Aromatherapy: what it is, how it works, and why scent reaches you so fast
Aromatherapy is the use of aromatic essential oils to support health and wellbeing. It is a therapy that has been practised for centuries, rooted in the simple observation that certain plants, when inhaled or applied to the skin, have a measurable effect on how we feel.
Holistic aromatherapy goes a step further. It considers the whole person, not just a symptom or a skin concern, and works on both a physical and emotional level simultaneously. This is something I have always believed in, and it shapes everything about the way I formulate.
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are the concentrated aromatic molecules found naturally within scented plants. Each one carries the characteristic scent of the plant it comes from, representing the very heart of that plant’s character, which is where the word ‘essential’ originates.
They are extracted most commonly by steam distillation, a process that has changed very little in over a thousand years. The quality of the plant, when it is harvested, how it is handled, and how quickly it reaches the extraction process all influence the quality of the oil. This is why sourcing matters so much, and why I have always worked with trusted suppliers whose standards I can verify directly.
How does aromatherapy actually work?
When you inhale an essential oil, aromatic molecules travel through the nose and bind to receptors within the nasal cavity. These signals are sent to the olfactory bulb, which is closely connected to the part of the brain that processes mood, memory, and emotion. This is why scent feels so immediate. It does not ask you to think. It simply happens.
It is also why certain aromas can transport you instantly to a person, a place, or a feeling you had almost forgotten. That is not imagination. It is a real physiological process, and it is one of the things that makes aromatherapy so quietly powerful. Research suggests it takes only a few seconds for an inhaled essential oil to begin influencing mood, which is remarkable when you consider how long it takes most other therapies to take effect.
How does it work through the skin?
Essential oil molecules are small enough to penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream through a process called transdermal absorption. This is why diluting them correctly in a carrier oil before applying them to the skin is so important. They are highly concentrated, and a little goes a long way.
When essential oils are blended into a base of plant butters and cold-pressed oils, as they are in Magic 9 Balm, both the skin and the nervous system benefit at once. The skin is nourished, and the aromatic compounds are absorbed and inhaled simultaneously, working on mood and emotion as the balm is applied.
The everyday benefits of aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is not only for clinical settings or formal treatments. It is something you can weave quietly into daily life. Diffusing a calming oil in the evening, inhaling peppermint when your head feels foggy, or applying a balm rich in therapeutic essential oils as part of a morning or bedtime ritual, these are all forms of aromatherapy that genuinely support mental and physical wellbeing over time.
The key is using oils of therapeutic quality. Only a small percentage of essential oils produced globally meet this standard, and the difference in effect is significant.
Non-therapeutic oils, which make up the majority of what is sold, are primarily used in perfumery, food production, and pharmaceuticals. They smell similar but do not carry the same depth of effect.
A note on quality
I have worked with essential oils for 25 years, in clinical practice, in formulation, and in everyday life. In that time I have learned that quality is everything. The origin of the plant, the method of extraction, and the integrity of the supplier all feed into the final oil, and you can tell the difference when you use them regularly.
Magic 9 Balm contains nine therapeutic-grade essential oils, chosen not only for their individual properties but for the way they work together as a complete blend. Each one has a role, and the formula has remained unchanged since I first created it in 2005 because it simply works.
If you would like to begin exploring essential oils for everyday use, I put together a short guide called The Aromatherapist’s Trio, covering three oils I return to constantly, how to use them, and when to reach for each one.
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