If you're reading this, odds are that you use essential oils and are mindful of the fragile state planet Earth is in. Thinking about just how fragile our planet truly is can leave you feeling overwhelmed and anxious; I know that is how I’m left feeling sometimes!

My relationship with essential oil-bearing plants is one I greatly value, especially as an aromatherapist - our planet is built...

Have you been wondering whether aromatherapy certification, including in-depth aromatherapy case studies, will make you a better aromatherapist? Meet Angie Kennedy, CAAP, our Case Study Team Leader. In this in-depth interview, Angie unpacks the Essence of Thyme case study process: why it matters, what you’ll learn, and the support you’ll receive.

Why are formal aromatherapy case...

Infused carrier oils are an asset to any aromatherapist: they’re gentle and versatile, and they lend their own beneficial properties to a product. Making your own infused carrier oils is easy, can be done at home, and gives you an opportunity to connect more fully with each plant and understand it holistically.

Because they are created with their end use in mind, it’s easy to end up...

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...