Aromatherapy can be traced back thousands of years. Cave paintings dated at 18,000 BC in Lascaux, France depict the burning of aromatic plants, thought to be used to drive out evil spirits.
Egyptian Legacy
The ancient Egyptian culture clearly documented their use of aromatic medicine in their hieroglyphic records. Evidence of the use of herbs in the way of aromatic barks, resins, perfumed oils, wines and vinegar’s were found dating back to 4500 BC.
Egyptian priests were doctors and alchemists and used aromatic substances for healing. Tutankhamen’s tomb dated to 1350 BC, and opened in 1922 AD, contained pots which still had traces of frankincense, myrrh and a variety of spikenard.
Writings from the reign of Khufu 2800 BC record plant material being steeped in oil or wine, or burned as incense. Essential oils were extracted by the steeping of plant material in oil, and then squeezing the oil through a linen bag.
Chinese Heritage
At a similar time, ancient Chinese civilizations were also using some form of aromatics