New to the Quinessence Aromatherapy Collection for 2012 is infused Arnica Oil, which is renowned for its unique anti-inflammatory, soothing and healing properties. Arnica’s reputation for reducing pain and swelling is both legendary and well deserved, and this is why we included it in the formula for Aroma-botanicals Therapy Base Cream almost 10 years ago!
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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…

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…

Lemongrass essential oil (Cymbopogon citratus) is derived from a versatile plant that has been used for countless centuries throughout Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and India in folk medicine and cuisine. The fragrant leaves are still used to treat a wide range of illnesses, sometimes using methods which are specific only to a certain area.
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Eucalyptus globulus was first discovered in Tasmania in 1792 by the botanist Labillardiere, and since that time 4 sub-species and several variations of the species have been identified and described. However, the close physical similarities and wide variability in leaf biochemistry of the Eucalyptus genus has presented many difficulties to botanists over the years, and to say that the taxonomy of Eucalyptus is confused and incomplete would be a major understatement.
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There are several fir essential oils extracted from the needles and twigs of trees belonging to the Pinaceae family, and most notably these fall within the Abies, Picea and Pinus genera. Strictly speaking, only those of the Abies genus should be considered true ‘fir’ oils. As always, it is the use of common names that have introduced confusion within this taxonomic group.
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The Thymus genus belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is highly complex, consisting of over 100 different species known by more than 300 common names. The species of thyme used for the production of various ‘thyme’ essential oil is Thymus vulgaris, and is believed to be an improved, cultivated form of the wild thyme which originated in the mountainous regions of Spain and Europe.
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As the botanical name of this particular ‘cedarwood’ implies, Juniperus virginiana is not really a true cedar but rather it belongs to the genus Juniper, of the Cupressaceae family. There are several cedarwood essential oils extracted from trees of the Cupressaceae family, but very few are used in aromatherapy.
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