Kurt Schnaubelt, Ph.D.

As the business model for selling essential oils has gone from mom and pop operations to large corporations the language describing essential oils has become the language of marketing. There is a strong emphasis on brand and the “quality” the brand is meant to guarantee. However, a clear definition of what really constitutes EO quality… Continue reading

Addressing the issue of essential oil authenticity in 2016 is a tedious process. Because of the success of the large corporate players aromatherapy and essential oils are spreading to many new and enthusiastic followers. A seemingly unavoidable element is that to gain such broad success the message needs to be simplified. As a result the… Continue reading

Recent events surrounding potential adulteration of Cinnamon Bark oil from a large corporate supplier have inadvertently highlighted the problems associated with the overemphasis of instrumental analysis and especially GC/MS analysis, for proving the purity of essential oils. Let us recollect. For quite some time now it has become almost imperative to provide GC/MS read-outs to… Continue reading

Dear Friends – New Years Greetings – Essential Oil Outlook 2016 It has been a while since I have posted a ‘Roots’ or an ‘Explorations in Aromatherapy’ blog. Having been busy with our last conference drowned out these efforts. However, the conference is always an incentive to introduce new concepts and, of course, new oils.… Continue reading

After the Conference The 8th PIA Conference on Therapeutic Uses of Essential Oils appeared to be a success in every aspect. We would like to thank all the participants, presenters and helpers who contributed. The diversity of the presentations showed impressively how aromatherapy is a healing modality with an expanding horizon. Almost all presentations can… Continue reading

Not too long ago the aromatherapy industry was a conglomerate of what one would colloquially call mom and pop businesses. With the advent and success of the Multilevel Marketing companies this has thoroughly changed. Aromatherapy now has a full size corporate aspect. Of course I am aware that there is a lot of criticism going… Continue reading

Explorations in Aromatherapy Winter 2014 Rose – Eternal Fascination Rosa centifolia literally means Rose with a hundred petals. It is a hybrid developed between the 17th and 19th century. Rosa centifolia has been widely cultivated in Provence, especially the areas surrounding the city of Grasse for its singular fragrance with very bright high notes. Extracts… Continue reading

One could be tempted to call Patchouli the Lavender of the East, so widespread and common are its uses. The properties attributed to Patchouli oil in the literature are numerous. It is beneficial for skin ailments such as bacterial and fungal infections. It regenerates tissue and supports wound healing. It prevents water retention, counteracts stress… Continue reading

How Oils from Indochina Became Global Staples Celebrating our 30th Anniversary we begin to introduce a new range of products on our OSA website. We believe they represent a missing element in today’s aromatherapy: Essential oils which carry the message of the East, many of them at the center of various traditional healing systems, cultures… Continue reading

The essential oils of Morocco illustrate the emerging dual nature of the human experience with medicinal and aromatic plants: to characterize essential oils according to their active component groups and to understand their cultural history. The cultural environment of the oils’ geographical origin often provides us with basic knowledge about the qualities and uses of… Continue reading