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As we have seen, aromatherapy is about more than scenting the air. Throughout history, people have been fascinated with aromatic oils and have used them for spiritual and healing purposes and to make their environments smell nice. Following in ancient footsteps, we began with an exploration of creating perfumes. While the beauty of aroma is in the nose of the beholder, the perfume note and scent group methods for selecting oils provide a starting point for producing blends that are uniquely our own. These blends can be used or adapted when making beauty products, allowing us to create an ensemble of fragrance with which to surround ourselves.

We also learned how our sense of smell is intimately linked with memory and emotion. The use of scent supports well-being and enhances spiritual practices. Using these oils in conjunction with the energy of the chakras also contributes to overall well-being and health. With scented candles being an integral part of many practices, we also learned how to bring a little bit of magic into our lives with essential oils.

Moving beyond the olfactory application is the topical use of essential oils in healing remedies to fight infection, heal skin problems, soothe sore muscles, ease joint pain, and much more. In addition to their health care applications, many essential oils help us avoid the use of harmful chemicals in the home for cleaning, freshening, and pest control. Essential oils can also be used in the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui to modify the energy of our homes, which supports well-being.

As we have seen, a long list of essential oils is not necessary to make effective health remedies, personal care recipes, or household preparations. Like the herbalists who made “simples,” we can enjoy and get the most from the essential oils that we like and have on hand.

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