Introduction to Aromatherapy - Kew Online Course

Join workshop leader and aromatherapist Ellen Rowland as she looks at how aromas can affect us, both physically and emotionally, and shows you how to create your own aromatherapy preparations. Follow along with over 62 minutes of information and step-by-step instructions split into easily digestible lessons, and you will discover:

• A little of the history and cultural traditions of aromatherapy

• The emotional effects of aroma

• How to make an energising, uplifting inhaler

• Steps to creating a calming room mist

• How aroma affects the physical body

• How to make a topical balm for injury

• Steps to create a soothing cream for inflammation

• How to make a nourishing facial oil

There’s also an additional video to show you how to use your oil for a facial massage.

Meet Ellen Rowland

Ellen began her journey with herbs and aromatherapy as a child, mixing ‘potions’ from the herbs in her mother’s garden and mixing bathroom products at a friend’s house. As a teenager, she was given books on spells, aromatherapy and herbs and became fascinated by the relationship between plants, ritual and intention. As she got older, she continued to feel drawn to creative ways to work with nature: cooking with herbs, plant dyes, photography with plant inks, natural perfumery and more.

At 25, Ellen quit her job to volunteer in South America, travelling through Mexico to Guatemala, and spent a month with a herbal medicine and community health centre. Here, she learned about tropical medicinal plants, plant biology, ethnobotany and the traditional Mayan use of plants.

Having spent lots of time volunteering in botanical conservation centres, completing a permaculture design certification and working on organic farms, Ellen returned to London where she volunteered with a local herbalist and eventually retrained as an aromatherapist, with a view to later training as a medical herbalist. Her journey led Ellen to work as Communications Executive for Kew Gardens on their community outreach and learning programme, Grow Wild, where she learned more about native plants and fungi. Many UK native plants are considered weeds, but they are actually powerful healing herbs, and many have aromatic essential oils that can be harnessed for therapeutic benefit.

Ellen now runs a social enterprise, AmberLuna Apothecary, where she holds an aromatherapy clinic and teaches aromatherapy. She also runs workshops on aromatherapy, skincare and herbs for Kew as part of their community access programme, bringing this learning to those who would otherwise not have access to it. Ellen also runs an aromatherapy massage clinic in Bristol and workshops for the public with various charitable and social enterprise partners.

The materials are no longer available in kit form. You will need to source the following items to complete the course.

• Inhaler stick with wick and label

• 30ml spray bottle with label

• Small funnel

• Glass rod

• 25 ml glass bottle with dropper and label

• Aluminium screw-lid tin with label

• Glass amber pot with lid and label

You will also need:

• See the classroom notes that accompany each video for Ellen’s recommended essential oils, ingredients and any items you’ll need from around your home.