Cozy bergamot: How to choose and use aroma oils
margarita virova
aromatherapy - or at least the attendant rituals with oils and a lamp - are gaining in popularity. You can buy everything you need not only in stores that specialize in everything mystical, but also in more familiar cosmetic corners; at the same time simple compositions will cost even cheaper than perfumed candles. We are telling how to apply essential oils neatly and correctly at home in order to have fun and not harm yourself.
What you need to know
Against the background of the fashion for all "natural" and "organic" the spread of interest in essential oils is quite logical. Despite the fact that the use of oils has been known since antiquity, and the term "aromatherapy" appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, it is rather difficult to talk about the effectiveness of procedures with odorous substances.
Few have received clinical trials: for example, two of them note the benefit of using essential oils to relieve menstrual pain; according to others, oils can help with stress and anxiety - they are recommended for people with cancer for additional relief of symptoms. Chemically, these volatile fluids are quite capable of acting on us when inhaled, sending signals to the part of the brain that is directly responsible for the regulation of emotions. The latter means for us also the fact that it is necessary to choose and apply oils with caution: alas, they are capable of harming people with allergies and sensitive to odors.
In general, we do not recommend placing high hopes on this cozy home practice, but if you are not indifferent to fragrances and relaxing rituals - it's time to explore the possibilities of oils. It is unlikely that you need to refer to questionable directories that indicate the magical properties of the contents of tiny bottles: the main thing is that you personally like the smells. Oil can be used and mixing - it may simply be more interesting than buying a candle in the nearest store of household goods.
How to use
If you decide to get carried away with aromatic rituals, the purchase of a special lamp will be justified. All of them are arranged in the same way: in the upper compartment there is a container for water and oil, in the lower - a candlestick. The flame of a candle warms up the liquid, and the smell spreads intensely in the room. Of course, the lamp adds convenience and enjoyment of the process - it is enough to simply put a container with oil and water to flavor the room and simply put it on the battery.
In the case of oils, the same rules apply as for candles. Before lighting the aroma lamp, the room should be well ventilated so as not to deprive yourself of fresh air - especially if you decide to get some olfactory impressions before going to bed. Twenty to thirty minutes of burning will be enough to provide a comfortable aromatization: essential oils smell intensely and should not be touched with them.
The same rule applies to synthetic aromatic oils. Of course, they are unlikely to cause a ton of harm, as they are written on websites dedicated to organic cosmetics, but it’s definitely not worth breathing in for a long time - and many natural oils also often cause allergies. The obvious difference in price: today valuable essential oils can cost a lot of money due to the reduction in the amount of raw materials and production volumes around the world, while synthetic compositions come up with everything more readily. To be afraid of them, if you are not a perfume expert, who catches the most subtle nuances of smells, is unnecessary: high-quality synthetic oil is quite capable of creating a pleasant atmosphere.
How to choose and combine smells
For aromalampy need or special aromatic oils, or natural essential. Still, for the aromatization of the room requires the ability of molecules to easily spread in the air, so that the massage oil just does not fit. The rule also applies in the opposite direction: essential oils should be carefully added to cosmetics, after having studied the reaction of your skin to a specific product. In a warm bath it is quite acceptable to drop a few drops of oil, after mixing them with an emulsifier, which will contribute to the dissolution - it can be salt, sugar or milk. It is impossible to use oils in a pure form anyway: they can cool annoying even the most resistant to external influences skin.
Essential oils with bright odors do well alone, but if you do not have enough lavender or bergamot, you can easily combine them. Again, it comes from your own taste, experimenting with proportions. If you are not sure about your perfumery skills, you can peek at the composition of your favorite eau de toilette or use the rules of mixing and ready-made recipes from the world of natural perfumery.
Photo:Ozon, The Body Shop (1, 2), Hoff, STYX, iHerb (1, 2), Wildberries, Russian roots