History shows that aromas have been a vital part of caring for the mind and body. Our ancestors inhaled, ingested and wore fragrance in amulets to help heal the sick, soothe and stimulate. Essential oils were used by ancient civilizations for healing and rejuvenating. Although the concept of healing aromas is reputed to be approximately 6000 years old, the term aromatherapy was not coined until 1928. French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse became interested in using essential oils therapeutically after he severely burned his hand in a laboratory explosion in his family's perfumery business. He reputedly plunged his injured hand into a nearby container of lavender oil and was amazed at how quickly it healed.
Inspired by Gattefosse's work, Dr. Jean Valnet used oils such as thyme, clove, lemon and chamomile on his patients' wounds and burns during World War II. Later, he found fragrances successful in treating psychiatric problems and published his findings in The Practice of Aromatherapy. (Valnet & Tisserand, 1990) Valnet's book helped spur a new aromatherapy movement, and in 1977 Robert Tisserand published The Art of Aromatherapy, (Tisserand, 1987) which succeeded in capturing more popular interest and has since become something of an industry bible.
As the notion of aromatherapy grew, it opened the door to other arenas. In 1982 the Olfactory Research Fund coined the term "aromachology" to describe the concept which it developed to scientifically study the inter-relationship of psychology and fragrance technology. (Valnet & Tisserand, 1990) Unlike aromatherapy, largely based on folklore, aromachology is based on scientific data collected under controlled conditions to explore the effects of fragrance and odor on a variety of specific feelings such as relaxation, sensuality, and happiness.
The resurgence of the use of aroma for therapeutic purposes has led to a heightened need for scientific research into the effects of fragrance on behavior......
