Essential oils and the practice of aromatherapy have been growing in popularity over recent years, with many people beginning to embrace holistic health and wellness. But where do essential oils actually come from, how do they work, and which ones should you be using?
Whether you’re an aromatherapy pro or just starting out, keep reading for 5 facts you might not know about essential oils.
Essential oil fact #1: Essential oils have been around for thousands of years
While essential oils have only recently seen a huge surge in popularity, they’ve actually been around for thousands of years. Research suggests that essential oils were being used from as early as 3500 BC!
Many ancient civilisations including the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans are thought to have used essential oils for both aromatic and medicinal purposes. It’s even been said that Hippocrates - one of the most well known Greek physicians - used essential oils to treat his patients.
It wasn’t until the 1950s that essential oils started to be used in massage therapy. Decades later, we now seem them playing a bigger role in holistic health and wellness.
Essential oil fact #2: Essential oils can work quickly
When used for therapeutic purposes, essential oils can actually work incredibly fast. Essential oil molecules permeate through our skin easily, meaning they can begin to take effect as quickly as 20 minutes.
Essential oil fact #3: Essential oils are best preserved in dark bottles
You’ll never find essential oils in clear glass bottles, and that’s for a reason. Essential oils are best preserved in dark bottles - often amber, blue or ultraviolet. Sunlight can also have an effect on the quality of your essential oils, so it’s best to store them somewhere cool and dark. Storage boxes are ideal for keeping your essential oils safely organised.
Essential oil fact #4: It takes a lot of plants to create essential oils
You’re probably aware that essential oils are created from plant extracts, but you might not know exactly how many plants it takes to create your oils! For example, it takes approximately 1000 kilograms of lavender flowers to create just 36 kilograms of lavender essential oil. This is why good quality essential oils will never be dirt cheap. The good news is, essential oils are extremely potent, and a little goes a long way.
Essential oil fact #5: Not all essential oils are created equal
It’s important to check you’re only paying for high-quality, undiluted oils. Be sure to always check the label to ensure your essential oils are 100% pure. This means they are genuine oils, and not just synthetic fragrances. You can browse our full range of pure essential oils online, with AfterPay and ZipPay available on all purchases.
