Fragrance oils are perfume oils. While some fragrance oil scents may contain all-natural oils, they are primarily synthetic in composition. Production of a synthetic scent comes about when chemists study a plant’s components and then reproduces those components artificially.

What’s great about fragrance oils is the endless variety of scents that result. Experimentation with different synthetic combinations yields many fine scents and scent combinations. Fragrance oils are great for producing pleasing berry and fruit scents, as these scents are not always obtainable naturally as essential oils. Fragrance oils are also long lasting and affordably priced.

Essential oils are natural chemicals that are the true essence of a plant. They are not oil-like as we often think of oil. They do not have a sticky, oily feel to them and are actually clearer in appearance. Some essential oils do have color to them. They come from the leaves, flowers, seeds, resin, stems, roots, and bark of botanicals. Essential oils are highly concentrated oils and are popular in aromatherapy. Extraction of essential oils from botanical sources takes place by one of four methods:

* Steam distillation, which uses heat to draw out essential oils; this is the most common method used today.
* Cold press extraction: This method removes oils from the skins of fruits without the damage heat can sometimes do.
* Chemical solvent extraction: This method uses solvents such as alcohol to extract harder to get essential oils.
* Effleurage method: This method involves odorless fats or oils absorbing the perfume of fresh flowers.

Essential oils and fragrance oils are similar in that they both provide wonderful scents for soy candles. Scent blends may contain some natural essential oil elements in combination with synthetic elements. Again, fragrance oils offer the opportunity to make many more scent types and combinations than pure essential oils.

Candles of Eden is the leading provider of wholesale and private label all natural soy candles. We offer a full range of soy candles made with both fragrance oils and essential oils. Offer our elite line of SoyLuscious® Soy Candles to your clients or allow us to create a brand for you. Visit our website or call us directly 1-800-709-2836. Get more information like the article above by visiting our blog and subscribing to our newsletter.

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The most common form of the Black Death was the bubonic plague, characterized by the appearance of black-coloured buboes in the groin, neck and armpits, which oozed pus and blood, together with fever, headaches, painful aches in the joints, nausea and vomiting. It was highly contagious and usually fatal. The Black Death was universally feared – it spread ferociously fast, and death could occur within a couple of hours of the onset of symptoms. Between the 14th and 17th centuries, Europe suffered a series of attacks from the plague, and the consequences were enormous. Between 1348 and 1350 alone, the Black Death is estimated to have killed between one- and two-thirds of the population of Europe.

The plague was associated with a characteristic stink – the huge number of victims together with the rapid and high death rate associated with the plague would have given rise to an extraordinarily strong stench. This reinforced in most people’s minds the idea that the disease was carried in contaminated air. Among the more obvious remedies that were proposed, therefore, were those based on aroma – the aim was to counter the bad air with sweet-smelling agents, which were thought to have the power to overcome the harmful evil odours. Herbs and spices were most popular, though generally anything that smelt good was considered useful.

Those who could afford it burned a range of aromatic herbs – such as rosemary, juniper, laurel, pine and beech – in their houses, to help ward off bad smells and purify the air. Camphor and sulphur were also thought to be effective. Sweet-smelling herbs, such as lavender, sage, thyme, meadowsweet and winter savoury, were dried and strewn on the floor, sewn into cloth bags or carried as posies. Cloths infused with aromatic oils, such as camphor, rosemary or laurel, that were used to cover the face when going out were a more expensive option. Vinegar was also thought to be an effective deterrent.

Even wealthier people could afford pomanders. These consisted of pierced metal cases containing resin or wax embedded with a multitude of expensive aromatic spices, including nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. Held to the nose, the pierced casing allowed the scent to escape, thus (supposedly) offering the owner protection from the air-borne pestilence. The attractions of the aromatic spices, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves, are perhaps obvious, but ambergris, a waxy secretion of the intestinal tract of the sperm whale, was also used in pomanders. Unlikely as it may seem, ambergris has a pleasant sweet fragrance and is still used today by the perfume industry. Only the very rich could afford to carry ambergris pomanders, and these were considered to be more potent against the plague than other pomanders.

