In the past all perfumes, toiletries and soaps were made using essential oils. Today natural oils have largely been replaced by chemicals for commercial purposes. Aromatherapy and the employment of essential oils for personal and home use, reflects the growing need to 'return to nature'.

In aromatherapy, essential oils are used for their scent and for their healing properties. Since the oils are absorbed readily through the skin and into the blood stream, the use of massage is an important aspect of the treatment. This is beneficial for a wide range of physical conditions such as arthritis, high blood pressure, skin disorders and muscular pain if they are blended skillfully. The fragrance of each oil also plays a vital role in it's overall healing quality, which acts upon the individual in a unique and subtle manner.

Nowadays our sense of smell is often undervalued or unappreciated, but this does not mean that it has no effect. The use of fragrance has been found to have particular value in the treatment of emotional or nervous disorders, especially when combined with massage. Our sense of smell is intimately connected with mood and memory, and modern research has shown that the scent of certain essential oils can help combat conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, depression and mental fatigue which are so often the result of today's stressful lifestyle. Essential oils are therefore effective for both physical and emotional complaints - the two being intimately connected.

Essential oils can be used at home in a wide range of different ways. The following list gives some indication of their numerous applications and the type of conditions for which they are particularly effective when used on a personal basis:

To help relieve stress related complaints such as headaches, nervous tension and insomnia.
To treat minor first-aid cases such as cuts, burns and insect bites.
As skin care agents for the treatment of various conditions including eczema, acne, stretch marks and warts.
As everyday cosmetics - to cleanse, revitalise, nourish and normalise the skin, and help prevent ageing.
To help prevent and relieve common complaints such as colds, coughs and period pains.
For sports injuries and general aches and pains like muscular tension, back ache and rheumatism.
As a preventative measure to help maintain health and vitality and ward off infections or illness.
To create a fragrant environment by using the oils to scent the office, home, linen, potpourris, notepaper, etc...
As personal perfumes - many oils can be used neat as a natural perfume or blended to create an individual fragrance.