The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans believed that essential oils had immense power on the state of health of both our body and mind. They believed that essential oils can invigorate and stimulate you, they can soothe and calm you, help you sleep, promote endurance, inspire and arouse you, refresh and rejuvenate you.

For centuries, women and men alike have used scents to bring about desired results. With perfume and cologne, usually the purpose is to make you feel alive, attractive, alluring and yes, sometimes even sexy! : ) We use eucalyptus when we get colds, peppermint when we are nauseated & perfumed soaps to freshen our bodies and clothes - just to name a few.

This might disappoint some of you, but Feng Shui is not just about placing a few items around your home with the hopes of obtaining financial security. It is about total well being and harmony with one's self and one's environment. While prosperity certainly plays a big part in how harmonious your life is, it is only one aspect of Feng Shui.

So, what part does aromatherapy play in Feng Shui? Because Feng Shui practitioners concentrate on total well being, aromatherapy can be a vital part of your daily life - if you choose to practice it. While some people may scoff at the therapeutic effects of essential oils - there is a wide spread belief that they do work for certain things. It is believed that the aromatic molecules, when inhaled, travel to your brain and produce the desired results depending upon the scent you are using to stimulate it.

Feng Shui practitioners not only use aromatherapy for your well being, but they also believe that pleasant aromas will dispel negative chi from your space. So, for example, if you are experiencing financial difficulties, you may want to light candles or other aromatic devices in the Southeast sector of your home which is your wealth sector. By the same token, if you are having problems with your kids, or marital problems, you may want to use aromatherapy for your East Sector or Southwest sector.

There are several different ways of using aromatherapy to help create total well being. You can take a hot bath, dab diluted oil on the skin, burn incense or candles or use potpourri pots or oil burners to practice aromatherapy. My two personal favorites are candles and oil burners. I have oil burners in almost all the different sectors of my home and use them daily - sometimes all day long. I usually always have some sort of scent going in my office as it helps me concentrate on my tasks at hand. The type of burner I use varies by what sector it is in. For example, I have a sterling silver burner in my metal sector and a clay burner in my earth sector. The type of scent I use in my living room and kitchen depends upon the mood for the day and if my kids are calm or disruptive! : )

Please keep in mind that if you choose to practice aromatherapy, you must always begin with essential oils - NOT perfumed oil or water. You may also want to use cut essential oils instead of the pure oils because the pure oils are very over powering and can make your eyes burn and water. They also cannot be used on the skin.

Aromatherapy is just one of the many reasons I love being a Feng Shui practitioner. I hope that you will experiment with it and have great results!

Use the following essential oils to achieve the results you want:

Tension: Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Bergamot, and Frankincense

Worry: Frankincense, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Geranium, and Lemon

Anxiety: Rose, Geranium, Lavender, Melissa, and Ylang Ylang

Increase confidence & self-esteem: Rosemary, Lavender, and Fennel

Depression: Sandalwood, Frankincense, Myrrh, and Clary Sage

Romance: Rose, Geranium, Ylang Ylang, and Vanilla