Essential oils. Used by ancient civilizations. Whether for purposes of rituals or more therapeutic reasons, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, and others have relied on essential oils for the properties they believed these oils to possess. Much later, in 1937, a chemist by the name of René-Maurice Gattefossé wrote Aromathérapie: Les Huiles Essentielles, Hormones Végétales. He wrote about the use of essential oils and aromas from various other substances to alleviate physical and psychological ailments. This was the first time that a name was given to the use of scents from these essential oils, thus aromatherapy was born.
Aromatherapy is not a science. There has yet to be any scientific proof to confirm our beliefs of what aromatherapy can do for us. And yet, as reported by Global Market Insights, the essential oil industry is anticipated to grow over 8% in the next 6 years. Even without scientific proof, there has to be something that keeps us buying and using these essential oils. Aromatherapy wouldn’t exist for as long as it has without people receiving some form of benefit from its use. Do you ever find yourself using a specific perfume because you find it makes you happy? Do you ever spray your bed with a light mist to add a scent to your bed? If you answered yes to either of these questions, whether you realize it or not, you may be practicing forms of aromatherapy.
