The use of aromatic plants and essential oils for healing can be traced back more than 3,500 years to ancient civilizations in Egypt, China, and India. Aromatics were used for religious purposes, perfume, and medicine. The term ‘Aromatherapy’ was coined by the French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse in 1935 after he effectively treated a burn with the essential oil lavender. Aromatherapy is now a well-established practice with a growing body of research supporting its therapeutic benefits.

Massage itself is an ancient healing practice with evidence of its existence dating back thousands of years across various cultures. Historical texts detail its benefits for improving circulation, relieving muscle tension, and alleviating pain. Massage involves the manipulation of soft body tissues that enhance a person’s health and well-being, encompassing a variety of techniques, from gentle strokes to more targeted pressure, each with its own unique healing virtue.

While massage and aromatherapy are both beneficial on their own, combining them makes them even more powerful, together they tap into multiple senses, including touch and smell. The addition of essential oils invokes a direct connection to the limbic system…part of the brain that’s connected to smell. The limbic system is strongly linked to our emotions, mood and memories, making an aromatherapy massage a deeply intense experience that provides both physical and emotional healing.