History of Aromatherapy in Iceland

The Aromatherapy Association of Iceland

In 2002 a professional association of aroma therapists was founded in Iceland. The association is a member of the Union of Icelandic Healers, BIG which fights for that complementary healings are accepted in Iceland, on condition at they are based on good education. The union has a membership of N.S.K. which is The Union of Nordic Healers.

The story of teaching aromatherapy in Iceland started in 1989. In that year the wholesale Ambrosia founded The Aromatherapy School of Iceland. The owners were Agnar Ólafsson, Arnar Sigurðsson and Agnar Agnarsson. The teacher was Anna Edström. She is a doctor in biology and biochemistry from The University of Uppsala in Sweden. She also graduated as an aroma

therapist from the School of Shirley Price in Hinckley, England.

For the assistance of Anna Edström Ambrosia had imported Shirley Price aroma products to Iceland for teaching and sale. The school was run until 1993 and graduated aroma therapists. Since that time Bergfell ehf has imported products from Shirley Price.

Selma Júlíusdóttir, graduated aroma therapist from The Aromatherapy School of Iceland in 1990, has with her husband, Óskar Indriðason, run a school of aromatherapy – Lífskólinn (The School of Life) from the year 1992. In the beginning there were only taught the basic elements in short courses, so that people could use the well known oils for daily use.

In the year 1997 Robert Tisserand, aroma therapist in England, invited Selma Júlíusdóttir to take part in international conference which took place in Warwick University, England. The door opened to a lot of knowledge and there came famous and well known teachers all around the world. This gave Lífsskólinn (The School of Life) the opportunity to import famous teachers from Germany, Dr. Erwin Häringer, who is working as a medical doctor and a professor at The University of Munich. He is also graduated as a doctor in physiology and philosophy. He is famous lecturer all around Europe and is teaching medical doctors in Europe physiology. He has accomplished many scientific works about physiology, aromatherapy and color healing. Another teacher is Margret Demleitner, occupational therapist, aroma therapist and herbalist. Among other things she was working as an aroma therapist at The University related Hospital in Munich. She was a pioneer in working like that in a German hospital. She works as a teacher. And she is, as well as Erwin, very highly esteemed as a lecturer on conferences. These two teachers, Dr. Erwin Häringer and Margret Demleitner began to teach at Lífsskólinn (The School of Life) in 1998. Since then the school has graduated aroma therapists after to years study. First students that graduated took part in developing the school and were studing three years.

In the year 2005 a book by Selma Júlíusdóttir was published about aromatherapy. The book is 330 pages of the size A4. The book covers knowledge about aromatherapy which is known until now. This book is taught in Lífsskólinn (The School of Life). Selma is now working on her second book which is more detailed on this topic.

In the year 2005 new teacher began to teach at Lífsskólin (The School of Life). His name is Jaspir Chana. He is educated as a teacher. But now he works at running his family firm using and selling aroma oils (aroma products). He is teaching at Lífskólinn (The School of Life) how to use aroma products for cosmetics and medicine-salve (medicine-cream). He explains also deeply the chemistry of these products.

The curriculum covers the knowledge of collecting and using Icelandic herbs for making essences and genuine oils.

On Lífsskólinn , The Aromatherapy School of Iceland are 4 term´s in 2 years. The lessons of the subject have to be at least 660. Two courses in anatomy, physiology, pathology and first-aid. These subjects of learning are studied on a professional health care level in college school.

Next graduated students will also have knowledge about medical science.

One graduated aroma therapist has been taken in the service of a hospital in Iceland. His name is Þorsteinn Guðmundsson. He is graduated from Shirley Price International Collage of Aromatherapy in Oslo.

The aromatherapy counts for 6 credits in Massige school of Iceland.

Two cosmetic schools in Iceland have aromatherapy on its curriculum.

One the cosmetic score in Fjölbrautarskóli Breiðholts counts the aromatherapy 4 credits.

The other Snyrtiskóli Kópavogs (The Cosmetic School of Kópavogur) also counts the aromatherapy 4 credits.