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You don't have to have a Ph.D. in science to practice aromatherapy. The art of aromatherapy is knowing the nature of oils, which aromas you like and what mood you want to create. With a little know-how and a sense of adventure, anyone can experience the positive effects of aromatherapy on the mind, body and spirit.

Aromatherapy uses the essential oils extracted from certain plants to create scents that can have a positive effect on a person's mood. Essential oils contain hundreds of organic constituents, including hormones, vitamins and other natural elements. Synthetic fragrance oils, made possible by recent advances in chemistry, contain only enough constituents to scent the substance. Because of their skeletal chemical make-up, synthetic fragrances can't fully duplicate the scent or benefits of the natural aromatic plants.

Essential oils are volatile and once exposed to the atmosphere constantly develop and change. The best way to learn about the benefits of these highly concentrated oils is to "analyze" them yourself.

However, sanitary test tubes and a microscope are unnecessary. Simply dispense a drop of oil on blotter paper or unscented tissue. Concentrate, inhale and write down your impressions. As you "test" these oils, ask yourself - What do the aromas remind you of? How do they change and develop as they evaporate? How does the experience of the oil make you feel?

Keep a record of your impressions and build a file for future reference. As you begin to develop a mental picture of the different oils, think about which ones will work together and with what benefits.

For instance, if you want to relax, it's important to know the essential oils from such plants as rose, jasmine, neroli, ylang ylang, chamomile and lavender enhance that mood. If you are looking to energize or refresh yourself try basil, peppermint, spearmint, rosemary or thyme. Leaf oils from eucalyptus, geranium, myrtle, petitgrain and tea tree as well as the needle oils from fir, cedar leaf and cypress have a clean refreshing scent. The essential oils from the fruit or seed of carrot, cardamom, black pepper, allspice and cumin help revitalize and balance.

Once you become familiar with the benefits of the oils, you can begin to experiment with different blends. Essential oils are so highly concentrated, a few drops will create the desired mood. Always dilute essential oils in either water or carrier oil. Use natural vegetable oils, such as sweet almond or jojoba, so the essential oil blend makes up two to three percent of the mixture. The blend can be used as a massage or bath oil.

For a water spritzer, add two to five drops of the desired blend to two cups of distilled water and diffuse into the air. Place the same mixture in an aromatherapy lamp to relax or invigorate the atmosphere, depending on the oils you use. A few drops of essential oil added to the bath will yield the same results.

Aura Cacia pure essential oils are found at natural food or health stores in one-half-ounce bottles. You can purchase them individually to experiment with different blends or buy pre-blended combinations that provide the result you want. Aromatherapy products, which contain essential oils, include mineral baths, massage oils, bath soaps, perfumes, body powders and cocoa butters. Aura Cacia also offers aromatherapy atomizers, electric room diffusers and candle diffuser lamps.

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