History

Historical Background & Use

Aromatherapy's origins can be traced through several ancient civilizations:

Chinese Contributions

The Chinese were among the first to recognize the benefits of inhaling fragrances, particularly through burning oils. They observed that certain scents could trigger specific memories and pleasurable responses.

Egyptian Innovations

Ancient Egyptians discovered plant oil extraction through distillation and incorporated oils into their practices. While they burned oils as religious offerings, they also explored medicinal applications. The Egyptians are credited with originating the term "perfume," which describes the scent produced when oils were burned.

Greek and Roman Expansion

Greeks promoted essential oils and herbs through fragrances and perfumes, influencing Romans who subsequently adopted these practices. The Roman military is believed to have introduced these aromatic and medicinal oils to European and British populations.

Persian and European Development

Avicenna of Persia developed the distillation process, which European alchemists later refined and adapted over subsequent centuries.

Modern Era

The 19th century brought scientific analysis of essential oils' chemical composition. This research led to dermatological applications in skincare. Rene-Maurice Gattefosse coined the term "aromatherapy" to describe therapeutic use of essential oils, with continued research and publication extending into the 20th century.