Aromatherapy is a big part of spa and wellness. Used as a main or complementary treatment, aromatherapy can have a big impact on the customer experience.
A holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts in the form of essential oils to promote health and well-being, aromatherapy is sometimes called “essential oil therapy.” It’s an expanding market, expected to see significant growth in the next few years. And in the last few, the practice has gained some credibility from scientific research and the medical community.
For example, results of a recent study found a significant improvement in perceived stress, objective stress, blood pressure, heart rate, and sleep quality among ICU patients who received aromatherapy compared to those who received standard care alone.
Some of the favorite essential oils for soothing and tending the body through aromatherapy
Balsam Fir – The balsamic and woody aroma of this oil works as an antidepressant, delivering uplifting qualities and working as a decongestant to stimulate circulation.
Blue Eucalyptus – This oil features a cool and clarifying aroma. Prized for its antiseptic qualities, it can help ease colds, congestion, and muscle stiffness.
Peppermint – This oil’s sweet aroma has detoxifying properties, providing lymphatic stimulation and acting as an antidepressant to refresh fatigued minds.
Pink Grapefruit – This oil’s sweet aroma has detoxifying properties, providing lymphatic stimulation and acting as an antidepressant to refresh fatigued minds.
Best essential oils for anxiety, stress relief, and relaxation
Bergamot – Typically grown on the southern coast of Italy, this oil’s bright, citrus aroma helps ease stress, anxiety, and nervous tension. Use caution when using bergamot topically as it can increase skin sensitivity and create hyperpigmentation.
Lavender – Recognized for its fresh, rich, herbal aroma, the high Linolol content in Lavender essential oil helps to balance the emotions and serves as a powerful antidepressant, promoting relaxation and sleep.
Roman Chamomile – A fresh, sweet, apple-like aroma soothes nervous tension, acting as an antidote for stress and anxiety.
Rose – Citronellal and geraniol give this oil its soothing and balancing properties. Excellent for calming down irritated skin, as well as for relaxing the central nervous system.
St. John’s Wort – St. John’s Wort may help to promote self-confidence and increase mental clarity, and is believed to have mild euphoriant properties for helping with seasonal affective disorder.
Favorite essential oil combinations
Some of my favorite combinations are featured in the Naturopathica Aromatic Alchemies, which combine 3-4 proven essential oils in a base of Jojoba Oil, so they’re safe to apply topically to the skin.
Our blends are targeted to re-energize, calm or inspire the mind, depending on your desired mood:
Chill Aromatic Alchemy: Chamomile is blended with Lemon Verbena and Neroli Blossoms and then delicately layered with Bee Balm to calm anxious thoughts, soothe frayed nerves or promote rest and relaxation.
Inspire Aromatic Alchemy: This intoxicating melange of rich Balsam Fir Needles, juicy Pink Grapefruit, Red Mandarin and mood-balancing St. John’s Wort encourages self-confidence and grounds the emotions.
Meditation Aromatic Alchemy: Ancient sacred oils of Sandalwood and Frankincense are blended with grounding essences of Ginger Root, Clove, Cardamom and Sweet Orange for clarity with daily meditation.
Re-Boot Aromatic Alchemy: Lemongrass and Peppermint energize the senses while Holy Basil, a staple of Ayurvedic medicine, is used to help increase the body’s resistance to stress.
If you’re blending essential oils for use in a spa, the basic rule is to combine no more than a total of four or five essential oils in a blend. An ideal amount is usually three or four oils; with more than four, the blend begins to get crowded and loses its effectiveness. Essential Oils should always be diluted in a carrier oil like Jojoba Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Almond Oil or Sunflower Oil before applied topically to the skin. The carrier oil should be selected based on where and how the oil is meant to be used.
You can make use of many essential oils during a Aromatherapy massage treatment at Arya Spa & Wellness.
