The Directory of Essential Oils

"While this is not the most comprehensive guide to essential oils it is a good and detailed book for the most common ones and some less common ones. I have had the book for over a year now and I have constantly referenced it. "
~ Written on 2008-02-14

"In this book Sellar has profiled 83 essential oils in quite a lot of depth, devoting two pages to each oil. After the usual list of names in English and Latin, extraction method and so forth, the categories listed are: aroma, features of the plant, history and myth, chemical constituents, properties, precautions, effects on mind, body, and skin, and good blending partners. This is pretty much the entire book, although there is a brief glossary at the end which runs along the following lines:

Antidontalgic: Relieving toothache.
Cajuput, Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg, Peppermint, Pimento.

There are also a couple of charts showing blending families (citrus, herbs, spices and so on) and suggested oils for skin types.

For someone who already has a basic working knowledge of aromatherapy, this is a very useful book, combining each of reference with impressive depth. I would not recommend it as the first book for a beginner, however. Sellar assumes that her readers already know how to use essential oils so does not provide any information on blending, carrier oils, methods of application, massage and so forth. In addition, the referencing tends to be one-way: it is much easier to look up an oil in this book than it is to look up a symptom. So if you want to find a good oil for, say, PMS, this book will be much harder to use if you do not already know that you should be looking at lavender, geranium, clary sage etc. The glossary at the end is of limited use and certainly does not constitute a materia medica. I find this book most useful when used in conjunction with other aromatherapy books, so that I can cross-reference, usually by looking up symptoms in other books and then turning to this one to find out more about the oils that have been suggested."
~ Written on 2004-02-05

"This is a beautifully presented book with a vast amount of information, perfect for either a new aromatherapist or someone who has aromatherapy experience. Very easy to read and by far my favourite aromatherapy book to date. A very valuble resource while I was studying."
~ Written on 2002-06-30

"As a beginner in Aromatherapy I find this book an excellent introduction to aromatherapy. The history on each oil is very interesting to read while I appreciate any reference to modern traumas such aids, cancer where the oils can help in many ways. The only feature I would have liked to have seen is actually how to use the oils, under what form, quantity. But I guess there is not one book on aromatherapy, there are many that complement each other depending on the interest, knowledge of the writer and reader."
~ Written on 2001-07-23

"The Directory of Essential Oils contains possibly everything the student or practising aromatherapist might ever need to know about essential oils. Listed in an easy to read style and a doddle to just flick through when you only have a few minutes, the information is right there at your fingertips. Wanda Sellars have pitched this book at just the right level, not too in depth so that it puts you off, and not too light so that it doesn't contain everything you need. This book can be used and enjoyed by nearly anybody, the student, the aromatherapist or as a hobby read, this book has it all. Definately one to have at home."
~ Written on 2000-01-03