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Aromatherapy Glossary
Aromatherapy Glossary
Absolute
See What are Absolutes?
Aromatherapy
The use of essential oils and other natural aromatic
substances for psychological and physical therapeutic benefit. See
What is Aromatherapy?
Botanical Name
The Latin name given to a species of plant to
clearly distinguish it from other plants that share the same common
name. Examples: Roman Chamomile's botanical name is Anthemis
nobilis. German chamomile's botanical name is Matricaria
chamomilla.
CO2s
See What are CO2s?
Common Name
The "everyday" name given to a plant.
Examples: Bay, Chamomile, Cedar, Orange, Tea Tree and Eucalyptus.
Each of these examples has multiple different species with different
properties, yet the species go by the same common name. Because
of the possible confusion between common names referring to different
species, it is important that the botanical name is utilized for
clarity. When purchasing essential oils, be sure you refer to the
botanical name. If the vendor does not supply the botanical name,
ask for it. Be leery if they don't know.
Dram
A unit of measurement equaling about 1/8 of an
ounce. See the Measurements article for
more information on measurements commonly used in aromatherapy.
Carrier Oil
See What are Carrier Oils?
Essential Fatty Acids
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are fatty acids that
our bodies cannot manufacture and need to get from our diets. When
applied topically, they are very nourishing to our skin. Carrier
oils vary in their ratio and specific EFAs that they contain. EFAs
are a benefit to the skin, but they also can make an oil more fragile
and prone to quicker rancidity. See the Essential
Fatty Acids article for more information.
Essential Oil
See What are Essential Oils?
Floral Water
See What are Hydrosols?
Fragrance Oils
See What are Fragrance
Oils?
Hydrosols
See What are Hydrosols?
Infused Oils
See What are Infused Oils?
Orifice Reducer
Most essential oils are sold in bottles that contain
an "orifice reducer." An orifice reducer is a small, usually
clear insert inside the bottle opening that acts as a dropper. You
simply tip the bottle and you can dispense the oil drop by drop.
See the Storing Your Essential Oils article
for a photo of an orifice reducer.
Perfume Oils
See What are Fragrance
Oils?
Pipette
A disposable plastic dropper used in place of
an orifice reducer or an eyedropper for dispensing essential oils.
Resins
See What are Resins?
Synergy
A synergistic essential oil blend of the correct
oils in proper proportions is considered to be greater in total
benefit than each oil working independently, thus creating "synergy."
See the Recipes Box area for
example synergies.
Viscosity
A measurement of the resistance of a liquid to
movement and flow. For purposes in comparing essential oils or carrier
oils, things are usually kept simple by referring to them as having
a "thin," "medium" or "thick" viscosity.
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