When we treat ourselves to a massage, we can often choose which essential oils to pair with it. It is not just a matter of fragrance: each one has specific functions.
Choosing the right essential oils for a massage can be crucial: it is not simply a matter of "nice fragrance" or personal taste — each oil has specific olfactory characteristics, which can enhance wellbeing, and cosmetic ones, to tone or nourish the skin.
For example, if we treat ourselves to a relaxing massage, it is a good idea to choose a soothing and calming essential oil, but that is not all: we can combine the useful with the pleasurable by selecting an oil with specific cosmetological properties, so as to take advantage of its elasticising, anti-ageing, or moisturising function.
Here is everything you need to know.
When choosing the oil with the "best fragrance" for our psychophysical wellbeing, we are helped by a discipline with solid scientific foundations: aromachology.
Not to be confused with aromatherapy, which aims instead at treating (therapy) primarily physical disorders and ailments, aromachology studies the effects of essential oils and, in a broader sense, of fragrances, from an emotional point of view. This is an aspect not to be underestimated and one that, importantly, has solid scientific foundations: the sense of smell is in fact directly connected to that part of the brain where memory and primordial instincts reside. Once reached, neurological mechanisms are triggered that encourage emotions and behaviours, attributable primarily to relaxation, the sensation of euphoria, sexual desire and self-confidence. Aromachology grew out of relatively recent studies linked to neuroscience.
Essential oils are used in massages and treatments for their cosmetic qualities as well. There are emollient and anti-ageing oils: rose, vanilla, palmarosa and chamomile lend themselves well to anti-ageing beauty treatments for the face and body; for getting back in shape, ylang-ylang and sandalwood are ideal. For purifying, oils with a detox effect: rosemary, lavender, lemon, peppermint and tea tree are excellent for the skin and scalp.
Essential oils are natural plant extracts derived from flowers, leaves, fruits or woods. They are obtained through steam distillation, solvent extraction (chemical methods) or mechanical methods. They are widely used in perfumery and are highly concentrated, so before applying them to the skin it is advisable to carry out a skin compatibility test, in order to rule out skin irritation in the event of an allergy.
First of all, it is important to identify the purpose of the massage: whether it is relaxing and soothing, or whether, conversely, its aim is to tone, reactivate and energise. It may seem obvious, but it is essential to choose an essential oil that is also consistent with the type of treatment. The essential oil must be diluted in the massage oil. A few drops will be sufficient to diffuse an intense aroma, also thanks to body heat and the warmth generated by the manual massage, and to produce a beneficial effect on the mind and skin.
To rediscover calm, serenity and release tension, floral aromas are perfect — delicate and enveloping, like a treat for body and spirit. Let us explore together the soothing aromachological properties, alongside the cosmetic ones, of the most effective essential oils.
Beloved by women, it is the quintessentially feminine and romantic fragrance. One reason may lie in its calming, anxiolytic and antidepressant properties, as well as its aphrodisiac ones. Beyond all these positive qualities for the spirit, rose essential oil is wonderful for the skin of the face and body: it is anti-ageing, antioxidant and regenerating, making it perfect for more mature skin. Excellent when combined with coconut oil or shea butter. One word of caution: it is not recommended during pregnancy.
Sweet, indulgent and enveloping, it is highly relaxing and anti-stress, as well as mildly aphrodisiac. On the skin, it has pronounced antioxidant virtues, which makes this essential oil very useful in anti-ageing treatments and massages, as its activity counteracts the formation of free radicals and repairs damage that the epidermis has sustained. Excellent, therefore, for both face and body: for the latter, vanilla essential oil is perfect diluted in jojoba oil.
Heady, velvety and refined, this is probably the most aphrodisiac essential oil, as well as being calming and soothing. Beyond these aromachological virtues, it also has curative properties at the epidermal level, as it performs a balancing action on excess sebum production, alongside a gently antibacterial action: it is therefore perfect for treating oily or impure skin. It is also an effective ally against cellulite, as it helps stimulate circulation. One final benefit, for the scalp: ylang-ylang essential oil stimulates hair growth and makes hair stronger.
