AROMATHERAPY INTRO & SAFETY

What is Aromatherapy? 

Aromatherapy is the controlled use of plant-derived aromatic oils for medicinal purposes – whether to remedy a cold, assist in healing a burn, to uplift or reduce stress, or even to aid the insomniac in falling asleep. It concerns the effects of pure and natural Essential Oils on both the body and the mind, achieved by absorbing the oils through the skin via methods like massage, compresses or aromatic baths, or via the nose using oil diffusers, inhalers or vaporisers. Pure essential oils have varying documented therapeutic benefits, from oils that have an influence mentally, to specific effects on the body. If you have a specific issue that needs treating, chances are there is an oil that can help – naturally.

TRUE OILS VS SYNTHETIC / BLENDED

The oils that we use in aromatherapy are called ESSENTIAL OILS. They are 100% pure and completely plant derived, with the oil extracted from various plant parts including seeds, rind, petals, leaves, twigs, roots, bark or heartwood. Some are cold pressed, eg the rind/peel from citrus fruit; others are steam distilled, which is the most common method; the more precious oils often come from delicate petals, or don’t yield much oil, so can be solvent or CO2 extracted for efficiency.

All of these different methods, and the fact that some plants yield less oil or are harder to grow, mean that prices vary greatly from one oil to the next. While oils such as Rose or Neroli can be quite a financial investment, other oils like Sweet Orange or Eucalyptus are significantly cheaper as they are much less expensive to produce.

On the other side of the coin, we have Fragrant / Perfume oils like our ‘Fragrant Burner Oils’, which are simply synthetic copies – a combination of chemicals to emulate a certain scent. You might find these for a couple of dollars in your local discount store, or used in candle-making – some sound like natural plants or flowers, others have ‘perfumey’ names like ‘baby powder’ or ‘Chanel No 5 Type’. Many are believed to be toxic or even carcinogenic, though in low enough readings to be approved as legally ‘safe’. They have many names, usually to make the product sound less chemical and thus more desirable – parfum, perfume, scent, fragrance, fragrant oil or essence – all are synthetic, and as they have absolutely no therapeutic qualities, these have no place in the realm of aromatherapy.

Unfortunately there’s often confusion as to whether an oil is natural or man-made, because marketing companies aim to tap into the fact that many people do prefer to use natural products. So advertising may say ‘Aromatherapy’ even if there’s no plant-based essential oils in their product and it’s scented entirely with synthetic perfumes.

Or a company may use MOSTLY synthetic fragrances and add a tiny token amount of essential oil, to advertise that it’s ‘made with essential oils’. Read the ingredients list of a scented product in your local supermarket (‘aromatherapy air fresheners’, ‘aromatherapy candles’ etc). If the ingredients list says ‘Parfum’, ‘Perfume’, ‘Fragrance’ etc, then it contains synthetic fragrance – the higher up the list, the more of that ingredient if included. So if it says ‘Parfum’ up high, and ‘Essential Oil’ as one of the last ingredients, it probably contains only a token inclusion of essential oil – probably in an amount too low to be of any aromatherapeutic benefit.

How Can I Tell if an Oil is the Real Deal?

Oils for use in aromatherapy need to be pure Essential Oils, with nothing added to them – no preservatives, fillers or chemicals.

A quality essential oil should give the full plant name (eg Roman Chamomile instead of just ‘Chamomile’ – some are more useful than others, so you need to know which type you are purchasing). The plant part that has been distilled is also important (eg Cinnamon Bark vs Leaf); as is the full Latin plant name, as the genus has a bearing on any benefits that you’re going to receive. If a seller doesn’t advertise, or can’t tell you any of this information, then it’s unlikely to be a real, plant-based oil.

A pure essential oil must be derived from a single plant type, not a ‘blend’ of different plants or plant extracts. The oil should have only one country of origin – if that isn’t guaranteed then the oil is probably a ‘blended natural’, ‘blended origin’, ‘reconstituted’ or ‘nature identical’ type, which can be a mix of various plant extracts, or cheaper oils from different countries, resulting in a similar scent but not the same therapeutic qualities.

Price is another indicator: if a seller’s full range of oils are all a similar price, then it’s almost guaranteed they are synthetic. Some oils like citrus oils are incredibly easy to produce so will be cheaper in price; precious oils that are the most difficult to extract (eg Rose) can cost hundreds of dollars a bottle. If a precious oil is cheap, and the price seems too good to be true, then it’s probably fake.

