In recent years you may have heard the term ‘Essential Oils’ being thrown around. It might seem like this term came out of nowhere and it is suddenly everywhere. But essential oils in their proper form have been around for centuries. It is just that the term ‘essential oils’ is quite a modern invention.
So what exactly are essential oils? And how did they suddenly become one of the most fashionable things on the market? We are going to take a quick dive into the world of essential oils to give you all the facts.
What Are Essential Oils
So what are Essential Oils? In simple terms they are oils produced from plant extract. They are highly concentrated and can be made from a huge variety of different plants. The oils are extracted from the plant through various processes then combined with a base oil to give them their consistency.
Essential oils are said to have certain healing properties. Technically they are classed as alternative medicines, as no doctor is going to give you a prescription for an essential oil. But it is said using organic lavender essential oil can help you get a good night’s sleep or using eucalyptus essential oils can help you relax and unwind.
You can take essential oils directly or you can mix them into your drinks or food. Some of them can even be absorbed into the skin like a lotion.
Essential Oils In History
Like we said before, essential oils aren’t a new invention. But they weren’t called essential oils. For a lot of human history we have been making oils and remedies out of plants. The oldest forms of medicine were made from various plants that had been crushed, pulped, and turned into oils.
And it makes a lot of sense. Plant life does offer our bodies a lot of positive things. It’s why we are encouraged to eat our fruits and veg. So it makes sense that medicines and oils made from plant matter are going to be good for us.
As the years went on essential oils moved from being just something used by tribal men for their healing processes. Oils began to be a fashion item. Even as far back as the ancient Romans and Greeks there are records of people buying and selling essential oils at a high price. It was often considered a status symbol to have these oils. And it was very common for wealthy people of the time to have their feet bathed in oils.
As the years went on there was a mixing of modern medicine and essential oils. A lot of the proto-versions of modern medicines were made with plant oils in them. Cough medicines, pain killers, and many more. All of these contained actual medication and plant matter. And they were surprisingly effective all the same. Some argue that without essential oils, we wouldn’t have a lot of the modern medicine we take for granted today.
Modern Day Fashion Icon
So how did essential oils as we know them become a thing? For a while plant based oils fell out of favor as modern medicine began to really advance. Alternative treatments began to get side lined and ridiculed by the western world. Things like homeopathic medicine especially took a lot of the heat. But oils fell in with them.
But there were a lot of communities that still believed in the natural healing powers of essential oils. And these groups saw opportunity. Thus began the great re-branding of essential oils. This is where we began to see the name ‘Essential Oils’ appear. And it is this name that really made them a fashion icon.
The word ‘essential’ made people believe these were things they needed. Paired with the fancy new bottles, natural jargon used in the marketing, a few key celebrity endorsements. Suddenly essential oils were the talk of the town once more. Many big named celebs now have their own line of essential oils as well. Most notably Gwenthy Paltro.
High-End Fashion
Essential oils used to be cheap. But these days you will find most of the best essential oils are hidden behind a high price tag. Often bought from high-end natural living boutiques and wellness stores. This is part of the re-branding. People are more willing to think something is fashionable if it costs a lot of money. This is marketing 101. It is how the art and fashion industry make most of their money.
Another trick being used is the casing. Sometimes it isn’t just about the oil itself, but the presentation. A lot of wealthy people like to have something to show off. Which is why some of the biggest essential oil brands offer fancy bottles. Sometimes made from crystal or coloured glass. These bottles help hike up the price considerably.