Essential Oils Origination

The Beginnings Of Essential Oils

In order to promote psychological and physical health, essential oils have been used for thousands of years. However, the term aromatherapy was not coined until the 20th Century. It is believed that ssential oils have been used for both the well-being of the mind and body for thousands of years.

One of the first cultures to use aromatic plants to promote good health and well-being was the Chinese. They often burned incense, and still do, because they believe it will help foster harmony and balance of both the mind and body. Sometime after the Chinese began practicing these methods of well-being, the Egyptians created a simple distillation machine so that they would be able to extract oil from cedarwood. Persia and India also invented their own distillation machines for the same or similar process. The ancient Egyptians embalmed their dead by using the oils of cedarwood, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and myrrh. When tombs were excavated in the early part of the 20th century, traces of herbs were found along with portions of the body that were still intact. Even the scent was evident, although it was quite light.

Most of the oils that the Egyptians used were infused oils, although the cedarwood went through a primitive distillation method. For spiritual, medicinal, perfume and cosmetic uses, the Egyptians used both herbs and infused oils. It is believed that the Egyptians created the term perfume, which came from the Latin words per fumum which means "as through smoke." Both men and women of that time period used perfume. (They probably needed it since bathing was not done very often.) The men would actually put a solid cone of perfume on their heads and it would melt slowly, thereby covering them with the fragrance.

Greek mythology credits the gods with the gift and wisdom of perfumes, however, history shows that the Greeks learned much from the Egyptians about perfumes. The Greeks, like the Egyptians, acknowledged the plants for their fragrance and medicinal benefits. In fact, Hippocrates, who was considered the father of medicine, used fumigations and fragrance for medical benefits.

Megallus, who was a Greek perfumer produced a perfume called megaleion, which was composed of myrrh in a fatty oil base. This perfume had several functions: it was fragrant; it had anti-inflammatory benefits on the skin; and it assisted with the healing of wounds.

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Essential Oils Information