A pure oil must be stored in amber, cobalt or green glass to preserve it, as essential oils are susceptible to light. An oil packaged in clear glass COULD be natural, but its use in aromatherapy may be limited. Avoid oils packaged in plastic – most pure essential oils will eat through plastic (unless extremely diluted in a carrier oil).

Are AQ Oils Therapeutic Grade?

All Aroma Queen Premium Essential Oils and Blends are 100% pure, plant based oils with no added filler, preservatives or padding. The reason we can offer them at such a great price is that we ONLY sell directly, often sourcing the oils straight from the distiller, packaging them ourselves and then sending them to you. By cutting out the middle men, and not part of a franchise that needs to send a portion of profit to every tier of seller along the way, we are able to offer high quality oils at fantastic prices.

Our oils feature premium country of origin, plant parts, plant genus and grade wherever possible, representing high quality oils at a fraction of the price.

As for ‘Therapeutic Grade’, there is no actual certification for ‘Therapeutic Grade’ or ‘Aromatherapy Grade’ – they’re just terms some companies use to indicate their oils are sourced from reputable distillers, and are of good quality for use in aromatherapy – as ours are.

It’s also a bit of sneaky marketing to try to scare customers into not buying from anywhere else. Just remember, ultimately it is not the BRAND that makes an oil suitable for therapeutic use: it is the quality of the oil, the way it has been distilled and the plant it is derived from.

Can I Ingest AQ Oils? Are they ‘Food Grade’?

See our other DISCOVER pages for a full discussion: In Australia it’s been an accepted guideline for many years that essential oils are NOT to be ingested or eaten, even when diluted, unless specifically prescribed for you and your condition by a qualified aromatherapy practitioner.

What is a Carrier Oil?

Carrier Oils are named so as they’re often used to ‘carry’ essential oils for application to the skin. Essential Oils are very concentrated and should never be applied neat, while Carrier Oils are safe to apply directly, undiluted, so make an excellent medium to dilute essential oils into and ‘carry’ them to the skin in massage or topical applications.

Carrier oils used in aromatherapy are typically cold pressed vegetable oils like Sweet Almond or Jojoba oil. They are similar to cooking oils (thicker oils with little scent), however the ‘cold press’ process preserves their valuable nutrients so they can be used in skincare with great benefit. Carriers are also used for massage, either on their own or with added essential oils, as they have great slip.

Adding Essential Oils to Other Mediums

As a general rule, to apply essential oils to the skin use no more than 3% total essential oil in a carrier oil base for application to the body, and no more than 1% for the face (20 drops of essential oil = approximately 1ml). Skin creams or balms can also be used as the medium, but avoid petrochemical creams like sorbolene, as these form a barrier that stops the oils from being absorbed.

To learn more about the different methods of using Essential Oils CLICK HERE

Aromatherapy Safety

NEVER APPLY OILS TO SKIN NEAT: Always dilute essential oils in a Carrier Oil or base cream before application to the skin. Dilute at no more than 3% total oils for application to the body, or 1% for the face. The only exceptions are neat Lavender or Tea Tree, which may be used directly on burns or small wounds.

PREGNANCY: Most Aromatherapists advise against using Essential Oils during pregnancy, though others disagree. Oils to definitely avoid during pregnancy include: Arnica, Basil, Birch, Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Cypress, Fennel, Jasmine, Juniper, Marjoram, Myrrh, Peppermint, Rosemary & Thyme. Steer clear of Lavender & Rose during the first four months of pregnancy.

EPILEPSY: Anyone suffering from epilepsy should avoid Sweet Fennel, Sage & Hyssop.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: People with high blood pressure should stay away from Hyssop, Rosemary, Sage & Thyme.

PHOTOSENSITISATION: Some oils cause photosensitisation – sensitivity to UV light – and should not be applied to skin before exposure to the sun. These include: Angelica, Bergamot (unless ‘Bergaptene Free’), Cumin, Lemon, Lime (unless ‘Distilled’ rather than ‘Cold Pressed’), Orange & Verbena.

NEVER INGEST ESSENTIAL OILS: Always KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Even small amounts of Essential Oil may be toxic if swallowed. Immediately contact your local Poisons Hotline if ingested. See our other DISCOVER pages more on this topic.

If Essential Oils get into eyes, immediately wash with whole milk or carrier oil, followed by water. Some people may experience an allergic reaction or sensitisation to a specific oil. If this is the case, discontinue use immediately.

