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.