[What is aromatherapy?].

Aroma therapy is a natural technique based on the use of essential oils extracted from fresh plants for a therapeutic purpose. The substances used in aroma therapy are not fragrances or aromatic mixtures used in the perfume industry but pure essential oils, volatile substances extracted from diverse parts of plants which have curative property. Therefore, not everything which emits a pleasant smell is necessary an essential oil. Frequently used as a synonym for essential oil is the term essence which means a natural aromatic substance which a plant secretes from its reproductive organs; on the other hand, an essential oil is an extract obtained by distilling an essence.