Honouring a legacy in aromatherapy

Our oils are extracted with precision and care to ensure the active plant compounds remain intact, preserving the therapeutic benefits from field to bottle.

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To celebrate Oil Garden's 40th anniversary, we talk to Pat Princi-Jones, aromatherapy specialist, educator at Heritage Brands and author of A Scented Life: Aromatherapy Reimagined.

Q: Your introduction to essential oils began with the captivating scent of jasmine more than 30 years ago. How did this encounter influence your journey into aromatherapy?

Yes, indeed. It all started with a trip to Bali and the intoxicating perfume of jasmine oil. I knew nothing about aromatherapy at the time. Yet it was during that island holiday that I discovered the beauty of scent and experienced both the pleasure of inhaling the aroma of a pure essential oil, along with the emotional and physical benefits it provided. That holiday, I bathed in scented water of chamomile, soaked my feet in peppermint, misted my face with rejuvenating orange blossom and massaged my body with jasmine and ylang ylang.

Not long after, I left my chosen career as a teacher and relocated to Melbourne where I began educating in the aromatherapy retail sector. Looking back, I realise it was a seamless transition from teaching Shakespeare to extolling the virtues of basil oil.

Q: With over three decades in the industry, how have you seen the perception and use of aromatherapy evolve?