Aromatherapy can be a little overwhelming to a beginner. Not only are there hundreds of unique plant oils and essences – there’s also some new vocabulary to learn before aromatherapist lingo will make sense. Below are the most common terms and definitions that come into use in aromatherapy and most other healing techniques that employ aromas, fragrances or essential oils.
For a guide on starting out with essential oils, see also Beginner’s Guide to Essential Oils.
The Vocabulary of Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy – the practice of using essential oils for their healing properties. The term may be applied to pure medicinal essential oils, adulterated essential oils used in the beauty and fragrance industries, certain massage modalities with scented oils, or even scented candles and other home décor which do not involve real essential oils but which capitalize on aromatherapy’s trendiness. The term “aromatherapy” may or may not be accurate for many healers who use essential oils, since it implies that the oils are used exclusively for their smell and by inhalation, which is not the case: see also Internal and Topical. The concept of aromatherapy as inhalation alone is based on the British model of aromatherapy.
Aromatology – the practice of using essential oils whether by inhalation, ingestion, and/or topical application (only safe to do with therapeutic-grade, organic essential oils). Based on the French model of aromatherapy.
Blend – a combination of essential oils in synergistic combination, often in a carrier oil base. Creating essential oil blends is an art and a science, taking into account the fragrances of each of the oils as well as how the chemical components will interact. Blends can be more effective than single oils for treatment of emotional and psychological issues.
Carrier – a fatty oil (such as almond, jojoba, avocado or olive oil) which is used to disperse and dilute an essential oil or oil blend before application.
Diffuser/diffusion – a method of dispersing essential oils into the air for inhalation, very effective for treatment of respiratory and emotional symptoms. The best diffusers mist oils into the air using pressure and cold air, not by heating or burning the oil. A cold air diffuser is a small machine which forces essential oils through a fragile-looking glass nebulizer, dispersing them into the room. Candle diffusers or those which use heat can destroy the effective medicinal properties in the oil and may make them toxic.
Dilution - water does not dilute or weaken essential oils: in fact, it makes them stronger! If you experience an adverse reaction to an essential oil, it must be diluted with a natural, non-synthetic fat like olive oil or butter (see carrier, above). Water will worsen most skin reactions and is not an effective way to remove essential oils from skin.
Distillation – the preferred method of creating an essential oil, involving mastication of the plants, steam at the lowest possible temperatures, slow processing and, ideally, no solvents.
Essential Oil – a liquid pressed or distilled from a plant, usually with a strong fragrance. If cleanly derived from organic, wild-crafted plants, an essential oil will possess healing properties. Essential oils are not oily or greasy, and will evaporate quickly if left open to air because of their volatile chemistry.
Essential Water – see hydrolat
Floral Water – see hydrolat
See Vocabulary of Aromatherapy H-Z for the remainder of the definitions!
