Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy

What Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy does

Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy is a privately held aromatherapy education company founded in 1989 by Sylla Sheppard-Hanger in Tampa, Florida, and currently operated as Aromatic Elements, LLC out of Saint Matthews, South Carolina. It delivers online aromatherapy training to a global student base of aspiring professional practitioners and individual learners, addressing what it characterizes as widespread misinformation in the essential oils market through science-based, safety-focused curricula. Its core products include the 300-hour Aromatherapy Practitioner Course (currently being updated), the $599 Foundations in Aromatherapy Course, the Atlantic Aromatic Library membership at $299.99 lifetime or $15.99 monthly, and reference publications such as the two-volume Aromatherapy Practitioner Reference Manual covering 350+ aromatic plant extracts.

The business runs on a self-serve, product-led e-commerce model powered by a WooCommerce storefront, delivering on-demand educational content via video lessons, deep dives on 27 essential oils, aromatic meditations, recipes with blending guides, and exclusive Yarden Walk videos filmed in the founder's garden. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time course and book purchases supplemented by a recurring subscription tier for library access. Marketing is content-driven through a regularly published blog, email newsletter, social channels (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube), and occasional podcast guest appearances. The institute maintains affiliations with the Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA), NAHA-NCA Level 2, and the Aromatherapy Registration Council, and its founder received the AIA Outstanding Contributor Award in 2017.

In May 2024, ownership and directorship transitioned from founder Sylla Sheppard-Hanger and her daughter Nyssa Hanger to Jennifer Wilson, a former Practitioner Course graduate who also operates Aromatic Elements, LLC. The organization remains bootstrapped with no external institutional investment, a small headcount of 11-50 employees, and no disclosed revenue.

Name

Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy

Legal name

Aromatic Elements, LLC

Website

https://atlanticinstitute.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aromatherapy Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHSALANAJ

Massage Therapy Schools & Certification Programs

Home & Personal Services/Personal Care & Beauty Services/Beauty Schools & Training (Cosmetology/Esthetics/Nails)

Keywords

• Aromatherapy education
• Online aromatherapy courses
• Essential oil training
• Aromatherapy certification
• Aromatic reference materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Sales: Sale of aromatherapy courses including the 300-hour Aromatherapy Practitioner Course, Foundations in Aromatherapy Course ($599), and Atlantic Aromatic Library membership ($299.99). These are one-time purchases or lifetime access memberships.
2. Reference Materials and Books: Sale of professional reference books including the Aromatherapy Practitioner Reference Manual (350+ aromatic plant extracts), Natural Aromatic Materials: Odours & Origins ($175), and other educational publications.
3. Educational Membership Subscription: Atlantic Aromatic Library provides ongoing access to educational content. Mentioned pricing starting at $15.99 for monthly access in earlier content.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy provides online aromatherapy education through self-paced courses, a subscription-based virtual classroom library, and printed reference books. Customers purchase individual courses (Foundations in Aromatherapy at $599, the 300-hour Aromatherapy Practitioner Course) or a lifetime/membership access to the Atlantic Aromatic Library ($299.99) and can also buy reference publications such as the Natural Aromatic Materials: Odours & Origins encyclopedia ($175).

Product overview

Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy is an aromatherapy education company offering a multi-tiered product portfolio centered around online courses and educational materials. The core offerings include the Atlantic Aromatic Library membership ($299.99) providing on-demand virtual classroom access with Deep Dives, Meditations, Recipes, and Yarden Walks; the Foundations in Aromatherapy Course ($599.00) for beginners; and the 300-hour Aromatherapy Practitioner Course for professional certification. Supporting products include the Aromatherapy Practitioner Reference Manual and Natural Aromatic Materials book. The company was founded in 1989 by Sylla Sheppard-Hanger and transitioned to new ownership under Jennifer Wilson in May 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Atlantic Aromatic Library Online membership providing on-demand aromatherapy education with deep dives on 27 essential oils, aromatic meditations, healing guides, 101 lessons, over 100 recipes with blending guides, expert interviews, and exclusive Yarden Walk videos.
• Foundations in Aromatherapy Course Beginner-friendly introductory course covering the history, chemistry, and basic fundamentals of aromatherapy, designed for those wanting to seriously learn the practice.
• Aromatherapy Practitioner Course (300-hour) Advanced 300-hour home study professional certification program for becoming a practicing aromatherapist, with a two-volume reference manual and comprehensive clinical training.
• Natural Aromatic Materials: Odours and Origins (2nd Edition)

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tisserand Institute: Educational non-profit focused on teaching the safe and effective use of essential oils, with online courses and reference resources. Highly comparable mission and content-driven approach to aromatherapy education.
• Aromahead Institute: Direct competitor founded by Andrea Butje, offering online aromatherapy certification programs including a 200-hour practitioner course and CE workshops. Targets the same aspiring professional aromatherapist segment with a similar self-paced, science-based curriculum.
• The School of Aromatic Studies: Direct competitor offering online aromatherapy education programs, including a 235-hour practitioner training and continuing education. Compares closely on course-based, science-led online certification training.
• Essence of Thyme College of Holistic Studies: Holistic aromatherapy school offering professional certification courses online. Directly competes for the same aspiring practitioner and advanced home user cohorts with a comparable curriculum depth.
• Eve Taylor London: Long-established aromatherapy brand offering professional training qualifications and CE courses internationally. Overlaps on practitioner certification curriculum and educational content monetization.

Others

• National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA): U.S. industry association for aromatherapy practitioners that offers educational resources, safety guidelines, and Continuing Education courses. An ecosystem participant that both complements and competes for educational content consumption.
• Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA): International professional association for aromatherapists that provides conferences, education, and networking. Functions as an industry-association peer and a recognized credentialing ecosystem player (the founder has served on its board).

Regional players

• Penny Price Aromatherapy: UK-based aromatherapy education and product company offering practitioner training courses and CPD programs. Comparable curriculum structure and target student, but primarily serves the UK/European market.

Broad incumbents

• Udemy: Large-scale online learning marketplace where low-priced, instructor-led aromatherapy courses are widely available. Represents the commoditization threat to specialty, premium-priced aromatherapy education.
• American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS): Larger accredited institution offering certificate and degree programs in aromatherapy, herbal medicine, and holistic health. Broader scope and academic accreditation make it a broader incumbent in the same educational category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AtlanticInst
• Facebookfacebook.com/AtlanticInstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/atlanticinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atlantic-institute-of-aromatherapy

Compliance1 record

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 Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy