Have you ever wondered why essential oils are so popular in spas and wellness centers? According to a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, using essential oils in massages can significantly reduce stress levels and improve quality of life.
These natural oils are more than just an aromatic addition to your massage session. They possess therapeutic properties that can transform your massage experience into a true moment of relaxation and sensory care.
Of course, creating the ideal massage atmosphere is just as important as choosing the right essential oil.
Whether it's stress reduction, pain relief or a feeling of well-being, the virtues of massage are numerous. And while they are an important component of a healthy lifestyle, it's important to know which essential oil to use for a rejuvenating, relaxing massage.
In this guide, we'll help you select the right oils and combine them for optimum results.
Imagine yourself in a luxurious spa, reclining on a massage table. The room is lit by scented candles, and soft music fills the air.
The intoxicating aroma of lavender begins to envelop you as the therapist pours a few drops of essential oil into a vegetable oil mixture.
As soon as his expert hands begin to work on your tense muscles, you feel a wave of relaxation wash over you.
This is no simple massage; it's a multi-sensory experience, made possible by the addition of essential oils.
Take Claire, an executive who works 60 hours a week under constant pressure. She has found that adding a few drops ofTrue Lavender essential oil to her weekly massage really helps her to decompress.
True lavender(Lavandula angustifolia)essential oil, known for its calming and soothing properties due to its combined content of linalool, linalyl acetate and coumarins, enables Claire to leave the stress of the office behind and refocus.
Marc, an amateur athlete, swears by Wintergreen essential oil to relieve muscle pain after intense training.
After trying several methods, he found that adding Wintergreen(Gaultheria fragrantissima)essential oil to his massage oil provided fast, effective relief, enabling him to recover more quickly for his next sporting challenge.Gaultheria essential oil, also known as wintergreen or winter tea, with its high content of methyl salicylate, a compound similar to aspirin, acts on muscle relaxation and pain relief.
Sophie, a young mother, was feeling tense and overwhelmed by her daily routine.
She was pleasantly surprised to find that theessential oil of Ylang-Ylang(Cananga odorata) added to her massage oil helped her to relax, ease minor aches and pains and escape with its exotic scent. In fact, this essential oil is particularly rich in esters, molecules with calming, pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects.
Finding yourself faced with a shelf full of essential oils with different Latin names can be daunting when you're not used to them. You may be asking yourself, "Which essential oil is best for my relaxing massage?"
Don't panic, here are a few criteria to guide you:
- Pleasant scent : The choice of fragrance is crucial, as it's an integral part of the massage experience. Choose an essential oil with a scent you like.
- Therapeutic properties: Some essential oils have specific properties that can help reduce stress, relieve muscle pain or promote relaxation. Choose according to your needs.
- Quality and purity: To avoid additives and synthetic fragrances, we recommend choosing essential oils that are 100% pure, authentic and organic. To find out more, read our article on what makes an essential oil good.
- Organic certification: Look for organic certification labels, such as COSMOS, to ensure the absence of pesticides and chemical substances.
- Laboratory-tested: It's always a good idea to choose essential oils that have been laboratory-tested to guarantee their purity and efficacy.
In addition to determining which essential oils to use for a relaxing massage, it's important to understand the differences between essential oils and plant oils, so as to be able to combine them effectively.
For skin care, vegetable oil is an excellent carrier for essential oils. It is chosen for the qualities of its fats and its ability to penetrate the skin easily.
A vegetable oil is a fatty substance, liquid at room temperature, extracted from an oleaginous plant, i.e. a plant whose seeds, nuts, almonds or fruits contain lipids.
For body massages, vegetable oils such as Sweet Almond(Prunus dulcis), known for its softening and penetrating qualities, and Hemp(Cannabis sativa), which helps maintain skin hydration, are particularly popular.
There are also oil macerates for massages. These are obtained by macerating plants in vegetable oil to add active ingredients. This is the case, for example, with Calendula(Calendula officinalis) and St John's Wort(Hypericum perforatum) oil macerates, often used in skin care products for irritated skin.
Now that you know which essential and plant oils to choose for a relaxing massage, you'll find in this summary table ideas for associations and alternatives (with essential oils with similar properties) to create the massage oil best suited to your needs and preferences:
|
Desired benefits |
Stress reduction |
Muscle relaxation |
Relaxation |
|
Suggested essential oils |
True lavender(Lavandula angustifolia) (Pinus pinaster) Roman chamomile(Anthemis nobilis) |
Wintergreen(Gaultheria fragrantissima) Rosemary(Rosmarinus officinalis) (Laurus nobilis) |
Ylang-Ylang(Cananga odorata) Geranium bourbon(Pelargonium graveolens) Petit Grain Bigarade(Citrus aurantium var. amara) |
|
Suggested vegetable oils/oil macerates |
(Cannabis sativa) Calendula(Calendula officinalis) |
St John's wort(Hypericum perforatum) Sweet almond(Prunus dulcis) |
(Simmondsia chinensis) (Cannabis sativa) |
Feel free to create your own blend, in accordance with the dosages and precautions described below of course!
You've chosen your essential oil(s) and vegetable oil(s), and you're ready to plunge into a world of relaxation. But wait, do you know how to use these precious oils safely and effectively?
In this section, we'll look at the correct dosage and the precautions to take for a safe, relaxing massage.
Dosage is crucial when using essential oils for massage. Too much can be irritating to the skin or disturbing to the sense of smell, while too little won't give you the results you're looking for.
- Dilution: Always start by diluting your essential oil in a vegetable oil such as sweet almond oil. A general rule of thumb is to dilute essential oil to 2%, i.e. to use 15 to 18 drops of essential oil for each ounce (30 ml) of vegetable oil.
- Skin test: Before embarking on a full massage, perform a small skin test to check for any allergic reactions. Apply a small amount to the wrist or elbow and wait 24 hours.
- Application: Use gentle, circular movements to apply the massage oil. Concentrate on tense areas and pressure points for maximum effect.
Safety is paramount when using essential oils. Here are a few precautions to take:
- Consult a professional: If you are pregnant, breast-feeding or have any health problems, always consult a health professional before using essential oils.
- Avoid eyes and mucous membranes: Essential oils are highly concentrated and can irritate these sensitive areas. If you accidentally apply them to these areas, add vegetable oil to dilute them as much as possible.
- Keep out of reach of children: Some essential oils may be toxic if ingested.
- Expiry date: Always check the expiry date of your essential oil. An expired essential oil may lose its properties. If in doubt, check the smell and consistency of your essential oil before using it.
Find out more in our Aromatherapy Guide by Landema.
Source: Manuel de cours sur la Fabrication professionnelle de produits corporels naturels by Stéphanie Plamondon