| What Are Essential Oils? | | | | oils to treat soldiers' wounds during World War 2, not |
| Essential oils are the fragrant liquids found in aromatic | | | | only did the powerful fragrances mask the smell of |
| plants. They may be found in many different parts of | | | | gangrenous wounds, but the oils actively stopped the |
| the plant: resin, bark, flowers, leaves, seeds, roots, | | | | decay. Valnet also noticed that soldiers sleeping rough |
| wood. List your favourite plant smells. Our list included: | | | | in pine forests suffered fewer respiratory complaints |
| - the flowers of white jasmine | | | | than others as a result of the pine resin vapour |
| - the needles and resin of a pine tree | | | | saturating the air. For the same reason, Swiss |
| - the leaves of mint and basil | | | | sanatoriums were traditionally located near pine |
| - the peel of a lemon | | | | forests to help patients suffering from tuberculosis and |
| - vanilla pods | | | | other chest conditions. |
| - cumin seeds. | | | | In the garden, too, we may be able to harness some |
| You may have thought of many other aromatic plant | | | | of the therapeutic properties of essential oils, simply by |
| parts. The distinctive smell of each of these plants | | | | positioning plants where we can enjoy their scent. In |
| comes from essential oils. Aromatic plants are | | | | addition, plants that are positioned where people are |
| probably already an important part of your life. They | | | | likely to stand on them or brush past them will release |
| will almost certainly be a key ingredient in much of the | | | | more of their scent as they are crushed or bruised. |
| food you prepare, and you may also use them to | | | | Beautifully scented herbs may thus be used to line |
| scent your home, and in the form of perfume to | | | | walkways, while honeysuckle or jasmine surround a |
| fragrance your body. You can also use them to | | | | seating area, and a camomile lawn may be planted to |
| powerful effect when designing a garden. | | | | release a wonderful scent when walked upon. |
| Essential oils are found in tiny oil glands or sacs which | | | | Experimenting with scented plants can introduce an |
| are found in the aromatic parts of the plant. | | | | exciting new dimension to the design process. As with |
| Sometimes, several parts of the plant are aromatic | | | | visual elements it is important to ensure that garden |
| (for instance, lavender oil is extracted from both the | | | | scents are in harmony and do not jar against each |
| flowers and the leaves), and in some instances, | | | | other. The scent profile may change as a visitor walks |
| different parts of the plant produce a quite different | | | | around a garden - at one point enjoying the heady |
| aromatic oil (the bitter orange tree produces three | | | | scent of a rose bed, but further on relaxing beneath a |
| very different oils). | | | | bower of aromatic conifers. |
| These wonderful natural oils serve many uses within | | | | Sensory Gardens |
| the plant, including: | | | | We can all enjoy sensory gardens, but visitors who |
| - attracting pollinating insects | | | | have a sensory impairment may take particular |
| - warding off predators | | | | enjoyment from them. For instance, when creating a |
| - repelling disease - almost all essential oils have | | | | garden for a client with impaired vision, the designer |
| antiseptic properties. | | | | can introduce plants and other features that stimulate |
| Essential oils have been widely used for many | | | | hearing (water features, rustling grasses), as well as a |
| centuries for their antiseptic and other health-giving | | | | wide range of scented plants, and plants such as |
| properties, and are also an essential component in | | | | grasses and feathery leaved species that can be |
| aromatherapy. When Dr Jean Valnet used essential | | | | enjoyed by touch. |