In Elizabethan times there are reports of many ‘cures’ for the plague: here are two of those based on herbal remedies…

“Take yarrow, tansy, featherfew, of each a handful, and bruise them well together, then let the sick party make water into the herbs, then strain them, and give it the sick to drink.” (The belief that drinking your own urine is a panacea for all ills is a relatively common one even today.)

“Take of sage, rue, briar leaves, elder leaves, of each a handful, stamp them and strain them with a quart of white wine, and put thereto a little ginger, and a good spoonful of the best treacle, and drink thereof morning and evening.”

Although the remedies available at this time were totally ineffective at treating people who developed the plague there is a possibility that some may, strangely enough, have actually been of some help in preventing the spread of the plague. Wormwood, rosemary, feverfew and tansy, in particular, are today recognized for their flea-repelling properties (indeed wormwood was used as a flea deterrent during the plague years) – and fleas and the rats that carried them are now generally thought to have been responsible for carrying and spreading this devastating disease.

Sources

* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miasma_theory_of_disease
* channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide12/part06.html
* cosmos.ucdavis.edu/2005/Cluster%207/Ramya%20Kandasamy.pdf
* earthspirits-herbals.com/fyi/winter05.htm
* the-orb.net/textbooks/westciv/blackdeath.html
* gallowglass.org/jadwiga/herbs/scents.html
* historical.hsl.virginia.edu/plague/mckeithen2.cfm
* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Death
* prizedwriting.ucdavis.edu/past/2002-2003/rosa.htm
* ije.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/31/6/1280
* william-shakespeare.info/bubonic-black-plague-elizabethan-era.htm
* history.boisestate.edu/westciv/plague/10.shtml
* everything2.com/index.pl?node=Black%20Plague
* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_medicine
* internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/society/plague.html
* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_and_diet_in_Elizabethan_England

Alix Williams is a regular contributor to the holistic website Aroma4u.co.uk a home based UK business providing Eco-friendly hand made Aromatherapy Stress Relief Gifts.

Alix Williams also writes about using unique Essential Oil Gift Ideas for Stress Relief.

For more information on the modern uses of aromatherapy or regarding Stress related matters (stress in the Workplace), Stress Busting Gift ideas with pure Essential oils, please visit: http://www.aroma4u.co.uk

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Aromatherapy courses may be what you are looking for. Many people feel the need to pursue other interests in their spare time and with all of the opportunities available today it would be quite a simple thing to take an aromatherapy course that you could do at home.

The advantages of home study of course allows you to be able to study in your spare time when you are most free from other distractions. Taking aromatherapy courses at home can be very affordable if you do a little bit of searching on the Internet and compare prices. Just be sure to note that the price of an aromatherapy course doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a good one. You should take the time to read the syllabus of the course and be sure that it meets the standards set forth by the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists.

Why would you want to take aromatherapy courses?

There are many reasons. One of the most important is that aromatherapy is a natural health alternative. Why wouldn’t anyone not want to learn how to take care of everyday ailments with something as natural as essential oils rather than pharmaceutical products with all of their side effects?

Do Essential Oils have side effect?

No, not exactly, but there are certain contraindications which people should be aware of when using essential oils so that is why a good aromatherapy course will teach you about this as well as proper dilution rates and how to use essential oils safely and effectively.

Although essential oils are pure, they are still made up of organic chemicals and being made aware of this through self-study will be very beneficial to you and your family.

It is definitely something worth considering. Back to school can be just as beneficial for moms and dads as it can be for the children. Why not expand your horizons and learn something new that can benefit both you and your family for years to come? Aromatherapy courses are a great way to do this!

