Aromatherapy has been around for a long time. There is evidence that ancient Egyptians used distillation machines to extract oils from plants for aromatic effect. Today, it is still popular and there is a growing body of evidence that suggests there may actually be tangible benefits to aromatherapy. The benefits in reducing stress and anxiety are so accepted at this point that some hospitals even add aromatherapy to their patients’ recovery rooms because the reduction in stress and anxiety induced by aromatherapy actually helps speed up medical recovery. Adding aromatherapy to your spa services just might be the perfect thing to improve client experience and take your spa to the next level.
Types Of Aromatherapy
Lavender Essential Oil
Vetiver Essential Oil
Lavender oil has been used as an aromatherapy agent in spas for a long time now and, if you are just diving into aromatherapy at your business, lavender oil is a great place to start. As an added benefit, there are clinical trials which prove that it has mild anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory and mood enhancing effects. Also, it is relatively inexpensive and could be a clever way to improve clients’ massage experience without hurting your bottom line.
Vetiver is a plant native to India whose essential oils are extracted for aromatherapy purposes. Sometimes, used in men’s colognes, it is popular for its purported ability to improve mental alertness and mental fatigue. In fact, there have been some limited studies which prove that it does have this effect.
Chamomile Essential Oil
While many of us are probably familiar with Chamomile oil as a relaxing tea, many people may not be aware that its essential oil is also used in aromatherapy and may provide a natural mood boost as some studies suggest. Giving your clients a natural mood boost with aromatherapy that contains chamomile while you are giving them massage services may be the perfect way to help them create positive associations with your spa and continue to return time and time again.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Any mint lovers out there? If so, this may be the perfect essential oil for you and your spa. While there are not a whole lot of studies backing up the purported benefits of peppermint oil, it is a strong fragrance which many people do enjoy and find relaxing. Therefore, it is still a great aromatherapy addition to your spa’s massages since one of the primary goals of massage services is the enjoyment of your client.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus may have a smell similar to the mint family but it also has more benefits. Eucalyptus is proven to clear airways and prevent breathing congestion. In fact, for this reason it is used in Vicks vapor rub. However, it is also a great addition to your aromatherapy oils. What’s more is it has antibacterial properties which may be appealing to many of your clients during these times of the pandemic. Give this essential oil a try and see how your massage clients react.
Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary, sometimes used as food seasoning, is actually one of the most popular aromatic plants worldwide. For this “essential oil,” “oil” is a bit of a misnomer because the plant does not actually contain any fat and is, therefore, technically not an oil. However, it is still generally labeled as such as sold alongside other essential oils. When rosemary oil is inhaled, it may relieve stress and anxiety and improve energy and alertness.
Conclusion
As salon and spa business owners, we should always be looking for little things which can take our clients’ experience to the next level. Essential oils may be a good way to do this because many of them have proven benefits and are relatively inexpensive when compared against other business improvement measures. Therefore, see if providing a little aromatherapy during massage sessions improves the level of enjoyment the client experiences.