5 Popular Aromatherapy Scents

It seems that there is an appropriate aromatherapy scent for your every need. No matter if what you need is to alter your mood, achieve a sense of well-being or relieve minor health conditions, there is a corresponding scent to do the job well. The following are 5 of the most popular scents.

Chamomile

The flowers of the chamomile plant look like tiny daisies but smell like apples instead. Grown for many years now because of its various healing properties, chamomile is best known for its calming effects, thus helping one to achieve a very restful sleep. It is also effective for relieving the symptoms of PMS, menopause and hyperactivity among kids. The oil from chamomile flowers can help ease muscle aches and tensions, headaches and joint pains. Drinking tea made from the petals helps stimulate appetite and calm upset stomach. Unlike other essential oils, chamomile is mild enough to help ease your baby’s colic, thus helping him or her achieve sleep.

Eucalyptus

With about 300 varieties, eucalyptus has long been a vital ingredient in cough medications because its scent, which helps open up and clear nasal passages. Eucalyptus oil is also used to scent mouthwashes, aftershaves, colognes and other household cleansers. The effects of eucalyptus on the mind and body include: relief from mental fatigue, improves mental alertness, lessen muscle tension and help boost the immune system. It is also a widely-used disinfectant and insect repellant. However, if used in large amounts, eucalyptus essential oil can be toxic. Also, while it is great for relieving the symptoms of sinusitis and lung congestion, it is not intended for use during an asthma attack.

Lavender

Lavender has long been associated with cleanliness ever since the Romans first used it as an additive to their bathwater. Today, it is still a favorite for scenting perfumes, soaps, air fresheners, fabric softeners, disinfectants and many others. Lavender is one of the safest and most widely-used essential oils, known to have an uplifting and relaxing effect. If used in large amounts, lavender can be stimulating. It also helps improve digestion, reduce swelling, ease muscle tension and is proven effective for treating minor skin injuries such as burns, cuts, scrapes, and rashes.

Peppermint

Peppermint is popular because of its powerful, mint and distinctive fragrance. It is a common ingredient in all sort of products like ice cream, liqueurs, mouthwashes, toothpastes, desserts, cosmetics, household cleansers and many more. Peppermint essential oil is used in liniments to increase blood flow to a body part, thus relieving muscle spasms and arthritis. It is also known to uplift the mood, relieve mental fatigue, improve alertness and enhance memory. Known to be able to kill many bacteria and viruses, peppermint is used for treating ringworm, scabies, herpes simplex and poison oak.

Rosemary

With its herbaceous, woody and camphorous odor, it is not surprising that rosemary has a wide variety of uses, from the ancient times until today. It became a staple during weddings and funerals in the ancient times. It was used as an ingredient in cosmetics as early as the 14th century. Today it is a popular ingredient in liniments, massage oils and bath products. Rosemary is excellent in improving blood circulation, relieving sore throat and lung congestion, and helpful in improving digestion.

It also helps relieve mental fatigue, uplift the mood and enhance mental alertness and memory when used as an aromatherapy scent.

What is Aromatherapy

Ever heard of aromatherapy? Well, it is nothing new and a lot of people are using it. Basically, it is the practice of using essential oils to boost your psychological and physical well-being.

There are over 90 different types of essentials oils in aromatherapy. Evidence shows that this was first used by the Chinese centuries ago to enhance their well being while the Egyptians used it for cosmetic, fragrant, medicinal and spiritual purposes.

In the centuries that followed, aromatherapy spread from the Far East to Europe. There is clear evidence that shows that during the 14th century when million were afflicted with the Black Plague, herbal preparations helped some avoid the symptoms of this disease.

During the 20th century, separating such essential oils helped create synthetic chemicals and drugs which helped promote modern medicine.

So should we switch to aromatherapy? Not always because there are limits to what it can do for you. It is also not regulated that much compared to pharmaceutical products in the United States so you should be careful when you buy these from the store.

When used properly, you will experience the benefits of aromatherapy. Studies have shown that it stimulates the immune system, strengthens your resistance and helps you fight against certain diseases. It can ease abdominal spasm and constipation, helps you deal with cough, sinusitis or tonsillitis and even helps you relax when you are suffering from muscle aches and pain.

Another thing aromatherapy can do is improve blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. It also reduces stress, alleviate tension headaches and helps you deal with various mood swings.

Despite the different types of oils available, there are only two ways by which you can use it. The first is to inhale it by mixing the essential oil with some water and heating it using a candle or by applying it directly over your skin.

Aromatherapy has other purposes as well. Some of the essential oils are used as household and laundry cleaners. Citronella, serves as a good insect repellant. Believe it not, this can also be used to treat a cut or a minor burn.

The various oils in aromatherapy can be used individually or mixed together creating various concoctions. Sometimes, it takes a bit of trial and error to create the right formula.

One last thing you have to know about aromatherapy is that not all of the essential oils are suitable for use. Some of these should only be handled by a qualified aromatherapy practitioner and these oils include bitter almond, camphor, horseradish, pennyroyal, rue, sassafras and wintergreen.

If you decide to keep them in your home, these must be kept away from children to prevent these from ever being ingested. Since you are dealing with oils, these are flammable so be sure to keep it far away from fire hazards.

You too can experience the benefits of aromatherapy. Before you buy it, consult first an aromatherapy practitioner and only get it from reputable retailers. When you examine the product, don’t get those that have a rubber glass dropper top because this will ruin the content inside the bottle.

To learn more about aromatherapy, read up on it from books and other research material online because believe it or not, some of the essential oils have similar benefits.