, and fear. “The situation we live in with this pandemic has brought withdrawal and isolation. We can use our sense of smell as an ally to create the feeling of well-being, of a cozy nest, with pleasant aromas that bring us good and positive memories,” commented Schoppan.
When starting therapy, it can be difficult to know which scents are most pleasant and sought after. “The most used scents around the world are lavender, eucalyptus globules, and tea tree. For lavender, there is already a patent for an oral drug for the treatment of insomnia in mild anxiety disorders. The essential oil of eucalyptus-globules has mucolytic, expectorant, and antiseptic properties, and tea has been studied to control bacterial, viral, and fungal infections,” explained Corrêa e Castro.
What Does Luxury Have to do with Aromatherapy?
The production of scarce essential oil calls for the use of tons of organic raw material, which are often made by small farmers. “If being scarce is a luxury concept, there is nothing more scarce than essential oils. If ephemerality is a luxury concept, nothing is more ephemeral than perfumes—even more, natural. Conscious luxury is the only direction where aromatherapy can go,” said Corrêa e Castro.
Some aromas can enhance the experience and make the practice even more elegant. “You can leave the environment impregnated with delicate aromas of exotic flowers, such as champaca, jasmine, amber attar, and blue lotus, using natural perfumes to perfume the skin, with hydration from a synergy of vegetable and essential oils. Preparing aromatic water can also be a luxury in the heat and dryness,” suggested Schoppan.
Many people are looking for an even more exclusive moment and start mixing some essential oils to create their own scent. In some cases, mixtures can generate a unique and unforgettable smell, but it is advisable to seek help from an aromatherapist first. “Aromatherapy professionals are the best people to work with mixtures. It seems that mixing essential oils is better than using them pure, but this is just a myth. The biochemical complexity of essential oils makes this mission very difficult,” said Corrêa e Castro.
The Different Ways to Practice Aromatherapy
It is a common mistake to think that aromatherapy has few means of being carried out. According to the experts, it is possible to practice aromatherapy through inhalation by aiming at benefits for the respiratory system, vaporization—to help unclog the pores and airways, environmental diffusion—which acts on the bloodstream and the brain, massages—being the fastest way to absorb essential oils in the body, and baths—which generate different experiences and benefits according to the temperature, and application to the skin through aromatic necklaces.
Vishwa warns of the risk when applying the product in a pure form directly on the skin. “Some essential oils are dermo-aggressive and must always be diluted in a carrier vehicle, vegetable oil, aloe gel, clay, or neutral cream,” commented the aromatherapist.
However, Corrêa e Castro explains the reactions and consequences that this direct contact can cause. “The most common reactions occur on the skin, either through use without dilution or through excessive use, even if diluted: they are phototoxicity, irritation, or skin sensitization reactions. One particularly worrying thing about sensitization is that once a person has become allergic to some compound present in an essential oil, they will become allergic to many essential oils, fragrances, fragrance-containing cosmetics, and even hygiene products that contain fragrances because essential oils and synthetic essences share the same molecules with each other,” explained the expert.
The Aromatic Warmth in Every Room of Your Home
Brazilians are dedicated to keeping a house that is always fragrant; therefore, aromatherapy becomes a wonderful possibility. “We shouldn't think about rooms that need attention, because rooms are empty spaces. Those who need attention are the people who live in these rooms. Look at people who live in a room and understand how they spend their day in it, what feelings they have throughout the day while living in that room,” said Corrêa e Castro.
Smell therapy is capable of promoting well-being and relaxation. For the bedrooms, Vishwa recommends the use of amyris sandalwood, jasmine, French lavender and ylang ylango scents to achieve deep sleep and tranquility. The living room requires a warm and cheerful atmosphere, perfect for welcoming friends and family for a dinner with delicious dishes and wines; for this reason, the expert mentions the importance of using the citrus aromas, such as mandarin orange.
With the pandemic and social isolation, the office gained a lot of prominence. Office settings should promote concentration and focus, with the best aromas being rosemary, mint, pepper, lemon and eucalyptus globolus.
To achieve a more exclusive experience, seek the help of an aromatherapist and understand what your real needs are in relation to the smells and aromas that will provide you with pleasure and well-being.
