What is True Aromatherapy?

The definition I like to give my aromatherapy students is the following:

True aromatherapy is the skilled and controlled use of aromatic plant extracts called "essential oils" for physical and emotional health.

Another accurate definition would be simply “True aromatherapy is the therapeutic application of essential oils” because aromatherapy is not so much about fragrance as it is about healing.

Essential oils are the vital life essence of aromatic plants and flowers, and in aromatherapy these essential oils are used for therapeutic effects. Essential oils have been revered for their restorative effects on body, mind and spirit for thousands of years, and learning how to use these powerful plant extracts to assist the body in its own natural healing process is what aromatherapy is really about. Each essential oil has a unique chemical composition, and by learning about the properties of the many oils, you can use them as a tool for keeping yourself healthy.

Regular use of essential oils can create dramatic and lasting improvement in general health. As well as being pleasant to use, they are versatile and can be used in many ways throughout the day to address specific physical and emotional conditions. Daily discomforts like headaches, stress, anxiety, PMS , back pain, insomnia, arthritis, depression and many other physical and emotional complaints can easily be helped with essential oils.