Aromatherapy Tips for Beginners
Don’t buy perfumed or fragranced oils thinking they are the same as essential oils as perfumed oils do not offer the therapeutic benefits of essential oils.
It is not wise to purchase oils from stalls at street fairs, craft shows, or other limited-time events if you wish to purchase quality products.
Read as much as you can on Aromatherapy, which is what you are doing right now! It is very easy to get started with Aromatherapy, but there are safety issues that you need to be aware of.
Be selective of where you purchase your essential oils.
Learn to compare apples to apples when shopping for oils. Anise, Lavender, Bay, Cedarwood, and Eucalyptus are examples of the common names of plants used to create essential oils. There, however, are different varieties of each of these plants. To differentiate these varieties, the botanical name (also referred to as the Latin name) is used to tell them apart. For instance, two different oils are referred to as “Bay essential oil,” yet they come from two different plants. The properties and aroma of each oil do differ, as does the general cost between the two. It, therefore, is important to pay attention to the botanical name. In the case of Bay, the common botanical names for the two oils used in this example are Pimenta racemosa and Laurus nobilis.
It is also helpful to note the country of origin for the oil. The best suppliers always lists the origins, botanical name and country of origin for all oils we supply.
The quality of the oil is vital in Aromatherapy. Many oils sold by health food shops, retail stores and the like may be of questionable quality and thus useless in Aromatherapy. Always make sure the oil you buy is of premium quality and pure.
Always store your oils in dark glass (amber or cobalt blue) and in a cool, dark place. We store our oils in a small wooden cabinet that looks great and hold 40-50 oils. Any wooden box can be used and are especially good when transporting your oils.
Always make sure you understand the safety precautions for each of the oils you choose to use as some oils may have some effects if used undiluted, on pregnant women or on those with sensitivity of allergic reactions to some oils. Some oils are photosensitive and should not be used before going out into the sun. Suppliers provide some safety precautions but please research more if you have any concern about the essential oils you use especially if you have any medical condition or are pregnant.
The Next Article: Diffusion Aromatherapy and Essential Oils
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