Choosing the Right Scent

 " There is a bewildering array of aromatherapy fragrances to choose from, but it's easy to get the hang of picking the one that's just right for you."

Some fragrances will ease you off to sleep, others will help to wake you up in the morning. Some relax you, easing away stress and anxiety; others are revitalizing and will pick you up for that important job interview. You can soon get to know each plant's individual properities and its healing effects. Follow your nose... oils that smell very similiaroften have a very different effects. Lemon is a stimulant, yet lemongrass is a sedative. Rosemary and peppermint, on the other hand, smell nothing alike, but both are excellent for fatigue. In future posts will also cover dozens of aromatic plants in detail, explaining their active qualities, the ways that you can use them and even the folklore and myths associated with them. Meanwhile, the list provided below with help you choose the scent that's right for you.

"Orange, which reminds us of the Sun, produces an oil that will brighten your mood and complexion."

Once bottled, all essential oils look very much alike. The key to telling them apart lies in understanding the plants from which they've been extracted. Smell is the primitive of our senses, and the one that is most closely linked to our memories and emotions. When we think of our mother's kitchen, or a beautiful day at the beach, smell is often the first thing that springs to mind. We can use these scent memories when choosing aromas to create specific moods. Fond Memories are linked to scents, not everyone will enjoy the same ones.

Lavender is often considered uplifting, but if it reminds you of a cranky old aunt it's unlikely to be very relaxing! Luckily, as most condintions can be eased by a number of diferent oils, you'll always be able to find one that's the right scent for you.

Woody smells that remind us of the outdoors can be helpful in easing urban stress. Strengthen the association in your mind by burning incense coils in your garden on calm summer evenings. Relating the two will increase relaxation when you burn the specific incent you will relate it to that specific outdoor enjoyment.

Aromatherapy and your body

Some essential oils work better on specific areas on your body than others. Use your quick checklist to find out where each oil is best applied

The active ingredients of essential oils can ease muscle tension, improve your mood, boost your circulation and clear respiratory problems such as hay fever, stuffy noses and sore throats. By rubbing your oils over or onto the affected area, you will begin to feel their healing effects almost immedediately.

TO EASE HAY FEVER: Chamomile, Eucalyptus
TO RELAX SORE AND ACHING MUSCLES: Frankincense, Ginger, Sweet Marjoram, Rosemary
TO EASE STOMACH/ PERIOD PAINS: Aniseed, Clary Sage, Juniper Berry, Lavender, Marjoram
TO EASE STOMACH UPSETS: Ginger, Mandarin, Peppermint
TO HELP OILY SKIN: Cypress, Lemon, Mandarinree, Tea Tree (also good for acne)
FOR HAIR: Cedarwood, Cypress (for oily hair), Rosemary (for dry hair), Tea tree (for dandruff)
TO EASE HEADACHES: Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary
TO CLEAR A BLOCKED NOSE: Bergamot, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Rosemary
TO EASE A SORE THROAT: Frankincense, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Tea tree
TO EASE ECZEMA: Chamomile, Geranium, Juniper berry, Lavender
TO MOISTURIZE DRY SKIN: Beragamot, Chamomile, Jasmine, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang ylang
TO IMPROVE CELLULITE: Juniper berry, Geranium, Rosemary


Aromatherapy Massage
Combine aromatherapy with massage to get the best out of both natural techniques. Rubbing healing oils into your skin allows their active ingredients to pass directly into the tissues of the affected area, while healing massage strokes also work to alleviate pain and stiffness, as well as improving circulation. A quick and easy was to get the benefits of essential oils is to ass a few drops to your usual body lotion or moisturizer and then rub it into the affected area.