Enhance your Practice and Boost your Revenue with Aromatherapy Jewellery

Massage is my only indulgent self-care treat. I am always on the run, powered by ADHD, running two businesses and never truly relaxing my mind, until my massage day finally comes round.

It’s such a special time, when I finally get to unwind, no kids or clients looking for me, but when the therapist announces at the end 'it’s the end of your treatment,' I always wish it didn’t have to end there. So it’s no wonder the trend of aromatherapy is taking off—being able to extend the benefits and duration of massage relaxation by using essential oils in daily life. I have recently even purchased the same oil my masseuse uses during the massage, so I can close my eyes, inhale the scent, and get myself back onto the massage table, even if only in spirit.

I spoke to Francesca, a mobile aromatherapist about how she uses Essential Oils in her treatments even if she doesn’t have a fixed therapy room: “In the past, when I worked in clinics or spas, the opportunity to be creative with aromatherapy was so much more. By this, I mean I would have more control over setting the scene for the client's sensory experience.”

“As a mobile aromatherapist now,” she continues, “I carry my essential oils with me to clients' homes, and when I am carrying out a consultation, I am listening and assessing which oil would be most appropriate for their needs. I then mix this with the carrier oil to use in their massage.“

Scent holds a remarkable power to transport us back to moments long past. It is often considered the most potent of our senses when it comes to triggering memories. The unique way our brains process odours, linking them directly to the emotional centre, allows us to recall experiences with vivid detail upon catching a whiff of a familiar fragrance.

Francesca told me her favourite story exactly about this: “The emotional response I once got from a client after I introduced Eucalyptus in her massage was so incredibly strong, I remember it clearly: she had moved from Australia to England as a child and hadn't smelt eucalyptus like this since childhood. The olfactory system is the most emotional provoking system, connected to memory. She explained how nostalgic it was for her, and how much it made her enjoy her treatment because of the scent.”

As an aromatherapist, you’re a step away from taking advantage of this and boosting your revenue by stepping into the world of aromatherapy products your clients can purchase from you and take with them to continue their relaxation journey out of your therapy room.

But first, let's dive into aromatherapy—a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts, called essential oils, to promote physical and emotional health and well being. It's practiced through various methods including inhalation and topical application.

Essential oils have the power to further enhance the benefits of massage. For example, lavender, when used in a massage, can relax the muscles and calm the nervous system more deeply. This helps to more effectively release knots and ease muscle stiffness, aiding your client in achieving a more relaxed state.

Essential oils also impact mood and emotions. For instance, the aroma of Bergamot oil my favourite—can uplift the spirit and alleviate stress, complementing the stress reducing effects of massage.

As an aromatherapist, you can also tailor the experience by choosing the right oils for your clients' needs.

Through business networking, three years ago I met a wonderful human being, Shehnaaz Latif, who is a dōTERRA Wellness Advocate, an essential oil specialist. She’s a volcano of ideas and she gently began educating me about the benefits of essential oils while equally gently suggesting I add Aromatherapy Jewellery to the jewellery I hand make at Kodes. She came up with the wonderful name Scentsory jewellery.

If you’ve never come across the concept before, Aromatherapy jewellery is a unique and stylish way to enjoy the benefits of essential oils while on the go, by applying a few drops of essential oils to the porous lava beads which slowly diffuse the oils, releasing the fragrance and therapeutic properties of the oil throughout the day.

I started by adding porous lava beads to some of the basic necklace designs I already had and, when I noticed how well they were selling, I decided to also incorporate the lava beads onto my best sellers.

Then, something magical happened. During a guided visualization, when asked to imagine removing an object from the garden we were in, my friend and I both visualized removing stones—precious ones for her and semiprecious for me. I had been hesitant about including semiprecious stones in my jewellery, but this experience was a sign I couldn't ignore. That's when I started creating bracelets with semiprecious stones and porous lava beads.

In retail, we say that it costs five times as much to attract a new customer than to keep an existing one. As an aromatherapist with regular customers, you are already in the best position to sell to repeat customers. Your customers, deeply relaxed and already attuned to the benefits of aromatherapy during their session, will give you an opportunity to capitalize on their impulse buying as they will naturally want to extend their therapeutic experience at home.

I talked to Lizzy Phillips, who is an aromatherapist at Feel Good, Look Good with Lizzy. She has been stocking aromatherapy jewellery at her practice for some time now.

“The necklaces and bracelets are lovely aromatherapy products which some of my clients have purchased after their treatments either for themselves or as a gift.” says Lizzy. “It has added a small amount of revenue but mainly good as additional products to upsell to clients, offering them more range to treat themselves when they come to relax.”

Clients will also be able to appreciate the convenience of accessing high-quality, therapist-endorsed products directly from their trusted wellness provider. This convenience fosters loyalty, as clients are more likely to go back to a therapist who serves as a one-stop shop for both services and products that meet their holistic health needs.

By retailing products like essential oils, diffusers, and aromatherapy-infused skincare, therapists can generate additional income without necessarily increasing their working hours. And the profit margins on non fine jewellery can be 42 to 47%, which can be quite a healthy addon to your practice.

“Clients who have very sensitive skin”, adds Lizzy, “have particularly liked these products as they use the necklaces to add scent rather than perfume.”

I also asked Lizzy - what’s the best way she has found to integrate the promotion and sale of aromatherapy jewellery into her therapy sessions?

“I have a display in my treatment studio where clients can shop before and after their treatments.”

I really hope this piece has shown you just how transformative aromatherapy can be, not just for your clients' experience but also for your business. Introducing aromatherapy products, can deeply enhance the way you connect with your clients and open up new streams of revenue. It's all about adding that extra touch that keeps clients coming back for more, feeling better each time.

Francesca’s favourite oils:

“Neroli - I don't know what it is about this scent, but it has a powerful instant uplift effect. Fantastic for stress, anxiety, depression. It's known as the happy oil and I notice a difference inclients' demeanor after a massage with this oil. The feeling of calm seems to wave over them. Geranium - my oil of choice for pregnancy massage and for women's health in general. It canbe an incredible tool for balancing hormones at any stage in a woman's life.”

About the Author

Morena Fiore is the creative mind behind Kodes, an award winning line of aromatherapy jewellery born from her personal journey with Alopecia. Driven by a desire to offer self expression through jewellery (something she couldn't do through her hair - or lack of), Morena combines bold, accessible styles with the healing essence of essential oils. She also creates Art Deco inspired Jewellery and Chunky Glasses Chains. When she's not designing or making jewellery, Morena is usually on a side quest, or enjoying eating out. She also volunteers for Alopecia UK as London Support Group Leader and tries to raise awareness about Alopecia and for ADHD.