Not only useful in the kitchen — far from it! Rosemary essential oil is highly effective for purifying and detoxifying, but also for soothing and releasing tension. Excellent for scalp massages in cases of dandruff or itching, it also lends itself well to treating impure skin on the face and body. At the same time, it has a calming effect on the mind.
One of the most effective relaxing oils, it is appreciated by virtually everyone, men included. It has beneficial effects on both the mind and the skin: it is antiseptic, soothing and antibacterial, while on an emotional level it is calming and serene. It also lends itself well to facial massages, as it helps treat acne and scarring, but it is also effective in combating hair loss: choose it for a revitalising scalp massage. Its relaxing action is also invaluable for decontracting massages, to relieve muscular tension.
Floral, fruity and reassuring, chamomile essential oil is one of the most versatile, as it has calming and mildly sedative properties, but is also anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and analgesic, making it perfect for those who practise sport or suffer from muscle cramps. It also works well as an antidepressant and is greatly loved by women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome.
Another all-rounder in the world of essential oils, lemon conveys balance because it is calming, anti-stress and at the same time mood-lifting. It is effective in relieving headaches. At the epidermal level, it helps to detoxify and purify the skin, regulating sebum production. Similarly, it is highly recommended for scalp massages, especially for those who suffer from dandruff or hair loss. It is also perfect for pregnant women, as it keeps nausea at bay.
As well as having a very pleasant aromatic fragrance that appeals to men too, sandalwood essential oil has pronounced cosmetic qualities. It acts as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, but above all it has positive effects on the circulatory system and is a valuable aid in slimming massages or those aimed at body reshaping. It can also minimise stretch marks and help make the skin more toned.
While instilling good spirits, they can do a great deal for the wellbeing of skin and scalp too.
Excellent as an antidepressant, it keeps anxiety in check with a rebalancing effect on the emotions, including in cases of premenstrual syndrome. At the epidermal level, it is very useful for impure skin as it regulates excessive sebum production, has an antimicrobial action and minimises acne scars. It is not only useful for young skin, however: bergamot essential oil also acts positively on melanin and is able to reduce brown spots, which are nothing other than irregular concentrations of melanin.
Palmarosa
Little known, this essential oil is nonetheless very versatile and effective for its stimulating and toning virtues, including at a mental level. On the skin, it performs a moisturising and regenerating action, as well as being anti-inflammatory, healing and soothing, which makes it perfect for facial massages, whether for teenagers suffering from acne or for people who are no longer young and wish for an anti-ageing treatment.
It immediately calls to mind woodlands and mountain air, so it can only be one of the finest stimulating and anti-stress oils. On the skin it has an antiseptic and antibacterial action similar to that of lavender. What is more, eucalyptus helps to restore concentration, making it very useful for a toning massage: it will have an excellent energising effect on both body and mind.
On the skin it has a bracing and restorative action (which makes it perfect for athletes), as well as an antiseptic and astringent one (ideal for combination or acne-prone skin), but it is on an emotional level that peppermint truly excels: it helps to dispel physical and mental fatigue and to relieve stress and anxiety. A temple massage with two drops of this oil is an effective remedy for migraines, but a word of caution is needed: paradoxically, prolonged or excessive use can cause headaches in those who do not normally suffer from them, so it should be used sparingly.
Obtained from Melaleuca alternifolia, it has a fresh, almost pungent fragrance. Beyond this, it has pronounced disinfectant, bactericidal and purifying properties: it helps to combat acne, inflammation, dandruff, excessive perspiration and infections. It can be used topically, simply with the help of a cotton pad. Precisely because it is highly active, it is not suitable for pregnant women.
All of these indications (and much more) are contained in the essay "Il grande libro del massaggio con gli oli essenziali" by Francesco Padrini, Edizioni De Vecchi, an enjoyable read for everyone, including those who are not professionals in the field and wish to approach the world of essential oils and aromachology.