Aromatherapy & Children

When using Aromatherapy around children, ALWAYS use less oil/s than you would with adults. Always use very diluted oils around children, and do not use them too regularly. A single drop of oil in a burner is more than adequate for a small child – see the accompanying graphic for safe recommendations for using our own OILS 4 KIDS Blends around children, which feature oils known to be kinder to younger souls.

We also strongly recommend you avoid using Aromatherapy around premature babies, or babies less than three months old. We recommend that you do NOT apply oils in any way to a baby’s skin (massage, creams or baths) until they are slightly older: infants have very delicate skin at the best of times, but especially when younger than three months; they may also rub their eyes with their fists or suck their hands or fingers.

A double-sided OILS 4 KIDS Safety Card is included with every AQ Oils 4 Kids Blend.

Disclaimer

The advice within this page is general and not specific to individuals and particular circumstances. Before using essential oils or other natural treatments, check all cautions and restrictions. Aroma Queen cannot be held responsible for any injury, damage or otherwise resulting from the use of any treatments or products within this website. Do not attempt self-diagnosis or self-treatment for long periods or for serious problems, without first consulting a qualified medical practitioner.
Always seek professional medical advice if symptoms persist.

Always remember, Aromatherapy is intended to complement, not replace traditional medicine.

SHOP Aromatherapy

For more tips, ideas and recipes, visit our SOCIAL PAGES.

Our latest Instagram posts

After some unexpected events, we apologise but AROMA QUEEN IS NEEDING TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE while we partially relocate our stock. Our site will be unavailable from NOW until early October.

We`ll post as soon as we know an exact date and are open for orders, and look forward to being back soon. 😁

Apologies for the short notice and any inconvenience caused.

x The Queen
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NEW: CHANDRA DEVI SANDALWOOD& JASMINE DHOOP STICKS
$7.50 per roll of 44 x 17.5cm sticks

Our SANDALWOOD & JASMINE sticks are made of entirely natural ingredients, including high quality sandalwood and Himalayan herbs. Sandalwood is renowned for its relaxing effect, making it a beautiful choice for meditation or calm.

Approx 44 x 17.5cm sticks in each 55g pack. Handmade in Kathmandu, Nepal by Chandra Devi.

WHAT ARE DHOOP STICKS?
Dhoop sticks are bamboo-less sticks featuring complex blends of herbs, resins & botanicals, creating a rustic aroma much less ‘perfumed’ than most commercial
incense, and prepared entirely by hand according to ancient Tibetan medical practices. The perfect incense to enhance meditation, create a sacred atmosphere,
help eliminate negative energies or stress, or rejuvenate positive energy.

See all of our DHOOP STICKS and burners HERE:
https://aromaqueen.com.au/product-category/incense/tibetan-dhoop/

DISCOVER MORE about Different Incense Types and How to Burn Them, HERE:
https://aromaqueen.com.au/incense-types/

AROMA QUEEN: www.aromaqueen.com.au
* Aromatherapy * Incense * Smudge *

FREE SHIPPING for Orders over $100
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#dhoop #dhoopsticks #incense #incensestick
#incensesticks #natural #scent #perfume #fragrance
#relax #calm #zen #wellbeing #ScentYourLife
#Aroma_Queen
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NEW: CHANDRA DEVI SNOWLION DHOOP STICKS
$7.95 per roll of 44 x 17.5cm sticks

SNOWLION incense is composed of 55 different herbal ingredients including saffron, nagi, and both red and white sandalwood. The incense is prepared using special ancient traditional arts of the monastic orders of Tibet.

Approx 44 x 17.5cm sticks in each 55g pack. Handmade in Kathmandu, Nepal by Chandra Devi.

WHAT ARE DHOOP STICKS?
Dhoop sticks are bamboo-less sticks featuring complex blends of herbs, resins & botanicals, creating a rustic aroma much less ‘perfumed’ than most commercial incense, and prepared entirely by hand according to ancient Tibetan medical practices. The perfect incense to enhance meditation, create a sacred atmosphere, help eliminate negative energies or stress, or rejuvenate positive energy.

