Aroma Basics

This revered ‘queen of flowers’ is believed to be one of the earliest flowering plants ever cultivated and is steeped in myth and magic. The rose has inspired poets and artists for centuries as the symbol of love and beauty. Associated with most religions, it appears in the sacred texts of ancient India and China, … Read moreAromatherapy: The Magic of Rose Otto

Sandalwood (Santalum album) is a small, tropical evergreen tree with leathery leaves and clusters of tiny purple flowers. The tree is semi-parasitic, its roots penetrating lose of neighbouring plants, especially bamboo and palms. For several years the young tree depends on other plants for nourishment – eventually draining its hosts to death. Native to southern … Read moreAromatherapy: The Magic of Sandalwood

Of the 60 or so species that comprise the juniper family, it’s the berries of the common juniper (Juniperus communis) that are used as a medicine, spice and source of essential oil. The plant is a coniferous, evergreen shrub, or small tree, growing up to 6m, with reddish twigs and blueish-green, needle-like leaves. Native to … Read moreAromatherapy: The Magic of Juniper Berry

Patchouli (Pogostemon patchouli or P. cablin) is a bushy herb which grows to a height of one metre and has soft, hairy, oval-shaped leaves and spikes of white, purple-tinged flowers. When rubbed, the leaves emit the peculiar, charasmatic scent of patchouli. Native to Southeast Asia, the shrub grows in Sumatra and Java between altitudes of … Read moreAromatherapy: The Magic of Patchouli

The mint family contains 25 species  and numerous natural hybrids. Although native to Mediterranean countries and western Asia, many varieties are now cultivated all over the world. These include water mint (Mentha aquatica), field mint (M. arvensis) and spearmint (M. spicata). However, peppermint (M. piperita) – thought to be a natural hybrid between water mint … Read moreAromatherapy: The Magic of Peppermint

The various ‘geranium’ oils used in aromatherapy derive from cultivated species of rose-scented pelargoniums, primarily P. graveolens, P. adoratissimum, P. radens, P. capitatum and hybrid varieties such as P. x asperum. Pelargoniums belong to a family comprising more than 400 species of tender shrubs. A native of South Africa, the geranium is mainly cultivated throughout the world for ornamental … Read moreAromatherapy: The Magic of Geranium

Plamarosa (Cympobogon martinii) is a tall, aromatic grass belonging to the same family as lemongrass and citronella. It is native to India and Pakistan, but now cultivated extensively in Madagascar, Indonesia, Brazil and the Comoros Islands. The plant is also closely related to sofia or gingergrass, which grows best on damp, poorly drained soil in … Read moreAromatherapy: The Magic of Palmarosa

In the Malayan language, ylang ylang means ‘flower of flowers’ – and indeed, no tree produces blossoms with a more intensely sweet and flowery fragrance. Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) is native to south-east Asia, and grows up to 20m tall. The branches are gracefully arched like the weeping willow, and bear glossy oval-shaped leaves and … Read moreAromatherapy: The Magic of Ylang Ylang

Mandarins have been cultivated in China for centuries. According to some records, the fruit is so named because it was a traditional gift to the Imperial Chinese officials of the same name. Other sources point to a resemblance between the size, colour and shape of the fruit an the trimmings at the top of the … Read moreAromatherapy: The Magic of Mandarin

Rosemary is an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean coast but now cultivated worldwide for ornamental, culinary, medicinal and perfumery purposes. The plant can still be found growing wild in vast masses on the uncultivated hills of Provence. It is also common in parts of Spain, Hungary, Italy, Greece, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Corsica. The … Read moreAromatherapy: The Magic of Rosemary