Aromatic Skincare

We invite you to dive deep to explore how essential oils interact with the skin in our two-part certification program. We start with a thorough examination of essential oil safety, and then get to grips with the most current knowledge in the field of skin healing.

Next Enrollment: 2025

Essential Oil Safety Masterclass (Part 1)

The first part is our Essential Oil Safety Masterclass – a six-lesson online certification course that shows you how to evaluate risks against benefits and make informed decisions for yourself as well as for your family and friends. You will learn the science behind safety, and the reasoning behind safety guidelines. Whatever your current level of knowledge, this will further enable you to safely apply essential oil preparations according to current evidence and best practices.

Completion of this course is a prerequisite for Part 2.

Essential Oils for Healthy Skin (Part 2)

Updated in 2023! We then move onto Essential Oils for Healthy Skin. Here Robert Tisserand explores the effects of aromatics on skin health. Learn how to address common skin ailments and how to mix and blend essential oils, CO2 extracts and fatty oils with other ingredients to promote healthy and radiant skin. This nine-lesson online course encompasses most of what is known about these oils in relation to dermal effects, based on up-to-date research and clinical case studies.

What You Get in the Program

WEEKLY LESSONS
Part 1: Eight 60-minute pre-recorded lessons.
Part 2: Nine 60-minute pre-recorded lessons.

Q&A SESSIONS
Part 1: Four live Q&A sessions, eight pre-recorded
Part 2: Four live Q&A sessions, nine pre-recorded

PRINTABLE COURSE MATERIAL
Extensive downloadable handouts and course notes with links to additional research and resources.

DEDICATED CLASS DISCUSSIONS
Access to our private online forum to ask questions and interact with Robert, the TI team, and classmates.

PRACTICAL CHARTS
Charts with dilution guidelines for safe use, and cross-reference for most common skin ailments.

ONGOING COURSE ACCESS
Ongoing access to the learning platform for six months after course completion.

Robert Tisserand

Author | Speaker | Founder of Tisserand Institute

Robert is one of the world’s leading experts in aromatherapy with over 40 years of experience. He is a speaker, educator, author, and consultant on the science and benefits of essential oils and their safe and effective application. Robert has inspired audiences in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Czech Republic, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan on topics ranging from the therapeutic foundations of essential oils to examinations on essential oils and the skin.

Robert wrote one of the first books to bring awareness to aromatherapy in 1977, The Art of Aromatherapy, and is a co-author of Essential Oil Safety (2nd Edition, 2014), a book that sets industry standards for the safe use of essential oils.

Course Breakdown

ESSENTIAL OIL SAFETY MASTERCLASS (Part 1)

 

Lesson 1 - The Importance of Safety

Why safe practice is important
Safety assessment and guidelines
Hazard, risk and risk factors
Balancing risk and benefit

You will be able to:

  • Outline types of toxicity and the need for safety awareness
  • Correctly identify hazards and risk factors
  • Discuss safety challenges peculiar to aromatherapy
Lesson 2 - Inhalation and Diffusion

What happens in your body when you inhale essential oils
Potential adverse reactions and risk factors
Different means of diffusion and inhalation
Establishing safe and effective levels for diffusion
Diffusing in public spaces

You will be able to:

  • Identify respiratory conditions that increase risk
  • Link individual scenarios with appropriate modes of use
  • Determine safe essential oil use for given circumstances
Lesson 3 - Skin Irritation & Allergy

Skin and permeability
Irritation and essential oils
Skin sensitization and allergy
How to minimize risk
What to do in case of adverse reaction

You will be able to:

  • Distinguish irritation and allergy
  • Identify safe dilutions for specific oils and uses
  • Explain procedure in case of irritation or allergy
Lesson 4 - Phototoxicity, Bath Safety

Bath safety
Safe bath formulations
What is phototoxicity
Risk factors
Safe oils and safe dilutions

You will be able to:

  • Explain why bath safety is a particular safety issue
  • Explain why only some citrus oils are phototoxic
  • Calculate safe essential oil use for a given circumstance
Lesson 5 - Internal Toxicity and Ingestion

Ingestion pros and cons
Metabolism and the liver
Neurotoxicity
The ‘French Method’
Dose calculation and safety

You will be able to:

  • Explain how ingested essential oils interact with the body
  • Discuss the benefits of different excipients for ingestion
  • Avoid neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and drug interactions
Lesson 6 - Mitigating Cancer Risk

Carcinogens in essential oils
Genes and mutation
Metabolic activation and DNA repair
Determining safe levels

You will be able to:

  • Discuss DNA repair mechanisms and antitumoral constituents
  • Identify possible or probable carcinogens in essential oils
  • Calculate safe amounts of these oils
Lesson 7 - Pregnancy, Childbirth & Breastfeeding

Some safety myths
Neuroendocrine toxicity
Fetotoxicity and miscarriage
Safety during childbirth
Essential oil transfer from mother to breast milk

You will be able to:

  • Avoid harm to the developing fetus

  • Make sensible essential oil choices during pregnancy

  • Use essential oils safely during childbirth and breastfeeding

Lesson 8 - Practical Safety
  • Calculating amounts and percentages
  • Formulating for safety
  • Bases and shelf life
  • Managing risk factors
  • Making decisions

You will be able to:

  • Demonstrate ability to convert between drops, ml and %
  • Explain how to modify blends containing oils with similar safety issues
  • Distinguish different types of risk factor

ESSENTIAL OILS FOR HEALTHY SKIN (Part 2)

Lesson 1 - Healing Oils
  • A brief history
    Essential oils, absolutes, CO2 extracts
    Fatty oils and waxes
    Cosmetic & skin healing effects

Lesson 2 - Skin Structure and Absorption
  • Dermal structure and function
    The stratum corneum
    Absorption routes
    Excipients
    Personal factors
Lesson 3 - Dryness, Oiliness and Acne
  • Skin types & characteristics
  • Counteracting dryness
  • Addressing oiliness
  • Acne vulgaris
Lesson 4 - Barrier Function and the Mind
  • Skin barrier dysfunction
  • Hydration
  • Psoriasis
  • The skin-brain axis
  • Emotional triggers
Lesson 5 - Sensitivity Issues
  • Inflammation

  • Sensitive skin

  • Rosacea

  • Atopic dermatitis

  • Pruritus

Lesson 6 - Aging and Sun Damage
  • Aging in the skin
  • Oxidative stress
  • Photoaging
  • Sun protection
Lesson 7 - Microbial Balance
  • The microbiome
  • Biofilms
  • Body odor
  • Fungal issues
  • Viral issues
NEW Lesson 8 - Trauma and Repair
  • Wounds
  • Burns
  • Skin ulcers
  • Scars and Stretch marks
Lesson 9 - Formulation and Blending
  • Ingredient selection
  • Combining function and fragrance
  • Preventing oxidation
  • Example formulations

What previous students say about our courses:

I would just like to thank Robert and Hana for making EO training available to all. ~ Jo Tyrer
Great support throughout the course, excellent teachers. ~ Nadine
Extremely informative and well presented. Would love to take more classes from you. ~ Petie Maguire
I liked the way the courses built on each other – safety and healthy skin. I appreciated the way Robert was able to make the science understandable and interesting.
Learned SO MUCH about skin and essential oils. Robert Tisserand is not only an expert, a researcher, but also a superb, enthusiastic teacher! ~ Karen

When You Complete the Course

SAFETY CERTIFICATION
A signed Certificate of Completion issued by the Tisserand Institute for each course.

BONUS LESSON: OXIDATION & STORAGE
A bonus lesson dedicated to oxidation of essential oils and how to prolong shelf life through proper storage.

WEALTH OF PRINTABLE MATERIALS

A handy quick reference for safe use of essential oil for skin ailments, plus Little Book of Safety – an on-the-go guide for safety. 

UNIQUE KNOWLEDGE
The program will empower you with thorough, evidence-based chemistry information.


Aromatic Skincare Certification

Your certificates will be signed by  Robert Tisserand. These demonstrate your ability to make safe decisions on using essential oils (Part 1: Essential Oil Safety Masterclass) and the knowledge needed to to use essential oils in accordance with current research and practice relating to their effects on skin.  (Part 2: Essential Oils for Healthy Skin).

Don’t miss your chance to uncover the science behind ‘how’ essential oils work, and make more accurate therapeutic choices.

Ready to get started?

FAQs

Will there be notes for me to review?
Yes. Each lesson comes with printable handouts of the slides used in the lesson, and additional lesson notes. These are sent to you before each lesson and are for you to keep and refer to at any time.
I am a certified aromatherapist. Will I learn anything new?
Many of our students have commented that our courses helped them grasp what they learned elsewhere in more detail, or complemented their previous education. Some of our students are lifelong learners, and some are teachers.
I am new to essential oils. Is this course for me?
We will let one of our previous students answer this one:

“The information presented is appropriate for all levels, and although I am just beginning my aromatherapy journey it all makes sense.”

Will there be assessments or exams? What kind?

Each weekly lesson is followed by a multiple choice quiz, and there is a summary test at the end of each course. Passing both the weekly quizzes and the final tests is a requirement for certification.

You will be given enough time to prepare for the test as well as three attempts to pass. 

Will I be able to ask questions?

Absolutely! In addition to the live Q&A sessions, you can post your questions in the dedicated student forums where the tutor and the TI team will address them. 

What if I cannot participate on a live session?

All of our live sessions are recorded and are posted on the learning platform within 24 hours so you can watch them, or rewatch as needed during the course. 

How long will I have access to the recordings?

You will have access to all the videos for at least four weeks after the last lesson (see course description for clarification as this changes for individual courses). All the printable materials (notes, handouts, charts, etc.) are of course yours to keep for reference forever.

Do you offer continuing education credits?

Because we have students from all over the world and of many professions we are not able to offer credits for specific organizations – there are simply too many. However, we issue a confirmation of CE hours gained on the course that you can apply with your professional organization and will be happy to assist with any additional documentation.

At the moment, we are an Approved Continuing Education Provider with NAHA. 

What if I fall behind or cannot attend classes?
We have found that running classes on specific dates works best to help you finish a program. You join a class of students, and learn along with them. Many students help each other with queries, and of course our tutors are there too. That said, if you miss a few classes you should be still able to comfortably jump right back in and if you do fall behind you can request extra time. Of course this cannot be indefinite, but we do our best to help you get your certificate.