The simple sniff of a rose or the redolence of freshly cut grass evokes images, sensations, memories, and emotions so common in our lives that we sometimes fail to embrace them. However, the applications of essential oils and aromatic plants "which may elicit similar responses "have been embraced throughout world history in foods, fragrances (perfumery), cosmetics, and medicines.
Aromatherapy is the use of "essences of aromatic plants in a therapeutic manner to maintain vitality and promote well-being. The use of aromatic substances is as old as the pyramids of Egypt "it is an art of 5,000 years ago- (Young, 2000, p 72). Imhotep, a physician to King Zoser, has been credited as the grandfather of aromatherapy. Known by the Egyptians as the god of medicine and healing, he recommended the combination of aromatic oils with massage, a combination ancient Egyptians are still recognized for today. Kyphi, a perfume of sixteen different aromatics, was used as an antiseptic, medicine and tranquilizer (80). The most obvious use of aromatics was the embalming of mummies, of course. The empty body was preserved with perfumes, resins, and fragrant preparations such as myrrh, cassia, and cedarwood. The antiseptic properties of the oils kept body tissues preserved for thousands of years (81). In the 17th century, mummies were sold in Europe, where doctors distilled them for medicines (84). The Greeks and Romans further advanced the use of aromatic oils cosmetically, medicinally and for use in fragrant inhalations. They discovered the stimulating and sedative properties of essential oils and realized that external application affected internal organs (88). .
In 1937, a French cosmetic chemist, Rene Gattefosse, coined the term aromatherapy. In his perfume lab, he burned his hand badly and quickly dropped it in the nearest liquid, lavender oil. He was amazed at the rate of healing and the lack of scarring.
