If you want an aromatherapy experience from your bath & body products, make sure that the label lists essential oil.  Synthetic oils made from chemicals appear on labels as “fragrance” and/or “parfum/perfume.”  Synthetic oils have no therapeutic value, as they are chemically constructed and do not contain the same constituents of essential oils (each oil can have up to 300).  Many companies say that they have natural and organic ingredients and then they add synthetic “fragrance” and/or “perfume” which are petroleum-based synthetic compounds.  These synthetic compounds contain no aromatherapy benefits, are much cheaper in cost than essential oils, and often are not tested for safety.  We use 100% natural essential oils to scent our aromatherapy products.  You can recognize essential oils on labels by their Latin name, for example, lime essential oil is listed as “Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil.”  Essential oils are the very essence of a plant and are obtained from flowers, peels of fruit, seeds, bark, leaves, wood, resin and balsam.  Inhaled aroma stimulates areas of the brain, where emotions and memory are triggered.

By surrounding yourself with natural aromas from flowers and using essential oils in a diffuser, you can induce the feeling you want to create.  For example, essential oils that contain a high quantity of the chemical compound ester have relaxing benefits.  I would recommend these if you are having a difficult time sleeping or are experiencing anxiety.  On the other hand, if you are having a hard time staying awake you can use essential oils that contains phenols, which are stimulating.

Stimulating essential oils that contain a high % of phenols:

• Basil
• Bay Leaf
• Cinnamon
• Clove
• Creeping Hyssop
• Eucalyptus
• Parsley
• Peppermint
• Niaouli
• Oregano
• Spike Lavender
• Tea Tree
• Thyme

Sedating essential oils that contain a high % of esters:

• Bergamot
• Bergamot Mint
• Black Spruce
• Cardamom
• Clary Sage
• Roman Chamomile
• Geranium
• Helichrysum
• Jasmine absolute
• Lavender
• Linaloe Berry
• Melissa
• Myrtle
• Neroli
• Petitgrain
• Siberian Fir
• Sitka Spruce
• Sugandha Kokila
• White Spruce
• Ylang Ylang