When we peel an orange, walk through a rose garden or rub a sprig of mint between our fingers, we are all aware of the special scent of that plant. It is the essential oils which give spices and herbs their specific scent and flavor, flowers and fruits their perfume. Aromatic plants and oils have been used for thousands of years, as incense, perfumes and cosmetics and for their medical and culinary applications. Since the 14th century, aromatherapy has been an art of healing through the usage of volatile liquid plant materials, called essential oils. The scent released will affect a person’s mood or health through olfactory cortex, where emotions, memory and learning are determined. Aromatherapy is a generic term used to describe any of the various traditional methods making use of essential oils either in combination with other alternative medical practices or for spiritual beliefs. The term “aromatherapy” was first coined in 1928 by Gattefosse, a French chemist working in his family’s perfumery business. He became largely fascinated with the therapeutic possibilities of oils after discovering by accident that lavender was able to rapidly heal a severe burn on his hand and help prevent scarring. In some respects, the word “aromatherapy” can be misleading because it suggests that it is a form of healing which works exclusively through our sense of smell. However, it is not the case. Apart from its scent, each essential oil has an individual combination of constituents which interacts with the body’s chemistry in a direct manner, which then in turn affects certain organs or systems as a whole. Essential oils are easily absorbed by our skin and transported throughout the body.

Skin problems are often the surface manifestation of a deeper condition, such as a build-up of toxins in the blood, hormonal imbalance or nervous and emotional difficulties. Essential oils are easily absorbed via skin and mucosa into the blood-stream, affecting the nature of the circulation as a whole.

Essential oils occur widely in the plant kingdom, not only in the flowers, leaves and fruit but also in the roots, stems and in other parts of the plants. Examples of the distribution of essential oils in plants are:

• Flowers: Jasmine, Orange Blossom Rose, Ylang Ylang
• Leaves: Lemongrass, Eucalyptus
• Bark: Cinnamon
• Wood: Cedarwood, Sandalwood
• Roots: Ginger, Vetiver
• Entire Plants: Geranium, Lavender, Rosemary
• Fruit Peels: Orange, Bergamot, Lemon

Many factors can affect the quality of the essential oil:

• Ecological variables such as soil type, climate and the use of fertilizers and other chemicals
• Harvesting time
• Bark: Cinnamon
• Genetics and chemotypes
• Type and age of the plant

Rose, the flower which has been associated with beauty, love and spiritual depth in folklore and religious texts but which also has a long tradition of usage for physical conditions such as skin problems, regulating the female cycle, promoting circulation, purifying the blood and as a heart tonic. When we smell the fragrance of the rose, it carries all these rich associations with it, affecting our mind and body simultaneously, where the effect is moulded by personal experience. Our rose otto (rosa damascene) essential oil is distilled from the world renowned Bulgarian Rose. Rose is one of the most precious and well sought after flower for its benefits to our skin. The yield return from these Bulgarian roses is only 0.025%; it is no wonder that rose otto essential oil is priced higher than gold! Our rose otto essential oil is certified organic, harvested only once a year, and handpicked by farmers before 9am in the morning, around the month of May to June. These precious flowers are then sent for distillation and extracted immediately in order to preserve its best form. Rose Otto has excellent softening and hydrating properties, accompanied by its stimulating and antiseptic properties makes it ideal for all skin type especially dry, matured skin. It has a tonic and astringent effect on the capillaries; therefore it can help to solve broken capillaries, redness and inflammation. It is also a gentle but potent antidepressant, giving you a feeling of well being, even happiness…

Also known as Everlasting Flower, our Immortelle (helichrysum angustifolium) essential oil comes from Corsica; a strongly aromatic herb that is native to the Mediterranean region. Its fresh brightly coloured, daisy-like flowers are distilled by steam, giving a yield return of about 0.1%. It has excellent anti-inflammatory ability, hence it is recommended for inflamed tissues which need to be calmed down and regenerated. Immortelle also has the ability to purify the blood through the draining of our lymph glands. Suitable for eczema and easily irritated skin.

Our special concoction of Skin Balancing Blend contains Certified Organic Jojoba (simmondsia chinensis) Oil, Tea Tree (malaleuca alternifolia) essential oil, Lavandin (lavandula angustifolia x latifolia) essential oil and Juniperberry (juniperus communis) essential oil. This treatment aims to treat acne and congested skin, through the powerful anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic but non-drying actions by the various essential oils.