Widespread use of essential oils throughout Europe coincided with the invention of glass distillation methods in the 16th century, the discovery of new trade routes and the invention of the microscope, which facilitated the study of bio-active compounds. These developments ushered in extraction of essential oil from plants such as French rosemary, Italian chamomile and lavender from England. Queen Elizabeth I used an abundant supply of English lavender oil throughout her life, a practice continued by Queen Victoria during her entire 64-year reign. The tradition was upheld in the latter 20th century by Diana, Princess of of Wales, who often was photographed enroute between Kensington Palace and her aromatherapist’s office. Her living quarters were kept naturally fragrant with essential oils throughout the year.

Ancient Egyptians used incense, waters and ointments and resins for various religious ceremonies. Queen Cleopatra kept massive gardens of hundreds of flowers and used their essences to perfume her body and surroundings. Terra cotta urns filled with aromatic oils accompanied Pharaohs to the afterlife. Roman soldiers treated wounds with honey and myrrh and emperors and scholars relaxed in legendary perfumed baths. The Old and New Testaments of the Bible contain detailed recipes using aromatic compounds.

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years in the art and science of aromatherapy. Legendary Chinese ruler Shen Nung is credited with discovering the medicinal properties of plants and writing the first herbal text, ‘Pen Tsao’ (c. 2700-3000 BC), a catalog of more than 200 botanicals. Today’s archeologists continually find evidence of therapeutic uses for essential oils in the civilizations of ancient China, India and the Middle East. Ayurveda, traditional Hindu medicine practiced throughout the world, utilizes herbal treatment with origins in the 2nd millennium B.C.

Aromatherapy is the practice of using scented plant oils known as ‘essential oils’ to enhance health and restore a feeling of wellbeing. These fragrant oils are blessed with many therapeutic-properties which help to prevent health problems and provide gentle relief for all kinds of symptoms.

The medicinal use of aromatic substances goes back to the ancient Chinese, Indian, Hebrew and Arab civilizations. Aromatherapy flourished with the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. By the turn of the 18th century, essential oils were widely used in medicinal preparations.

The term aroma therapy was first used by the French scientist Rene Gattefosse in the 1920s. During a laboratory experiment he burned his hand badly; by chance, a bowl of Lavender oil was nearby. He plunged his burnt hand into this and, to his surprise, the pain subsided and his skin healed rapidly without scarring.