Variety of Aromatherapy Products

Everyone likes a pleasing aroma. But what pleases one person may not please another. Generally people as a whole have a very small variation on the things that they think smell good; probably due to our evolutionary senses. If you take a look at the history of civilization you’ll see that many of the products that we use to smell good have only risen in the past few centuries. Even when these items did become available they were usually exclusive to the wealthy. Those with noble blood were fortunate enough to have access to shampoos, soaps, etc. It wasn’t until quite recently that ‘average joes’ were able to possess such things.

In today’s world, a good scent is essential. Of course you’ve had a foul stench cross your nostrils; I’m sure that you immediately thought pretty negatively about the person that smelled. Well that’s how the world views bad odor. If you smell bad then people automatically label you a lesser being. It is for this reason that people in the world today are constantly searching for the perfect scent to balance elegance and aroma. Aromatherapy products provide this perfect balance with ease.
Aromatherapy is the art of utilizing various smells and aromas to positively affect the body. Smells have been known to set off various physical and emotional triggers. I’m sure that if you think hard enough you’ll be able to recall a time when a certain smell had a profound effect on you. That being said, it’s important to realize the effect that scent can have on our daily lives and how aromatherapy products stand to enhance our existence.

I’m sure that you’re familiar with some of the more common components found in aromatherapy products; mint, jasmine, and lavender just to name a few. These organic components have been known to relax and focus the people using them.

Legitimate aromatherapy products have essential oils in them. These oils are able to influence the body and mind; providing a rejuvenating refreshment incomparable to other experiences.

Typically, people tend to favor aromatherapy products that are present in the forms of candles or lotions. Through these mediums aromatherapy products are able to reach a broader audience.

And who are the natural consumers of these products? Women of course! Females are more in sync with the organic aromas that the natural world can provide. And we all know that women love to smell good and love things that smell good. Businesses have certainly capitalized on this fact. There are hundreds of companies leveraging the healing and therapeutic properties of aromatherapy products to their advantage. The primary reason that these companies are so successful is because the products that they sell actually work.

Aromatherapy Massage Oils

Aromatherapy massage oils come from a combination of different essential oils. The aromatherapy is only truly effective if the essential oils are pure. For this reason, it is important that you are not misguided by products that claim to be all-natural that are actually synthetic in nature. Legitimate aromatherapy products are organic and only have 100% essential oils in them.

Everyone enjoys a relaxing massage. Often times, it is just what we need to relieve stress or depression. When aromatherapy is brought to this already powerful technique, the results are unbelievable. The oils being used flow into the skin and start to work their wonderful magic. These oils can be used for a myriad of purposes and as the practice of aromatherapy continues, even more uses will be constructed.

Ultimately, the particular essential oils that you use will determine the outcome of the massage. While many seek professionals to get the job done, the practice can be performed in one’s own home with the right ingredients. The only thing that is essential for making your oil is a firm knowledge of aromatherapy recipes OR a computer with internet access to look up these recipes.

But, before you start your aromatherapy journey, there are a few things that would be best kept at the forefront of your mind:
You should absolutely never use these essential oils on your skin. These oils can sometimes be very potent and could have unforeseeable effects on one’s skin. They should always be diluted before use in massage therapy. While there are a couple of exceptions to the rule, it’s a good rule of thumb to never use the oils on the skin before dilution.

Now that we have that important message out of the way, you can immediately begin the process of creating your own aromatherapy massage oil and leveraging the power of aromatherapy into every area of your life. Also, you would do well to make sure that the essential oils that you’re using are 100% pure and not some synthetic materials purporting to be organic.

As for the purchasing part of the procedure, there are tons of different places where you could find the essential oils that you need. While some of these oils are pretty expensive, some are actually pretty cheap.

Now that we’ve taken care of the essential oil part of the equation, we can begin to worry about finding a carrier oil to use. As I mentioned earlier, the essential oils are very powerful so one only needs about 8 drops of essential oil for every ounce of carrier oil. Below are some common oils that can be used as carrier oil:

  • Apricot kernel oil
  • Sweet almond oil
  • Common vegetable oil

Surprisingly, even household vegetable oil can be used as carrier oil.
After you have taken care of getting your oils together, you’ll want to make sure that you have the proper storage material on hand. It is a good idea to purchase dark bottles with tight lids for the storage process. Oils lose their effectiveness when they are exposed to light so it is important that you store these oils in a cool and dark area.
Now, take an ounce of your carrier oil and put into the bottle that you will be using for storage. Afterwards, put eight drops of your essential oil into the bottle. A glass eyedropper would serve you well in this endeavor; most places sell them along with their aromatherapy products. Always make sure that the dropper is glass as a plastic dropper could have a chemical reaction with the oil. Rubber could also have a chemical reaction with the oil so be sure to refrain from using it as well.

After mixing your two oils together place the lid on and roll the glass bottle through your hands to mix the oil. Make sure that you use this technique before every use of the oil. Take care not to shake the bottle up, it’s best to just roll the bottle through your hands until the oils are well mixed.

Before using, if you wish, you may pour some of the oil into a bowl and then warm it in a microwave; it’s common to use warm oil for massages.
Before you actually use the oil, test it out on a very small area of your skin. Everyone reacts differently so there is no way of telling how the oil will react with your skin until you actually try it. Also, some people experience allergic reactions to these oils which is why it is always better to test it out first.