See all of our DHOOP STICKS and burners HERE:
https://aromaqueen.com.au/product-category/incense/tibetan-dhoop/

DISCOVER MORE about Different Incense Types and How to Burn Them, HERE:
https://aromaqueen.com.au/incense-types/

AROMA QUEEN: www.aromaqueen.com.au
* Aromatherapy * Incense * Smudge *

FREE SHIPPING for Orders over $100
AFTERPAY * ZIP * CREDIT CARD * PAYPAL

#dhoop #dhoopsticks #incense #incensestick #incensesticks #natural #scent #perfume #fragrance #relax #calm #zen #wellbeing #ScentYourLife #Aroma_Queen
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FOCUS ON OILS: ORANGE SWEET (Citrus sinensis), Australia.

An incredibly useful and inexpensive oil for your collection, Sweet Orange Essential Oil is cold pressed from the fresh ripe outer peel. The oil has a zesty, refreshing citrus fragrance and is known as a ‘cheerful’ oil that conveys warmth, happiness and joy, perfect to help to relax and unwind.

Children tend to love the smell of orange, and it can be used to help them sleep. It`s also recommended for the treatment of constipation or swollen tissue. In skincare, Orange oil is beneficial and soothing to dry, irritated or acne prone skin.

CLEANING: As Orange oil has such a joyful, uplifting scent that leaves a lovely citrus freshness, it’s a great choice for Chemical Free Cleaning. Orange is also an excellent de-greaser, so your cleaning products can benefit from having Orange oil added to them. Visit our DISCOVER pages for more Chemical Free Cleaning ideas.

Find it in our AROMATHERAPY SECTION:

https://aromaqueen.com.au/product-category/aromatherapy/

Or see all of our CITRUS scented oils and incense in the one place:

https://aromaqueen.com.au/product-category/shop-by-scent/citrus/

Want to know more? DISCOVER MORE about Aromatherapy and How to Use Essential Oils, HERE:

https://aromaqueen.com.au/discover/

AROMA QUEEN: www.aromaqueen.com.au
* Aromatherapy * Incense * Smudge *

FREE SHIPPING for Orders over $100
AFTERPAY * ZIP * CREDIT CARD * PAYPAL

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FOCUS ON RESINS: GUGGUL
Also known as GOKUL / BDELLIUM / MUKUL MYRRH
A GRADE - $7.95 / 15g

Our Guggul is the highest grade of GUGGUL / GOKUL / BDELLIUM / MUKUL MYRRH PIECES, sourced from Nepal.

This Guggul resin is from the Commiphora wightii (a flowering plant in the family Burseraceae, most common in northern India), and is also known under the common names Indian bdellium-tree, or Mukul myrrh.

The gummy resin is harvested from the small tree’s bark through the process of tapping. When burned as incense, Guggul has a fragrance similar to myrrh, with a warm, slightly sweet, balsamic, herbaceous and earthy aroma with hints of vanilla.

Guggul is often burnt after sundown to lend a tranquil note to the evening – it is the same product that was known in Hebrew, ancient Greek and Latin sources as bdellium. It is also a useful resin to burn during meditation.

When carried from room to room, Guggul is said to drive away evil spirits and remove the evil eye from the home and its family members. Comiphora wightii has also been a key component in ancient Indian Ayurvedic medicine for nearly 3,000 years.

Find it in our RESIN INCENSE section HERE:

https://aromaqueen.com.au/product-category/incense/resin-incense/

WHAT IS RESIN INCENSE?
Resin incense, botanical powders, flowers, leaves and woods can be burned for their natural scent, either over a charcoal disk or using a candle warmed censer (burner) – see our DISCOVER pages for our easy to follow PHOTO TUTORIAL on burning charcoal tablets:

https://aromaqueen.com.au/resin-incense/

AROMA QUEEN: www.aromaqueen.com.au
* Aromatherapy * Incense * Smudge *

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#incense #resinincense #resin #naturalincense #frankincense #myrrh #copal #sandalwood #natural #scent #perfume #fragrance #relax #calm #zen #wellbeing #ScentYourLife #Aroma_Queen
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SALE - DESERT SAGE SMUDGE STICKS
Approx 11-13cm in length, and around 2-3cm in diameter.
Now $9.95 each.

Find them HERE:
https://aromaqueen.com.au/product/smudge-stick-desert-sage-11-13cm/

Or see all of our smudge sticks, palo santo and burners HERE:
https://aromaqueen.com.au/product-category/smudge/

DESERT SAGE (Artemisia tridentata) is best known as the richly aromatic sage that blankets the Santa Fe, Taos area. Its fragrance draws your heart to the wind swept, sun blessed deserts of New Mexico.

