Aroma oils and blends in window less room? Dehumidifier or air suction devices?

[Bill M.]

I have yesterday signed a contact and will start working from a wonderful room in a Spa in the centre of Cardiff next month.
The only draw-back is that the ROOM HAS NO WINDOWS. Even when the door is left open between clients, I can see no real air circulation happening as I am at the very end of the corridor.

Question is, how to still use aromatherapy blends, herbal compresses and Hopi candle and still keep all clients safe?

I was wondering if it is a DEHUMIDIFIER or actually a HUMIDIFIER that I need? Is there anything else that can suck and purify the air within ten minutes or so, between clients? The room size is a square 3m X 3m about 10ft X 10ft.

Will appreciate for your thoughs and ideas

 

[Brittainy]

This is an email responce I just recieved from a large supplier:

"A dehumidifier does not act as an air extraction unit but takes moisture out of the air instead, generally they are noisy and do not remove odours from the air.
From what you have described I suggest that a through the wall extraction unit would be a better solution".

Any further thoughts beyond making holes in the wall...

 

[Kenny]

Steam will attach itself to airborn particles and then settle downwards. This would also freshen the air. You can buy hand held steam gins for about £30 at Robert Dyas shops and the like. They are the sort that are sold for cleaning cookers etc and produce high pressure steam from a small hand held machine. A fan pointing out of your room from the doorway would also pull air out and start some circulation.

Come the winter though and it sounds like your room could cause more infections simply from poor air flow. The best suggestion is going to be an extractor fan through the wall.

 

[Akshay]

Hi Skinbuddy,
Thanks for that.
Do I understand this correctly?
If I use a steamer for my wet towels and mits, as well as using a Hot Stones tank for Stone Therapy and Herbal Compresses - the steam that these generate in the room will actually BENEFIT the elemination of essential oil and herbal odours from the room?

A fan is definately easy enough, but as I only have a 6 months contract, a wall cavity is out of the question...

 

[Meaty Babby CR3]

I'm not sure I would have signed the contract to be honest, but then again, how many Aroma massages do you do a day ?

 

[the chubbster]

Hi JoJo,
It was an offer that I simply couldn't refuse.
Its inside a Spa / Gym complex and most clients are male Yuppies - so hope to concentrate on sports therapy, dry acupressure and Indian head etc.
That said, I do think there is a lot of added benefits if any of those is done with essential oils

 

[stephanie j]

Yes I don't disagree re: your last sentence, but there is no way you can do a few Aroma massages back to back say, you have to look after yourself, I am lucky that I have a small window in my room that I open after each client.

 

[Spidey]

You want more concentrated steam than hot stones or a cabinet will generate so I suggested the steam gun. I use one to steam clean my treatment room each week

 

[Afaineurturnab]

Thanks again Skinbuddy,
I looked at Robert Dyas and found a Bosch HEAT gun, with no mention of steam - as it is £28 I was wondering if this was the one you are reffering to? They also have a special offer on
Prolectrix Handheld Steam Cleaner - now £15.


Will this be good for my purposes - a small 3m X 3m room?

If this is not the right one, could you please suggest other stores, as my searchs at Amazon and Ebay only has Electrolux Envirosteamer Steam Gun Z355 ... for £50!

 

[marizel]

I really agree with JoJo - you have to be very careful doing more than 1 or 2 aromatherapy consultations in a day, unless you are lucky and get back-to-back clients who like the same oils! I tried it once or twice in early days, and ended up with headaches. Now I am careful to limit the range of oils available in any one day, or work with pre-blended oils for different effects (eg emotional support/relaxation, or uplifting/energisin) that I blend myself and have used before on the client. I can also tailor these a bit on the day, from the 4 or 5 other oils I've chosen for that day. I try to make sure these all suit my particular mood/wellbeing needs, and I always have a 'peppy' one like mint or lemon if I've had to provide a rather too calming or soporific blend for a client!

Good luck with the ventilation thing - that's a rather critical issue.

 

[idkztwci]

Thanks, Amanda
I made contact with the supplier of said hand-held steam gun, and in theory I should be able to clear a 10sqm room in less than a minute of any essential oil odours.

The current offer at Robert Dyas of that £15 gun (reduced from £40) even qualifies for a Quidco 8% discount and for a further 5% voucher discount at one of the voucher sites ... so really coudn't resist it!

Will certainly let you know if it works out

 

[UditaC]

Just got delivery of the Steam Gun.
A nice little unit, with eight different accesories and tools as well as a couple of measuring cups, funnel etc. For a total of £18 after discounts, it is very good value.
2 thinigs that I can say so far:

1/. 1000 watts is probably not enough power and I should have perhaps gone for the £50 unit of 1350 watts - but I shall have a go and see.

2/. the electrical cord is a mere 1m long - so an extention cord is needed (although it does work for about 10 seconds while detached)

I had a good go around the kitchen and bathroom with it - and it seems very useful.
There is little point using it at home as I am fully carpeted, and I assume that essential oil odours will sink almost instantly into the carpet...

Will keep you posted

 

[smilez]

Hi Manulike

I work in a carpeted room at home but don't have a problem with aromas lingering in the soft furnishings (I do open the windows between clients) so you'll probably be ok. I did have the carpet professionally cleaned this summer (oops - after 10 years: very good carpet, luckily!) and usually remember to put a bathmat down for descending feet - I also ALWAYS wipe feet with a baby wipe after the massage as sticky feet in shoes isn't nice!

I also tend not to work with dilutions above 2% with aromatherapy consultations, as it all gets a bit much!

Good luck.

 

[Kurtis B]

Just a quick update,
Done a fair few aroma treatments in that window-less room over first 5 weeks of trading.
Hot Stones have been a big hit and the combination of the heat / steam and aroma oil blends did leave a very dominant aroma in the room.

however, the STEAM GUN really did the job and I managed to cleanse the room in about 2 minutes each time from about 90% of the odour.
Really like that gun now!

 

[GoodASH]

Hi Manulike

really glad for you that it's going so well - early stages are aways a bit scary! re. the hot stones - do you find they are good for your hands as well? I'm wondering whether to invest in them and the training, as have started to get arthritic in base of left thumb, so having to retrain my moves to use hands a lot less. (this is after 8 years of massage, and I am the wrong side of 50!)

 

[leseotonsnlm]

Hi Amanda,
Will certainly recommend hot stones for your own hands.
I even offer them as part of Sports therapy, as the use of pointer hot (or iced) stones save a lot of energy and effort.
FHTonline do a very affordable set with or without the heater.
Hope it helps!

 

[johndier]

Hi Manulike

Glad it's going well for you. Following up Amanda's point about multiple aromatherapy sessions, I used to do 4 or 5 aromatherapy appointments in a tiny room at Holmes Place in the 90's. Didn't give me a headache but used to feel light headed and quite giggly at times - either way your steam gun is a great idea!