All the reasons you need to indulge in essential oils

It all started when a friend came home with essential oils worth a small spa's annual supply—each equipped to pamper different parts of her being. There was tea tree to treat her acne; sandalwood and rose to give her 'that natural glow'; rosemary, peppermint and lavender to make lush her mane, the latter also entrusted to better her sleep. Ylang-ylang, rosewood, chamomile and tuberose were also peeking out of her bag, the elegant batch chosen for their reputation as destressers or emotional pacifiers. Her essential oil spree was a result of months of research, thanks to a passing recommendation by her spa-therapist friend.

A world of goodness

So what are essential oils and why should one indulge? Rashmi Ambastha, Spa Director, Four Seasons explains, "These aromatic natural extracts are basically concentrated hydrophobic liquids that carry the goodness of whichever plant they have been extracted from". Essential oils boost immunity, relieve pain, enhance skin and hair quality, improve emotional balance and blood circulation, as well as balance hormones...treating pretty much any health or beauty concern you can think of. "They work their magic through inhalation, massages, fomentation, in bath water..." Rashmi trails off. Luxe spas tap into the healing properties of these fragrant compounds that are sourced laboriously from different plant parts—seeds, barks, stems, roots, flowers and others—using them to attain a range of wellness goals.
Purva Devare, Spa Manager at all-Indian spa, Jiva, Taj Santacruz points out that essential oils are also popularly used as natural room fresheners, imparted through diffusers. Sandalwood and jasmine are two favourites, both grandly ranked in terms of properties and price. With a world of pleasurable goodness in their wake, it is natural that awareness about essential oils would resurface in modern times. Yet there are myths that need to be dismantled. Both Rashmi and Purva mull over the common misconception of essential oils being an element you can apply directly on your skin without dilution. "That's lesson 1—this is not the kind of oil you lather yourself with in great quantities before bath," laughs Purva, stressing on the role of carrier or base oils like coconut, jojoba, avocado, olive or sweet almond. The dilution ratio varies with each purpose, but for gentle home aromatherapy, not more than two to three drops are usually required at a time.

The price of pleasure

At Kama Ayurveda, a luxury holistic-wellness brand, patrons are partial towards pine, lemongrass and cypress essential oils, besides favourites like tea tree and peppermint, shares Shrishti Chaudhary, Assistant Manager, Marketing. The most expensive oil in stock is Lavender at ₹​750 for a 12 ml bottle. Shrishti explains the steep cost by adding that the price surges when the oil is more concentrated or 'pure' in nature. It also depends on the plant or flower that the essence is from; the rarer the source, the higher the price. At Kama, which stocks only 13 essential oils, orange and eucalyptus come for ₹​350 a bottle, while bergamot and ylang-ylang are priced at ₹​550. Most other places list neroli, champaca, sandalwood, rose, tuberose or frangipani as the most expensive ones they stock. At Moksha Lifestyle, an Indian essential oil manufacturer, a 30 ml bottle of rose (Damascena) essential oil costs a whopping ₹​25, 518, while a tuberose absolute would leave your wallet lighter by ₹14, 369.
When it comes to essential oils, price is not the only vertical where the notion of luxury aligns itself. "So many different experiences can be created out of essential oils, each rich and indulgent," says Purva, referring to the two contrasting essential oil-driven therapies of 'Vishram' (Repose) and 'Orjadayaka' (Energizer) at Jiva. 'Vishram', popular amongst visiting officials reeling under the exhaustion of a long journey, uses the common properties of lavender, brahmi, frankincense and rosewood to relax the body and mind. Orjadayaka, on the other hand, uses fennel, nagarmotha, ashwagandha and patchouli to relieve stress and spasms and boost immunity." Pointing out that the ingredients are purposely synchronised to conjure specific, varying sensations, Purva mentions that while many essential oils boast of similar properties and benefits, individuals tend to gravitate towards the scents that appeal to them.

I remember the happy redolence of my friend's bottle of jasmine and nod along. May be it’s time for my own big spree...

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