-I want my book to make people understand that aromatherapy is a powerful tool. Today, we have become addicted to various substitutes that really only alleviate and put a lid on the actual concern, you do not get a holistic approach. Aromatherapy is not just a fun thing like “smelling a little good and so on” but there is a lot of science behind it. I also want to spread an understanding of how to use essential oils, something that I feel is lacking in today’s society.

So said the essential oil expert Ingrid Kutschbach in an interview with us at Curam. Ingrid runs the company Ingrid K and is currently working on her book “Aromatherapy from the beginning” which will be released this April. A book on aromatherapy, essential oils, hydrolates and a home pharmacy with five oils associated with recipes for their use.

Ingrid otherwise works with creating different oil mixtures for specific purposes. And that’s exactly what she did for Curam – created the Curam body and massage oil.

Ingrid, what exactly is the difference between an essential oil and a regular one?

– Well, it depends on what you mean by a regular oil. We can make the comparison with a fatty olive oil as the “regular” alternative. The big difference is that a fatty oil only lies on the surface of the skin, it adds some nutrition but does not reach the bloodstream as it has large molecules and consists of fatty acids unlike an essential oil which is extracted from distillation.

Actually, it is a bit strange to call an essential oil just oil because it does not leave greasy stains and is extracted from distillation from the plant kingdom which involves an aqueous phase and an oil phase. These phases in turn have different densities, which makes it look like an oil in the production, I think it is because of this that it is called an oil. An example of an essential oil many have experienced in everyday life is when peeling an orange. When for example the liquid from peeling an orange splashes up into your eye and stings. It is the essential oil in the orange peel that creates the stinging sensation in your eye.

Surely it is the case that essential oils are very much about fragrance as well?

– Yes, essential oils affect the body in different ways, we say that you smell like orange. The olfactory signals go directly to the limbic system in the brain, it bypasses all other value barriers in contrast to how our other senses are designed. And it affects us, everyone will be affected by the smell of orange in the room. But in different ways depending on the different conditions.

If you are new and curious about the oil jungle. Where do you start?

– I would like people not to google so much, there’s so much incorrect information online. There are loads of incorrect recommendations which are purely destructive, if you take essential oils directly on the skin for example, you may run the risk of serious injury.

Which products should you invest in?

– If you are going to start with essential oils, you can start small. If you have lavender at home, it can help a lot. For example, for headaches, insect bites, cellulite and sleep problems. Then there is eucalyptus which is great for colds and rosemary which has several different properties and does not really need to be mixed.

How to use essential oils?

– You must always, always, always dilute an essential oil. Of course, there are some exceptions, such as lavender that you can apply directly on the skin. But most essential oils need to be diluted. And now we come back to fatty oils, such as olive oil or jojoba oil. You use a certain percentage of the essential oil and dilute with the vegetable ones. Here we are talking about carriers who are thinner; the carriers “carry” the essential oils to the body. It can be an unscented shampoo, an oil or cream.

Tell us about the order for Curam oil, the path from idea to product.

– The order was that the oil would be suitable for cupping use. Then there are certain things you think about linked to cupping. Muscle pain, inflammation and cellulite reduction are examples. Of course, the oil would also have to smell good and be organic. A fairly broad spectrum but with the main focus on reasons why you might want to cup. Then I create a few different samples that are sent away to be tested, then I get back requests for changes and then I and the customer come together to finalize the product.

What is the content of Curam body and massage oil?

– The carriers are rice germ oil and jojoba oil, the fat phase itself. Then Curam’s oil consists of three essential oils which are lavender, cedar and eucalyptus of the variety citrodora which is a citrus-scented eucalyptus.

What are its health benefits?

– Both rice germ oil and jojoba oil have a natural sun protection factor in them, both carriers are also moisturizing and nourishing for the skin. Then all the ingredients have special properties, too many to disclose. The list of properties of the essential oils is so long that it is easier to talk about what the mixture itself does for the body.

What does the mixture do for the body?

– The mixture creates a chemical balance and the main properties of the oil are that it is anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial and antifungal. This lands in the use that is for muscle aches, cramps, inflammation and cellulite. Anxiety, stress and poor lymph circulation are also things Curam oil tackles well and has been created for.

Ingrid continues and shows me the mixture of Curam oil in tabular form. It is impressive to see the different components and what they do for the body. I never thought that there would be so much fact and foundation behind an oil. The company Ingrid K’s main task is precisely to build and compose different oil mixtures for hotels, spas and the like. Ingrid feels incredibly knowledgeable and makes sure that her oils have a harmonious blend. She ends the interview by saying:

-You can say that all the spas and hotels I have worked with and developed products for work in different ways for the body, even though they do not always know about it themselves, haha.