My Comments:This is not a "first book" for the beginner in Aromatherapy; nor is it a 'recipe book' of formulas telling you what to blend for specific results. It is, however, an excellent 'next book' for someone seeking a deeper knowledge of how the oils work, but not quite ready yet to make the commitment of an aromatherapy course.
Ms. Price has done an excellent chapter on the chemistry of essential oils, something that is lacking in most popular works. a good chapter on the characteristics and effects of a broad range of carrier oils, something that I know I have tended to ignore in the past. She discusses safety concerns, presents her view of holistic care, gives a wonderful chapter on aromatherapeutic touch design for those without massage training. Her initial descriptions of the oils are broken down by plant families, instead of the more common alphabetical listing, and I found this helped me learn the general categories more easily. She closes the book with a set of excellent reference tables including therapeutic uses by oil, by ailment, and by body system.
I strongly suggest this for those who want to learn more about the healing science of aromatherapy.