Colleen Thompson, RA, MIFPA, Founder of Essence of Thyme College of Holistic Studies, was named the winner of the 2021 Founder’s Award by the Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA). AIA is dedicated to the education of aromatherapists, healthcare professionals and the public in all aspects of aromatherapy.

The Founder’s Award is “presented to an AIA member who...

As aromatherapists, we know that Nature heals.

And as healers, we have a responsibility to heal the plants first. If we want a bright and sustainable future for the practice of aromatherapy, we must all do our part.

At Essence of Thyme, we take sustainability seriously. Aromatherapy is a path of lifelong study — to us, this is inseparable from learning how to protect and support our...

It’s a question we hear a lot. 

“Why did you choose a honeycomb as your logo?”

The easy answer: “Because it represents everything we believe in.”

The deeper answer: “Let us tell you about the benzene ring.” 

The Benzene Ring

As the story has it, in 1865, the discovery of the benzene ring came to Friedrich Kekulé, a German organic...

Mandarin Essential Oil
Citrus reticulata Blanco (C. nobilis)
Family Rutaceae

If you are seeking an essential oil that is chock-full of benefits, is sustainable, and has no contraindications, mandarin essential oil is a great choice.

Background

The mandarin is a small evergreen tree which is native to southern China. It is approximately 6 m (20 ft) tall, and has glossy leaves and fragrant flowers....

Botanical Names

It is vital to understand the value and importance of Latin scientific names, also known, for plants, as botanical names. A botanical name is binomial in that it is made up of two parts: the first part indicating the genus of the plant, and the second part, the species. For example, Bursera graveolens (Figure 1) begins with the name of the genus – Bursera - followed...

Fungi

Many years ago, fungi were classified as plants, but that has changed! Fungi are a distinct group of organisms that include mushrooms, mold, and yeast, and are different from plants for two reasons: their cells walls are composed of chitin, and they don’t make their own food. Plants have cell walls composed of cellulose and use photosynthesis to make their own food.

Fungi are...

Ghandi Root

Ghandi Root (Homalomena aromatica), an evergreen perennial, belongs to the Family Araceae, which is the most diverse plant family in the New World Tropics!

This essential oil-bearing plant’s native range occupies the tropical and subtropical forests from Assam to China.

Ghandi Root is identifiable by its heart-shaped leaves and orange yellow berries (Kew RBC, 2020) (Figure...

“All things are bound together. All things connect.” - Chief Seattle

Mass Extinction

Scientists revealed in 2010 that the Earth is undergoing its sixth mass extinction whereby over 1,000,000 species are facing extinction (1). One of the two factors primarily contributing to this alarming number is habitat destruction, fuelled in particular by monoculture, urban sprawl,...

Cedrol

Cedrol is a tricyclic sesquiterpene alcohol commonly occurring in the essential oils of conifer trees, especially those belonging to the Cupressus and Juniperus genera. It occurs in essential oil of Juniperus virginiana (Virginian, red or Eastern red cedarwood) (Figure 1) at proportions of approximately 24-32% (ter Heide et al, 1988; Kitchens et...

Aniseed essential oil 

Essential oil of aniseed (Pimpinella anisum) is not usually among those that we select when  requiring an uplifting, antidepressive effect. We might think instead of essential oils such as lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), bergamot (Citrus bergamia) and sandalwood (Santalum spp.), all of which have shown beneficial effects in clinical trials on mood parameters...