Storytime: Quella Essential Oils Goes to Kenya The Season of Giving is upon us, and the hope and joy this time of year promises fills us all with expectation—the expectation of time with loved ones, gifts, and even special foods. I want to share a story with you in the spirit of giving.  It is a tale of a faraway land, aromatics, and healing. Once upon a time, a student, Barbara, quickly became good friends with her teacher. She shared some incredible stories with her teacher after returning from a mission trip to a wellness clinic in Kenya.  She went there to help her good friend at ..read more

Exciting Things are Happening with Aromatherapy and Mental Cognition  A new research study was published by the University of California at Irvine on July 24, 2023.  The researchers sought inexpensive home treatment that people struggling with declining cognition could use to increase their quality of life.  It was conducted with support from multi-billion-dollar manufacturing company Proctor & Gamble.  Both men and women participated in the study, using seven different essential oils diffused into the air for two hours each night while they slept.  The s ..read more

This is a frequently asked question and an area of confusion for some seeking answers.  While this newsletter could quickly turn into an in-depth research paper, my aim here is to offer some simple advice for you to make that decision for yourself. Here are some guidelines to follow! 1. Keep it Simple Understand that you are not treating cancer, you are relieving symptoms associated with cancer and sometimes the side effects of medications. 2. Inhale or Apply to Skin? Inhaled essential oils are highly unlikely to create any adverse side effects or interfere with medications as ..read more

Restoring Connection through Aromatherapy               Connection is one of the most essential needs of human beings. The mutual exchange of energy fosters acceptance, love, and allows for individuals to feel heard and seen. This improves the wellbeing of a person by increasing self-esteem, happiness, and the overall satisfaction of one’s life. When connection is cut-off, studies have shown that health declines both physically and emotionally, self-care routines are diminished, and relationships can struggle.     ..read more

Have You Experienced Loss of Smell Due to COVID-19? You Are Not Alone!  Loss of smell and taste is currently affecting around 50% of COVID-19 patients.  For some people, this is the first symptom they notice before they get sick. Smell recovery typically occurs within a few months, but for others, it can take much longer for the olfactory system to recover normal smell and taste function. Read on to find out how essential oils can play a part of your recovery and help to retrain your olfactory system. How Does COVID-19 Impact The Way We Smell? It starts with our olfactory ..read more

Aromatherapy Gifting Guide We wanted to offer some tips and ideas when giving aromatherapy gifts, especially with our 25% off sale on select essential oil products (25% Off Sale at Quella.store) Some important variables to keep in mind while buying essential oils & aromatherapy products for others are... Who is it for? (Think demographically) How are they going to use it? (On their skin? Inhalation only?) What is the intended result? (What do they need help with?) Known favorites? (Scent preference matters!)   Who is it for? Children: Crowd pleasers like Lavender or Calming bl ..read more

Have you seen the documentary "UnWell" yet? Netflix describes it as: "A deep dive into the lucrative wellness industry, which touts health and healing. But do the products live up to the promises?" The first episode is all about essential oils - it explores the "culture" around the modern uses of aromatherapy.  I cannot recommend this enough to anyone interested in essential oils, for doctors and nurses, parents of young children, and anyone who uses them! This 54-minute documentary is an eye-opening look into the positives and negatives of aromatherapy as an alternative therap ..read more

"Where do you get your oils from?" is a common and important question I am frequently asked, by both retail consumers and the medical communities I serve. Typically, essential oil buyers want help understanding what testing is done for purity and authenticity, or if the oils are grown without pesticides, and if they are organic. "Are your oils therapeutic grade?" became the most asked question since the late 1990's when big sales companies began and coined the term "therapeutic grade" to distinguish their products from commercially grown and processed oils.  This term - req ..read more

Hello, With many people wearing masks for extended periods of time - I thought it timely to provide you with tips and cautions in using essential oils on masks. There's actually quite an interesting history around wearing aromatics within a facemask during a pandemic - Plague Dr. History! Below are my thoughts on the matter, guided by the best practices of aromatherapy. I broke it down into the most frequent questions I am asked, and welcome any follow-up questions in the comments below! Disclaimer: essential oils do not prevent the spread of COVID-19 & this blog does not make statements ..read more

In December, I was asked to be a guest on Melissa Holman's podcast, Aromatic Chat, and we had a wonderful conversation. Melissa is a Registered Aromatherapist, Life Coach, Author, and an amazing podcast host through her company, Aromatic Remedies. I've re-capped the conversation below to read, but you can listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Music, or if you prefer a video, on Youtube.   Melissa asked me how I got my start in the field, and how my initial interests in the field established the blossoming business that I run now! I was introduced to e ..read more