Encyclopedia of Essential Oils : The Complete Guide to The Use of Aromatic Oils In Aromatherapy, Herbalism, Health and Well Being

Encyclopedia of Essential Oils : The Complete Guide to The Use of Aromatic Oils In Aromatherapy, Herbalism, Health and Well Being This authoritative guide to aromatic plants contains 193 entries on the most important plants for health and healing.
Customer Review: 100% recommended - BUT…
As someone who has been actively involved in aromatherapy for almost ten years, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Lawless’ acclaimed book. Based on its title and description, I was expecting a true encyclopaedia - something like Worwood’s “Fragrant Pharmacy”, only more comprehensive and without specific recipes (I prefer it that way).

It IS an “encyclopaedia”: it contains the descriptions of 190 + EO, probably the most you’ll ever see compiled in a single book. They are arranged by alphabetical order, and the entries include a detailed description of the plant & of the oil, its geographic distribution, etc. It also includes extensive botanical, chemical and safety data. They even include traditional uses of the plant from which the EO in question is extracted (which, BTW, is not at all necessary - or even particularly useful - information, since EO can be extracted from parts of plants different to those that are used in traditional medicine).
All that information would be fine (if slightly superfluous) - if the data concerning the specific properties of the EO discussed had been more extensive. Of course Lawless duly lists all the actions (such as antipyretic, fungicidal, sedative, etc.) and “aromatherapy/home” uses. But the latter are listed in a “telegraphic” way that doesn’t really appear to make any distinctions between the specific benefits of each EO. Of course many oils have very similar effects. But “similar” does not equal “the same”.
A typical “Aromatherapy/Home Use” rubric (in this case, for spikenard) looks like this:

SKIN CARE: Allergies, inflammation, mature skin, rashes etc.
NERVOUS SYSTEM: Insomnia, nervous indigestion, migraine, stress and tenson.
OTHER USES: Little used these days, usually as substitute for valerian oil.

First of all, what is meant by “etc.”? Those already familiar with the EO in question would know - but those who aren’t probably wouldn’t.
In this particular case, BTW, the data also fail to mention the cardiotonic properties of the plant, which makes the OTHER USES rubric incomplete. (I, for one, use spikenard A LOT!) Surprisingly, the HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION also fails to mention its regenerative effect on hair colour.

And this is just an example, picked at random.

I am really, really not nit-picking, and I hope my writing doesn’t come across that way. I think Lawless’ book is an extremely useful primer - and, yes, an “encyclopaedia”, in a concise sort of way - that absolutely should find a place on the shelves of anyone interested in aromatherapy. There is no question about that. This book is 100% recommended. It is perfect as an introduction for beginners, and a very useful quick-reference book for those who already are experienced EO users.

I just find that it has perhaps too many general (somewhat superfluous) data on the one hand, and too little (specific) information on the other. I think it would be a very good idea to extend the “Herbal/Folk Tradition” and “Aromatherapy/Home Use” rubrics, to include perhaps some more anecdotal information (duly labeled as such) and somewhat more elaborated indications for its specific uses.
Then this book would truly become the unsurpassed treasure of aromatherapy data that it should be.

Customer Review: Recommended standard text for Aromatherapy education
This book is recommended or required reading for almost every aromatherapy educational course, home use workshop, or personal study bibliography I have ever seen produced by leaders in the aromatherapy field in the United States, Canada, or Great Britain.

Application guidelines and chemistry overview are located at the front of the book.

To throughly learn a subject, whether by reading or class work, more than one source of information is necessary. I recommend at least 4 different sources of information and 7 is better. This text should definately be one of the 4 for aromatherapy.