This article is bought to you by Sharron Myers
Sharron Myers has been a teacher of Spiritual Truth for over 30 years. She also is a Certified Aromatherapist and Personal Development Consultant. Be sure to check out her sites: Serene Aromatherapy

http://www.sharron-myers.com

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Many people believe that taking aromatherapy courses are only good for teaching them how to use essential oils safely and effectively for their own personal interests. The truth of the matter is that not only do aromatherapy courses teach you how to mix essential oils for making soaps, candles and other homemade products, they also teach you how to use the skills you learn via the aromatherapy courses so that you too can become a certified aromatherapist.

By becoming a certified aromatherapist you would be receiving the aromatherapy training necessary to work in the wonderful field of Alternative Medicine and enjoy the many benefits that a good aromatherapy course would teach you.

What type of work could you do if you received your certification in aromatherapy?  As an aromatherapist you could work in a spa, consulting clients on the proper choice of essential oils they may need. How about consulting massage therapists on the best massage blend for their clients who are stressed out, or suffer from headaches.

If you wanted you could also open a retail store of your own and sell essential oils. If you have received your certification in Aromatherapy you would be much better able to assist your customers than the fellow working down the road in a natural health food store who has no aromatherapy training.

Does it matter which aromatherapy courses you take?  Yes it matters. You would need both a Level I and Level II Aromatherapy Course in order to become certified as an aromatherapist. You must be sure that the courses offered meet the standards required by the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy.  Be sure to check the syllabus for any aromatherapy courses you may be interested in and make certain that they meet the standards necessary.

As a certified aromatherapist myself, I can’t tell you how much I enjoy working with people everyday and teaching them how to use essential oils safely and effectively. I definitely recommend that you search the Internet and find a good, affordable aromatherapy course that you can learn from at home in your spare time.  Adding extra income to the family budget is always a plus and you will see for yourself how great it is to take healing back into your own hands.

This article is bought to you by Sharron Myers
Sharron Myers has been a teacher of Spiritual Truth for over 30 years. She also is a Certified Aromatherapist and Personal Development Consultant. Be sure to check out her sites:
Serene Aromatherapy
http://www.sharron-myers.com
To Live the Life You Want, Learn the Skills You Need

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Pure essential oils are made up of compounds that cheap imitations simply cannot duplicate. As they are pure and unadulterated, they are very beneficial to the human body. They help protect our bodies and homes from pathogens like virus bacteria and parasite. They also help boost the immune system of the human body.

It is very difficult to extract pure essential oils. The extracted oils must be of high quality and potency. To get essential oil of high quality, the plants need to be harvested at the right time of the year, and the right parts of the plant must be used. The distraction process must be pure to avoid contamination, and quality control standards need to be in place to assure potency of the final product. Pure and potent essential oils are steam distilled by low pressure and low temperature to preserve the properties. Testing is done to make sure the active properties are present in the final product

Using chemicals in the extraction process will help extract the oils faster, in greater quantity and reduce the cost of production, However, this is not recommended, as the chemicals can be toxic to humans. They also destroy the life-giving properties of the oils. Sometimes essential oils are sold diluted, but this will result in the carrier oils becoming rancid. This does not happen with pure essential oils. Synthetic versions of oils are used in deodorizers and candles. However, they have no value therapeutically for the human body.

Essential Oils provides detailed information on Essential Oils, Aromatherapy Essential Oils, Therapeutic Essential Oils, Organic Essential Oils and more. Essential Oils is affiliated with Ginseng Tea.

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In this short article I am not concerned with the general uses of essential oils, but rather how they can be specifically used in the ELT classroom as mood enhancers, stress relievers and confidence builders by offering a number of my own recipes that fellow teachers might like to try out and experiment with.

