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Article Series: Aromatherapy
Teach Me Some
Aromatherapy Benefits
What
are Notes in Essential Oils?
Increasingly, aromatherapy is one of the most
fashionable types of alternative medicine in the world today.
Perhaps one of the reasons it is so popular is that it is quite
helpful for a number of different applications. In the world
of medicine, there are a number of different applications.
Women use it to ease labor pains on a regular basis. It has
even been used to help rehabilitate people with heart problems.
You don't have to be sick to benefit from aromatherapy, though.
It can simply help you to focus your mind. It can improve your
memory, improve your mood, it can even invigorate you after
a long night. In order to truly understand the world of aromatherapy,
though, you must also understand the meaning of the term “notes.”
Aromatherapy is based on the use of essential oils. There
are a number of different essential oils that are used in most
aromatherapy circles. Most recognize more than 150 different
essential oils as important to the practice of aromatherapy.
In order to help classify these essential oils, notes or the
characteristics of the scent are used. There are three types
of notes: top notes, middle notes, and base notes.
Top
notes, on a general basis, are essential oils that tend
to evaporate rather quickly. For the most part, essential oils
that are classified as top notes tend to have anti-viral properties.
Top notes are almost always quite fresh. They usually have
properties that make them seem uplifting. They are also lighter
scents than most. If you go to purchase essential oils that
have been classified as top notes, they are usually quite inexpensive.
They act very quickly. They usually have very little substance,
and the first whiff of a top note essential oil will give you
a good impression of the oil itself. Top notes do not last
as long as some others. Top notes include basil, bergamot,
cajuput, cinnamon, clary sage, corriander, eucalyptus, grapefruit,
hyssop, lemon, lemongrass, lime, mandarin, tangerine, neroli,
verbana, nialoui, orange, peppermint, petitgrain, ravensara,
sage, spearmint, tagetes, tea tree, and thyme.
Most essential oils fit in the category of middle
notes. Middle
notes tend to be most helpful in giving a sense of body to
whatever essential oils blend they are being used in. They
do a good job of balancing the blends, which is one of the
reasons they are so popular. For the most part, when you go
to smell an essential oils blend, the middle notes will not
always hit you at once. It may take a few minutes before you
even notice them in any essential oils blend. Middle notes
are warmer style fragrances. They have soft overtones that
make them perfect for blending. Middle notes include bay, black
pepper, cardamom, chamomile, cypress, fennel, geranium, ho
leaf, ho wood, hyssop, juniper, lavender, marjoram, melissa,
myrtle, nutmeg, palma rosa, pine, rosemary, spikenard, yarrow.
Essential oils that are called base
notes tend to be heavier
than any other notes. They have a very solidified scent. Base
notes stay present for a much longer period of time than any
other oil, and they can truly help to slow down the level of
evaporation most other essential oils experience. These are
very intense experiences. Their rich nature tends to be relaxing
for most, and they also tend to be the most expensive of all
aromatherapy essential oils. Base notes include balsam peru,
cassia, cedarwood, cinnamon, clove, frankincense, ginger, jasmine,
myrrh, neroli, oak moss, patchouli, rose, rosewood, sandalwood,
valerian, vanilla, vetiver, and ylang ylang.
If you intend to make your own combinations of notes, there
are several important points to keep in mind. Remember that
top notes hit hard to begin with, but leave quickly. Try balancing
them evenly with a blend of middle notes and base notes. Remember
that you want your final blend to be emotionally enjoyable.
Blending your own notes to make sure that you get a scent that
works for you or anyone you intend to give it to is essential
for the perfect aromatherapy procedures. Enjoy your blending
experience. # # # # #
SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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