Choosing an oil: aromatherapy that does more than smell nice
The scent sets the mood, but the carrier oil does the quiet work.
Aromatherapy gets talked about for its scents — lavender to settle, citrus to lift, eucalyptus to clear — and those associations are real enough to shape how a session feels. But the base an essential oil is blended into matters just as much.
We favour a light, unscented carrier like grapeseed or fractionated coconut: enough glide for long strokes, quick to absorb, and kind to sensitive skin. A heavy oil drags; a good one disappears.
If you have allergies or you are pregnant, tell your therapist before the oils come out. Plenty of blends are best avoided at certain times, and a two-minute conversation saves an uncomfortable hour.