Over a number of years research has been able to demonstrate that essential oils can have a profound effect, not only on the physiology but also on the emotional and spiritual plane. To give a few examples – orange is useful for those who have tired of meeting obstacles and have become frustrated and perhaps lazy. Bergamot is appropriate for someone who sets high standards, is over-determined and perhaps cross and critical of others, Myrrh can be used for someone who has for the moment lost confidence in their abilities to succeed, or lemongrass may help the person who finds it difficult to assert themselves or express their wishes and purposes. Juniper would be suitable for anyone suffering from stress or of a nervous disposition.

So how can we start using essential oils in the English classroom?

Let’s start with some methods of application.

1. A bowl of water can be placed near a radiator to which the oils can be added.

2. A small towel can be saturated in water. This is then wrung out and the drops of oil shaken onto the towel. The towel is then draped over the radiator which will release the scent into the room.

3. A plant spray can be filled with water oils and the mixture liberally sprayed around the room.

4. Various vaporisers and burners can be bought from Boots or similar for around £15-£20. Many of them use electric power and so will not contravene fire regulations. My own favourite is the Tisser and Vapour Stream which uses a small fan to provide a constant flow of scented air via a cartridge and retails at £25.

Before using oils always check for contra-indications as a small number of oils should not be used in cases of pregnancy, high blood pressure, etc.

Here are some of my own recipes you might like to try out in various situations.

1. To ward off germs and colds so easily passed around the classroom especially in winter.

3 drops of Lavender 2 drops of Eucapyptus 2 drops of Pine

2. For exam classes beginning to feel the stressed and strains of the course

3 drops of Bergamot 3 drops of Geranium 3 drops of Jasmine

3. For exam classes the day or so before taking the exam when nerves are clearly showing

2 drops of Clary-Sage 3 drops of Lavender 2 drops of Rose

4. For holiday courses where the students tend to be over excited. To calm them down

3 drops of Camomile 2 drops of Sandalwood 2 drops of Rose

5. For classes where students seem apathetic and unwilling to participate freely

2 drops of Grapefruit 2 drops of Rosemary 2 drops of ginger

6. For classes that find it hard to concentrate

3 drops of Cedarwood 2 drops of Frankincense 2 drops of Ylang Ylang

7. For classes that don’t seem to bond together

2 drops of Cinnamon 2 drops of Nutmeg 2 drops of Sandalwood

8. Just to provide a pleasant classroom fragrance

3 drops of Lemon 2 drops of Bergamot 2 drops of Lavender

Once you have used essential oils to provide fragrance and atmosphere in your classroom you will probably want to develop your own recipes and begin to get a feeling for which oils blend well together, the properties they possess and those that work best with your own particular class.

Enjoy the experience and have fun!

Phyllis Zanuffel is an experienced teacher trainer and head of TEFL courses at The London Teacher Training College.

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Initially used for the purpose of gifts to the gods, the end process was that the smoke of the offering in turn affected the man’s bioelectrical which made the ritual feel a much more pleasurable heightened experience.

Each scent was specifically aligned to certain rituals, purifications and better awareness of psychic ability and the scents were inhaled to utilise these energies. Through the centuries these practices have been passed down from person to person and are used by a range of people from major world religions to local spiritual belief systems to aid their specific needs.

Unlike the normal aromatherapy, where the oils are used for massage and inhalation to help with a physiological or psychological problem, ritual oils have always been used for much larger aims.

In ritual aromatherapy the practitioner visualises a special need, whether for financial gain, to bring love into their life or just a straight forward calming effects for everyday stresses and strains. The visualisation is held while inhaling the specially chosen oils, allowing the bioelectrical to pull the conscious and psychic energy together and create an internal change.

In practice the practitioner becomes more receptive to the conscious mind as the fragrance instils the bioelectrical energies to calm the central nervous system, weakening muscular tension so psychic awareness will be stronger.
When the scent is aligned with the energy and coupled with the bioelectrical action it is projected into the atmosphere to procure the changes.

