Freesia in Aromatherapy

European gardeners began cultivating Freesia in the mid 1700s.

Freesia flowers originated in South Africa as a type of iris. It comes in many colors including purple, red, yellow and orange. The plant got its name from Dr. Fredrich Freese, who studied South African plants extensively during the 1800s.

Freesia produces flowers approximately 1/3 inch in diameter growing off a long stem, surrounded by 8-inch long, narrow leaves. Some people use freesia flowers or oils in aromatherapy for improved happiness.

Aromatherapy Basics

Aromatherapy traditionally uses extracted essential plant oils like those in freesia flowers for various purposes. By massaging in or inhaling the oil, a person receives the psychological benefits from a given scent. Ancient people commonly used aromatics for everything from religion and perfume to cosmetics and remedies.

Rene-Maurice Gattefoss founded modern aromatherapy ideologies and methods in the late 1920s. It took another 60 years for the idea grow popular in the United States. The approach is valued for being non-invasive and subtle.

Synthetic Freesia Oil--Misconception

Extracting essential freesia oil is very difficult. The vast majority of commercial freesia oils on the market are not essential oils, but rather synthetically produced. From the vantage point of traditional aromatherapy, synthetic oils offer no therapeutic benefits. Additionally, some synthetic oils cause allergic reactions where the fresh flowers or an essential oil does not.

With this in mind, use fresh or living freesia flowers in your environment if you want to get the calming, uplifting benefits their aroma offers.

Essential Freesia

Essential oil concentrates the oils taken from freesia blossoms. The best method for obtaining essential freesia oil for aromatherapy is by enfleurage. In this process, oil is spread over a sheet of glass, and the flower petals get pressed between sheets of glass.

Freesia in Aromatherapy Products

The aromatherapy industry offers freesia in a variety of forms. These include room sprays, bath soap, perfume, massage oil, diffusers and bath salts. Bear in mind that the effect of synthetic freesia may prove disappointing.

Considerations

Aromatherapy using freesia and other plants has received very little in the way of scientific research and publication. While people around the world use aromatherapy for health and well-being, much of the results remain anecdotal. Unlike synthetic oils, essentials can't be standardized so quality and strength varies from batch to batch.

Essential freesia oil is limited in availability and very expensive. Since aromatherapy is non-invasive, the likelihood of harm from a living plant or synthetic oil is minimal but for allergies. Pregnant and nursing women should consult a physician before trying freesia or any aromatherapy product.

References

• University of Maryland: What is Aromatherapy
• University of Minnesota: What Does the Research Say About Essential Oils
• The Flower Expert: Freesia
• Creighton University: Aromatherapy
• Down to Earth Oils: Aromatherapy