The School for Aromatic Studies

What The School for Aromatic Studies does

The School for Aromatic Studies is a private online education platform founded in 1991 by Jade Shutes and headquartered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It offers internationally recognized aromatherapy certification programs, short courses, deep dives, continuing education, and specialized programs in skincare formulation and botanical perfumery. The core product portfolio includes Aromatherapy Certification Programs (the foundational offering since 1991), the Aromatic Apothecary subscription membership with a monograph database and quarterly deep dives, The Cleanser Lab (pH-balanced cleanser formulation), and the Botanical Perfume Online Course. All courses are delivered through a WordPress-based learning management system at courses.aromaticstudies.com with self-paced video content, downloadable materials, student community forums, and lifetime access upon enrollment.

The company serves aspiring professional aromatherapists seeking certification, certified aromatherapists pursuing continuing education hours (NAHA, AIA, IFPA approved), personal wellness enthusiasts, and skincare formulators. It generates revenue through three streams: individual course sales at $35-$129 per course (one-time payment or two-installment plans), the Aromatic Apothecary membership subscription, and premium in-person retreats at Puppy Creek Farm (Yarrow Mountain Farm). The go-to-market model is direct-to-consumer and product-led growth, with free e-books (Introduction to Aromatherapy, Blending Guide, Calendula E-Book) functioning as lead magnets, supported by an extensive blog, social media presence (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), and email marketing. The company operates as a founder-led micro-business with 1-10 employees and is entirely owned and operated by Jade Shutes, with no external institutional investors or parent company.

Name

The School for Aromatic Studies

Legal name

The School for Aromatic Studies

Website

https://aromaticstudies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The School for Aromatic Studies is a private online aromatherapy education platform founded in 1991, offering certification programs, continuing education courses, and specialized training in skincare formulation and botanical perfumery to professional aromatherapists and wellness enthusiasts worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aromatherapy Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Holistic & Integrative Wellness Education (Ayurveda, Traditional Practices) (EDAAAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Massage Therapy Schools & Certification Programs (HSALANAJ)

Keywords

• Aromatherapy education
• Essential oils training
• Aromatherapy certification
• Botanical perfumery courses
• Natural skincare formulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Chapel Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Course Sales: One-time purchase model for individual courses ranging from $35-$129 per course. Includes certification courses, short courses, deep dives, and skin care programs. Revenue recognized at point of sale with immediate content access.
2. Aromatic Apothecary Membership: Subscription membership program providing ongoing access to course materials, monograph database, quarterly deep dives, and community resources. Recurring revenue model with periodic billing.
3. In-Person Retreats: Premium retreat experiences at Puppy Creek Farm offering immersive botanical farm-based aromatherapy education. Separate pricing from online courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The School for Aromatic Studies delivers online and in-person aromatherapy education, including internationally recognized certification programs, continuing education courses, deep-dive masterclasses, and a recurring membership (the Aromatic Apothecary). Its curriculum covers essential oil science, blending methodology, botanical perfumery, and pH-balanced skincare formulation, with an on-site retreat experience at Puppy Creek Farm for hands-on distillation and herbal medicine training.

