Sweet Scents For Less: Wholesale Aromatherapy

The connection between psychological well-being and our sense of smell has been documented since the days of Hippocrates in Ancient Greece. Today aromatherapy is big business. Even grocery stores sell everything from candles, to bath salts, to incense.

But the essential oils and herbal ingredients used in aromatherapy can get expensive. That's where wholesale aromatherapy comes in. By buying in bulk you can save money and have enough supplies for gifts, or even starting your own line to sell. Below we'll talk about how to select the right wholesale aromatherapy supplier for your needs.

Types of Ingredients

Aromatherapy draws upon several different types of oils. Essential oils, distilled from plants, carry the scent or essence of the plant. They are dissolved into carrier oils like vegetable oil. An infused oil is carrier oil saturated with herbs, usually by heating the oil at low temperatures.

The water leftover from the distillation of an essential oil can be used as an ingredient itself, called a hydrosol or floral waters. These are very popular for skincare products and body fragrances, particularly when left behind by the distillation of a flower.

Next are herbs and resins. These are typically gathered fresh and dried, then burned as incense either singly or in combinations. Cedar chips are a good example.

Any of these ingredients can be ordered from a wholesale aromatherapy supplier in bulk.

Quality of Ingredients

When buying essential oils from a wholesale aromatherapy supply store, pay attention to the quality, or "grade", of the ingredients. You want therapeutic grade oils ? not perfume or artificial oils ? if you plan on creating anything that will be applied to the skin. The vendor should certify the grade. You also want to make sure you?re buying undiluted oils.

Check up on the supplier's definition of terms like hydrosol or floral waters. A true hydrosol is created through steam distillation. However, some wholesale aromatherapy vendors may simply add some water to an essential oil and call it the same thing. It?s not.

Make sure the ingredients you want to use are safe. Pennyroyal, for instance, is very dangerous even though it's commonly sold at grocery stores. Also, never use an undiluted essential oil. Even a single drop of some undiluted oils can cause skin damage.

A good wholesale aromatherapy supplier will be able to answer any questions you have about handling methods and hazards.

Bargain Hunting For Wholesale Aromatherapy Products

Anyone making their own essential oil blends should consider purchasing a wholesale aromatherapy product. Even if it's just to make gifts over the holiday season, buying in bulk will save you money. Just keep these tips in mind to make sure you're getting the best value for your bucks.

Do's

Do check the quality of any wholesale aromatherapy product. Essential oils, for example, should be 100% natural and either "therapeutic grade" or "manufacturer's grade." Avoid cosmetic grade or fragrance oils even if the price is unbelievable.

Do ask about the age of the supplies and storage conditions before you pay. A gallon of essential oil that's been sitting in the sun for days is no bargain. Neither is any two-year-old aromatherapy product with the exception of containers.

Do check online auction sites. They carry wholesale aromatherapy product on occasion, as do sites specializing in liquidation sales. While you might not find exactly what you're looking for precisely when you need it, keeping an eye on these wholesalers year-round can lead to great bargains.

Do make sure you have enough storage space at home to store your new supplies. Fifty pounds of soybean wax might take up more room than you think, and it needs to be kept in a cool, dark, dry area. Most wholesale aromatherapy product needs to be stored away from heat and kept in airtight containers to maintain quality.

Don'ts

Don't buy in bulk a wholesale aromatherapy product you've never tried before. Experimenting like this gets expensive. Go to a local natural food store or craft shop to try sample sizes, particularly of essential oils and herbs.

Don't buy used blending equipment. There's no way to be sure the glass is really clean. The same rule applies to diffusers. There's always a chance that the scent of oils used previously will linger.

Don't neglect the finishing touches if you're buying wholesale aromatherapy product to make gifts! Ribbons, netting, polished stones and other decorative flourishes are also cheaper in bulk. So is wrapping paper! Just keep track of how much your entire order will weigh so you aren?t hit by a nasty shipping charge supply at checkout time.

Don't forget to look for the magic words: Free shipping! If you don't see that at your favorite supplier, ask. So many retailers ship bulk orders for free that your wholesale aromatherapy product vendor might throw in the same discount.