Its use as a smudging herb as a traditional alternative to white sage (listed separately) is believed to cleanse the mind, body, and spirit, or even a particular place, of unwanted negative energies.

NOTE RE SIZE: Handmade natural products all vary in shape and size; some may have longer or shorter stems, or will be slightly longer or thicker than others. The item you receive may look a little different to the one pictured, however all are made to the highest quality and generally well within the size range outlined above.

Want to know more? DISCOVER MORE about Smudging and the different types of sticks used, HERE:
https://aromaqueen.com.au/smudging/

AROMA QUEEN: www.aromaqueen.com.au
* Aromatherapy * Incense * Smudge *

FREE SHIPPING for Orders over $100
AFTERPAY * ZIP * CREDIT CARD * PAYPAL

#desertsage #smudging #smudge #smudgestick #smudgestick #sage #whitesage #abalone #negativity #positivity #wellbeing #clearing #cleanse #protection #healing #ritual #smoke #ScentYourLife #Aroma_Queen
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NEW: CHANDRA DEVI AMBER & MUSK DHOOP STICKS
$7.50 per roll of 44 x 17.5cm sticks

Our AMBER & MUSK sticks are created using a special manner of preparation – one of the ancient traditional arts of the monastic orders of Tibet. This incense comprises 35 different herbal ingredients, and is used for prayer and health.

Approx 44 x 17.5cm sticks in each 55g pack. Handmade in Kathmandu, Nepal by Chandra Devi.

WHAT ARE DHOOP STICKS?
Dhoop sticks are bamboo-less sticks featuring complex blends of herbs, resins & botanicals, creating a rustic aroma much less ‘perfumed’ than most commercial incense, and prepared entirely by hand according to ancient Tibetan medical practices. The perfect incense to enhance meditation, create a sacred atmosphere, help eliminate negative energies or stress, or rejuvenate positive energy.

See all of our DHOOP STICKS and burners HERE:
https://aromaqueen.com.au/product-category/incense/tibetan-dhoop/

DISCOVER MORE about Different Incense Types and How to Burn Them, HERE:
https://aromaqueen.com.au/incense-types/

AROMA QUEEN: www.aromaqueen.com.au
* Aromatherapy * Incense * Smudge *

FREE SHIPPING for Orders over $100
AFTERPAY * ZIP * CREDIT CARD * PAYPAL

#dhoop #dhoopsticks #incense #incensestick #incensesticks #natural #scent #perfume #fragrance #relax #calm #zen #wellbeing #ScentYourLife #Aroma_Queen
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HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera Caprifolium), India.
Honeysuckle is one of those scents that just oozes `spring`, and reminds us of the upcoming warmer weather. And - yes - Honeysuckle Oil is currently half price in our CLEARANCE section (was $29.95 / 10ml - NOW $14.95).

Honeysuckle oil has a sweet, honey-like floral scent: the sweetly floral fragrance can help melt away mental and physical stress while leaving you with a tranquil, calm state of mind, and is often used as an additive in perfume oils and body products. Like some oils, it can be quite strong whiffed straight from the bottle, but try adding a drop or two to a tissue to add the subtle, uplifting fragrance to your space.

Honeysuckle essential oil is steam distilled from the flowers of the Lonicera Caprifolium, which is native to eastern Asia and Japan – the flowers, seeds, and leaves are used for various medical purposes, or for centuries have been used in Chinese medicine to help treat respiratory conditions.

The oil is believed to possess a number of potent antioxidants, along with certain acids that fight free radicals, which may help decrease the process of aging. Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties make it an excellent oil to help prevent bacterial infections, or to treat aching joints and sore muscles – it may also be of benefit against some of the effects of arthritis. Anti-microbial qualities make the oil useful in treating infections, viruses and other harmful microbes.

Try adding a few drops to hair products for a helpful hair moisturising treatment.

See all of our SALE OILS here:

https://aromaqueen.com.au/product-category/clearance/aromatherapy-clearance/

AROMA QUEEN: www.aromaqueen.com.au
* Aromatherapy * Incense * Smudge *

FREE SHIPPING for Orders over $100
AFTERPAY * ZIP * CREDIT CARD * PAYPAL

#honeysuckle #aromatherapy #essentialoil #essentialoils #natural #scent #fragrance #perfume #wellbeing #calm #relax #stress #ScentYourLife #Aroma_Queen
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$1 Incense * Free Aroma Recipes * Clearance Aromatherapy

See our new AQ NEWSLETTER here:

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