Product overview

The School for Aromatic Studies is an online education platform offering aromatherapy and essential oils training through a multi-product portfolio. The core offering consists of Aromatherapy Certification Programs (comprehensive certification courses since 1991) and specialized courses including The Cleanser Lab (skincare formulation), Botanical Perfume Online Course (perfumery), and various Short Courses and Deep Dives on specific botanical topics. The Aromatic Apothecary membership provides ongoing access to resources including a monograph database and quarterly deep dives. Free educational resources include the Introduction to Aromatherapy guide, Blending Guide, and Calendula E-Book. The school also operates Puppy Creek Farm as an in-person retreat center for hands-on aromatherapy and distillation training. All courses are delivered online as self-paced programs with lifetime access, and provide continuing education hours for professional aromatherapists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aromatherapy Certification Programs Internationally recognized certification programs in aromatherapy combining evidence-based scientific research with practical application. Designed for individuals pursuing professional aromatherapy practice or deepening personal knowledge.
• The Cleanser Lab Online course teaching formulation of professional-quality, pH balanced facial and body cleansers. Three modules covering surfactants, pH balancing, and five cleanser types. Includes video lessons, formulation worksheets, and a certificate of completion.
• Botanical Perfume Online Course A comprehensive 100-150 hour certification program teaching natural botanical perfumery using pure essential oils, absolutes, and resins. Led by expert perfumer Ismahni Björkdotter.
• Essential Oils for Wellness & Skincare (Beginner Course) Introductory online course designed to familiarize beginners with essential oils and aromatherapy and to onboard them to the learning platform before committing to certification studies.
• The Aromatic Apothecary Membership Recurring online membership providing ongoing access to the monograph database, quarterly deep dives, impromptu gatherings, recipes, and community resources for essential oils and botanical education.
• The Scent of Serenity: Exploring Ylang Ylang A 2-hour prerecorded deep dive masterclass on Ylang Ylang covering distillation grades (Extra, I, II, III), therapeutic properties, and cultural context. Provides 2 CE hours approved by NAHA and IFPA.
• Exploring the Eucalyptus Species A 2-hour prerecorded deep dive masterclass on six primary eucalyptus species (E. globulus, E. radiata, E. polybractea, E. dives, E. camaldulensis, E. citriodora) covering therapeutic properties, chemical profiles, and applications. Includes e-book with top 10 formulations.
• Continuing Education (CE) Courses Specialty courses providing NAHA, AIA, and IFPA approved continuing education hours for certified aromatherapists, covering specialized areas of essential oil application.
• Puppy Creek Farm Retreats In-person immersive retreat experiences at Puppy Creek Farm (Yarrow Mountain Farm) offering hands-on aromatherapy, aromatic distillation, aromatic and herbal medicine making, and wellness-based classes.
• Introduction to Aromatherapy & Essential Oils (Free Guide) Free downloadable e-book covering foundational principles of aromatherapy, including what essential oils are, how they work, quality evaluation, and safety principles.
• Guide to Blending Essential Oils (Free Guide) Free downloadable guide on blending strategies, including the school's signature Blending Factor methodology, with approaches by plant part, aromatic palette, chemical family, system affinities, and dynamic blending.
• The Calendula E-Book (Free Guide) Free downloadable e-book exploring medicinal benefits and aromatherapy uses of Calendula, inspired by founder Jade Shutes' practice of growing and using the plant.

Quantifiable outcome

• NAHA, AIA, and IFPA approved continuing education hours available for certified aromatherapists
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aromahead Institute: Online aromatherapy school offering certification programs and continuing education. Directly comparable to The School for Aromatic Studies in target audience (aspiring and certified aromatherapists), product format (online certification), and specialty (aromatherapy education with botanical/wellness focus).
• Tisserand Institute: Aromatherapy education organization founded by Robert Tisserand, a leading aromatherapy researcher and author. Comparable in evidence-based aromatherapy education focus, online course delivery, and target audience of practitioners and wellness professionals seeking scientifically grounded training.
• Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy education provider offering certification courses and essential oil training. Comparable in focus on professional aromatherapy certification, online course delivery, and target market of aspiring and practicing aromatherapists.
• Penny Price Aromatherapy: UK-based aromatherapy school and supplier offering practitioner training courses and continuing education. Comparable in providing professional aromatherapy certification, but operates regionally (UK) with a product supply side alongside education.

Broad incumbents

• American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS): Accredited online college offering holistic health, aromatherapy, herbalism, and wellness programs with degree pathways. Comparable in offering aromatherapy certification and continuing education, but operates at a larger scale with broader holistic health curriculum and accreditation.
• Bastyr University: Accredited university offering degree and certificate programs in naturopathic medicine, herbal sciences, and holistic health. Comparable in addressing the holistic wellness education market but at much larger institutional scale with broad academic programs.

Emerging players

• East West School of Planetary Herbology: Herbal medicine school offering online professional training programs in Western and Chinese herbalism. Comparable in offering specialized holistic medicine certification via online distance learning, but focused on herbalism rather than aromatherapy specifically.
• Floracopeia: Aromatherapy and essential oils company offering educational content, retreats, and products. Comparable in combining aromatherapy education with botanical product offerings, retreat experiences, and founder-led thought leadership approach.
• School of Natural Healing (Christopher Hobbs): Herbal medicine education provider offering courses and programs for natural health practitioners. Comparable in distance-learning model for holistic medicine certification and overlapping audience of wellness-focused professionals, though focused on herbalism.

Others

• Achieve Integrative Health (Aroma Chemistry / Science-Focused Programs): Various independent aromatherapy educators offering specialty courses on essential oil chemistry and formulation. Represents the long tail of independent instructors competing in the same evidence-based aromatherapy education niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AromaticStudies
• Facebookfacebook.com/AromaticStudies
• Instagraminstagram.com/aromaticstudies
• Xx.com/aromaticstudies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-school-for-aromatic-studies

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The School for Aromatic Studies