In this month of flowers and fragrances, we focus on the ancient art of aromatherapy. It’s is the use of volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being. Although the term was not used until the 20th century, the foundations of aromatherapy date back thousands of years. The specific use of essential oils dates back nearly a thousand years.

The Chinese may have been one of the first cultures to use aromatic plants for well-being. They burned incense to help create harmony and balance. Later, the Egyptians invented a rudimentary distillation machine for the crude extraction of cedarwood oil. It is also thought by some that Persia and India may have also discovered crude distillation techniques.

Oils of cedarwood, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and myrrh were used by the Egyptians to embalm the dead. When a tomb was opened in the early 20th century, traces of these herbs were discovered with intact portions of the body. The scent, although faint, was still apparent. Although the cedarwood the Egyptians used was distilled, the other oils were probably infused.

The Egyptians used infused oils and herbal preparations for spiritual, medicinal, fragrant and cosmetic use. It is thought that the Egyptians coined the term perfume, from the Latin per fumum which translates as through the smoke. Egyptian men of the time used fragrance as readily as the women. An unusual male technique was to place a solid cone of perfume on their head, which would gradually melt and cover them in fragrance.

The Greeks learned a great deal from the Egyptians, but Greek mythology credits the gift and knowledge of perfumes to the gods. The Greeks also recognised both medicinal and aromatic benefits of plants. Hippocrates, commonly called the “father of medicine” practiced fumigation. Megallus - a Greek perfumier - created a perfume called megaleion. Megaleion included myrrh in a fatty-oil base and was prized for its aroma, its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to heal wounds.

The Roman Empire built upon the knowledge of the Egyptians and Greeks. Discorides wrote a book called De Materia Medica that described the properties of approximately 500 plants. It is also reported that Discorides studied distillation. Distillation during this period, however, focused on extracting aromatic floral waters and not essential oils.

A major event for the distillation of essential oils came with the invention of a coiled cooling pipe in the 11th century. Persian by birth, Avicenna invented a coiled pipe which allowed the plant vapour and steam to cool down more effectively. Avicenna’s contribution lead to more focus on essential oils and their benefits.

In the 12th century, an Abbess of Germany named Hildegard grew and distilled lavender for its medicinal properties. In the 13th century, the pharmaceutical industry was born thus promoting the use of distillation for essential oils.

During the 14th century, the Black Death struck, killing millions of people. Herbal preparations were used extensively to help fight this terrible plague. It’s believed that some perfumers may have avoided the plague by their constant contact with the natural aromatics.

In the 15th century, more plants were distilled to create essential oils including frankincense, juniper, rose, sage and rosemary. A growth in the amount of books on herbs and their properties also begins later in the century. Paracelcus, an alchemist, medical doctor and radical thinker is credited with coining the term “essence” and his studies radically challenged the nature of alchemy and he focused upon using plants as medicines.

During the 16th century, one could begin purchasing oils at an “apothecary” and many more essential oils were introduced. In the 16th and 17th centuries, perfume starting began to be an art form in its own right.

In the 19th century, perfumery remained a prosperous industry. Women would even have their jeweller create a special bottle to hold their treasured perfume. The 19th century also was important scientifically as the chief constituents of essential oils were isolated and identified.

During the 20th century, this knowledge was used to create synthetic chemicals and drugs. It had been believed that by separating the major constituents, then using these constituents alone or in synthetic form there would be therapeutic and economic benefits. These discoveries led to “modern medicine” and synthetic fragrances, but actually weakened the use of essential oils for medicinal and aromatic benefit.

During the early part of the 20th century, a French chemist by the name of Rene-Maurice Gattefosse became interested in the use of essential oils for their medicinal use. Previously, he focused on the aromatic use of essential oils, but his interest in their medicinal use grew after an accident heightened his curiosity.

While working, he burned his arm rather badly. By reflex, he plunged his burned arm into the closest liquid, which happened to be a large container of lavender essential oil. The burn he suffered healed quickly and left no scar.

Gattefosse is credited with coining the term aromatherapy in 1928 within an article where he supports the use of using essential oils in their whole without breaking them down into their primary constituents. In 1937, Gattefosse wrote a book called Aromatherapie: Les Huiles essentielles hormones vegetales that was later translated into English and is still widely read.

Other highly respected 20th century aromatherapists include Jean Valnet, Madam Marguerite Maury, and Robert B. Tisserand. Jean Valnet is most remembered for his work using essential oils to treat injured soldiers during the war and for his book, Aromatherapie.

Austrian Madam Marguerite Maury is remembered as a biochemist who avidly studied, practiced and taught the use of aromatherapy for primarily cosmetic benefit. Robert B. Tisserand is an English aromatherapist who is responsible for being one of the first individuals to bring knowledge and education of aromatherapy to English speaking nations. He has written books and articles including the highly respected 1977 publication The Art of Aromatherapy, which was the first aromatherapy book published in English.

Now in the 21st century, there is a growing resurgence in the use of natural products including essential oils for therapeutic, cosmetic and aromatic benefit. The use of essential oils never ceased, but the scientific revolution minimised its popularity in everyday life. Today’s heightened awareness regarding the use of synthetics coupled with the increased availability of aromatherapy information has rekindled the use of essential oils for therapeutic, cosmetic, fragrant and spiritual use.