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Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

Here are a list of popular essential oils and an overview of some of their aromatherapy and skin care properties.

Benzoin - with its sweet, warm aroma, this resinous oil has a great calming and uplifting effect on the mind and is said to help to comfort the sad and lonely. On a physical level it boosts circulation, helps to ease respiratory disorders, increases the skin's elasticity and soothes irritated skin.

Cedarwood - this oil has a deep, woody aroma and is antiseptic and astringent. It also calms the nerves and helps boost the circulation.

Cinnamon - a warm, spicy oil that fights exhaustion and feelings of depression and weakness. It also has powerful anti-rheumatic properties, fighting colds and flu as well.

Citronella - this sharp, strong smelling oil is renowned for its insect repelling qualities, but it also has great benefit in clearing the mind and softening skin, while also combating oily skin and sweaty feet.

Clary Sage - a soothing oil with a wonderful heavy, heady aroma -helps to de-stress the mind and is said to be an antidepressant, while on a more physical level it is antiseptic, antibacterial, astringent, deodorant and an aphrodisiac. A great relaxant for tired and aching muscles and tired and aching minds... in large quantities it is soporific.

Clove - this oil stimulates the mind and lifts depression while aiding digestion and easing respiratory problems. Also an analgesic traditionally used for toothache.

Frangipani (absolute) – with an absolute you need much less than with an essential oil as it is even more concentrated. Frangipani is a tropical flower, known sometimes as West Indian Jasmine and referred to as the ‘tree of life’ in India because if a branch is cut from the tree, it will continue to flower and when put into the ground it will grow into a new tree. In Mexico the frangipani flower was known as the ‘crow flower’ and used often in healing salves and ointments. With a heavy, sweet tropical aroma with deeper spicy background notes, the scent can be reminiscent of honey or almonds. The sweet, fruity scent carries you away to a tropical paradise….

Frankincense - this oil has been prized for centuries and at one time was as valuable as gold. It is a wonderful rejuvenating oil and promotes the formation of new skin cells (hence it's use in many beauty creams these days). It has a heavy, woody aroma and is often used to aid meditation, allowing the mind to drift away...

Ginger - this warming essential oil is often used for digestive problems, as well as nausea - be that morning sickness or travel upset. It is also of value when treating colds and flu and especially for catarrhal lung conditions and rheumatic pain, and can help with bruising on the skin.

Lavender - renowned for its soothing and relaxing qualities, the aroma of lavender soothes the mind and calms the soul; good for headaches and before sleep. Lavender is also very healing - in the 1920s, the founder of modern aromatherapy, French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé, discovered the healing power of lavender by accident when he burned himself whilst carrying out an experiment and plunged his hand into the first available fluid, which happened to be a vat of lavender oil; he was amazed at how quickly his hand healed.

Lemongrass - a sweet, lemony, fresh smelling oil that revitalises a tired body and mind, as well as keeping cellulite at bay.

Lime - a strong, invigorating citrus oil which can help lift depression and lighten your mood when feeling blue or out of sorts. Physically, it is used to fight cellulite and to tone the skin in general.

May Chang - this sweet citrus, fruity fragrance brings with it stimulating, tonic and antidepressant properties.

Mandarin – this oil is a great aid for insomnia, stress and nervous tension. When inhaled it has an uplifting effect and on the skin it boosts circulation and discourages water retention. Also good to help reduce marks on the skin such as acne, scars and stretch marks and to discourage spots.

Neroli - a traditional Eastern aphrodisiac...as with lavender, this essential oil not only has great therapeutic properties, but also has the most incredible smell. It has a greatly relaxing effect on the body and mind and has a wonderful rejuvenating and regenerative effect on the skin, helping to prevent scarring and stretch marks.

Nutmeg - this highly aromatic oil is warming, stimulating and rejuvinating. It is also good for calming the nerves.

Patchouli - this oil has a deep, earthy scent whichi is calming and grounding and seems to banish lethargy and sharpen the wits. Its most outstanding feature is its binding action due to strong astringent properties which could be helpful for loose skin especially after dieting, and it also helps to regenerate tissue, cools inflamation and heals rough, cracked skin.

Peppermint - a refreshing and stimulating oil that is also an expectorant so helps clear out your lungs when they are a little bunged up. Also helps to releive muscle and joint pain and headaches.

Petitgrain - one of the three oils obtained from the orange tree (the others are neroli from the flowers and sweet orange from the rind of the fruit, while petitgrain is extracted from the leaves of the tree), this crisp and clear essential oil boosts the conscious, intellectual side of your mind, while calming stress and anxiety. It also helps to clear greasy skin and fight blemishes.

Sandalwood - a slightly spice, woody, rich oil which is known to have healing properties for dry and chapped skin - the scent is calming and uplifting.

Sweet orange - this zingy, revitalising essential oil brings cheer and happiness to the mind. To the body it brings happiness also, in the form of helping dry, irritated and problem-prone skin to cope with the trials of every-day life.

Tea tree - a powerful natural antiseptic which is one of the only essential oils that can be applied directly to the skin. Also antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory.

Thyme - this oil helps has a strong, pungent aroma which aids concentration and focus, as well as being an excellent bronchial and lung stimulant, making it valuable in bronchitis, coughs, colds, asthma and the like, while the warming qualities are great for rheumatism, sciatica, arthritis and gout.

Vanilla - this oil is reputed to have aphrodisiac qualities as far back as the ancient times of the Aztecs. A warm, soothing, homely aroma which calms the emotions and eases tension. Apparently smelling chocolate, sweets or cookies lessens the desire to eat them so vanilla may also help us diet...

Ylang ylang - this extremely fragrant essential oil has a calming effect on the mind and body and has aphrodisiac qualities, so is often used in 'sensuous' massage oils. It also has a wonderfully balancing and stimulating effect on the skin.