Aromatherapy is the process of using essential oils from a variety of plant sources to affect mood. Aromatherapy is gaining wide spread acceptance all over the world. Many aromatherapy oils have an antiseptic quality to them. Try peppermint around doorways to keep ants away. Aromatherapy is also commonly used in conjunction with massage to increase a relaxation effect.

One of the most common oils used in aromatherapy is lavender. Lavender can be used to treat headaches, by placing a drop behind the neck and on the forehead. It is often included in massage oils for its relaxing properties. Fairly easy to come by and relatively inexpensive, lavender is a staple of the aromatherapy industry, but it is only one of hundreds of available oils.

You can find many aromatherapy oils in health food stores. Oils are processed from materials that come from all over the world, and while they are already in use as part of mainstream medicine in part of Europe and the rest of the world, in the States they are not. The rarer the materials from which the oil is removed, the more you will end up paying for it. It is always a good idea to do some reading before you shell out money on the oils.

Aromatherapy is also used in the home. Many people combine the oils with water, alcohol or other solvents and used them as cleaning products. Recipes for different blends reputed to lift or affect mood are commonly available online, as are direction for making cleaning solutions. You can use oil from sage and tea tree for cleaning because of their antibacterial levels.

People who love Aromatherapy use it in their houses to create relaxing areas and wonderful effects. The oils can add a wonderful smell to your clothes when added to the wash rinse cycle. It is common to have people make their own lotions, cleansing products or perfumes using essential oils. The advantage is that you end up with a truly unique product. Of course, if you do go about creating your own blends it is important to keep a record of your experiments, otherwise is it very difficult to repeat any given combination.

When used in conjunction with a massage some knowledge of essential oil properties is essential. Sage and peppermint can be used in a foot lotion to provide antifungal and cooling effects. Cinnamon and pepper oils provide warmth for sore, aching muscles. Lavender and orange are restful and can make a massage more relaxing. All these oils need to be cut with carrier oil such as almond oil or a good massage lotion since most oils are too strong to be used neat, or on their own. Cinnamon oil can cause burns if not cut with something else, for example.

Aromatherapy lends itself to trying many different mixes to find new positive effects. There are many, many books you can check out of the library to being your research.