After testing, apply the oil as you wish. It can be used all over the body except for eyes, ears, mouth, and genitalia. Also be sure to stay away from cuts or broken skin.

Even if you don’t have a person to massage you, there is still use for your oil. There is always the option of treating yourself with aromatherapy massage oils. You don’t need to be an expert to give a good massage. Masters of the art have often studied and learned various techniques, but it is certainly not a necessity for everyone.

Aromatherapy in the Bath

By reading this, I’ll assume that you are very familiar with using aromatherapy for massage purposes. If this is the case, then now you will want to move on to using essential oils in your baths; you will find that it is quite the enjoyable experience. Some aromatherapy products frequently used in the bathtub are bath salts and oils.

These bath oils often work the same way that massage oils do. Basically, you run yourself a warm bath; warm enough to where you are comfortable, but no scathing hot. Remember that temperature is not the important thing. Place about a fourth of a cup of bath oil into the bath water. The oils then commence to sinking into your pores and working their magic on you.

As with other aromatherapy in the bath products, it is always a good idea to test the substance on a small area of your skin before using it in large quantities; one could never be too safe, especially seeing that some people have experienced allergic reactions to these materials. Lavender and vanilla are both known to be safe for the most part and are extremely relaxing when placed in the bath.

Perhaps you want to make your own bath oil? Not to worry, the process sounds more daunting than it actually is. Not only that, but the process is cheaper than one might think as well. Making the entire batch of oil can be costly, but one only uses a minute portion of the entire batch at a time, so it is sure to last for quite a while. You can even use vegetable oil as the carrier oil in the mixture. Be sure to find a glass eye dropper and darkly colored bottles as you’ll need them as well.

If you want to add a couple ounces of carrier oil to the mixture along with another 20 drops of essential oil then you can double the amount of time that your recipe lasts. As you’ll see, the ratio for making bath oil is similar to massage oil. A good rule of thumb is to use ten drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil.

Make sure to place the aromatherapy bath oil in a place that is dark and cool so as not to ruin the mixture. Bathroom cabinets are a good place to start. Also, be sure that young children cannot reach the mixtures where you place them.

Aromatherapy Beauty Products

Uncovering the world of aromatherapy can not only be interesting, but extremely useful as well. Once you have mastered certain techniques and recipes, the limits to what you can accomplish are truly boundless. You will find that you will be using aromatherapy in every little nook and cranny of your life; especially in the health and beauty areas.

Probably the single most important thing about essential oils is that they are 100 percent natural, meaning that no negative ingredients have had the chance to taint them yet. Not only does this make these oils safer to use in your life, but they are also completely safe for the environment as well.

You’ll find that aromatherapy beauty products seamlessly incorporate into your daily beauty routine. Try putting a couple of drops of sandalwood on your brush and notice how your hair begins to shine. Continue to brush your hair and you’ll be able to retain the wonderful scent already present in your hair, while adding the shine. Sandalwood, while extremely effective, is one of the more expensive essential oils available. If you want something cheaper, then there are plenty of alternatives that you could use as substitutes. While concocting perfumes may seem like something you may have dabbled in when you were a child, you will find that not only is the concept and process fun and exciting, but challenging as well.

Many of the consumer market’s top perfumes are mixed together with alcohol and water. Using alcohol in your perfume mixture is probably the best if you want it to last longer; you can use oil as well, but as I stated, alcohol is more effective. While trying to get your formulas down, you’ll want to try out as many different scents as possible. You’ll find that many perfumes fall into one of the categories listed below:

  • Woodsy
  • Floral
  • Oriental
  • Spicy
  • Citrus

It takes some practice to get down the perfect smell that you are trying to achieve, but it’s well worth it when you finally do. One of the strongest hurdles to jump is coming to the realization that most perfumes are actually a complex mixture of the categories listed above. For this reason, it’s sometimes hard to know how much to combine, etc. It basically breaks down to this: The various levels are denoted “notes,” and these notes fall into base note, mid note, and top note. The top note evaporates on the skin first and is also the first smell that you catch. The mid note lingers a bit more while the base note stays in place for hours on end. The base note combines with your skin’s scent to create a new and unique one that wasn’t present before. This is the reason that perfumes often differ in their scent when used on two different people. For this reason, it’s a good idea to let a perfume linger on you for a while and after thirty minutes check to see if you still like the scent before purchasing it.

Another great thing about making your own aromatherapy perfumes is that you can make it so that the ingredients grant you natural energy or help you to relief stress while simultaneously making you smell great. Since traditional perfumes are created with synthetic materials, it’s impossible for them to boast these results.

Storing your creations is also very important. It’s a good idea to use darkly colored glass and lids that fit snugly. Another great mind to keep in mind is that it’s important that you use specific dilution ratios with your formulas. It’s a good idea to use one tablespoon of carrier oil and about 30 drops of essential oil. Also be sure to perform a small test run on your skin to check for any allergic reactions and the like.

It might take a while to master the craft of aromatherapy beauty products, but once you get it down perfume making is an invaluable skill. Many of the industry’s top performers still practice to this day to continue perfecting the craft.