The cost of misinformation The Aromatherapy industry currently navigates a difficult landscape between clinical validation and an "infodemic" of uneducated advice. When practitioners suggest protocols based on personal anecdotes rather than chemistry, the safety of the entire field is compromised. When a user experiences an adverse reaction, such as sensitization or a chemical burn, they rarely blame the individual’s poor advice; instead, they conclude that "Aromatherapy doesn’t work,"...

Adulteration and the “placebo effect.” Recently, I attended a presentation in which the speaker said we shouldn’t worry about synthetics or adulterants in our essential oils. Why? Because the average consumer doesn’t know about them, and if they believe the cheap oil purchased online has helped them, then that’s okay. I disagree. After a quick search on Amazon for essential oils, I found a set of six 15mL bottles for $9.95. As an Aromatherapist for almost 25 years, I’ve learned where best to...