Vocabulary of Aromatherapy H-Z
Aromatherapists’ terminology, jargon and expressions
Like any therapy, Aromatherapy has its own language to discuss Essential oils, Aromas, Fragrances, Perfumes, Reflexology, Solvents, Therapeutic-grade oils and more.
Continued from The Vocabulary of Aromatherapy which had definitions from “Aromatherapy” to “Floral Water.”
The Vocabulary of Aromatherapy: H-Z
Hydrolat – French term for “an aromatic, medicated water” (Price, Aromatherapy for Health Professionals, 1995) created as a by-product of distilling an essential oil. It contains the water-soluble components which separate from the lipid-soluble essential oil. Also known as a floral water or essential water, a hydrolat is much more mild than an essential oil and is safe to use in almost all situations.
Hydrosol – a solution made using essential oils dispersed in water; often used as a spray or to mist oils for inhalation. Sometimes called a “prepared aromatic water.” (Price, 1995)
Infused Oil – a carrier or base (fatty) oil with aromatic essential oils dispersed in it.
Inhalation – one of the primary methods of application of essential oils. Essential oils are effective by the sense of smell alone because aromas trigger the areas in the brain that handle emotions, memory, and repressed memory or trauma. Inhalation is also the only method of use for the impure essential oils used in conventional “aromatherapy.” If someone tells you that the only safe way to use essential oils is for their aroma, you can be fairly sure that they were trained with poor quality oils.
Internal – the most controversial approach, essential oils may be applied directly on the tongue, ingested in capsules or with food. Only safe under the supervision of a trained aromatologist employing pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils.
Neat – use of an essential oil without dilution in a carrier oil or other fatty base.
Perfume – until the last century, all perfumes were made from pure essential oils combined in unique and alluring ways. Today, however, most perfumes are made using synthetic ingredients and oils that have been denatured to achieve higher yields or particular aromatic flavors, robbing them of their therapeutic properties. These altered oils and synthetic chemicals often contribute to skin and respiratory reactions. Most of today’s essential oils are perfume-grade, good only for their aroma.
Pure – Most essential oil bottles claim to be “100% pure,” but regulations enforce that only a minimun of 1% of the contents of a bottle must contain “100% pure organic essential oil” for the bottle to be labeled as such. What about the other 99%? It’s often carrier oils or synthesized ingredients.
Reflexology points – points on the soles of the feet that correspond to every part of the body, making the feet an ideal place to apply essential oils.
Solvents – the toxic chemicals used in the distillation and pressing of most commercial essential oils, which make them unsafe to use internally or on bare skin. See also Perfume.
Therapeutic-grade – oils which are pure, organically grown, pressed without solvents and bottled without additives or chemicals. These oils should be safe for ingestion and topical application on the body. However, the term “therapeutic grade” is not regulated, so some labeling may contain false claims. (This is when it comes in handy to have an aromatherapist who has a good source for certified therapeutic-grade oils.)
Topical – application of essential oils on the body or the skin directly, whether neat or in dilution. Only the best oils are safe to use this way; others may contain chemical additives that cause skin outbreaks or other reactions.
Related articles: Vocabulary of Aromatherapy A-F
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