A Safe, Convenient Introduction to the Art of Aromatherapy

For those looking to get started with aromatherapy, the simplest and most economical way is to purchase an aromatherapy kit. Quality essential oils are pricey, and it’s easy to become overwhelmed when trying to decide what to purchase. Kits offer a sampling of some of the most popular and widely used aromatherapy oils and tools. They are generally geared toward beginners and offer a simple way to explore aromatherapy safely and conveniently.

Aromatherapy Kit Components

Nearly every aromatherapy kit will contain the following items:

• Several samples of a variety of essential oils such as lavender, geranium, orange, and ylang ylang
• An oil diffuser (and candle)
• One to two carrier oil samples such as jojoba and coconut
• Fact sheets or short pamphlet with usage and safety guidelines

Some kits are arranged around a theme, such as a relaxation and rejuvenation kit containing calming or balancing oils. Awakening or stress-relief kits are other popular options. You may wish to consider a kit containing oils suitable for different purposes. Many vendors will be happy to accommodate your preferences in making suggestions. A few will even go so far as to arrange a personalized aromatherapy kit.

Aromatherapy Blending Kits

If you have some aromatherapy experience and are looking to broaden your horizons, an aromatherapy kit designed for blending oils is ideal. These kits contain everything you need to begin crafting your own aromatherapy blends:

• Several dark glass bottles
• Beakers
• Funnels
• Pipettes
• Glass rods for stirring
• Bottle labels
• Scent testing strips

Blending kits provide the tools you need to professionally blend your own oils. The oils themselves may or may not be included, although a small recipe book generally is. In addition to essential oils and carriers, you will want to have rubbing alcohol on hand for cleaning the blending kit tools. A notebook for documenting your blending trials and errors is another item you will need to add.

The Advantages of Economy

Since most essential oils are highly concentrated substances, the quantity of each oil contained in a kit is often deceptively small. When purchasing an aromatherapy kit, more is not always better – or necessary! Save costs by purchasing kits containing smaller quantities of essential oils. Consider that just a few drops of essential oil can quickly diffuse throughout a room. Even 2 ml of an essential oil is generally enough for several uses and more than enough for a general introduction to the oil’s aroma and therapeutic properties.

In addition, it is not necessary to purchase a kit with a multitude of essential oil samples. Becoming familiar with 4 to 6 essential oils over the course of several weeks is a reasonable goal. An aromatherapy kit containing 10 or more essential oils may be suitable for more experienced practitioners or those interested in crafting blends. For the majority of those getting started, a gradual introduction to a handful of essential oils is a sensible approach to this complex, medicinal art.