When I started creating my own skincare products, I soon learnt about the healing powers of plants. A great way to apply the marvelous wonders of plant power into our everyday life is by using aromatherapy. The more my knowledge about using essential oils grew, the bigger my obsession became. At this moment, I use aromatherapy every day and I choose the essential oils depending on how I feel and what my needs are on that day. It has helped me to deal with and move through grief, pain, sickness, for better sleep, and also to bring me happiness. Many things that were already good, got even more enjoyable and beneficial by using aromatherapy during my meditation and my bathing sessions full of self-love. Let me tell you more about the wonderful world of aromatherapy and how aromatherapy can benefit your health, and share some of my favorite essential oil blends.
What is aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy, an ancient healing practice, harnesses the therapeutic properties of aromatic essential oils that are extracted through mechanical pressing or distillation from plants in order to enhance overall well-being. Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that retain the natural smell, flavor, and therapeutic benefits of their source. Its roots trace back thousands of years, traversing cultures from ancient Egypt, Greece, and China to contemporary holistic medicine practices worldwide to motivate health benefits. Aromatherapy and health; holistic, physical, and emotional
The use of aromatherapy fits the holistic health approach like a glove: in this case, the holistic, therapeutic application of essential oils obtained from plants is used to improve emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health, too. The mind is where aromatherapy has the greatest effects. Because of the direct connection between the limbic system and the olfactory system, which is the sensory system used for smelling (olfaction), essential oils can help lower stress, soothe the nervous system, boost energy, improve sleep, deepen meditation, and help to ground. Our bodies may finally relax when we establish a regimen that uses aromatherapy to assist balance and soothe our brains.
How does aromatherapy work?
Our emotions and memory are intimately connected to our sense of smell. When inhaled, the odorant molecules in essential oils travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the brain and especially impact the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain. This can lead to emotionally vivid memories. The thalamus processes information from touch, taste, hearing, and sight before sending it to the cerebral cortex for interpretation. Our smell, or ‘olfactory perception’, directly targets the hippocampal and amygdala. This may be one of the explanations for why fragrances elicit strong emotional recollections.
How to use essential oils?
You can use essential oils in three main ways. Each of them can be useful in supporting the body’s different needs. Each delivery system has its own advantages and disadvantages. When you’re looking to select an essential oil and deciding on how to apply it, you should always take the user's age and underlying medical conditions into account.
Inhalation: Using essential oils through the sense of smell. This is the aromatic use of essential oils. You can use it for example in a diffuser or aroma inhaler.
Topical: You can also apply essential oils on the skin to be absorbed by the body. Think of skincare products like cream or a face- and hair oil.
Ingestion or internal: This refers to using essential oils internally through the mouth and being absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract or internally through the use of suppositories (rectal or vaginal). (I wouldn’t recommend using essential oils undiluted in these ways without seeking the help of a certified aromatherapist.)
Aromatherapy benefits for stress relief
Essential oils are most helpful in the calming down of stress when you have a positive emotional reaction to an aroma. There are certain essential oils that are specifically suitable and known for emotional and stress support based upon their chemical constituents. However, any aroma that is considered pleasant to you can be helpful to you in initiating a relaxation response.
Essential oils like lavender, known for their anxiolytic properties, exhibit calming effects. A randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showed lavender's ability to significantly reduce stress levels in participants.
Additionally, citrus scents, particularly bergamot and orange essential oils, have demonstrated stress-relieving effects. A study in the International Journal of Aromatherapy concluded that inhaling these citrus aromas notably lowered anxiety levels and induced relaxation, making them valuable allies in managing stress.
Aromatherapy benefits for sleep
Research shows that lavender, cedarwood, and verbena improve sleep. Cedarwood promotes relaxation, while verbena shows calming effects. You can use these oils in diffusers or diluted for massages to enhance sleep quality.
Aromatherapy benefits for energy
Studies have shown that citrus scents like lemon and orange invigorate and enhance focus. The studies reveal the fragrances’ ability to uplift mood and increase alertness. You can easily incorporate these scents through diffusers or inhalation for an instant energy boost.
Aromatherapy for pain relief benefits
Essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, and clary sage can offer relief from headaches, muscle soreness and menstrual cramps. I like to put them in my diffuser to alleviate pain, but you can also make a balm and apply it topically.
Benefits aromatherapy in skin- and haircare
Of course, we can’t forget essential oils in skin- and haircare. I adore incorporating them in my formulations. They can be incredibly beneficial to the skin and hair, but I’m simultaneously very careful because a lot of essential oils contain allergens. Allergens in essential oils are specific compounds within the oils that can trigger allergic reactions in some individuals. These reactions can range from mild skin irritation to severe respiratory issues. That is why it is important for people with sensitive skin to do a patch test before they buy a product.
At the moment, I don’t have any products in the Comme Ça Skincare range that contain essential oils as I wanted my first products to be suitable for all skin types, including even the most sensitive skin. Next year, I will launch a new product that contains one of my favorite essential oils. It’s been 4 years of working on this product, and I’m thrilled for you to use it!
Apart from the Comme Ça products, I still make a lot of other products for myself and when I do, I love to include some of my favorite essential oils like blue tansy, lavender, magnolia, rose, and jasmine.
Safety and potential side effects aromatherapy
Safe essential oil usage involves proper dilution ratios to prevent skin irritation or adverse reactions like allergic reactions. Pregnant women should exercise caution, avoiding oils like clary sage or jasmine due to their potential effects on hormonal balance. I recommend consulting a qualified practitioner to ensure safe and beneficial usage of essential oils when pregnant but also in case of any doubt about your allergies and sensitivities.
My favorite aromatherapy blends
As you have seen, essential oils do not only smell nice, but they can be beneficial to our health in many ways if used in the proper manner. Over the years I have built up a large collection of essential oils and every few months I have a new favorite that I obsess about. Right now, my favorites are verbena and magnolia. Below, you can find a couple of my favorite blends that I use on a regular basis. I use different blends depending on my needs. I love to use these blends in a diffuser like this one from Rituals or before I go to bed or in bath salts for a nice relaxing bath. I hope this may inspire you to try out essential oils and enjoy it as much as I do.
Dealing with grief
4 drops bergamot
1 drops cedarwood
2 drops lavender
4 drops orange
1 drops frankincense
Feeling good
4 drops lavender
2 drops sandalwood
4 drops bergamot
1 drops frankincense
Menstrual cramps
4 drops lavender
2 drops clary sage
2 drops rose
1 drops verbena
As to both my professional and personal experiences, I deeply appreciate the power of plants and the extract of them in fragrances. I believe that aromatherapy can benefit on many levels and in several ways, to mostly anyone. If you are pregnant, have sensitive skin, allergies or respiratory issues, or any other reason to doubt; please always double check with a certified aromatherapy therapist before exploring the wonders and benefits of aromatherapy!