Aromatherapy is a key part of what we do here at Melt, and we stock a number of aromatherapy products to accompany our diverse range of luxury scented candles. Like the products themselves, the world of aromatherapy is a complex and fascinating one – and that’s what we’re exploring in this week’s blog, as we cover four interesting facts about aromatherapy that we’re willing to bet you didn’t know!
Aromatherapy Is Thousands Of Years Old
OK, you may already know this one, as we’ve covered it one or two times on the blog before here at Melt. The practice of aromatherapy has been around for well over 6000 years. The first people to use it were probably the ancient Chinese, who prescribed it for a variety of ailments. From there, it was used by the Ancient Egyptians and the Ancient Greeks – in fact, Hippocrates (the father of modern medicine) used aromatherapy to clear Athens of a plague, and often used it in his personal treatments.
Aromatherapy Was Once Illegal
Back in the Dark Ages, when the Church’s word was law, the practice of aromatherapy hit a minor snag, when it was outright banned by the religious leaders of the time. They believed that illnesses were divine punishment that should only be cured by prayer, and anyone caught with ingredients or instruments could face dire consequences. The ban lasted for centuries, but thankfully for us, that’s all changed now!
A Lab Accident Made History
Aromatherapy in its current form was ‘rediscovered’ by French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse. He was performing an experiment when there was a sudden bout of chaos (you know the sort), and he managed to burn his hand. Without any water nearby, he instinctively plunged his hand into a container of Lavender – and was surprised to find his wound healing rapidly. His interest from then on fuelled the rediscovery of aromatherapy in the Victorian era, so if you’ve enjoyed any of our products before, you probably have him to thank!
Japanese Companies Are Using It To Increase Productivity
Fast forward to the present day, and Japanese firms are using aromatherapy to boost their employees’ mood and productivity. Specifically, they’re pumping traces of rosemary and lemon essential oils through their air conditioning systems. Rosemary essential oil is used for cognitive support and improving brain health, whereas lemon essential oil is used to purify the body and lift the spirits. All in all, an interesting combination – but no word on whether UK companies are planning on doing the same!
Here at Melt, we’re mostly content with the benefits our luxury scented candles provide – all of which are carefully crafted with a blend of essential oils to give them effortlessly enchanting fragrances. If you’re looking for inspiration, we tend to find that our Angel scented candle tends to be amongst our most popular options!
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