The best thing about these purpose blended oils is that they can work without the need for the visualisation, as the oils fragrances energise the body naturally, which makes them a simple technique to use as an aid for making changes in your life.

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The Arab’s created advanced methods of chemical and pharmaceutical technology. As well they established extensive trade routes connecting India, China, the Mediterranean, and Indonesia with the Arab world in which spices and aromatic oils were traded and sold as precious commodities. Thus aromatic oils became available to the entire civilized world. It was through the Arabs that the medical knowledge of the Greeks and Romans remained alive. Arabic scientists made improvements in extracting aromatic oils and established a vast amount of research about oils. Between the 7th and 13th centuries, the Arabs produced great men of science, most notably Avicenna, the Great Physician, who is credited with the discovery of the refrigerated coil, a breakthrough in essential oil distillation. The Arabs revived the knowledge and use of aromatic oils and perfumery passed down from previous ages, so that it was not lost.

Africa

Plant aromatics and oils have been used in Africa for years primarily for protecting and softening the skin. The Africans are known to have discovered methods for using oils to prevent skin disorders. Aromatic oils have also been used in Africa for wedding and religious ceremonies.

Europe – Middle Ages 500-1300 AD

During the Middle Ages aromatic waters were used as medicines by monks and nuns who studied and copied scientific papers about useful aromatic plants. With the great plagues, like the Black Death, in the early 14th century which killed upwards of a half of the European population came an increase in the use of aromatic oils. Doctors wore elaborate masked hats with a beak filled with plant aromatics for protection from disease. By the late Middle Ages, apothecary guilds were established in northern Europe and essential oils from the East were used to improve European’s chance of survival. It has been reported that the apothecaries and perfumers were resistant to the plagues and epidemics, and there was recognition of a connection between plant aromatics and health. Each town had a large country house with a “still room” in which aromatic waters and remedies were distilled for the local peasants.

Click to learn about KG’s Aromatherapy Certification Home Study Courses http://www.kgstiles.com/aromatherapy_training_consulting_tutorials.htm

You receive five FREE aromatherapy publications about using pure essential oils as a gift when you purchase PurePlant Essentials Organic Aromatherapy Products. Visit KG’s website and sign-up for Health Mastery Ezine and her Pure Essential Oils Blog.

Click to see PurePlant Essentials Complete Menu of Organic Aromatherapy http://www.pureplantessentials.com

KG Stiles is a certified aromatherapist practicing in Ashland, Oregon, USA. She has utilized essential oils in her professional practice for more than 30 years. She is the Director of PurePlant Essentials Organic Aromatherapy and a specialist in formulating aromatic blends for healthy living. KG can create the perfect synergy blend for you! More Info? Contact: KG Stiles at Springhill Wellness Center, Ashland, OR (541) 941-7315. Mahalo!

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Italy became the leader in European aromatic oils. The Italian influence swept through France with the help of Caterina de Medici’s marriage to France’s Prince Henri II. At this time French aromatic oils and perfumes became popular and extravagant. The French used fragrance for everything. By the 16th century many of the essential oils in use today had been isolated and distilled for common use. At this time perfume and aromatic oils moved away from the original religious and medicinal practices and became a symbol of extravagance and luxury. During the 16th century Europeans believed bathing was unhealthy, and perfumes were used to cover offensive body odors. During the 18th century the French discovered that tuberculosis bacillus could be killed by clove oil, and that thyme helped rid the Typhus bacteria so prevalent at the time.

Golden Age – 1600 -1700

Known as the Golden Age of the English Herbalists the 1600s gave us the great astrologer physician, Nicholas Culpepper, and herbalist, John Parkinson. During this time there was a split between herbalists and conventional medical doctors. Both were known to use essential oils though herbalists used essential oils less than herbs. The dosage amounts for essential oils had been established by this time with the need for dilution, and the methods of application clearly known. The healing properties of essential oils were recognized.

