Welcome to GottaHaveScents! We carry everything you need for aromatherapy, so you are in the right place. If you are a beginner just getting started with aromatherapy, we can help. If you are an expert, we’ve got what you need. Whatever your experience level, you will find our products beneficial to your journey.
But first, this is for beginners:
What is Aromatherapy?
There are various sources of scents: essential oils, fragrance oils, and different types of incense. Each type has its own properties and benefits. Essential oils are highly concentrated natural extracts from plants and are often used for therapeutic purposes. You can diffuse them, add them to bathwater, or dilute them with a carrier oil for topical use. Fragrance oils, on the other hand, are usually synthetic and used mainly for their pleasant aromas rather than therapeutic effects, making them popular in candles and room sprays. Incense comes in sticks, cones, or resin forms and is burned to release fragrant smoke that can create a calming atmosphere or enhance meditation. At GottaHaveScents, we have essential oils and incense.
Whether you use scents topically in oils and lotions,
diffuse them into the air as essential oils, or burn them in a
censer as incense, your choice depends on your preference or goals. In any case, the use or enjoyment of scent is called Aromatherapy.
Where it Started: A Short History of Scent
Aromatherapy is the set of holistic practices utilizing natural scents that originated in ancient times. People then used mostly resins, herbs, and infused oils. A healthy trade developed across ancient cultures for these items. The most widely known today are frankincense and myrrh. Those in particular were enjoyed in their natural form or used to make dhoop incense. Incense as resin and dhoop are still enjoyed today.
Essential oils emerged later, after the discovery of distillation techniques. They first appeared in Mesopotamia; later, refined versions emerged in Egypt. Steam distillation was finally perfected in Persia during the eleventh century. The process was then disseminated widely through other cultures.
We have inherited the practices of utilizing scent, but referring to these practices as ‘Aromatherapy’ is fairly new. French chemist
René-Maurice Gattefossé is generally credited with creating the term ‘Aromathérapie’ in 1928 to describe the therapeutic potential of essential oils. He wrote a summary of his work in 1937 in a book of the same name. Today it refers to all uses of scent for therapeutic and sensory purposes. ‘Aromatherapy’ is the English version.
The Two Families of Aromatherapy Products
The two families of aromatherapy products originated in ancient times and have been enjoyed throughout the millennia.
- Essential oils: Concentrated plant extracts that can be enjoyed as single scents or in blends. Don’t confuse them with fragrance oils, which are mostly synthetic.
- Incense: Dhoop sticks or cones, paper, bricks, and loose resin. Dhoop is specified because it is all we carry. We aim to support fully plant-based, sustainable products, and dhoop, being a dense, malleable, fully plant-based incense, is exactly that. It is often shaped into logs, cones, or sticks, and made from concentrated resins and botanical pastes. It is self-binding, meaning that it doesn’t need a wooden core.
Ways to Use Essential Oils
- Diffusing. One way to enjoy essential oils is to diffuse them. There are several ways to do this, including reed diffusion, ultrasonic diffusion, and nebulizing diffusion. Reed diffusion is the oldest method, where an essential oil solution is absorbed by reeds and then dispersed into the air. Ultrasonic diffusers use vibration to disperse an essential oil/water solution. Nebulizers disperse the oils using pressurized air.
- Topical use. Dilute with a carrier oil because undiluted oils may cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Before use, apply a small amount of the diluted oil to your forearm and observe for any reaction for 24 hours. If redness, irritation, or itching develops, stop using that oil. When used safely, diluted essential oils support calmness and relaxation.
- Passive uses that need no equipment. Place a few drops on a passive diffuser. Or use in diffuser jewelry, which typically diffuses using a cotton pad or lava rock.
Ways to Use Incense
These are the ways to use our incense products:
- Dhoop cones and backflow cones. Cones are used with a traditional burner or cone holder. Backflow cones are used with burners that are uniquely designed to enhance the waterfall smoke effect.
- Incense paper. Papers generally come packaged in tins with a clip holder. Burn them in the lid of the tin or in any traditional incense burner.
- Resin and bricks. Incense bricks are another form of dhoop incense. Resin is raw plant material. Both can be burned in a traditional incense burner and also warmed over heat provided by a charcoal round or tea light.
To Get Started
For essential oils, start with a single oil. Lavender oil is a great choice, known for its relaxing, calming properties. As a first step, try adding a few drops to a passive diffuser. It’s an easy and enjoyable way to experience the benefits of aromatherapy.
For incense, start with a traditional dhoop cone and burner, and heed the advice in our incense post. Know that you are enjoying a centuries-old practice.
Whether you choose essential oils, incense, or both as you travel your aromatherapy path, GottaHaveScents is here to support your needs.
