FIRST STEPS
The Carmel Relax Programme arose from the need to modernise and adapt the use of fragrances to new markets. With this objective in mind, I took into account two important factors: firstly, the current situation of concepts such as “medicinal plants” and, secondly, the fact that there are no fragrances available on the market for the night-time (Night-Time Fragrances) to facilitate relaxation, rest and sleep (Functional Fragrance).
Carmel Relax is the Functional Fragrance that is the result of the research that I conducted using historic documents at the National Library in Madrid, and simple and combined product testing, for over 15 years.
The origin of functional products based on Essential Oils can be found in the Religious Order of the Discalced Carmelites, a religious order that emerged in the 12th Century when a group of hermits, inspired by the Prophet Elias, went to live in Mount Carmel, considered the garden of Palestine.
In fact, “Karm-El” means “God’s vineyard” in Aramaic.
There is documented evidence that from 1611 the monks of the community of the Discalced Carmelites used certain Essential Oils to aid rest. The Functional Fragrance Carmel Relax is a result of these formulas, and of thorough botanical and chemical research.
The bibliography that I have used as a guide is based on Dioscórides Anazarbeo (Anazarbus, Cilicia, in Asia Minor, ca. 40 – 90 AD). Dioscórides was a doctor, pharmacologist and botanist from ancient Greece whose work, On Medical Material, was widely read and served as the main pharmacopoeia manual during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
In the last century, the prestigious Catalan botanical doctor Pio Font Quer revised this huge and masterly work (over several years) and provided a completely updated version. (Ed. Península, 1999). The important work of Andrew Chevallier has also been studied in-depth, particularly the Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants (Acento 1997).
The essential complement to the molecule formed after producing and mixing over 12 Essential Oils is a simple and light fragrance that enhances the individual fragrance of the molecule of the Essential Oils.
Research has been focused on the prestigious analyses by Dr Muro (Perfumería y Cosmética, 1933), J.P. Durvelle (Formulario de perfumes, 1921) and Dr Winter (Tratado general de perfumería y cosmética, 1947).
LABORATORY TESTS
This is how the tests to create the Fragancia Funcional Carmel Relax began. Due to the difficulty of consolidating a functional molecule with over 12 Essential Oils, laboratory tests took 2 years.
Today, a product is on the market that is totally different to all those that have been available until now, to aid peaceful rest, relaxation and, ultimately, to favour sleep with completely natural products. All other products on the market are capsules, gels or liquids (without mentioning chemically synthetic capsules).
FROM MEDICAL BOTANY TO CURRENT FRAGRANCES
The term “aromatherapy” was first used by the French chemist René-Maurice Gattefosé in 1935.
Without this title, but taking into account the effects of Essential Oils, these products have been used by humanity, with demonstrable evidence, for several centuries.
Today, the concept of “aromatherapy” is primarily associated with the concept of “therapy” rather than the concept of “aroma”.
The evolution of “aromatherapy” does not coincide with the evolution, since 1935, of the impressive progress in aroma research and the development of the perfume industry with regards to the discovery of the components of Essential Oils.
A significant step can be observed at present when analysing the fragrance market, on which products are increasingly more affordable (as a result of the discovery of specific alcohols) and with a much wider range (sex, ages, etc.).
The Carmel Relax Programme gives rise to the concept of “Night-Time Fragrance” and places value on “Functional Fragrance”.
In other words, it highlights the power of therapy using Essential Oils, without diminishing the goodness of the “Fragrance” product, rather quite the opposite.
NEED TO EXPLORE FUNCTIONAL FRAGRANCES FOR THERAPY
Based on the above analysis and proposal, we are selective when dealing with Fragrances that have a modern “aroma” (citrus, woody, fruity, essences, etc.) produced with the most modern techniques, enabling us to focus on the Essential Oils that we are certain are fully effective.
I refer, for example, to Melissa, Valerian, Passion Flower (and a further 9 Essential Oils) that have been recognised for thousands of years as mild sedatives, something that has been proved today by molecular biology.
Having defined the “Therapy and Fragrance” system, based on tried and tested Essential Oils, it must be noted that no previous fragrance has been designed specifically for use at night and that no modern Fragrance focuses on the therapeutic virtue of Essential Oils.
The Carmel Relax Programme places this new “Functional Fragrance” in a new “market niche”, given that it can be used by consumers of all types (except for children up to 1 year of age), whatever their sex, age, etc.
Besides being aimed at such a wide group of people, it is also focused on a period of time (night-time) that is covered by therapeutic products in liquid and tablet form, but never within the field of Fragrances.