Europe 1800-1900

The common use of essential oils and plant aromatics for health was established. With the return of the bubonic plague the demand for aromatic oils substantially increased. It was during the great plagues of Toulouse (1628-1631) that a formula was reported by four thieves caught stealing from plague victims. This began the story of the Four Thieves which was recorded in the archives of the Toulouse Parliament. To have their sentence canceled the thieves reported their secret formula after which they were hanged. Over the next few centuries essential oils were analyzed and their properties and applications were recorded.

In 1868 the first synthetic fragrance oils were produced. These synthetic fragrances were unsuitable for medicinal use. In 1887 Parisian physician published the first modern documented research of the antiseptic properties of essential oils. Chamberland’s research confirmed that essential oils kill viruses, bacteria and fungus. Before WWII essential oil research attracted as much research attention as conventional pharmaceuticals. Nobel prizes were awarded to Otto Wallach and Adolf von Baeyer for their contributions in essential oils research. Then chemists began to isolate the active ingredients within aromatic plants and manufactured them synthetically. As this science became more sophisticated herbs and essential oils were replaced by synthetic drugs. It was discovered that chemical drugs, which acted more powerfully, could be produced more easily and were cheaper.

Click to learn about and order RAPID IMMUNE DEFENSE (RID), an organic essential oils synergy blend that’s based on the Four Thieves formula recorded in the archives of the Toulouse Parliament. http://www.kgstiles.com/ridmoreinfo.html

You receive five FREE aromatherapy publications about using pure essential oils as a gift when you purchase PurePlant Essentials Organic Aromatherapy Products. Visit KG’s website and sign-up for Health Mastery Ezine and her Pure Essential Oils Blog.

Click to see PurePlant Essentials Complete Menu of Organic Aromatherapy http://www.pureplantessentials.com

KG Stiles is a certified aromatherapist practicing in Ashland, Oregon, USA. She has utilized essential oils in her professional practice for more than 30 years. She is the Director of PurePlant Essentials Organic Aromatherapy and a specialist in formulating aromatic blends for healthy living. KG can create the perfect synergy blend for you! More Info? Contact: KG Stiles at Springhill Wellness Center, Ashland, OR (541) 941-7315. Mahalo!

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Cheap Aromatherapy Courses can be found online but you have to be sure to take the time to find out a little about what is actually being offered.

Some people may unscrupulously sell you a small ebook telling you that it is an aromatherapy course. Others may offer very short courses for cheap.

There are affordable alternatives on the Internet which are both quite cheap compared to others and yet still contain a wealth of knowledge.

Here are a few pointers to look out for when checking out the cheap aromatherapy courses on-line.

* Is the teacher someone you can find some information about regarding her qualifications etc?
* Do the courses teach you according to the standards set forth by the National Assosciaton of Holistic Aromatherapists (N.A.H.A.)? They don’t necessarily have to be listed with the association but their courses should meet the standards required by them. Many people don’ t like to join aromatherapy associations due to the costs of being a member. This helps them to keep their overhead lower and therefore able to offer their courses more cheaper than those who are members. Membership fees and advertising fees with the various aromatherapy associations can add up quickly.
* Do they teach you to use essential oils safely and effectively. I have seen some cheap courses on-line which recommend Birch Essential Oils and others which are extremely dangerous.
* Beware of any courses that suggest you ingest essential oils. This is a very dangerous practice and should be avoided completely.

Hopefully these tips will help you find something of what you are looking for which are also worth their value. There are some affordable aromatherapy courses on the Internet if you take the time to search for them. A simple search in Google can usually bring up some good results. Check out the websites offering aromatherapy courses and use the criteria given above and you are sure to find something that is reasonable as well as safe.

This article is bought to you by Sharron Myers
Sharron Myers has been a teacher of Spiritual Truth for over 30 years. She also is a Certified Aromatherapist and Personal Development Consultant. Be sure to check out her site to find:

Aromatherapy Courses
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