Aromatherapy for Valentine's Day: How to Create a Romantic Atmosphere

The combination of scent and touch is a powerful mood enhancer.

This Valentine’s Day, create a romantic atmosphere with aromatic essential oils.

Traditional "romance" oils like jasmine, rose, and ylang ylang work well in blends with neroli, but for a little extra spice, you may also want to try adding essential oils like black pepper, bergamot, patchouli, and vetiver.

To create a sensual atmosphere, you can:

• Create a private space.
• Fill your space with your favorite colors and fabrics, including pillows and/or blankets.
• Minimize outside noise.
• Details: relaxing music, aromatherapy candles, and fresh flowers.

To enhance romantic massage you can:

• Diffuse the essential oil of your choice into the room (essential oils can also be added directly into massage oils and bath water; see the recipe included below).
• Focus on comfort and intent.
• Communicate through all of your senses; don’t focus on conversation only.
• Play. Laugh. Enjoy yourself.

To get started, try this basic aromatic massage recipe, and augment with your favorite essential oils. For massage, essential oils are best added into a carrier oil like jojoba, almond, or avocado.

Basic Aromatic Massage Oil

• Sweet almond oil: 4 oz
• Rose Rosa damascena oil: 1-2 drops
• Jasmine Jasmine grandiflorum: 1-2 drops

For more aromatherapy recipes and tips, visit the free downloads section of the Apothecary Shoppe College Store website online here.

To learn more about the health benefits of aromatherapy for personal and professional use, check out ACHS's aromatherapy training programs and aromatherapy classes online here: http://www.achs.edu/academics/aromatherapy/courses

3 Essential Oils for Summer

Summer is here and you know what that means … fun and sun, bumps and bugs. To help stay in tip-top shape all summer long, here are three essential oils to keep on hand.

Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, has a characteristic aroma frequently used in room sprays and cosmetic products to help relive stress and support relaxation. The essential oil also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, which can be very handy with minor bumps and scrapes. To make your own lavender ointment, warm 2-oz sweet almond oil over a double boiler and add 1/4-oz grated beeswax. Stir until the wax is dissolved then add 25 drops lavender Lavandula angustifolia oil, 10 drops bergamot Citrus aurantium var. bergamia oil, and 5 drops thyme Thymus vulgaris oil. Cool before placing in jars and leave it to completely cool before putting on the lid to avoid condensation.

Neroli, Citrus aurantium var. amara, has a decadent, light floral aroma reminiscent of a stroll through the garden. It is the quintessential aroma for summer ambiance. To support relaxation and to refresh the air, diffuse around your home (especially if you plan to staycation this summer!).

Sweet basil, Ocimum basilicum, is a pale-colored oil with a slightly spice aroma; it is reminiscent of cloves and camphor. Medicinally, the essential oil has natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, which make it a useful ingredient in blends or when diluted in a carrier oil. In addition, basil’s essential oil is an effective natural insect repellent[1] and a good alternative to citronella essential oil if you do not like citronella’s strong scent; diffuse the essential oil at your outdoor events for a fresh aroma and some added insurance against those pesky mosquitoes.

Which essential oil is essential for you? Post a comment and tell us which essential oil is a summer must ... be sure to include your favorite blend and recipes!!

Interested in learning more about aromatherapy essential oils? Visit ACHS.edu for more information about aromatherapy classes, community wellness events, and summer study abroad programs with the American College of Healthcare Sciences.We look forward to hearing from you!

[1] Dube, S., Upadhyay, P.D., Tripathi, S.C. (1989). Canadian Journal of Botany, 67:2085-2087.

How to Use Essential Oil in Your Home

You can incorporate essential oils into your everyday life by using them whenever you would use a commercial cleanser or air freshener. You may want to avoid using your precious essential oils, such as neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara) and rose attar (Rosa damascena), for cleaning and household purposes.

You do not need to invest in diffusers or other aromatherapy equipment, although they can be quick and easy ways to disperse essential oils into the air. The following suggestions do not require an investment in any equipment:

• Use two or three drops on the filter pad of your vacuum cleaner to leave a refreshing aroma around your home as you do the housework.
• Add two or three drops to the edge of the toilet roll before placing on the toilet roll holder.
• Place a few drops on cotton balls that are distributed in drawers, wardrobes, closets, and cupboards. A good night's rest is ensured if placed into pillowcases. This will also help keep moths and insects out of linen.
• Use as a room freshener. Pour directly on cotton balls and leave in a room. This is particularly good for freshening up a room that is stale with cigarette smoke or pet odors.
• Sprinkle a few drops on potpourri to revive the original fragrance.
• Sprinkle a few drops in and around drains, into the trash bin, compost bucket, toilet bowl, and in the dishwasher.
• Add a few drops to the washing machine or dryer when doing laundry. For dryers, add the oil to a dry cloth and place it into the dryer along with the wet laundry.
• Add a drop of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) to the water that you add to your steam iron or use a hydrosol.
• You can use essential oils in every room in your house: kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedroom, laundry, and even in the garden.

