HISTORY

The first use of scented smoke blended the primitive medicinal and religious aspects of people’s early existence.

The use of scented smoke and fumigations still exists today in many religions.

The exact time when essential oils were first distilled is open to debate, but it is clear that by the 3rd century BC the Egyptians had a primitive form of distillation.

Both the Egyptians and the Babylonians recorded in some detail the ingredients and formulations of their remedies and treatments.

Essential oils have been used in baths for centuries; the Vedic literature of India dating from around 2000 BC lists over 700 aromatic substances.

China, Egypt and Arabia have strong traditions connected with the use of essential oils in baths.

The ancient Greeks and Romans used to have essential oil baths often both in the morning and evening.

The Greeks used olive oil as the carrier oil for their formulations.

Hippocrates, regarded as the father of modern medicine, recorded a vast quantity of medicinal plants and flowers in his writings, as well as numerous narcotics.

Early Greek doctors improved the practice a great deal by expanding on the theory of plant medicine and divided plants into their medicinal categories.

Ancient Roman soldiers used essential oils in their baths and saunas to relieve tired limbs after long grueling marches or battles.

The works of the Greeks were translated into Arabic and after the fall of Rome this knowledge was absorbed into the Near East with the rise of the Byzantine Empire.

China has an ancient and unbroken tradition of herbal medicine, which is used alongside acupuncture.

After Europe emerged from the Dark Ages there was a renewed interest in essential oils and their properties, notably in France during the first half of the 19th century.