Aromatherapy History and Origins Flashcards

Which ancient Chinese medical text, dating approximately 2700 BCE, documented the use of aromatic plants for healing?

Answer: Shennong Bencao Jing

The Shennong Bencao Jing (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) is one of the earliest Chinese texts cataloguing medicinal plants including aromatics.

What event is said to have sparked Gattefossé's interest in the healing properties of lavender essential oil?

Answer: A laboratory explosion that burned his hand, which he immersed in lavender oil

After a lab explosion burned his hand, Gattefossé immersed it in lavender oil and noted exceptionally rapid healing without infection.

Which extraction method, involving animal fat to absorb flower scent, was historically used before modern distillation?

Answer: Enfleurage

Enfleurage uses layers of fat (pomade) to absorb the fragrance of delicate flowers over time before being extracted with alcohol.

Which British author and aromatherapist wrote the influential 1977 book 'The Art of Aromatherapy'?

Answer: Robert Tisserand

Robert Tisserand authored 'The Art of Aromatherapy' in 1977, bringing professional aromatherapy to the English-speaking world.

In ancient Greece, which physician documented the medicinal uses of over 200 plants, many of which were aromatic?

Answer: Dioscorides

Pedanius Dioscorides wrote 'De Materia Medica,' a five-volume herbal that documented aromatic and medicinal plants for centuries.

The perfume and aromatics trade center of Grasse in southern France became prominent for which industry?

Answer: Flower growing for perfumery, especially rose and jasmine

Grasse became the perfumery capital of the world due to its ideal climate for growing aromatic flowers like rose, jasmine, and lavender.