For more information about the history of aromatherapy download our free lecture History of Aromatherapy and our PowerPoint presentation What is Aromatherapy?

6 Tips for Selecting Essential Oils for Clinical Use

Just like wine, a number of factors affect the quality of an essential oil, including:

• Where the plant was grown.
• What part of the plant was used.
• How it was grown.
• What the climate was like.
• How it was harvested.
• When it was harvested.
• How it was produced.
• How it was stored following production.

The quality of the finished product may be compromised if any one of these steps is not carried out optimally for that particular plant. So, how can we ensure that the essential oils we buy are of a quality suitable for clinical aromatherapy?

1. Know your supplier. Start by developing a relationship with a supplier you can trust. Try to deal with suppliers either who distill their own material or who deal directly with reputable distillers. Suppliers usually will provide a small sample of the oil for you to check before purchasing larger quantities.

2. Use the Latin names. Order by the Latin name, and always check labels for the correct botanical name.

3. Perform your own tests. Make sure the oil is pure and not extended or diluted by using the organoleptic testing techniques we have learned so far. Educate your olfactory senses: Smell, taste, feel, and look at oils from many different samples and sources to gain experience.

4. Do not rely on price as an indicator of quality. Be aware that a higher price does not necessarily mean a higher quality. It is important to check all oils thoroughly regardless of the price. Note that a price that is very low comparatively may indicate that an oil is not as labeled, is diluted in a base oil, or is otherwise adulterated. Many expensive oils, such as rose and neroli, are sold diluted in a base oil such as sweet almond.

5. Gas chromatographs. Gas chromatography (GC), mass spectrometry (MS), and similar additive-revealing techniques can analyze oils. This can be particularly helpful when purchasing large quantities. However, chemical analysis does not always reveal the presence of adulterants and an experienced technician must carry out the analysis of the MS. In addition, a GC must be conducted for each batch, so the cost can be very prohibitive for small distillers. A GC is not always a guarantee of quality. One test does not replace another. It is best to use all available tests in combination.

6. Organoleptic testing is still the ultimate test. Build your experience. The very best way to gain experience and familiarity with pure essential oils is to sample as many pure oils and synthetic oils as possible and document the differences.

Re-Coloring Black Friday with Aromatherapy

BY Keoi Magill, ACHS Certificate in Aromatherapy Graduate

On Black Friday, we have less than a month until the presents will be unwrapped. With all the gifts to be purchased, parties to plan, cards to write and holiday cooking, we just don’t seem to have time to spend taking care of ourselves. You can dial down your holiday stress and achieve balance with aromatherapy. Here are a few simple and easy ways to sail through the holiday season.

Before you go out shopping put a few drops of lavender oil Lavendula angustifolia, on a cotton ball. Just breathe in the calming aroma whenever you need it. Another way is to add the lavender to 4 oz of distilled water and spray yourself with a fine mist. It will help reduce your stress and alleviate irritability.

Add a drop or two of peppermint oil Mentha piperita, to your favorite body lotion and rub it into your feet. It will help invigorate and refresh your tired feet and help with exhaustion.

Make a blend of bergamot Citrus bergamia, peppermint Mentha piperita, and cinnamon Cinnamomum zeylanicum, and diffuse on a lamp ring or ceramic diffuser throughout your home before a party. Not only will it help reduce your anxiety and nervousness, it smells festive and inviting.

When you are wrapping presents or writing out your holiday cards, diffuse or use a cotton ball with a few drops of rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis and neroli Citrus aurantium var. amara. These two oils are great together for mental clarity and to help ward off depression.

The holiday season doesn’t have to be black when you can open your crayon box of essential oils and in minutes color yourself balanced.

To learn more about aromatherapy and essential oils, download your free copy of "History of Aromatherapy" HERE.

*This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, prescribe, or cure. See you primary care physician before making any significant changes to your health and wellness routine.

Practical Aromatherapy: Using Aromatherapy to Help Attract Home Buyers

Experts say selling your home takes a little luck and a lot of preparation. With a gaggle of homes currently on the market, spending that extra time to make the best first impression may make all the difference. It certainly couldn’t hurt!

To prepare your home, realtors suggest taking several steps to present an organized, clutter-free and clean home, including cleaning out your drawers and cabinets, making minor repairs, and deep cleaning.

Part of deep cleaning is scent. For example, it’s important to clean out drains so they look nice, but also because hidden debris can encourage mold and an accompanying musty smell. A little tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil diluted in water can be an effective, chemical-free alternative to more traditional cleaning products. Plus, it smells better than synthetic cleaners and room sprays used to mask odors.

You may also want to diffuse some essential oil into the air before you show your home. This can help to freshen the air and to encourage a positive first impression. There are many essential oils to choose from, but you may want to select an oil that has general appeal, that is a familiar, and that is uplifting, such as bergamot (Citrus aurantium var. bergamia), geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), mandarin (Citrus reticulata), neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara), and ylang ylang (Cananga odorata).

Watch Aromatherapy Blending from ACHStv next!