Essential oils have been used for centuries for wellness, but did you know that our sense of smell is directly linked to the brain's emotional & memory centers? When we inhale essential oils, aromatic molecules stimulate the olfactory nerves, sending signals to our brain. This process can trigger positive emotional responses, helping to reduce stress.

The hippocampus and the amygdala are the brain's emotional and memory centers of the brain which connect directly to the olfactory bulb (which is responsible for our sense of smell).
Research continues to indicate the link between aromatherapy and emotional regulation, stress relief, relaxation, and improving memory & attention!

Important Note: Aromatherapy is a complementary treatment and does not nor should not replace any other forms of physical or mental health treatments.

Rosemary is commonly associated with its positive effect on performance and mood (Sayorwan, 2013) and for its ability to reduce cortisol levels which relieves anxie...

Key Points

• Aromatic plants produce essential oil molecules that are anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiviral, and bactericidal, called terpenes
• Terpene-rich plants have been used throughout antiquity to treat various diseases even before we understood the science behind the compounds
• “The oldest written evidence of medicinal plants’ usage for preparation of drugs has been found on a Sumerian clay slab from Nagpur, approximately 5000 years old. It comprised 12 recipes for drug preparation referring to over 250 plants.” 
• Dioscorides, the father of pharmacognosy, was a military physician and studied medicinal plants wherever he traveled with Nero’s Roman Army.  In 77AD, he wrote the classic “De Materia Medica,” sharing data on the medicinal plants used through the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance
• It was not until 1827 that Heinrich Emanuel Merck established the first pharmaceutical company 
• In 1849, Pfizer was established as a fine chemicals business but was propelled into pai...

Exercise Your Brain with Aromas - Updates!
In a recent blog we published, titled Exciting Things are Happening with Aromatherapy and Mental Cognition, we shared about the exciting new research presented in 2023, which concluded that smelling a variety of essential oils while sleeping dramatically improved memory by 226%.

The Update; Dr. Michael Leon, of the contributors to this research at The University of California at Irvine, was interviewed by Robert Tisserand, a leader in the aromatherapy field, to ask questions and to gain more clarity about the research released in 2023.

Olfactory Research is Gaining Traction
I think this renewed interest is partly because so many people lost their sense of smell during the COVID-19 Pandemic, or their sense of smell had changed for an extended period of time.

We also know that the loss of smell is a well-documented early indicator for neurological disease like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, to name a few.

It's clear that the relationship between...

Storytime: Quella Essential Oils Goes to Kenya

The Season of Giving is upon us, and the hope and joy this time of year promises fills us all with expectation—the expectation of time with loved ones, gifts, and even special foods. I want to share a story with you in the spirit of giving.  It is a tale of a faraway land, aromatics, and healing.

Once upon a time, a student, Barbara, quickly became good friends with her teacher. She shared some incredible stories with her teacher after returning from a mission trip to a wellness clinic in Kenya.  She went there to help her good friend at her natural wellness clinic.  Her friend helps the people in her village with all kinds of physical and emotional issues. 

But I’m getting ahead of myself. 

Chapter 1: Barbara

Some years ago, Barbara took a class to learn about essential oils, and this is where her friendship with her teacher began.  Barbara is a nurse.  She wanted to know more about essential oils and how to incorporate them into her...

Exciting Things are Happening with Aromatherapy and Mental Cognition

 A new research study was published by the University of California at Irvine on July 24, 2023.  The researchers sought inexpensive home treatment that people struggling with declining cognition could use to increase their quality of life.  It was conducted with support from multi-billion-dollar manufacturing company Proctor & Gamble. 

Both men and women participated in the study, using seven different essential oils diffused into the air for two hours each night while they slept. 

The study concluded that there was a 226% improvement in cognitive and neural functioning and ultimately improved brain health. 

This unprecedented improvement was achieved with overnight olfactory enrichment. 

What is Olfactory Enrichment? 

When you inhale a pure essential oil, such as Quella essential oils, natural chemical constituents found in each essential activate your olfactory system and we respond in many ways, like trig...

