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History of Essential Oils

Following up on the history of essential oils seemed like a natural step, so here's a look at the origins of aromatherapy and essential oils.

The birth of aromatherapy is generally attributed to Ancient Egypt, but the idea of using natural oils for medicinal purposes didn't just come from Egypt. Ancient Indians and Chinese also explored natural oils extensively, and it became an integral part of Indian Ayurvedic medicine. 

The Egyptians used oils for many different purposes including religious ceremonies, cosmetics, medicine and even mummification. During mummification, embalmers used various botanicals like cinnamon, frankincense and myrrh, along with cedar and juniper oils to prepare the body for burial. They also left jars of essential oils in the tombs, presumably for the deceased to enjoy in the afterlife! Aromatic oils were extensively used for prayers, with each God having a different oil dedicated to them. The Egyptians cultivated plants specifically for their oils and used similar distillation techniques as today to extract the oils. Distillation pots dating back to 3500 BCE have been discovered in Egypt, but they are thought to have been used as early as 10,000 BCE (those Egyptians really knew their science!).

Ancient Greeks also used oils extensively, which they seemingly learnt from the Egyptians, as Hippocrates and other Greek doctors often did. Romans in turn, adopted it from the Greeks and made it fashionable to use aromatic oils in Roman baths. The use of essential oils was discarded in the West after the fall of the Roman empire, until French perfumers discovered the healing properties of lavender oil. Lavender is attributed to saving numerous hospital workers' lives during the Spanish flu. Essential oils were also used during the World War II to treat injured soldiers. 

As everyone who uses a diffuser today knows, essential oils are enjoying a resurgence, both for aromatherapy as well as medicine, as people are increasingly turning to natural therapies to avoid using harsh chemicals, and embracing a more natural and environmentally friendlier lifestyle. You can now find over a hundred varieties of essential oils ranging from florals like lavender and rose to earthy tones like cinnamon and sandalwood; my personal favorite is also one of the most common - the gentle, refreshing, and calming lavender. If you haven't tried an aromatherapy diffuser, get one today! It is the best way to hide the musty smell of socks in your room and more importantly, drive away quarantine blues. because as they say, when you can't go out, bring the outdoors in!

Common sources of essential oils


Sources:

https://www.fgb.com.au/content/history-essential-oils https://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/formulating/category/natural/Keeping-with-Tradition-Essential-Oil-History-Use-and-Production-A-Review-511922692.html https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-are-essential-oils#tips-for-choosing


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