Interview with Gloria Yuan By Gergely Hollódi
- Aromatika Magazine
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Pg. 10-19 - 8-minute read
The term aromatherapy was coined by René-Maurice Gattefossé in the 1930s and first appeared in print in his book Aromathérapie: Les Huiles Essentielles, Hormones Végétales, later published in English in 1993. Over the decades, passionate professionals—both scientific and non-scientific—helped shape its education and global reach. As our world and this beloved therapy continue to evolve beyond its roots in the healing properties of essential oils, we look back to the pioneers—the GIANTS—who worked tirelessly to gain acceptance for the field. In this edition, Aromatika editor-in-chief Gergely Hollódi interviews Chinese aromatherapist and educator Gloria Yuan, a pioneer of aromatherapy and natural perfumery in China and Taiwan. She translated several foundational aromatherapy texts into Chinese, and her teaching philosophy is grounded in three core values: teach principles, not recipes; safety comes first; integration, not isolation.
What is your first memory about your first contact with essential oils?
It was during my very first aromatherapy class. My teacher opened a black "007-style" case filled with about 60 small essential oil bottles. I was mesmerised by how neat and uniform they looked. Then she passed around scent strips with cooling peppermint, sweet lavender, herbal rosemary, floral geranium, etc. I was amazed that plants could produce such beautifully distinct aromas. I remember thinking: "What kind of magic is this? And what can these oils actually do?" And just imagining that someday I would learn how to blend these tiny bottles into formulas for different purposes absolutely thrilled me.
Who did you study with?
My foundational teachers were RN and clinical aromatherapist Pat Antoniak and the late physician and aromatherapist Dr. Vivian Lunny. They were my guides into clinical aromatherapy and played a crucial role in shaping my professional path. Over the past twenty years, I have continued learning from many brilliant mentors who expanded my perspectives like Rhiannon Harris (now Lewis), Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt, Peter Holmes, Jonathan Benavides, Suzanne Catty, Marco Valussi, Ann Harman, and many more.
What do you think about the bridge between allopathic and alternative (complementary) medicine?
I have always believed that the two should never be in opposition. They are simply two sides of the same coin. Western medicine excels in emergency care, diagnostics, and infection management, while complementary therapies excel in emotional regulation, autonomic balance, and quality-of-life improvement. They are like the left and right foot. Only when they work together can true healing happen.
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