This is a frequently asked question and an area of confusion for some seeking answers.  While this newsletter could quickly turn into an in-depth research paper, my aim here is to offer some simple advice for you to make that decision for yourself.

Here are some guidelines to follow!

1. Keep it Simple

Understand that you are not treating cancer, you are relieving symptoms associated with cancer and sometimes the side effects of medications.

2. Inhale or Apply to Skin?

Inhaled essential oils are highly unlikely to create any adverse side effects or interfere with medications as compared to applying them to your skin.

Why? First, because you are in control of the dose. For example, our Patches contain 1.5 drops of the oil blend and release the aroma slowly over 8 hours. Or, if you inhale from a cotton ball, or an aroma stick you only need to mindfully smell the aroma for 2-3 minutes to get results. Most adverse reactions are caused by overuse of topically applied oils or ingesting ...

How to Fill a Metal Aroma Stick

Reminders and Tips: Wash hands before and after handling essential oils. Write down the type of oil you used and when you made it somewhere. Use a ceramic or glass container to hold the oil as you're filling.  Stick will last 4-6 weeks or until the aroma fades naturally as molecules dissipate. Wash vial if you're using a new scent. Use a cotton ball for future refill!

1) Ensure that you have all parts of the metal aroma stick: Cotton wick, glass vial, gold top, and blue exterior (top and bottom)
2) Use a tweezer to hold the wick. Dip one end of the wick into the oil and allow it to absorb oil (up to 15 drops of essential oil)
3) Then place saturated wick into glass vial.
4) Screw the gold top onto the glass vial until tight.
5) Insert the glass jar into the metal (logo side) aroma stick. Rember to re-cap the blue top when not in use, so your oils last longer!

How to Fill a Plastic Aroma Stick

Reminders and Tips: Wash hands before and after han...

I wanted to provide some helpful information in the form of a few recipes for creating your own green cleaning products with essential oils!
Making your own cleaning products is an excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint by eliminating single-use plastic cleaning products from your home and reduce your exposure to toxic and harmful chemicals.

My favorite part? You can completely customize by your own scent preferences! If you're new to this concept, here are some important considerations to ponder.

What to consider before making your own supplies:

• Source Genuine Essential Oils! Shopping on amazon for "Lavender Scented Oil" is not the same as Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender Essential Oil). Often times, the inexpensive option can be synthetic or cut with adulterants, which can sometimes cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Perfume oils made in a lab are very different from genuine essential oils derived from the plant via distillation or extraction.
• Oil and Water Don't Mi...

Aromatherapy Gifting Guide

We wanted to offer some tips and ideas when giving aromatherapy gifts, especially with our 25% off sale on select essential oil products (25% Off Sale at Quella.store)

Some important variables to keep in mind while buying essential oils & aromatherapy products for others are...

• Who is it for? (Think demographically)
• How are they going to use it? (On their skin? Inhalation only?)
• What is the intended result? (What do they need help with?)
• Known favorites? (Scent preference matters!)

Who is it for?

Children:

• Crowd pleasers like Lavender or Calming blend made simple in roll-on bottles!
• Refresh, Breathe Clear, or Lucid Mind Patches to stay alert while at school.

Parents:

• Diffusers for home or office help cleanse the air and uplift spirits by day, or offer relaxation at night.
• Basics include Lavender, Mandarin, Peppermint and Frankincense, enjoy mixing and creating new aromas in your diffuser!

Elderly: 

•  Aromatherapy Inhalation Pat
...

"Where do you get your oils from?" is a common and important question I am frequently asked, by both retail consumers and the medical communities I serve.

Typically, essential oil buyers want help understanding what testing is done for purity and authenticity, or if the oils are grown without pesticides, and if they are organic.
"Are your oils therapeutic grade?" became the most asked question since the late 1990's when big sales companies began and coined the term "therapeutic grade" to distinguish their products from commercially grown and processed oils. 

This term - requires some time to educate customers about the world of sourcing essential oils for companies like mine. We provide these answers on our website here.

I source the essential oils I use in Quella's products from time tested, respected farms, distillers, and suppliers that grow and produce essentials oils specifically for use in aromatherapy. My reputation as a business owner, and a holistic practitioner over the ...