About

At the Tisserand Institute, our core value is to seek out the science supporting essential oil claims and deliver evidence-based information for the effective use of essential oils.

Our courses exemplify this philosophy.

Though we respect the wisdom of folk remedies and personal experience (the aromatherapy profession owes a debt to these early findings), our curriculum is based on expert knowledge, and results proven through clinical trials and studies.

The Institute offers a number of expert-led online courses throughout the year to suit varying schedules and time zones – from one-stop webinars to self-paced mini-courses to professional certification courses. Our whole team works together closely to ensure that our educational offerings are consistent and current.

Whichever course you choose, you’ll gain fascinating insights through the most up-to-date, reliable information available.

Single Lessons & Mini-Courses

These are either single or multiple recorded webinars available to you at any time. They offer a quick hit of specialized know-how that can be completed in a short period of time. You take no assessments or exams and there is no certification.

Certification Courses

These are intensive, scheduled courses that have limited enrollment periods and run over a prescribed duration. Students who enroll in these courses tend to be highly motivated, and their combined enthusiasm propels deeper learning for everyone. There is a strong sense of community and class cohesion as students move through the material together, creating a robust learning atmosphere and interactive forum dialogue.

Included with each of our Certification Courses:

Throughout the duration of the course:

  • Access to the recorded video webinars and audio recordings
  • Access to the student forum for ongoing questions and discussion
  • Ongoing guidance from the instructor and the TI team
  • Instructor feedback on your assessments and exams

For you to download and keep:

  • Full presentation handouts for each lesson
  • Detailed course notes and additional resources for each lesson
  • Q&A transcripts from previous classes

Upon completion of the course:

  • Your signed Certificate of Completion and CE hours confirmation
  • A network of new contacts with people on the same path

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Meet our Faculty

Lise Andersen

Formulator | Founder of LisaLise Pure Natural Skincare & Formulators’ Kitchen

A self-professed ‘green’ formulator, Lise works with luxurious natural plant-based ingredients – preferably as raw and unprocessed as possible. Entirely self-taught, she has years of experience in researching, testing, and developing cosmetics.

Lise is the author of several DIY e-books on making skincare and haircare products, herbal extracts, and more. She also offers consultation and bespoke formulation for beauty brands. Visit her blog where she journals her experiments and shares know-how on everything from making no-soap cleansers to pressed eye shadow.

Dr. E. Joy Bowles; PhD, BSc Hons

Author | Educator | Researcher

Joy wrote the very first course on essential oil chemistry in Australia in 1991. Her book, The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oils (2003) is the textbook for many aromatherapy courses the world over.

For her PhD, awarded in 2007, Joy investigated how essential oils might affect cognitive function in dementia. After years of experience in primary healthcare, Joy is back to creating courses on the chemistry and evidence-based therapeutics of essential oils. Helping others understand the chemistry and pharmacology of essential oils is one of her life’s passions.

In 2021,  Joy received the Alliance of International Aromatherapist Outstanding Contribution to Aromatherapy Award in recognition of her long-standing devotion to the field. 

Dr. Petra Ratajc, PhD

Biologist | Researcher | Educator

Petra refers to herself as an ‘aromatic plants enthusiast’ and has a post-graduate degree in Biological and Biotechnical Sciences from the University of Ljubljana. Her PhD extends from fieldwork to molecular research in the quality, safety and efficacy of aromatic herbs and their essential oils.

Petra specializes in medicinal and aromatic plants, secondary plant metabolites, pharmacognosy and pharmacology specifically focused on plant volatile constituents. Visit her myth-busting plant biology blog, The PhytoVolatilome.

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.

Hana Tisserand

Chief of Operations | Educator | Course Moderator

Hana is our captain of operations and communications. She hails from Prague, and brings a strong background in French and English translation and interpretation that’s proven essential for our global student base. Being raised in a family of doctors and nurses had primed her for a specialization in medical translation, which she counts alongside her experience working with politicians, authors, and educators. She has been working with Robert Tisserand for six years.

Hana supervises our staff, manages our teaching platform, organizes courses, hosts webinars, commissions blog posts, oversees the creation of social content, writes our newsletters, and is our go-to IT technician. Somehow, she finds time to write her own blog posts, too.

Tisserand Institute Advisory Board Member Kandace Knudson

Kandace Knudson, PhD, MPH

Kandace is an educator and consultant, specializing in online learning, professional development, and communicating scientific information to stakeholders and policy makers. She has a PhD in Education, Masters’ degrees in Public Health, English, and Liberal Arts, and a Bachelor’s degree in English with a focus on mass media and communication. Kandace studies the discourse of essential oils marketing as it relates to public health and helps companies seeking to more effectively reach their audiences. She is a certified health coach through the American Council of Exercise and uses essential oils as part of a holistic approach to wellness.

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