What is Aromatherapy?

The easiest way to explain how essential oils and other aroma-therapeutic products work within the body is this;
Essential oils can enter the body through 2 routes – the nose (inhalation) and the skin (topical application, massage, baths).
It takes approx. 20 minutes for essential oils to enter through the skin and start to work.

When inhaled (inhalation)

Essential oil particles are quickly picked up by the tiny hairs in our nostrils (cilia) and are absorbed into the mucous lining from where the aroma reaches the ‘smell center’ in the brain (olfactory bulb). The olfactory center converts the aroma into a neural code which is relayed across to the ‘emotion center’ (limbic system) and further to the ‘short-term memory center’ (hippocampus) and the ‘long term memory center’ (hypothalamus).

• The information is then passed on to the ‘master gland’ (pituitary gland) and other endocrine glands to secrete ‘feel good’ hormones and to restore hormonal balance.

To put it straight, here is how it goes:

Nose —-> Smell center —-> Emotional center —-> Short term memory —-> Long term memory —-> Master gland —-> Endocrine system

In this simple way, the brain establishes a strong connection between certain smells, emotions and memories and responds to it in a predictable way. For instance, if your partner professes his love for you with a bunch of red roses, your brain will associate the smell with a romantic emotion and fragrance will make you feel nostalgic and romantic for a long time to come.