Aromatherapy is a very wide ranging topic, not only does it include aspects of massage therapy but is also includes more consumer oriented applications such as shampoos and conditions, and all the way down to essential oils. Aromatherapy has numerous applications and many health benefits.
Looking at aromatherapy as a more specific brach of alternative therapy rules out many of the more superfluous aspects of the science and focuses the emphasis on the healing properties of aromatherapy and how it can be used in conjunction with other healing techniques like massage.
One thing that is common among practitioners of aromatherapy is a desire to use the cleanest most natural products that are available. Stressing the connection to the earth and the organic aspects of aromatherapy is based in the ancient traditions of the therapy.
In using essential oils the practitioner is attempting to maximize the healing benefit from the natural aspect of the live material and minimize any waste to the plant or pant material. Practitioners are attempting to pass on some of the life giving properties of the plants in a way that is not normally utilized for healing in the modern environment. We have also gotten into the habit of diluting our nutrients and this is an attempt to take that dilution in the other direction.
Aromatherapist must either buy essential oils or make their own, either way they want to be certain that the starting material is of the upmost quality. This usually means that plants should be organic, well cared for and harvested at the optimal time. The essential oil must also be made immediately after the harvesting.
This can create dilemma for many practitioners in that they are seeking the highest quality materials to use in their practice but many of the best remedies come from parts of the world that are far away, meaning that fresh ingredients are nearly impossible to find. This simply means that aromatherapist must strike a healthy balance between using local products where they can and supplementing with foreign products when necessary.
A good way to look at essential oils is to compare them to wines. There are good vintages and good years. There are optimal growing areas which yield excellent plants and there is a wide variety of producers. Finding a good supply or a good recipe is will play a large part in the success or failure of an aromatherapist.
When applying aromatherapy to healing practices such as massage it is essential that you strive to reach the optimum benefit and fit the aroma to the treatment. As a massage therapist it would be in your interest to learn the art or consult a specialist to learn how to best apply aromatherapy to massage.