'Essential oils allow all synthetic or unnatural ingredients to be eliminated from a composition'

THE health crisis has amplified the trend for natural and organic ingredients in the beauty sector, bringing essential oils back into the spotlight. Laure de Lacaze, co-founder of Medene, a young French aromatherapy brand specializing in organic essential oil compositions, takes us through this sudden uptick in enthusiasm, and explains the benefits, special characteristics, as well as warnings associated with essential oils.

What's behind the recent rise in interest in aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is a fast-growing sector, with the market growing by more than 16% per year in France. [Ed note The global essential oils market is predicted to see CAGR of over 8% over 10 years, and over 12 and 11% in India and China respectively.] This can be explained by a deeper trend in consuming patterns. Everyone is feeling the draw of going back to nature, to more considered consumption, closer to nature and more respectful of the environment. Aromatherapy offers 100% natural solutions to everyday problems. So it's out of respect for their body and the planet that newbies are getting interested in the benefits of essential oils.

How is aromatherapy more natural than traditional cosmetics?

Aromatherapy is the science of essential oils. Essential oils are volatile compounds extracted from plants that concentrate all the active molecules. They are obtained by distillation of the aromatic parts of plants. In aromatherapy, we can create 100% natural treatments based on essential oils diluted in vegetable oils, for example. This way, all synthetic or unnatural ingredients are eliminated from the compositions and we can be sure that we're using healthy, natural and effective products.

How does Medene* differ from other brands?

Medene is an expert in essential oils for daily well-being. We're a trio with roots in science and in our laboratories we develop formulas precisely dosed with essential oils designed to alleviate daily discomforts. Our difference lies in the 100% naturalness of our formulas and our scientific expertise that allows us to create formulas that are both super effective and, above all, safe.

What are some of the benefits that aromatherapy can bestow in terms of beauty and well-being?

Essential oils have hundreds of active molecules and can soothe many discomforts on a daily basis. They can be used in beauty to regenerate, firm and heal the skin, but also to nourish, revitalize and illuminate the hair and face. They can also be used to minimize imperfections or wrinkles for example. In terms of well-being, they are highly valued for their effects on fatigue, stress, headaches, sleeping difficulties, muscle and joint pain, and even nausea and vomiting.

The idea of essential oils is to use them to create one's own cosmetics through mixtures and dilutions. Isn't this an obstacle for consumers who aren't necessarily familiar with the process?

Indeed, essential oils are widely used by connoisseurs in a DIY approach. Many brands offer a framework to customers allowing them to easily make their own cosmetics. At Medene, we have seen too many misuses of essential oils, too many people with occasionally serious side effects and therefore we're anti-DIY. These practices, although fun, can be dangerous for users because there are two things that are being assumed. Firstly, that the customer already knows one's needs and medical history of contraindications with certain essential oils in order to self-medicate effectively, which would enable one to choose the right oils that correspond to one's particular issue. Then, secondly, that the user knows how to create mixture at home by following the prescribed doses without exceeding them because the tiniest error can involve significant consequences for the user. For all new users of essential oils, we recommend that they use the compositions with essential oils that are already dosed, to closely follow the modes of use advised, to check the contraindications, and to always carry out an allergy test in the hollow of the elbow before applying the product to the body.

There have been warnings about how essential oils are used. Can they represent a danger?

If they are used in their pure form, essential oils can represent a real danger for the user. Most of them are contraindicated for people with neurological disorders, pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under 7 years old. They are also very allergenic so they should never be used pure.

Which essential oils are must-haves for great skin?

The best essential oils for the skin are carrot, perfect for providing a luminous, healthy-toned complexion; Italian helichrysum, the anti-wrinkle oil par excellence; tea tree, a real ally of problem-prone skin; rose geranium, a true miracle for the skin because it regenerates your cells; the palmarosa, which is healing and alleviates very dry skin; and the wood of hô with the astringent and firming benefits to tighten the pores of the skin.