Secrets of Aromatherapy

Simple yet comprehensive resource for those interested in aromatherapy. I loved the recipes for different blends and will be trying them out soon. 

I would have liked to see a little more information on safety and proper usage as essential oils can make children and adults very sick if used improperly.

A super informative, easy to read beginners guide on using essential oils. I thought it interesting that the book is called "Secrets of Aromatherapy," when it included so much more - how to use the oils in rubs, lotions and more not just for their scents, but for the vitamins, minerals and other things that can soak into the skin and body and promote healing and wellness.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34220871-secrets-of-aromatherapy" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Secrets of Aromatherapy" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1492922937m/34220871.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34220871-secrets-of-aromatherapy">Secrets of Aromatherapy</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5588.Jennie_Harding">Jennie Harding</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2217858814">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Secrets of Aromatherapy By Jennie Harding
Publisher: Ivy Press
2000, republished 2017
UK
Non-fiction, health&healing

I received a copy of this digital copy of this book for review from NetGalley and Ivy Press.
I love the therapeutic uses of essential oils in aromatherapy and massage. The book provides a historical perspective of the origins of aromatherapy. The book is displayed in a beautiful color and explanation of oils and carrier oils. Helpful instruction on buying and storage as well as many different uses. Much of the book offers some basic massage techniques to ease minor discomforts.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/917223-kelly
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Great book with a lot of information. I look forward to buying it on paperback since it was not available for Kindle. Thank you for the informative read.

Great information on essential oils.  It was especially helpful to learn about proper storage methods and different applications of different oils.

This is a lovely book for beginners like me to aromatherapy. I know a bit about essential oils but only when using an oil burner or adding to a room spray. There is sooo much more than that. 

The book proved a good list of ailments and which oils work best on these symptoms. It also covers how to use oils (and which ones) as part of massage therapy. There is lots to learn here but it is simply written and easy to understand 

A really useful and enjoyable book

I really didn't like that the pictures were blocked out, because it blocked out some of the text. 
This book was good for your basic essential oil reference. I appreciated that it stated that you DO NOT ingest them. Because you shouldn't.

Very useful book for someone who wants to learn more about essential oils, massage therapy, and aromatherapy. This book takes readers through the origins of aromatherapy, how aromatherapy works, and how to use “carrier oils” with essential oils. It also discusses many of the popular essential oils in depth, explaining how they are extracted, their best uses, and providing suggestions on blending with other oils.

This is a great book, well laid out, and easy to use. If you want to use essential oils for aches, pains, energy, general well-being, or otherwise, I highly recommend this book as a resource. 

I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

This book is both fun to read and informative when it comes to use essential oils by yourself, understand how aromatherapy treatments work and how to incorporate basic, but worthwhile, self-treatments from local application over bathes to massage of yourself and/or your friend. It starts with a short but interesting look on history and development of aromatherapy (even though it lacks some new evidence), makes sure you can use essential oils safely within recommended dosages of 1 or 2,5 %, presents effective application forms, tells you how to find good quality oils and how to store them, presents 30 essential oils and 8 carrier oils, always in turn with recommended blends for certain indications (like hair, skin, muscle, respiratory treatments) or background in anatomy. Comparing to other literature of this type I especially like the blends recommended with the different carrier oils, matching different indications. I haven't come across this before. This is then followed my massage sections for different body parts - accompanied case studies. I like that the massage parts are easy understood and copied into doing, since there are pictures for almost all steps.

The book is beautifully designed, yet not overdoing it with boxes and pictures that would just tear the content apart. It keeps a perfect balance. As from an aromatherapy expert perspective that I have, the information on essential and carrier oils are a good overview. Not more is needed, if you are interested in getting aromatherapy treatments yourself and want to introduce aromatherapy slowly into your life. Only I wished for information on chemotypes on presented rosemary, which is completely left out. A great plus, which is not always a given in aromatherapy books: The botanical names are correct, which was so wonderful to read. This is key in finding the right essential oils when buying and ordering.

I want to point out only a few things to be aware of:
1. The book recommends the essential oil of sandalwood a lot. I refrain from that when teaching aromatherapy and also treatments. It is highly endangered and maybe in 2018 the first oils from protected plantations are available.
2. How to make a bath with essential oils is not well explained in the book. It is not informing about an emulsifier you need to add, but instead recommends to swirl the bathwater. Use at least 1 tablespoon of salt, to where you add the essential oil first, and you will be fine. Also, there are a few people not doing well with citrus and conifer oils in bathwater, so be sure you pay attention to it.
3. For storage the book recommends to put the essential oils in the fridge (do not do this, but keep them at room temperature).
4. On the last page you will find a visual about where you can introduce essential oils to your household. It is a nice picture, but I have to point out, that it is not recommended to put any oils on furniture or cloth to keep cats away, if you actually have cats. Essential oils are considered toxic to cats (especially the recommended citrus ones).

All in all a book to grab for short inspiration or to read intensively if you a new to aromatherapy. This book has the potential to inspire in the way the essential oils will transform your life. I will recommend it to everyone new to the topic (with the notes from above) and would certainly also put it in my waiting area of my aromatherapy clinic, if it was in an English speaking area.

I’ve been practising aromatherapy since I qualified about 15 years ago, like most practitioners I have a range of books that are used as reference. I have one that fits into my case but alas it is now becoming out of date and showing it age and constant use. This, to me, is a perfect replacement for quick reference on the road as well for anyone who is new to aromatherapy. There is data sheets for every oil, including base oils which I am finding harder to get break downs for (the blend of base oil can be just as important as the essential oils). The breakdown of what to expect in your professional session is a welcome addition especially for people are new to having treatment.
A recommended reference for professionals as well as for people who are new to the therapy.