Have a question that’s not answered in the Aromatherapy FAQs below or elsewhere on the website? Submit a question for consideration to be added to PA’s Aromatherapy FAQs or schedule an Aromatherapy Consultation!
Q: Do I have to schedule an Aromatherapy Consultation for you to answer ANY questions I have?
A: Definitely not. Please feel free to just email me with any product or pricing questions that you can’t find answered on this website or the Powers Aromatherapy online shopping site. If your question really requires an Aromatherapy Consultation be scheduled, I’ll let you know.
Q: Why do I need an Aromatherapy Consultation for you to make me a Custom Aromatherapy Blend?
A: There are a few very important things I need to consider for both safety and effectiveness of the blend, such as the person’s:
- Age and overall health
- Medications or supplements used
- Specific concern(s) to be addressed
- Contact with household members (both human and pet, depending on blend)
Based on your answers to the above, I’ll then be able to choose:
- The specific essential oils and bases I’ll use (and in what dilution)
- The method of application (type of product and container chosen)
Q: Can I order a product that you don’t list on your website without scheduling an Aromatherapy Consultation?
A: This question often comes from someone wanting a Lip Balm, Body Lotion, Personal Scent Spray, etc. using different essential oils and/or bases from the blends I already offer in my Essence Blend line.
If the product desired will be used by an otherwise healthy individual over the age of 10, I can usually accommodate your request as long as I have access to the ingredients and other necessary supplies and I don’t have any safety concerns about the specifics of your request.
Please feel free to just email me with your request – let me know the type of product, size, and the other specifics of your request. If your request requires an Aromatherapy Consultation be scheduled, I’ll let you know.
Q: Why can’t I use your Essence, Formula, Inspired, or Specialty Aromatherapy Blends on children under 10, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or anyone with current medical issues?
A: There are some Specialty Blends that are crafted for all ages!
There are various opinions about the best age to start using essential oils for babies and kids. Babies and young children tend to be very sensitive, so my approach leans toward the cautious side. I generally recommend using the therapeutic benefits from bases and hydrosols (without including essential oils in the blends) for babies and kids under age 10.
When using essential oils with pregnant or breastfeeding women, or anyone with current medical issues, we need to determine first if essential oils can be used safely, and, if so, begin with a lower concentration than typically recommended for otherwise healthy individuals over the age of 10.
You can always schedule an Aromatherapy Consultation for further education or to discuss crafting a Custom Blend for anyone in these categories!
Q: Why don’t you offer every type of product in each Essence, Formula, Inspired, and Specialty Aromatherapy Blend?
A: The primary explanation for this is that essential oils all have different therapeutic uses and safety concerns, some of which depend on how (and to where) they’re applied. Inspired Blends marked as Limited Edition and Low Stock may not offer a product simply because I don’t have enough stock left to make certain types of products. And… sometimes there are just some common-sense reasons!
Just a few examples:
- NO potentially respiratory irritating essential oils in Aroma Inhalers – it could defeat the purpose of an enjoyable (and therapeutic) olfactory experience!
- NO *hot* essential oils in Bath Salts – it could cause skin irritation!
- NO phototoxic essential oils in Body Butters/Lotions/Sprays – it could cause a skin burn if you spend much time outdoors!
- NO blue-colored essential oils in Linen Spray – it could stain your fabric or clothes!
Some of these no-no’s don’t hold the same weight in Custom Blends as I can craft them with appropriate ratios to bases for the individual’s needs and circumstances after I have the information from their intake.
Q: I know many citrus essential oils are phototoxic, so how do you use them safely in your blends?
A: It is the cold-pressed extraction process that produces phototoxic citrus essential oils. When using a cold-pressed citrus essential oil, I keep its levels in the blend below the phototoxicity level. Or, I choose a steam distilled citrus essential oil instead!
Q: How can I order a larger size of a blend than what I see offered on your website?
