We are all drawn by the sensuous appeal of fragrant essences such as rose, jasmine, and lavender, but the knowledge of their practical application in healing is largely unknown. The essential oils of flowers and herbs have been used since the dawn of civilization for their healing, beautifying, and soothing properties. Over the past fifty years, these properties have been rediscovered and verified by European scientific research, establishing the therapeutic use of essential oils throughout the world.

In The Art of Aromatherapy Robert Tisserand recounts the history and use of oils in cosmetics and perfumes from ancient Egyptian times to the present day. His comprehensive guide shows how to use essential oils as a gentle, harmless, yet effective method of natural healing.

In The Art of Aromatherapy, twenty-nine essences are described in detail, with a list of their properties and applications. Tables of evaporation rate and odor intensity are provided along with a complete glossary of medical terms and a therapeutic index that lists more than one hundred illnesses and the essential oils used in treating them.

Tisserand details the important uses of essential oils in Swedish, shiatsu, and neuro-muscular massage and discusses the curative and rejuvenating effects of aromatherapy on emotional tension, mental strain, and skin troubles. With its wealth of easy-to-make recipes for massage and medicinal oils, facial masks, ointments, and aromatic baths, The Art of Aromatherapy unlocks the hidden strength of flowers and herbs to restore radiant beauty and health.