Inhalation is the more widely used method of delivering scent. One of the earliest uses of herbs in their natural state, in fact, was through inhalation therapy in a system called “smoking.” The herb was burned and the fumes inhaled by the ailing individual to effect relief from whatever malady was being treated. It is easy to see the direct relation of this method of treatment to the burning of incense in the temples of ancient civilization, one of the earliest methods of magickal aromatherapy. Although essential oils have become the central medium of aromatherapy practice, the employment of aromatic herbs in their natural state should not be forgotten. It remains a viable form of utilizing the properties of fragrance.
Today, there are many other alternative methods to accomplishing inhalation therapy. There are oil diffusers available that can fill a room with fragrance. There are potpourri cookers widely available (a modification of the smoking method). Of course thuribles, or incense burners, are also in no shortage of supply. Light rings, vaporizers, direct and indirect inhalation— the available equipment and the methods are many. These will be addressed in more than a conceptual manner as we delve into the actual physical workings of the aromatherapist’s art. At this point, what is important to recognize is that inhalation methods account for a great bulk of the applications of aromatherapy.