The Directory of Essential Oils: Includes More Than 80 Essential Oils [Paperback]

Wanda Sellar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 25, 2005

In this practical directory to 83 essential oils, each entry offers valuable information at a glance, including full descriptions of the oils’ chemical constituents, aromas, and their effects on the mind and body.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The research put into the prodution of this book is mind-boggling, making it the most comprehensive collection of facts relating to essential oils ever offered with aromatherapists in mind (earlier ones were very much geared to the perfume industry) and contains much information that is not readily available from other sources. A real 'must' for every aromatherapist's bookshelf" - AROMATHERAPY QUARTERLY" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Charles William Daniel (1871-1955) was a maverick free-thinker whose tiny publishing house had august links with many of the most influential thinkers and movements of the 20th century. To wit, copies of Daniel's books could be found in the library at Ghandi's ashram. This spirit lived on after his death, and the company maintained its niche by publishing definitive texts on a variety of spiritual and esoteric subjects. Many of these titles, notably those on Aromatherapy and Bach Flower remedies, have become standard works on the subject. When the C.W. Daniel list went looking for a new home, the Vermilion and Rider imprints were the natural place for this wonderful collection of authors.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Random House UK (October 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0091906679
• ISBN-13: 978-0091906672
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 0.6 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #778,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent tool and reference, January 31, 2007

By 

Chatelaine "HiddenArtist" (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Directory of Essential Oils: Includes More Than 80 Essential Oils (Paperback)

This is one of my favorite and most referenced handbooks for essential oils. It is designed for one who knows at least a little about aromatherapy, and plans to be working with the oils. Warning: the drawings on some of the pages may be offensive to some, depicting a witch with an herb popularly used by witches at one time, and people not fully dressed on others. I value the book for it's wealth of information, and ignore some of the illustrations.

Two pages are devoted to each of the essential oils, which are in alphabetical order. Near the title of each oil there is a chart listing the plant/part (plant as in "tree", and part as in "leaves" or "fruit"), Latin name, family, note (top, middle or base), planet, and means of extraction. There are several categories that describe each oil. Aroma describes the kind of fragrance; "features" tell about physical characteristics of the plant, and where it is grown, and such. A section called "History and Myth" tells about how the oil was used historically, and any myths associated with it. The chemical constituents, oil properties, and any precautions are listed. Three sections are devoted to telling how each oil may effect the mind (as in being a sedative), body (as in helping to regulate women's cycles), and skin (as in reactions to say, oily or sensitive skin). The last heading on each page is "blends" which lists other essential oils which blend well with the one under discussion.

There are several helpful resources in the back of the book. A glossary gives a short definition of oil properties, and lists the oils with each property. A blending chart is included, categorizing the oils by what they are (trees, flowers, spices, etc.) and telling what commonly works well together. Another chart lists the oils under which skin types for which they would be most helpful.

41 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best directory for the professional and amateur, March 8, 2000

By 

Chrissy (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Directory of Essential Oils (Paperback)

This book is definately a must for anyone studying or wants to know more about essential oils. I used this book as a bible during my Diploma of Aromatherapy course, and I still find it a valuable tool for this modality, as it covers everything from where the plant originates from, its chemical properities, effects on the mind, body, skin, blending. I highly recommend this book for any aromatherapy enthusiast. A must on the bookshelf.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thourough introduction, May 31, 2008

By 

Melissa M. Knight (centralia, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Directory of Essential Oils: Includes More Than 80 Essential Oils (Paperback)

I am very happy with this book. It has two pages on each oil describing the aroma, a description of the plant, the history and myths, chemical constituents, uses, precautions, and other oils it blends well with. At the back is a glossary, a blend chart, which catagorizes the types of oils, and a skin type chart. I have found it easy to use, and helpful in my home creations.