A: Please email me with the blend name (e.g., Clean Is Keen) and type (e.g., Bathroom Spray), specifying what size you’re looking for so that I can let you know if I can accommodate your request and provide a price quote.
Q: What is the difference between the same product named Lavender Orange vs. Orange Lavender?
A: You can really insert any Essence Blend name into this question (e.g., Lemon Lime vs. Lime Lemon). In the case of reverse naming, whichever essential oil is named first indicates that the product has more of that essential oil in the blend than the other(s) named. If a product is offered under one name, but not the reverse name, there may be equitable amounts of each essential oil in the blend, or there is a reason the other essential oil(s) isn’t(aren’t) used in the same quantity as the first-named essential oil.
Q: What is a Stock Bottle?
A: A Stock Bottle is a blend of multiple single essential oils, without use of a base (carrier). Essential oils are chosen for their therapeutic effect and blended in safe ratios to address the issue of concern.
Q: What is the difference between a Bathroom Spray and a Room Spray?
A: Not much. I use the same ratio of essential oils to bases (and the same types of bases) in both. However, a Bathroom Spray needs to include essential oils that are amazing at combating odor. Whereas, you might want a Room Spray for its therapeutic benefits or just because you like the scent of the included essential oils.
Q: Can I use a Room (or Bathroom) Spray as a Linen Spray?
A: No. Room (and Bathroom) Sprays contain salt, whereas Linen Sprays contain hydrosols, which are gentle and skin-friendly. You want your Linen Spray to help support any skin that comes in contact with your linens! Additionally, some Room Sprays contain base or essential oils that can soil your linens.
Q: Can I use a Room (or Bathroom or Linen) Spray as a Body (or Personal Scent) Spray?
A: No. There are a few reasons for this:
- Body (and Personal Scent) Sprays only include essential oils that aren’t phototoxic (or are included at safe levels below phototoxicity).
- Room (and Bathroom and Linen) Sprays don’t include a dispersant. Dispersants keep the essential oils mixed with the base. Without this, the essential oils in your blend would simply start to evaporate in the air before they land on your skin to give you the therapeutic benefits of the essential oils you’re looking for with a Body Spray as well as the lingering scent you’re looking for with a Personal Scent Spray.
- Room (and Bathroom Sprays) contain salt. It defeats the purpose to have salt sitting on your skin, sucking up the moisture you’re helping protect with a Body or Personal Scent Spray.
Q: What is the difference between a Body Spray and a Personal Scent Spray?
A: Not much. I use the same ratio of essential oils to bases (and the same types of bases) in both. However, a Body Spray is usually used for the therapeutic benefits of the included essential oils – not so much for the purpose of smelling good. Whereas, Personal Scent Sprays are typically chosen primarily because you like the scent of the included essential oils.
Q: When is the best time to apply a Body Butter or Body Lotion?
A: The SHORT ANSWER: 1) After a bath or shower and 2) before bed.
The LONGER ANSWER: One of the best times to apply Body Butter or Body Lotion is directly after bathing. Your skin has the most moisture when it’s wet, and most moisturizers work best when skin is already hydrated. After you bathe, water evaporates off your skin quickly, which can leave your skin feeling dry. The best way to seal in moisture is to apply a Body Butter or Body Lotion immediately after while skin is still slightly damp.
BONUS ANSWER: Moisture is pulled out of the skin as we sleep, so applying a Body Butter or Body Lotion right before bed is key. Added bonus: Soft and smooth skin is always a nice feeling as you slip into the sheets.
Q: What is a GC/MS report?
A: Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) is testing used by analytic chemists to determine the precise chemical constituents of an essential oil used in Aromatherapy, and whether it is pure or adulterated with synthetic chemicals or other products. These reports don’t often make much sense to the general essential oil user; however, a very important part of a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist’s education is related to making sense of these reports and how to choose essential oils by their resulting constituents (components) for therapeutic use.