Essential Oil Massage
in Santa Rosa.
Immerse your senses in a custom aromatic setting with pressure fit to your request. The ultimate massage for anyone looking for a deeply relaxing session.
What an essential oil massage does
An essential oil massage is an ordinary massage with one variable added. NCI describes essential oils as the fragrant part found in many plants, under the surface of leaves, bark or peel, released when the plant is crushed or put through a special steam process. They are also very concentrated: about 220 pounds of lavender flowers make about 1 pound of oil. So they arrive diluted into a carrier oil, and that blend is what gets worked into the skin.
It gets booked after a heavy stretch at work. Relaxation and a lift in mood are what get reported. NCI cites a 2000 review that found the work to that point was not rigorous or consistent enough to prove aromatherapy effective for anxiety, and the trials since have been mixed.
What a session is like
It starts with questions. The American Massage Therapy Association describes the usual intake as covering medical history, lifestyle, stress levels, medications and areas of physical pain. The therapist then leaves the room while you undress to your comfort level, and you lie under a sheet that covers everything except the part being worked.
The aromatic setting is custom, so the scent is fit to your request. Come with a preference, and say so if a smell you once liked has stopped agreeing with you, since it stays with you the whole session.
Strokes are broad and unhurried, and the diluted blend is worked into the skin the way NCI describes. I adjust pressure as we go, so say something the moment a stroke lands too light or too firm. Scent tends to be strongest early on, and stronger again whenever you are lying face down.
Who books this style
- People who want a session that is mostly about winding down
- Anyone who already knows which scents they find calming
- Regulars taking a gentler week between rounds of deeper work
- First-time massage clients who want something low-intensity
- People for whom the setting matters as much as the bodywork
Session lengths and rates
| Duration | Investment |
|---|---|
| 70 min | $165 |
| 90 min | $195 |
Packages are prepaid and shared across every massage style, so each session can be whatever your body needs that day. Three sessions save 15%, six save 20%, and twelve save 25%. Payment is settled in person, and cash payments earn 8% off.
What to mention when you book
Skin comes first. Mention at booking if you have sensitive skin, eczema or psoriasis, or if a scented product has given you trouble before. NCI notes that allergic reactions and skin irritation can occur when essential oils stay on the skin for long periods, and also that safety testing shows very few side effects or risks when the oils are used as directed.
Sun sensitivity can occur when citrus or other oils go on the skin before sun exposure, NCI says, so mention it if you are heading outdoors afterwards. If you are pregnant, talk with your prenatal provider first. One thing worth knowing, whoever you book with: NCI states that aromatherapy is not regulated by state law and that no license is required to practice it in the United States.
Common questions
Do the essential oils go on my skin, or is it just scent in the room?
Which essential oil should I pick?
Does aromatherapy actually work?
Will I still smell like the oil afterwards?
Where the sessions happen
The boutique is at 3914 Princeton Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95405, and every session is by appointment. Booking times vary week to week. The open times shown when you book are the current ones. To ask a question before you book, call (707) 596-3117.
Other ways to work with the body
Every session is tailored on the day, so if another style fits better once you are on the table, we change course.
Where the general information on this page comes from
- NCCIH, Aromatherapy
- NCI PDQ, Aromatherapy and Essential Oils (patient version)
- NCI PDQ, Aromatherapy and Essential Oils (health professional version)
- Cochrane, Aromatherapy for dementia
- Cochrane, Aromatherapy for pain management in labour
- American Massage Therapy Association, "What to Expect at a Massage Session"
General information about the style of bodywork, offered so you know what to expect. It is not medical advice. For anything concerning a diagnosis, a medication or a pregnancy, please speak with your own clinician. As the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health puts it, do not use massage to postpone seeing a health care provider about a medical problem.
Ready for a session?
Pick Essential Oil Massage when you book, see the current open times, and request the one that fits.
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