Rosemary essential oil is derived from the attractive, evergreen, shrubby herb found growing wild throughout Mediterranean countries where it is believed to have originated. Known botanically as Rosmarinus officinalis and belonging to the Lamiaceae family, the upright form of this herb can reach a height of 1.8 metres, although there are other forms of the plant such as R. officinalis var. prostratus, which is a creeping variety that is often grown in rock gardens or for ground cover. Read more…

German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is a flowering medicinal plant that has truly stood the test of time, with over 2,000 years of documented medical use by luminaries such as Asclepius, Galen, Hippocrates and Culpepper. It would be almost impossible to find a herbal book published during the past 500 years that does not include the virtues of this amazing healing herb. Read more…

Clove bud essential oil is derived from the small reddish-brown, unripe flower buds of the tropical evergreen tree known botanically as Syzygium aromaticum. Like all spices, clove has a long and rich history of use in both culinary and medicinal applications, having first been put to use by the ancient Chinese and then later imported into Alexandria for use throughout Egypt and Europe. Clove bud was also used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine over 2,000 years ago. Read more…

Pines are coniferous trees belonging to the genus Pinus, which comprises of about 120 different species that are divided into 3 sub-genera based on cone, leaf and seed characteristics. Over 140 varieties of Pinus sylvestris have previously been described and catalogued in botanical references, but after reclassification only 4 varieties of this species are currently acknowledged as being genetically distinct. The species normally used in aromatherapy is Pinus sylvestris var. sylvestris, which is also known as Scots pine. Read more…

Largely ignored for 9 months out of the year here in the United Kingdom, citronella essential oil is currently enjoying its 3 months reign as king of the insect repellent oils. This seems such a shame, because although it is very effective in this role it could hardly be considered mainstream aromatherapy, and yet the oil is capable of delivering so much more therapeutically. Let’s look at the background of this essential oil and see what else it has to offer in aromatherapy. Read more…

Sweet orange oil is the most commercially important of the citrus oils and is produced in very large quantities. The majority of oil production is destined for the flavour industry where it is used in juices, soft drinks, candies and pharmaceutical products.

In the early 1900’s the perfumery industry used vast quantities of this oil in fragrance formulations for soaps, detergents, toiletries and perfumes, but over the years sweet orange met the same fate as most of the other citrus oils and was replaced by synthetics.
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Cedar atlas (Cedrus atlantica) is an unassuming essential oil that lays claim to a rather notable history. It is believed to be one of the very first essential oils ever to have been distilled, and ancient records show both the oil and wood were used for a wide range of purposes including incense, medicine and cosmetics. However, it is important to make sure that you are using the correct species of cedar which using the essential oil in aromatherapy since Virginian cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana) has quite different therapeutic properties. Read more…

Bergamot essential oil is extracted from the fruit of a small tree, known botanically as Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia. Exactly where this tree originated has never been established, despite various theories regarding its true origin and cultivation. The most plausible theory regarding its source claims that Christopher Columbus brought the bergamot tree back on a voyage from the Canary Islands to Barcelona, Spain.
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Grapefruit essential oil is one of the most popular citrus oils used in aromatherapy, with a fresh and tangy fragrance that never fails to bring a welcome boost to the senses. Like all citrus fruits, the grapefruit belongs to the Rutaceae family, which is a large family of shrubs, trees and occasionally herbs.
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