Aromatherapy has been around for centuries, and ancient cultures all over the world have been using it for religious and medicinal purposes as far back as 100 AD. Today, aromatherapy is mostly used for relaxation, and aromatic purposes, rather than medicinal, as there is very little evidence that links aromatherapy to directly treating illnesses or diseases.
Aromatherapy comes in many different forms, such as plants, steamers, salts, and lotions. However, one of the most common products used in aromatherapy today is the diffuser. I’ll be outlining the benefits of aromatherapy that come specifically from diffusers, since I find that they’re the most versatile, and require little work to use; only needing water and essential oils. Diffusers vary in size and price, with some commercial ones going for north of $100, but you can get one on Amazon for approximately $25-$50. By adding water to your diffuser, and a few drops of essential oil, you can fill the room with any scent of your choice! Since there are so many different essential oils, it can be difficult to choose which one you’d like to buy. You can find many starter kits on Amazon for around $10-$15, but here are the ones that I use most often.
The Essential Essential Oils
- Lavender
- Eucalyptus:
- Tea Tree
- Rosemary
- Rose
- Lemongrass
So how can you benefit from aromatherapy, and why should you consider it? Well, the underlying benefits that come from using different oils are vast, but here are the most common and well-known.
Reducing Stress and Anxiety
Many essential oils, such as rose and basil, have been proven to help reduce stress and anxiety. With the state the world is in right now, I’m sure that we could all use a little anxiety relief.
Improving Sleep
One of my favourite benefits; lavender and frankincense have long been used for their numerous benefits, and are incredibly relaxing and peaceful. Even if you don’t have a diffuser, rubbing a small amount of oil on one’s wrist can often produce a similar effect.
“Giving” Energy
Okay so the oils don’t exactly “give” energy, but they do make you feel much more alert and aware of your surroundings. Oils such as jasmine, orange, and lemongrass, often invoke this energizing feeling.
Altering and Improving Moods
This one may sound a bit confusing, but changing the way a room smells can vastly alter your mood. Given that our sense of smell has been proven to be one of the strongest links to emotion and memory, the scents that aromatherapy produce can vastly change and improve one’s mood.
Aromatherapy Smells Nice
Honestly, the main reason I bought a diffuser was because the oils smelled nice. Yes, it is a fairly shallow reason considering how many people swear by the benefits of aromatherapy, however being able to fill a room with whatever scent I choose is honestly a great experience, and is the main reason why I would encourage anyone to buy a diffuser and start using aromatherapy. It’s always nice to walk into a fresh-smelling room!
Aromatherapy is a great thing to get into; it costs around $40-$60 to get yourself started, and the benefits are definitely worth it. Even if you’re like me and are not a firm believer in every single claim, just having a room that doesn’t constantly smell like “Febreze: AirFresheners and Odour-Eliminating Products” is a huge plus, and something that I think everyone can appreciate.
