Essential oils are uniquely placed to be of use in massage. They are light and penetrating and contain the essence or soul of the plant, its personality and healing properties.

Because massage is a development of the natural urge to touch a painful part of the body, we can all make a start with a little care and energy. We all have the power to heal with our hands to some degree, and it is something we can develop. Being in a calm state of mind helps. Pleasant surroundings and atmosphere aid concentration and relaxation.

Massage provides us with the most beneficial method of absorbing essential oils into the body. We always use essential oils added to a carrier oil. The basic carrier, or vegetable oil. Lubricates the skin and reduces the friction of dry hands on dry skin. But more importantly, the carrier oil dilutes the concentrated essential oils and aids their absorption into the skin, tissues and bloodstream. Simply by massaging the back, or any large area of the body, we can introduce enough essence into the body, in dilution, to have a remedial effect.

Some sample massage blends

Carrier oil for general use: grapeseed, or almond oil with 5% wheatgerm oil.

Tight muscles Lavender 2 drops

Rosemary 2 drops

Juniper 2 drops

Carrier oil 2 teaspoons

Relaxing Lavender 2 drops

Geranium 1 drop

Marjoram 1 drop

Petigrain 2 drops

Carrier oil 2 teaspoons

Tonic Aphrodisiac Bergamot 2 drops

Ylang Ylang 1 drop

Rosewood 2 drops

Sandalwood 1 drop

Carrier oil 2 teaspoons

Self Massage

Self massage is used when stress and tension are building up in the muscles and there is no-one to massage the spots of tightness. First get in touch with your own body. Begin to develop the sense of touch in your hands with your body, its moods and tensions.

The simplest self massage works to stimulate the nerves, glands and circulation in the arms and legs. Mix a fragrant, stimulating oil and massage to increase circulation. Use a relaxing blend to reduce tiredness and tension.

Self massage is also based on Oriental techniques like shiatsu where ‘points’ on the acupuncture meridians or pathways are pressed to unblock energy in different parts of the body.

Foot massage – The soles of the feet contain many points corresponding to parts of the body. Massage your feet to increase circulation then use thumb and finger pressures to stimulate the points.

Neck press – To restore alertness press the back of the neck with your fingers and the nape of the neck with the thumbs. Start at the top and work down to the shoulders. This can be done while sitting at work, to relieve fatigue and tension.

Shoulder squeeze – Dissolve tension in the neck and shoulder area by squeezing the flesh between the shoulder and neck.

When the body feels heavy – Use the bulb of the thumb to press the right carotid artery then the left several times. Begin at the jaw and work down to the clavicle. This stimulates fresh blood flow and quick relief.

Press the temples with three fingers to relieve mental fatigue.

Sensual Massage

Any massage can be sensual depending on the state of mind of the two people involved. The emphasis here is on relaxation, enjoyment and awareness of touch. Many parts of the body are erogenous and respond to caressing and stroking. The focus is on the skin and its sensations and adapting the essential oils to a sensual purpose.

The essential oils extracted from certain plants are nature’s way of making us feel relaxed. Essences work directly on the brain through the sense of smell and can produce feelings of arousal, warmth and stimulation. The seductive aroma of the massage blends can inspire lovemaking.

A fragrant atmosphere Is the best beginning for a sensual massage.

Create a calming and romantic feeling with erotic essential oils. Use an erotic essence in your oil vaporizer. Scent your sheets with your own special blend.

Some of the erotic essences are ylang ylang, sandalwood, jasmine, rose, cedarwood, neroli, clary sage, patchouli and vetivert. Try them in your oil vaporizer or massage blend.

For the massage, prepare the carrier oil in the usual way. The essences added to the carrier will be erotic, opening oils that work to release emotional blocks and inhibitions.

Sensual massage blends

For men:

Sandalwood 2 drops

Bergamot 2 drops

Patchouli 1 drop

Carrier oil 2 teaspoons

For women:

Jasmine 1 drop

Rose 1 drop

Sandalwood 2 drops

Carrier oil 2 teaspoons

Skin and Hair

Essential oils can help many skin conditions and are a pleasure to use on a daily basis. Because essential oils are highly penetrative, they can reach the small blood capillaries in the dermis where they can work from within.

The outer skin consists of layers of skin cells. Beneath the outer skin or epidermis, lies the dermis, an area richly supplied with capillaries and nerve endings and containing the sebaceous glands which produce an oily substance called sebum. Sebum lubricates the skin. The functioning of the sebum determines whether your skin is normal, oily or dry.

Normal skin should have few problems but care is still needed to maintain its condition. Wash your face with a soap which has a natural oil base such as coconut oil or other vegetable oil. Rinse your face with a facial oil. Make up the facial oil with 1 drop of rose, 1 drop of chamomile and 2 teaspoons of sweet almond oil. Gently massage this into your face to help maintain circulation.

Oily skin is caused by overactive sebaceous glands. Wash your face with a mild soap and then wipe your face with a witch hazel toner. Then apply a light facial oil made up of 1 drop of cypress oil, 1 drop of juniper oil and 2 teaspoons of sweet almond oil.

