“Look after the root of the tree and the fragrant flowers and luscious fruits will grow by themselves. Look after the health of the body, and the fragrance of the mind and richness of spirit will flow.” B. K. S. Iyengar

If you consider that true essential oils from plants - hydrated and nourished by sun, water and soil, tended and distilled with human hands -- represent the “life force”, or prana, of plants, it is easy to understand why Aromatherapy is the extraordinary modality that it is for us. Life force indeed, for essential oils play many critical roles for plants. These volatile (evaporative) aromatic liquids, among many other biological functions, attract certain pollinators, deter insect infestation, protect against fungal infections in wood and leaves, clear surrounding areas of competitive species and perhaps, most importantly, store solar energy in a tremendously concentrated form. And through their aroma, this energy is conveyed to the life forms around them Although essential oils exist naturally in aromatic plants, they would never have been available to use until humans recognized their existence and set up a collaborative partnership with the plants to extract them.

Carefully choosing your sources for genuine essential oil is very important. Some companies that sell fully or semi-synthetic fragrances, improperly labeled as essential oils, which are not appropriate for use in Aromatherapy. These may actually be harmful, depending on the solvents, bases or other chemicals that are used. Be skeptical of claims made by vendors of unusual or rare oils. Often, true essential oils are not available from certain plant species. This is either because no viable or safe extraction method exists or because yields are so low that the essential oil would be cost prohibitive. Fruit flavors like watermelon, banana and peach, or florals like Lily of the Valley and Gardenia are good examples of fragrances to be wary of.  Other oils that can easily be found in pure essential oil form but, due to their high price tag or species scarcity, they are often adulterated with synthetic fragrance, fortified with isolated essential oil components (semi-synthetic) or are completely synthetic. Examples of these include Rose, Sandalwood, Melissa and Rosewood. The more experience you have with pure essential oils, the more easily you will be able to determine whether they are true, adulterated or synthetic. To be sure, there are companies that are extremely sensitive to healthy sustainability practices for cultivated or wild plant populations. Organically certified essential oils offer yet another level of integrity with responsible land stewardship. Do your homework and expect your supplier to be knowledgeable and accountable for the quality and authenticity of the oils they offer.

Few rules of Aromatherapy are set in stone, so, don’t let anyone tell you that you must use this or that essential oil. Spiritual and meditative uses of essential oils are sometimes spelled out rigidly in certain texts. However, the effects of oils in this context are highly personal and often surprising. This truth about essential oils  was revealed to me after years of repeatedly reading that, “Neroli is good for uplifting the spirit”. Well, I didn’t grow up in the orange groves of southern California and, although I like Neroli, I have no relationship to it. For me, growing up in the northeast, I found my solace in trees, especially  conifers. The needle oils have always raised my spirits as well as given me the encouragement to breathe, which trees always offer.

Another way to better understand and cultivate an integrated yoga and Aromatherapy practice is to look for the gesture, the form and the expression of the plant that the essential oil comes from. Where does it thrive? Is it a tree, a leaf, a flower, seed or root? This awareness of botanical origin brings an insight into the application of an oil just as knowing the ancient names of the asanas informs the pose. Lions (Simhasana) and warriors (Virabhadrasana) are fierce, while mountains (Tadasana) and trees (Vrksasana) are solid and majestic. Desert plants, like Frankincense, Myrrh, Juniper and White Sage, are enduring and resilient. Needles, like Cypress, Fir, Pine, Spruce, and leaves, like Eucalyptus, create tremendous amounts of planetary oxygen. Flowers can be heady and hypnotic, like Ylang Ylang, Jasmine and Rose, or delicate and ephemeral, like Neroli. Root oils, like Vetiver and Angelica are extremely earthy and centering. Wood oils, like the Sandalwoods, Cedarwoods and Blue Cypress, have been observed to encourage better posture, their massive trunks always yearning upwards in a heavenly direction. Imagine borrowing that powerful life force for Sirsasana, headstand, the “King of asanas”!

Breath, in yoga, -- prana or life force -- is what supports and shapes your asana. In many places, it has become unpopular to wear “fragrances” to yoga workshops and meditation retreats as some people are chemically sensitive. In defense of plants, I would say that synthetic fragrances ought to be discouraged. Be aware, however, that a cacophony of even true essential oils in the context of a serious yoga class could be distracting. One must be mindful when choosing oils to use in class that may stimulate unexpected or unwanted feelings in others. But this doesn’t apply to your home practice. There are many references to using sacred oils and incense with a yoga or meditation practice. In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra IV.I it is suggested that aspiring yogis may achieve accomplishments with the help of plants, herbs and incense along with devotional practice, profound meditation and mantras. A word of caution here: Much of the incense on the market is also improperly labeled and still contains cheap, synthetic fragrances and other undesirable ingredients that help it burn.

It may be that the oils you use in your practice are used only in your practice. This creates an aromatic association with a particular type of session and can help anchor the mindset necessary for practice. That is, you may wish to avoid a particular scent, unless you want to invoke the experience of your practice at unrelated times, say, on an airport, stuck in traffic or at work. If your practice is energetic (and this is not advised for evening practice) you can try invigorating oils like Black Spruce, Peppermint, Rosemary or Eucalyptus. If you are doing a restorative practice, use the Lavenders, Petitgrains, Vetivers, Himalayan Cedarwood, Roman Chamomile or Coriander Seed. For meditation, you can either apply a few drops on your skin or use an electric nebulizing diffuser or ceramic aroma lamp with Ambrette Seed, Sandalwood, Palo Santo, Rose, Frankincense or Myrrh. For women, the comforting and supportive oils of Clary Sage, Fennel and Basil are helpful. A Pranayama practice may be enhanced by inhalations of Blue Cypress, Rosalina or Balsam Fir. For a real treat, prepare a 10% dilution of Pink or White Lotus absolute in sesame oil and apply it around the neck and on the feet. This creates a magical and incredibly peaceful session. Note that absolutes are solvent extracts and although they are primarily reserved for natural perfumery, they also represent multitudes of exuberant flowers in a concentrated form that can augment your meditative practice.

To increase your Aromatherapy repertoire, try getting to know one oil at a time for your home practice. One oil. Apply a few dilued drops to your forehead, wrists, neck, underarms, hair and/or torso for your personal practice. When you limit yourself to a single oil at a time, you will experience this oil much more deeply than if you had read everything about it in a book.

Direct experience. I believe the Buddha recommended it.