While I work my way through this article I want to explain what Essential Oils are and what some of the main benefits are associated with them. This article is meant to be an overview.
Aromatherapy, or the use of scented oils to enhance the senses, was first introduced in the US by Theodore Fuller. He learned from his years spent in India with native people who massaged themselves while bathing. There they used natural herbs and aromatic plants and oils to create a fragrance that helped their bodies relax and enjoy the warmth of the water.
We all know that there is a lot of history and science involved in the soap making and soaps we have now, but the fact is that many natural soaps and oils come from plant sources. If you look at the ingredients of natural soaps for example you will see that they are made up of plant sources such as Shea Butter, Babassu, and Tea Tree Oil. Many of these scents are floral or other aromatics as well. The same goes for many essential oils.
So how do they offer health benefits? Well the first benefit comes from the actual scent. Aromatherapy is thought to help promote and maintain a healthy immune system.
Herbal scents have also been studied for medicinal properties. They may help improve circulation, promote healing and help the body function better. And because essential oils come from plant sources and not animal products, they have a lower risk of going rancid and becoming a pest.
Mind you, many oils do not seem to have any medicinal properties, they are simply attractive scents. There are several essential oils that are also known for being sedative and mood enhancers. For example, Tea Tree Oil has this property, but many others do as well.
Tea Tree Oil is one of the most popular ones. Other popular ones include lavender, lemon, lemongrass, jojoba, geranium, patchouli, peppermint, Rosemary, henna, clary, rose, basil, and cedarwood. Each one of these has different uses and healing properties. Each of these oils has the potential to help our health, improve our skin, protect our bodies from disease, help us feel better, and have a calming affect.
In essence they are a healing and refreshing way to use oils, aromatherapy, and the holistic aspect of both. It's nice to know that if you can take the essential oils out of soap making, you can do something beneficial with the aromatherapy oils as well.