Lavender is a safe, mild essential oil
for starting out in aromatherapy.

1. Learn from the Best

The best way to get started with aromatherapy is to learn from the experts. Take an aromatherapy class or two as part of your continuing education for hands-on teaching, or read up on aromatherapy from books written by experts with years of experience.

2. Practice on Yourself, Not Your Clients

After you’ve learned the basics, start by practicing on yourself. Never use an essential oil on a client that you haven’t first tested on yourself. Practicing aromatherapy on yourself helps you gain practical, personal experience and gives you a firsthand understanding of the effects of each essential oil (although the effects of an oil may vary with each client).

3. Focus on the Basics

Once you start researching aromatherapy, you’ll find that there’s a lot to learn. You don’t have to know it all before you get started, but you do have to know when to ask questions and what to ask.

Issues like client allergies or sensitivities, health conditions that may be negatively affected by aromatherapy, and aversion to certain scents can make aromatherapy uncomfortable or unsafe for some clients. It’s important to research potential side effects for each essential oil that you plan to use and then to ask the client about relevant issues.

4. Start Small

Start small when purchasing supplies. Purchase small quantities of three to six “starter” oils that are considered safe and fairly mild, such as lavender and chamomile. Dilute these oils for massage or diffuse them into the air. Begin with self-massage (or diffuse the oil into an enclosed room or office) to test out the oils on yourself before using the oils with your clients. Use an unscented carrier oil to dilute the essential oil for massage, using the recommended proportions for that specific essential oil.

5. Begin Using Aromatherapy with Clients

When you feel sufficiently comfortable using these basic oils, you’re ready to begin offering them to clients. Before using any aromatherapy with a client, always ask about the client’s preference for a certain scent, ask about allergies or health conditions that could be negatively affected by the oil, and—if applied to the skin—test the oil on a small area of skin before applying to a larger area. If the client shows signs of a negative reaction—whether physically or emotionally—stop using the oil immediately.

6. Handle Aromatherapy Oils with Care

Use essential oils in small quantities and only in the proper concentration. Aromatherapy oils are highly concentrated and must be used with caution. If there’s any doubt, always use a lower dose rather than a more potent dose. For the longest shelf life, store the aromatherapy oils in a cool, dark place, such as a medicine cabinet, or as directed by the manufacturer for a specific oil.