Dry skin has less active sebaceous glands and the skin is less supple. Wash the skin with a mild soap and then rinse the face in a cool mix of chamomile tea. Massage a mixture of 1 drop of lavender oil. 1 drop of sandalwood oil. 1 drop of ylang ylang or rose oil and 2 teaspoons of carrier oil. The carrier oil is made up of 3 parts of almond oil, 3 parts of avocado oil and 1 part wheatgerm oil.

Mature sin produces less sebum and cell regeneration, making the skin less elastic and prone to wrinkles. Climate, nutrition and lifestyle are influential.

The facial carrier oil should be richer, and composed of 2 parts avocado, 2 jojoba, 2 almond or apricot and 1 part wheatgerm. Add 2 drops lavender, 2 drops palmarosa to 2 teaspoons carrier oil.

Broken capillaries are a result of weak capillaries, consumption of alcohol and cigarettes, extremely cold conditions and moving from hot to cold environments. When washing your face do not use hot water. To improve the circulation to the area use a facial oil of 1 drop of parsley, 1 drop of cypress, 1 drop of neroli and 2 teaspoons of carrier oil.

A general rule for facial oils, when in doubt about the mixture, is to use 1 drop of essence to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil. This gives a concentration of 2% of essential oil which is a safe blend for all skin types.

Hair is affected by the same factors as the skin. Sebaceous glands supply sebum to the hair making it normal, dry or oily. Essential oils can help to keep the scalp and hair healthy. Use a mild shampoo and add drops of lavender and rosemary to aid cleansing. Give the scalp a monthly massage with oil.

A hair soak and massage

Lavender 3 drops

Petigrain 1 drop

Rosemary 3 drops

Tea tree 1 drop

Sweet almond oil 4 teaspoons

Essences for Men

Some essential oils are more masculine, or have a special relevance to men. These can be the warmer, earthier essences that have a pronounced ‘Yang’ or external energy. These spices and resins have a wonderfully stimulating and sharpening appeal. Fresh and exhilarating citrus, or many of the lighter or floral essences, balance ‘Yang’ with its opposite and complement the ‘Yin’ or internal energy.

Fragrance has been a part of male life through Egypt, Babylon, Rome, Greece, the ancient empires of Arabia, India and the East and virtually right up to the Victorian period in the 19th century. A fragrant or scented man was rarely seen as remarkable until the practicalities and conformity of the Industrial Age, and up to the middle of this century, when men were only supposed to smell of honest sweat, tobacco and tweed. Since WWII there has been a great growth of aftershaves, colognes, perfumes and deodorants for men. With the growth of interest in alternative remedies, the environment, and all things natural, essential oils have much to offer as fragrances and deodorants.

Patchouli - is like warm earth, musty and erotic, but use in small amounts. Can be used in cupboards to scent cotton and woolens.

Sandalwood – is warm and peaceful yet subtly erotic.

Vetivert - is smoky and earthy with a positive vibration. Use in very small amounts.

Frankincense – is clean, spicy, emotion releasing and enlightening.

Spice oils – are stimulating and refreshing but not to be used undiluted on the skin.

Cypress - is smoky and piny, controls perspiration and is a deodorant.

Lavender – is refreshing, a deodorant and skin toner.

Sensual Baths

A bath is a more luxurious method of washing the body. It is also an opportunity to use aromatic oils for the relaxation and therapeutic nourishment of the body and mind. A fragrant bath can be made for someone special.

Warm the bathroom air and scent with fragrant oils. The water should be warm, not too hot or cold. Add drops of essence to the water. Soak in the bath and take deep inhalations while your skin absorbs the oils. Essence can be added to a little carrier oil for more nourishment of dry skin.

Besides pure pleasure and relaxation, fragrant baths can benefit insomnia, nervous tension, muscular conditions, circulatory and respiratory conditions. Use 3 drops of each essential oil for bath formulas.

Relaxing Bath – Bergamot

Geranium

Lavender

Invigorating Bath – Lemon

Juniper

Pine

Sensuous bath – Sandalwood

Neroli

Ylang Ylang

Inhalations and Vaporisers

A very popular method of using essential oils for pleasure and therapy is with vaporizers, or oil burners. They release the essence into the air via steam. Aromas in a room or office can elevate mood and increase performance as they cleanse and freshen the air. Many essences kill bacteria in the air.

Inhaling essences can relieve tension, headache, colds, sore throat and blocked noses. If you need a more concentrated form of the essence, put a few drops of your chosen essence into a bowl of steaming water and inhale steam. To increase the effect, cover your head and the bowl with a towel and inhale the steam. Do not inhale steam that will burn and do not go out in the cold air after doing this or you might expose your tender nose and throat.

Essences can also be put onto a handkerchief or cotton wool and left beside the bed. A simple pottery jar with oil in it will also release essence into the air. A formula for room antiseptic is equal parts of cinnamon, lemongrass and thyme oil.

A breathe-easy formula is equal parts of peppermint, eucalyptus, cajuput and bergamot. A headache formula is one part lavender to one part bergamot.

To use a vaporizer is simple. Put water in the bowl, light the candle and add the essence. Keep topping up the water and add more essence when the first lot has faded in aroma.