Meet a Wellness Trend That Will Make Your Home Smell Incredible

If you've ever taken a casual stroll through your favorite home goods store, you've likely come across a myriad of products that proudly flaunt thearomatherapylabel. From essential oils to calming candles, this vast assortment of aromatherapy products can be dizzying at times. But how well do these products actually work for those looking to tap into the medicinal and holistic benefits of aromatherapy? How is aromatherapy even defined?

Aromatherapy isn't nearly as complex as one might be led to believe given the encyclopedic information found across the internet paired with the hundreds of books on the subject. For Atlanta-based aromatherapy expert andPurely Biasowner, Whitney Barnard, aromatherapy is "the essence of plants being used for medicinal and holistic purposes."

Aromatherapy involves essential oils (made from flowers, herbs, bark, roots, peels, etc.) that are either inhaled or placed directly on the skin. Given that aromatherapy is reliant upon the use of essential oils—it's even sometimes referred to as "essential oil therapy"—using an essential oil that is authentic is vital. And with the plethora of marketplaces both online and offline offering these oils, spotting a fake can prove tricky.

For Barnard—who was made aware of the benefits of aromatherapy while pursuing her own wellness journey—there are a handful of things to look out for when spotting the difference between an authenticessential oiland a phony or one mixed with other ingredients.

"Look for 100 percent essential oils," Barnard explains. "A lot of those blends [can be] synthetic. Look for reputable brands. Once you kind of get used to it, your nose will tell you what's [good]. I can spot fakelavenderfrom a mile away. It'll smell like a chemical."

一旦你抓住精油的选择,one of the best ways to use the essential oil is through a diffuser. Like its name suggests, a diffuser is a tool that spreads essential oils throughout a space, typically through the use of water vapors. There are several kinds, including nebulizing diffusers, ultrasonic diffusers, evaporative diffusers, and heat diffusers. Barnard reveals that compared to candles and plug-ins, diffusers are a less toxic option.

"Start off with a diffuser, and make sure you use it with distilled water. Use it instead of using candles, and instead of using plug-ins, which can be very toxic to your environment," she explains. "Get a diffuser and start with the essential oils you like, whether that be bergamot or cinnamon."

With a variety ofessential oilsavailable, what oils work best in what space? In addition to being a matter of personal preference, there are certain essential oils that are more beneficial depending on what your needs are. Need to sleep better? Lavender is said to promote calmness and also reduce stress and anxiety, making it the ideal essential oil for use in your bedroom.

“我把我的扩散器在我床上,我把薰衣草and peppermint oil in and let that run. And that helps my headaches and it helps me sleep," Bernard explains.

Lemon essential oil with its citrus-forward scent and purifying properties is a great pick for a kitchen. Looking for something to keep you focused while you work out of your home office? Bergamot is known to be a mood booster, and even fared well in a study to obtain clinical evidence of its effects on humans. The study, which was published by theNational Center for Biotechnology, found that bergamot essential oil, when "inhaled together with water vapor exerts psychological and physiological effects in a relatively short time."

If you are ready to delve into the world of aromatherapy, the products ahead are great for beginning your journey. They include a trio of some of the most effective essential oils, a diffuser that will fit in with just about any home decor, and options for taking your aromatherapy on the go. Read on to learn more.

A great start for those curious about the world of aromatherapy, this pack of essential oils from NOW includes tea tree, eucalyptus and lavender essential oils. The essential oils are 100 percent pure and boast calming, antiseptic and germicidal properties. With a variety of essential oils available, the NOW trio pack can be mixed and matched with orange, lemon, peppermint and other essential oils.

One of the more aesthetically pleasing options for a diffuser, the Hathaspace Marble Essential Oil Aroma Diffuser can also be used as a humidifer. Using essential oils, it naturally purifies the air. In addition to its sleek marble appearance, the Hathaspace diffuser includes seven different ambient light settings.

For a more instant aromatherapy option, consider picking up a spray. The TreeActiv Aromatherapy Room Spray gives you an immediate dose of energy, comfort, focus, and relief thanks to its peppermint and lemongrass aromatherapy oil blends. The spray's travel size bottle allows you to take it on the go with you or just easily transport it from room to room in your home.

Aromatherapy bracelets serve as another great way to take your favorite essential oils to go. This lava rock bracelet from the Aura Store comes with a calming lavender essential oil. To use the lavender essential oil, simply add a few drops onto the porous lava stone to diffuse the scent.

If you're ready for the next best thing in aromatherapy, a professional grade diffuser is worth the splurge. At a little under $100, this professional grade diffuser uses a high-frequency vibratory atomization technology to atomize all essential oils. There's no water needed and the system is ultra-quiet.