Making Scents of Aromatherapy

Since ancient times, aromatherapy has been known for its therapeutic powers, celebrated as a natural aid that’s integrated into spa treatments and beauty products. How it works, what it’s used for, how to get the benefits – the vast offerings of aromatherapy can all be a bit overwhelming. But just calm down – our friends at NewBeauty make sense of it all:

Reap the Benefits
Essential oils are extracted from different parts of plants — flowers, twigs, leaves, stalks, resins, roots, etc. — depending on the oil. When choosing products for aromatherapy purposes, it’s important that they are created with essential oils, and that the oils are pure, natural, and non-synthetic.

Eucalyptus: good for fighting a cold
Lavender: good for antibacterial purposes
Sandalwood: good for calming the senses

Know How It Works
Essential oils work in one of two ways: through absorption or inhalation, although there are also some benefits associated with aerial diffusion (room fragrancing) as well. Absorption is best used to alleviate muscle or joint pains, when the essential oil is directly applied to the skin. Absorption aids are found in skin-care products, bath remedies, and spa treatments.

Inhalation is appropriate for alleviating annoyances such as sinus congestion (it’s not recommended for those with asthma, however.) It’s found in steams, oils, and vapors.