From London, England

Hello, fellow members! This year marks my fourth New Year's holiday in London, England. I'd like to introduce myself and share with you the aromatherapy scene in London.

The first time I heard the term aromatherapy was in 1992, while I was working at a travel agency in London. I wasn't particularly interested in it at the time, so for several years, the term was completely out of my sight. Then, various changes occurred in my life, and in September 1994, I began looking for a hobby I could devote myself to, which led me to study aromatherapy in Tokyo. However, my dreams gradually grew, and I began to dream of one day studying British-style aromatherapy myself. In July 1997, I moved to England to study at the Tisserand Institute. After graduating, I continued to study Indian head massage, manual lymphatic drainage, reflexology, and hydrotherm, and now I work as a massage therapist at a health spa in London.

In fact, there are many schools for aromatherapy as well as complementary medicine in the UK. Therefore, most people hold multiple qualifications. After graduation, most likely find employment in the medical field (hospitals and hospices), health spas, health clubs, or health clinics, or work in education. However, to get a job in the medical field, you must first volunteer. You also need to undergo a certain level of training before being assigned to a hospital or hospice. I took a postgraduate hospice care course and now provide aromatherapy and reflexology at Trinity Hospice in London. There is a well-established complementary medicine organization here, so the hospital has a well-equipped reception system. I remember a Japanese person recently coming to visit the hospice and saying that it was very informative.

Unlike medical treatments, aromatherapy in health spas and other settings is primarily for cosmetic purposes. Many use pre-blended massage oils, and few use oil blends prepared by therapists, as is the case at my health spa. At clinics, therapists apparently blend the oils themselves. However, some smaller clinics hire unqualified students, leading to safety concerns. I remember being shocked when I saw and heard about this. It's not uncommon for beauty therapists at health spas and other settings to simply take a one-day oil training course before actually practicing, and there seem to be many problems behind the scenes of this business.

In the end, I think it's important to find a place where you can feel satisfied. I would like to continue gaining various experiences.

(RQA Certified Aromatherapist, BRA Certified Reflexologist)