The scientific study of the therapeutic properties of essential oils was started by the French cosmetic chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, in the 1920s. While making fragrances one day in his laboratory, Gattefosse burned his arm very badly and thrust it into the nearest cold liquid - which happened to be a tub of lavender oil. He was surprised to find that the pain lessened considerably and that, far from developing into a normal burn reaction of redness, heat, inflammation, blisters, and scar. From then on, Gattefosse dedicated the rest of his life to researching the remarkable healing properties of nature's essential oils. It was he who coined the term "aromatherapy."
