the essence of nature

Aromatherapy

what is aromatherapy

The use of aromatherapy and how it affects your senses.

Since the beginning of time, plants have played a vital role in the physical, emotional and spiritual well being of human kind. Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils to promote relaxation and inner and outer well-being. 

Essential oils are the concentrated extract of plants – the actual essence of the plant. They can be distilled from many different parts such as flowers, bark, roots, stalk and leaves. Essential oils are usually mixed with a base oil and applied to the skin, or they can be inhaled. You can also put them into a diffuser that disperses the oils into the air as aromatic mist.

Scents and emotion

But how do essential oils affect emotions? 

The nerve in the brain that controls your sense of smell is called the olfactory nerve and the in point of this nerve is in your nose. The part of your brain that connects to it is the temporal lobe which contains the hippocampus and the amygdala. The hippocampus plays a role in memory of past experiences. It connects all the different memory details and knows where in the brain they are stored. The amygdala is the center for emotions, emotional behavior, and motivation.

Essential oils contain volotile organic compounds - volotile means that the oil can evaporate and become a gas. A gas can be absorbed directly by the nerve and have a straight shot to the brain, bypassing the blood stream.

So by inhaling these molecules you send them directly to the emotional part of your brain. Certain essential oils are known to be more energizing and uplifting and others more calming and relaxing. 

for the modern human

How can you use aromatherapy in your daily life?

Aside from using a diffuser or an oil burner, you can put a few drops under your pillow if you are trying to go to sleep. Another application is to put a few drops in your bath water, or in your sauna water bucket. If you want to use it for massage or put it on your skin, you should always dilute the oils with a carrier oil such as jojoba, almond oil, coconut or avocado oil.

Lonndeus essential oils are 100 % pure and natural, certified organic, vegan and cruelty-free. All of our oils are batch tested and analysed to ensure the highest quality.