History of Essential Oils (The Set Up)

I have a problem. I have mentioned it before in this post, but in case you missed it, I love reading directions. I love knowing I’m doing something “right.” I go so far as to occasionally read directions on shampoo bottles. They are always the same, but something about it gives me comfort. I love following recipes. Sure I adapt them a little bit, but I don’t have the creativity to come up with anything all on my own. If have made a purchase (a phone, a coffee pot, or anything else) I read the manual that comes with it front to back before using it. And if I’m going to make a purchase, usually I research and compare products to make sure I am comfortable with what I’m getting and how it differs from the competition. If there’s something I’m interested in that I don’t know everything about, I research the heck out of it to educate myself. I am the definition of a lifetime learner. If I could get paid to continuously go to school, I would. This may be as a result of some minor OCD, or some sort of insecurity I have somewhere in my subconscious, or my nature to be a perfectionist, or something else. But either way, I truly enjoy learning.

One of the things I love learning about is various alternative therapies, including essential oils. I have probably at least 25 different oils that I use. I have researched enough that I feel I can use them safely on me and my family, but I want to know more. One of my goals for the next 5 years is to be able to afford to go to school and become a Clinical Aromatherapist. Looking at the syllabus for the different schools, I don’t believe any of them go into too much detail on the history of essential oils. And this is where I want to start. How long have they been around? I’ve seen some sites mention that they began in the bible, and others saying that they didn’t have the technology in ancient times to produce what we call essential oils today. Which is it? If not in the form it is in today, how did it progress to be what we have today? How do essential oils differ from infused oils, hydrosol oils, incense, and other herbal preparations using the same plants? In other words, I want to understand the history of essential oils enough to feel comfortable using them as an alternative therapy for myself, my family and my friends. I want to know when to use essential oils or something else. I want to know as much as I can about them and the history of their existence seems like a logical first step to me. It might be a few weeks in the making, but I will report back my findings when I am done. Stay tuned!