375 Essential Oils and Hydrosols

This book is a wonderful reference book for the world of essential oils. It distills (pun intended) a wealth of information into a user friendly format. This book is not meant to be used as a guide to using the oils nor is it a recipe book for remedies. Ms. Rose has written other books to cover those topics. This book lists the plant name (common and scientific), counterindications (very helpful to have on hand!), color, scent and other necessary attributes to help the EO user understand the oils, where they come from (plants and geographical region), and uses.

As I migrate further and further into the world of herbs and essential oils and learn more and more, I have discovered hydrosols. What, you may ask is a hydrosol? Quoting Kurt Schnaubelt's book MEDICAL AROMATHERAPY, which suggests aromatic hydrolsols are the product of the steam distillation process used to produce essential oils, Jeanne Rose, author of 375 ESSENTIAL OILS AND HYDROSOLS says the word comes from the Latin `hydro' meaning water and `sol' meaning (collidal) solution. Sol is also the name of the old Egyptian sun god and the root of the word solace, which hydrosols can provide along with their brethren the essential oils and herbs. Rose includes photographs of a hydrosol still or `old spirit well' used to distill essential oil and hydrosols. In olden times these powerful substances were known as `sprits' owing to their magical properties and ability to heal and provide comfort as well as kill. Sol was also the name the alchemists gave gold. Was it gold the alchmists sought? After all, fluids that could cure as well as maim or kill must have been worth their weight in gold. Rose says hydrolsols are being produced in the California wine country by wineries involved in The Aromatic Plant Project which sets an example for sustainable agriculture and respect for the environment. One of the things I best like about this book is that Rose discusses the habitat and environmental impact of each plant used to produce a specific oil/hydrosol. For example, if you use Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora) as a single or a blend, you are contributing to the destruction of the Brazilian rainforest, because wild trees in the forest must be destroyed to produce the Rosewood hydrosol/oil. On the other hand, you can go on using Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) without a care because the economies of Somaliland and Southeast Arabia produce this 5,000 year-old substance (used by the Egyptians to mummify bodies) in an environmentally friendly and agriculturally sustainable manner. For each oil/hydrosol verbotan for "green" reasons, Rose suggest an alternative substance. In her appendix, Rose provides a list of sources (2000), including the Aromatherapy Plant Project in California (a non-profit resource that promotes American agriculture).

Jeannie Rose's 375 Essential Oils and Hydrosols is one of the best new books on aromatherpay along with the World of Aromatherapy by the women of NAHA. They have put together a great collection of educational information. One of the best she has yet! I love all of Jeannie Roses books and her new Herbal body book is greatly more detailed and informative also. Love her and everything she writes. I am available for online discussion. I am an aromaherbalist in the Chicago area. [email protected]

This is an excellent resource for the person who is serious about essential oils. If you take Jeanne Rose's home study course, this book is required reading. Every oil is discussed in detail. The section on hydrasols is interesting.

This is a major guide to most (all) the known essential oils and at least 50 of their hydrosols.Jeanne Rose is at it again-profiling, illuminating and conversing intimately on her favorite field of herbs and aromatherapy. I missed her personal revelations and fragrant and funny discussions of the plants that are her friends and health keepers,but I truly enjoyed the many essays that are included. She discusses the botany, family, growth habits, therapeutic uses, chemical components and actions of these volatile oils., The hydrosols are described as 21st century aromatherapy-the homeopathy of aromatherapy..."a true synergy of herbalism and aromatherapy. This is another well-written book by this prolific writer who actually uses this gentle healing art. I can't wait to see the reissue of her well-documented The Herbal Body Book...