Need a reliable guide to help you choose the right essential oils? Soin-et-Nature 'sEssential Oil Index guides you step by step through a demanding selection of natural essences, recognized for their purity, efficacy and pharmaceutical quality. Each oil is presented in detail to help you find the natural solution best suited to your health, care or well-being needs.
Aromatherapy, a rigorous sub-discipline of phytotherapy, is based on the medical use of essential oils derived from aromatic plants. These volatile substances are extracted mainly by steam distillation, and boast powerful biological activity thanks to their high concentration of active ingredients.
The term "aromatherapy" was introduced in 1928 by René-Maurice Gattefossé, a French chemical engineer and pioneer of the discipline. Following an accident resulting in a severe burn, he applied lavender essential oil to his infected wounds, observing rapid healing. This personal experience marked the starting point for a series of scientific studies aimed at characterizing and validating the therapeutic properties of natural essences.
The use of aromatic plants and their extracts has been documented since ancient times. In Egypt, oils were already used in ritual practices (embalming, purification), but also in daily hygiene. Egyptian narratives mention cinnamon, myrrh, nard and incense as medicinal tools.
In ancient Greece, the writings of Dioscorides document the uses of volatile plant substances. The Romans incorporated them into their dermatological and digestive preparations. At the same time, China and India were developing their own aromatic extraction techniques, sometimes linked to Ayurvedic or Taoist medicine.
Distillation, as we know it today, appeared with the Persians around the 10th century, then was perfected by Arab-Muslim physicians such as Avicenna, who succeeded in extracting a pure essential oil of rose using the cooling retort.
In the 16th century, Paracelsus, a Swiss alchemist and physician, formalized the theory of signatures and consolidated the therapeutic use of plant extracts in targeted remedies. Essential oils became widely used in European medical practices.
However, the advent of synthetic chemistry in the XIXᵉ century marginalized their use, until researchers in the XXᵉ century, notably Gattefossé and Valnet, revived their scientific interest.
Several scientists contributed to the practice of aromatherapy as we know it today:
Trained as a chemical engineer, Gattefossé gradually oriented Établissements Gattefossé towards cosmetology and dermatology, while integrating aromatherapy research. He invented the very term "aromatherapy " and its first chemical foundations. His rigorous, well-documented analytical approach made him a benchmark of the first half of the XXᵉ century.
A military doctor and surgeon, Jean Valnet experimented with aromatherapy in extreme contexts, notably in war zones (Tonkin). From 1948 onwards, he published numerous works aimed at popularizing the virtues of essential oils for the general public and health professionals. He also developed aromatic compositions and introduced the concept of thearomatogram - a test to evaluate the antibiotic action of an essential oil on a bacterial strain.
Between 1971 and 1981, he created several organizations to supervise, teach and structure French phyto-aromatherapy, contributing to its medical recognition.
In the 1980s, Pierre Franchomme, founder of the Pranarôm laboratory, introduced the notion of chemotype (or CT), which makes it possible to identify the majority active molecule in an essential oil (e.g.: Thymus vulgaris CT thymol). This approach brought new biochemical rigor, enabling precise therapeutic classification and laying the foundations for scientific aromatherapy.
Essential oils are extracted from aromatic medicinal plants belonging to the following botanical families:
Active ingredients are produced by specialized secretory cells located in various plant organs: flowers, leaves, bark, seeds, roots.
Extraction is carried out by steam distillation: the plant is heated in a still, the volatile molecules evaporate and are then condensed to be recovered as essential oil. This method respects the integrity of the bioactive compounds.
Citrus oils are generally obtained by cold expression (zest), while other more specific processes can be used for certain resins or gums.
Thanks for the clarification! Here's a version faithful to the original model (as in the category sheet provided), in technical editorial style, with a homogeneous structure, fluid integration of names, and without explicit mention of the word "category" in the bullets.
The Soin-et-NatureEssential Oils Index lists the single essential oils most commonly used in aromatherapy. Classified by plant, these oils are presented with their botanical name to ensure rigorous identification. Each fact sheet explains the properties, uses and specific precautions associated with each essential oil, so that they can be used safely, documented and adapted to daily needs.
The Essential Oils Index allows you to explore each essential oil in detail, according to its botanical specificities, biochemical properties and clinical indications. It's an indispensable reference tool for anyone wishing to use aromatherapy in a safe, targeted and scientifically documented way.
Essential oils are :
Their biochemical profile is identified by chromatographic techniques, essential for guaranteeing traceability, quality and therapeutic efficacy.
Due to their concentration and molecular diversity, essential oils have a broad pharmacological spectrum, including the following:
Prescription or use must be supervised by a professional, as some oils have contraindications or interact with medical treatments.
Thanks to advances in pharmacognosy and the rise of integrative medicine, aromatherapy has gained credibility in hospital and pharmacy circles. Numerous clinical studies now validate its efficacy as a complement to allopathic treatments.
To facilitate access to essential data, the following index provides a structured classification of essential oils, according to various criteria:
Each dedicated fact sheet includes: origin, production method, biochemical profile, properties, indications, precautions and recommendations for use.
Theessential oil index is an up-to-date reference for health professionals and pharmacists, as well as informed users wishing to integrate aromatherapy into their natural, effective and scientifically-supported health care approach.
Soin-et-Nature offers a wide range of aromatherapy products to help you benefit from the therapeutic virtues of plants and essential oils. Here are the main references available on the site:
The aromatherapy products available on Soin-et-Nature are part of a global approach to natural health, supporting daily well-being in a way that is effective, personalized and respectful of the body.
