Benefits

Aromatherapy derives from the Greek word "aroma" for essences and "therapy" for cure – literally meaning the curative treatment by the use of essences. 

Essences extracted from plants have been valued throughout history for their therapeutic properties. Since the Egyptian civilization, plants and natural essences like frankincense have been used to balance psychological and physical energies.

These essences are derived from highly aromatic substances found in the seeds, bark, roots and flowers of certain plants from around the world. They are turned into essential oils via the process of distillation or extraction.

While aromatherapy has been around for thousands of years, it's not until the 11th century –when steam distillation first appeared– that we were able to properly remove essential oils from plant materials. In the distillation process, the plant is heated by steam so its volatile parts evaporate. Steam is then cooled down and the resulting essential oil floats on the surface of the water. In the extraction process, used for all the citrus fruits, the rind of the fruit is crushed to release the essence.

On the market today we can find single note essential oils or blends – for example a mix of lemon and peppermint essential oils can be used to fight travel sickness.