FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

1. Are Tisserand Aromatherapy essential oils organic?

Sourced from around the world, Tisserand Aromatherapy essential oils are either organic, wild crafted or ethically harvested:

ORGANIC

Certified organic essential oils are derived from plants that have been grown without the use of man-made fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides. Instead, it uses ecosystem management methods to maintain the health of both plant and soil, guaranteeing there are no inputs such as genetic modification or irradiation. The benefits of organic agriculture include no pollution of the local air or groundwater and no synthetic chemicals in the plant or its essential oil, while maintaining the viability of the local environment. International standards are set by IFOAM ( the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements), which also accredits many certifying bodies, for example the Soil Association or French Ecocert.

WILD CRAFTED

Wild crafted essential oils are derived from plants that are not cultivated, but are gathered from their wild habitat. Although they are not organic, they are grown in their natural habitat, in conditions favourable to the health of the plant. Care is also taken to remain as sustainable as possible.

ETHICALLY HARVESTED

An ethically harvested essential oil is derived from a herb, shrub or tree that is consciously cultivated in its natural environment to ensure the species grows in abundance and is not depleted. As far as aromatic plants are concerned, species depletion is only rarely a problem with herbs (which are mostly easy to grow in quantity) but tends to be more of an issue with slow-growing trees.

2. Can pure essential oils be used neat on the skin?

Essential oils should not be used neat on the skin, as they are highly concentrated and could potentially cause a negative skin reaction. Essential oils should either be diluted in a blending oil, unfragranced lotion or cream.

3. How can I use essential oils in the massage?

There is nothing quite like a massage to make you feel soothed or energised. However, as pure essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin, they need to be diluted first. To create a body message blend, add up to 5 drops of essential oil to 10mls of blending oil or unfragranced lotion. For a facial massage blend, add no more than 2 drops of essential oil per 10mls. Use no more than 10 drops in any one treatment.

4. How can I use essential oils in the bath?

Bathing with essential oils is one of the easiest and most enjoyable forms of therapy. Just before getting into a full bath, add 4-6 drops of essential oil (or blend of oils) in 20mls of blending oil, such as Jojoba or Sweet Almond and swirl the water to disperse fully. For an indulging bath milk, thoroughly mix the essential oil (or blend) with a cup of full fat milk.

5. How can I use essential oils via inhalation?

Some essential oils, such as Eucalyptus and Tea Tree, are ideal for inhalation, because of their head-clearing and stimulating properties. Add 3-5 drops of essential oil to a bowl of very hot (not boiling) water and inhale the vapour for 5-10 minutes; the effect will be maximised by placing a towel over the head. If you are out and about, simply add 1-2 drops of essential oil to a tissue and inhale.

6. How can I use essential oils to fragrance a room?

The evaporative properties of essential oils make them ideal for use in a vaporiser. To create the fragrance or mood of your choice, simply add 6-8 drops of essential oil or a blend or essential oils to your Tisserand Aromatherapy Aroma Spa or favourite vaporiser - perfect for the home or workplace.

7. Can I use essential oils on children?

We do not recommend using essential oils on children under 5 years old.

For children aged 6-11 years old, no more than 2 drops of essential oil per 10mls of carrier oil should be used.

Children over 11 years old can be treated using 5 drops of essential oil in every 10mls of carrier oil, not exceeding 10 drops in total.

8. How long will my essential oils last?

Essential oils should ideally be used within one year of opening. The best way to maximise the life of your oils is to keep them in a cool dark place, away from direct sunlight. If the oil is exposed to heat, air or light, the shelf life will greatly diminish. Old oils should never be used as there is a risk of irritation or sensitisation.

9. When shouldn't essential oils be used?

Consult your healthcare professional before using essential oils during pregnancy.

If you have a skin condition, epilepsy, asthma, blood pressure irregularities or are taking prescribed medication, please seek medical guidance before using essential oils.

10. Can I ingest your essentials oils?

Ingesting essential oils for medicinal use or using them in cookery is potentially very hazardous and is not something that we would ever recommend. The human digestive system is used to processing essential oils in minute amounts in herbs and spices, and this is safe practice; however, any essential oil is at least 100 times more concentrated than found in a herb or a spice, which can cause irritation and internal damage to the digestive tract.

This is why we never recommend that essential oils are used in this way. Our range contains quality essential oils which are carefully quality assessed, but the practice of oral use is not recommended.

11. Are your essential oils therapeutic grade?

The suggestion of different 'grades' of essential oils being safe for oral use or cookery is untrue. Essential oils should never be swallowed or used in food. The question of grade is irrelevant - the important thing is that the essential oil comes from a reputable boranical source, is extracted correctly and has the right aroma profile to give optimum benefit. All these aspects of essential oil assessment are integral to Tisserand Aromatherapy essential oil Quality Control.

12. How do I dispose of essential oils?

You can dispose of the contents of essential oils by washing down a sink with washing up liquid and hot water. Dispose of glass bottles via recycling.

13. Can essential oils be used during pregnancy?

It is safe to use essential oils in a vaporiser or diffuser to scent the air. As a general rule, home users of pure essential oils should not use them in massage or in the bath during the first trimester (12 weeks) of pregnancy because of the risk of using the wrong type of oil or accidently using too much. It is particularly important not to swallow essential oils during pregnancy because of rapid absorption into the bloodstream. Consult a healthcare professional or fully trained aromatherapist before using essential oils at any stage of pregnancy.

14. How should essential oils be stored?

Keep bottles tightly closed, in a cool dark place out of direct sunlight and well out of reach of children.

15. Can essential oils be used on pets?

Caution should always be taken when using essential oils around pets, and should never be applied to animals without the advice of a qualified aromatherapist or veterinary specialist.

Diffusing with pets:

Extra caution should be taken when diffusing essential oils in a home with cats. Cats have very sensitive livers and cannot easily tolerate essential oils. If diffusing in a house with cats ensure periods of diffusing are kept to a minimum and that the room you are diffusing in is well ventilated.