The History of Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatic plants and oils have been used for wellbeing for thousands of years – in ancient Egypt, India, China, Greece and across the Islamic world. Persian physician Ibn Sina (Avicenna) is often credited with refining steam distillation of essential oils around the 11th century.
The term 'aromathérapie' was coined in the 1930s by French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé. Later, Marguerite Maury helped bring essential oils into massage, shaping the aromatherapy massage offered in spas today.