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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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This ancient — and at the same time timely and modern — approach to healing and improving the wellbeing of an individual has its roots in nature. But it’s not the type of skill that’s inherent in everyone, nor can it be mastered over night. Professionals in aromatherapy, would have had to go to aromatherapy schools or have had to received aromatherapy course. Those who have undergone some sort of aromatherapy training are armed with a technical understanding of oils’ constituents, how to blend oils, and how to produce new aromas.

Are you interested in attending an aromatherapy school? If you are, good for you. Once you’ve completed the necessary aromatherapy training, you can go on to help people heal and soothe. So just how does aromatherapy help people? Read on for some aromatherapy benefits.

Go to Aromatherapy School and Treat Nausea

Experts say aromatherapy can ease the effects of postoperative nausea, which is an adverse event that usually occurs after surgery under anesthesia. While this condition is not chronic and seldom results in mortality, it’s still a distressful time for patients. Past studies show that aromatherapy with peppermint oil or isopropyl alcohol can be effective in treating patients who suffer from nausea after outpatient surgery.

Aromatherapy School Students Can Cure Friends’ PMS

Believe it or not, aromatherapy can also ease symptoms of PMS. Studies show that special fragrances can restore overall balance and wellbeing — such conditions can be thrown off when hormones leave you out of sorts during PMS. From bloating to depression, even cramps and fatigue, there may be a cure for cranky yet as aromatherapy can be customized to meet the needs of each woman’s emotions and mental levels. There’s proof that registered aromatherapists can help patients reduce stress and balance the body while addressing the main symptoms of PMS.

Here are some suggestions: for bloating, use juniper, grapefruit, and lemon; for general irritability, try bergamot, geranium, and clary sage; and for cramps, go with lavender, clary sage, and roman chamomile.

From Aromatherapy Training to Granting Overall Well-Being

When cold and flu season hits, aromatherapy can actually soften the blow. Some don’t head for the medicine cabinet when ailed with colds and flus. Instead, they spray eucalyptus oil around the bedroom or a few drops on pillows to open up sinuses in order for the sickly to get a good night’s sleep. You can also use ginger oil in a steaming pot of water to get rid of congestion. So who came up with these tactics? Aromatherapists who have received proper aromatherapy training advise patients on such tricks. Experts in this field say problems that come alongside with colds and flus can be eliminated completely with a whiff of the hidden properties of these botanics.

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Aromatherapy uses essential oils, which are concentrated substances extracted from highly aromatic plant material then combined with alcohol, oil or lotion. Essential oils are inhaled, massaged into the skin, or poured into a soothing bath for a medicinal or calming effect.

Aromatherapy is used for a wide variety of therapeutic treatments including burns, infections, high blood pressure, depression, physical and mental conditions, and sleep deprivation. Aromatherapy schools educate students in the ways aromatherapy can be applied, including Olfactory (inhalation or diffusion), Massage (combines massage with aromatic oils) and Cosmetic (combines aromatic oils with natural skin and hair products).

There are hundreds of aromatherapy schools in the U.S. and Canada. Aromatherapy is also offered at many colleges and universities as an elective or continuing education class. Interested students may opt to take one or two classes, or go on to earn certification or even a diploma in aromatherapy. Keep in mind, however, that a certificate or degree from aromatherapy school is not a medical license, and aromatherapists are not qualified to practice medicine without a medical degree.

If a career in aromatherapy sounds like something you would like to investigate, register today for a class near you!

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com

About the Author

K. Monteith