By Amy Galper
As such, personal care products and fragrance as a function are two important emerging trends impacting the way we use essential oils and aromatherapy. The rapidly growing spa industry and clean beauty industry thus provide significant opportunities for the integration of essential oils and aromatherapy into their practices and formulations.
One of the essential oils at the forefront of the aromatherapy industry is Indian sandalwood oil, obtained by steam distillation of the aromatic heartwood of the Santalum album. As an active ingredient, Indian sandalwood oil can produce multiple benefits for the skin, in addition to its therapeutic benefits. The oil is also renowned for its distinctive olfactory characteristics, with a sweet, warm, woody scent that makes it a popular scent in perfumery and aromatherapy. The essential oil captures the essence of the tree itself, being hearty, grounding and complex. Due to its olfactory characteristics, Indian sandalwood oil has found its way into many applications, including aromatherapy.
Self-care products
Taking care of yourself is quickly becoming synonymous with well-being. As other health and wellness trends continue to grow, the topic of self-care is ever-present.
A survey 1 by IRi found that nearly nine in ten Americans (88%) actively practice self-care. Essential oils, due to their dual ability to heal the body and mind, are already being incorporated into personal care products and practices.
The aromatic components of sandalwood are alpha-santalol and beta-santalol. Alpha-santalol is the most dominant of the 125 constituents, holding most of the therapeutic benefits of sandalwood. 2 studies show that alpha-santalol in sandalwood oil calms the nervous system when inhaled or applied topically. Common markers of a stimulated nervous system include blink rate, pulse rate, and systolic blood pressure, all of which are significantly reduced when sandalwood is inhaled or absorbed through skin application.
Perfume as functional 3
As beauty and personal care products begin to incorporate concepts of wellness and deeper meaning into their formulations, telling the story of ingredients and their origins, product fragrance is no longer considered a simple aesthetic touch. On the contrary, perfume also has meaning.
Aromatherapy is now becoming an essential component of the perfume and beauty market. Not only do consumers want their products to smell like shipping and work well, but they also want the aroma to have a function.
We see scents triggering the experience of being in nature since research has shown that spending time in the forest can reduce our stress levels. Specific scent notes that are trending are those reminiscent of the forest, to recreate the experience of “forest bathing” – a Japanese meditation practice called Shinrin Yoku that encourages slow mindful walks in the woods, inhaling the aromas natural trees, to reset the parasympathetic nervous system and improve well-being.
Flavors from wood and tree bark such as sandalwood are currently found more frequently in beauty and skin care products. Due to its popularity, Indian sandalwood has faced persistent threats to its survival, with overexploitation and illegal poaching having placed it on the International Union for Nature Conservation’s list of vulnerable species. 1998. Only with the creation of sustainable plantations of Indian sandalwood, through companies like Quintis Sandalwood, did the ingredient re-emerge in the perfume industry.
The spa industry
Spas are set to continue their exponential growth as more people look for ways to relax and reduce stress.
Within the spa industry, aromatherapy and essential oils currently have a much more dynamic presence – and play a richer, more integral role – than ever before. In particular, the holistic benefits of Indian sandalwood make it a perfect ingredient for spa and wellness treatments and products.
While aroma has always played a key role in the aesthetic and ambiance of a spa, we are now seeing its use evolve into a more sophisticated expression of not only spa branding and identity , with the development of characteristic fragrances, but also a more pronounced attention. on the relaxation and comfort of the client. Fragrance is now valued more intentionally and profoundly for its therapeutic effects to reset and recalibrate our nervous system.
We can find evidence of this reframed approach to using essential oils and aromatherapy as part of the spa experience through offerings such as aromatherapy classes, essential oil blend bars and guest speakers on the subject.
This trend will continue to grow and develop, as aromatherapy is considered an essential key element in promoting relaxation and well-being among clients.
Clean Beauty: Skincare
The continued exponential growth of plant-derived and minimally processed ingredients for use in the Clean Beauty skincare industry is also supporting the growth of the aromatherapy and essential oils market.
Fragrance in our skincare products is no longer seen as just an aesthetic touch, but brand owners and product developers want the scents in their products to have benefits as well. We see facial and body care brands talking about their aromas from a benefit perspective, highlighting the aromatherapeutic properties of the essential oils incorporated.
The Clean Beauty movement has introduced the concept of holism into our beauty routines and purchases, connecting the personal story of the brand owners with the story of where and how the ingredients are sourced for their unique benefits for our skin and our general well-being. This reframing of beauty as an expression of well-being provides the ideal landscape for integrating aromatherapy concepts into skin and body care products. So we’re seeing more and more inclusions of essential oils in formulas across all categories.
Looking to the future
Essential oils and aromatherapy are poised to infiltrate the wellness and beauty markets, as growing consumer interest in holism and wellness continues to drive skincare trends personal and functional perfumes.
Beyond its ability to make you smell good, the plethora of benefits that perfume offers to our well-being and overall health will see an increased opportunity for integration within the aromatherapy industry, spa and skin care.
1 https://www.iriworldwide.com/IRI/media/Library/Publications/IRI_Self_Care_POV.pdf
2 Evaluation of the effects of East Indian sandalwood oil and a-santalol on humans after transdermal absorption; 2004 ; Heuberger, E., Hongratanaworakit, T.
3 https://www.wellandgood.com/fitness-wellness-trends/self-care/nature-inspired-fragrances/
