Aromatherapy Books - Using Essential Oils

What is aromatherapy? Aromatherapy is the art and science of using essential oils from plants to promote natural healing and emotional well-being.

Essential oils are the aromatic essence of a plant, very concentrated extracts, obtained through distillation (steam) or cold-pressing (as with citrus peels). These oils, alone and in combination, are used in holistic healing techniques for emotional problems, physical problems and for all manner of natural beauty products for those wishing to avoid the toxic chemicals prevalent in commerical products.

Following are books on aromatherapy and essential oils for medicinal use, as well as books on natural and herbal beauty with recipes and gift ideas, followed by books on how to make perfume.

Buy Books about Aromatherapy and Essential Oils for Natural Health and Beauty
Get More Info	The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood Worwood thoroughly explains the uses of essential oils for personal care, physical and mental health, and a safe home environment. Includes more than 500 recipes using essential oils as alternatives to often toxic human-made health, beauty, and cleaning products. The focus is on an in-depth look at ten basic oils, how they work and how to blend. A good choice for beginners.
Get More Info	The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy and Herbalism by Julia Lawless Fascinating and extremely thorough discussion of just what essential oils are, the plants they come from, their properties and uses - organized in a complete A-to-Z dictionary of over 150 herbs and essential oils. The emphasis is on medicinal uses. Over 600 color photos and illustrations. A must-have reference for anyone with an interest in aromatherapy. Recommended.
Get More Info	The Essential Oils Book: Creating Personal Blends for Mind & Body by Colleen K. Dodt A truly terrific book for beginning and intermediate aromatherapists - Dodt provides very clear directions for creating dozens of aromatherapy blends for yourself and for gift-giving. Only a bit of history, good explanations of the basic science involved, and lots of special tips. Makes good use of common, easily available essential oils. A true gem.
Get More Info	Aromatherapy Blends and Remedies: Over 800 Recipes for Everyday Use by Franzesca Watson We include this book because it lists more recipes than any other - which is not to say it's the best. Working from a base of 60 essential oils (that's a lot of money right there), Watson does indeed provide 800 recipes for medicinal/emotional use, but without a great deal of explanation. Sometimes less is more. Those with a good working knowledge of aromatherapy may find much to use here, but we would not recommend it for beginners.
Get More Info	375 Essential Oils and Hydrosols by Jeanne Rose Rose is an expert in her field and in this outstanding guide she instructs us on 375 different essential oils - their botanical family, habits and growth, chemical components, and actions. Includes historical notes and lore, both Eastern and Western, and special essays on evergreens, lavender, chamomile, jasmine, and more. Lovely botanical illustrations throughout. Great reviews for Rose's thorough look at all the known essential oils and her solid introduction to hydrosols and their use.
Get More Info	The Herbal Home Spa: Naturally Refreshing Wraps, Rubs, Lotions, Masks, Oils, and Scrubs by Greta Breedlove Garber Garber offers dozens of wonderful easy-to-make recipes for home beauty care using natural ingredients - not aromatherapy oils, just your basic herbs, fruits, and vegetables - with all kinds of marvelous variants on the type of beauty tips we all grew up with (lemon rinse for lighter hair, etc.). Recipes include "facial steams, scrubs, masks, and lip balms; massage oils, baths, rubs, and wraps; hand, nail, and foot treatments; and shampoos, dyes, and conditioners. Includes bathing rituals and massage techniques." A great resource for natural beauty.
Get More Info	Natural Beauty for All Seasons: More Than 250 Simple Recipes and Gift-Giving Ideas for Year-Round Beauty by Janice Cox Cox follows up her popular book, Natural Beauty at Home, with this terrific second volume - over 200 lovely recipes for homemade body, bath and hair care, organized by the availability of ingredients and special beauty needs (eg, dry skin in winter) throughout the seasons of the year. Also includes over 50 gift-giving recipes and ideas based on holidays throughout the year. Easy-to-follow instructions and readily available natural ingredients (some essential oils are used). If you're already a fan of Cox's books, you might also like the third book in her series, Natural Beauty from the Garden, with 200 recipes based on common flowers, plants, herbs, and grasses.
Get More Info	Perfumes, Splashes & Colognes: Discovering and Crafting Your Personal Fragrances by Nancy M. Booth This is a fun book! Booth has you take a "personal scent profile" quiz and leads you through exploring and creating your perfect scent using herbs, essential oils, fragrance oils, and alcohol. She also teaches you how to recreate some of your favorite commerical scents for a fraction of the cost. Easy-to-follow directions, interesting and useful information on the history and making of perfume, plus suggestions for where to find ingredients. A terrific way to learn to make your own "signature scents."