In Memoriam: Geraldine Howard of Aromatherapy Associates

Company chairman and cofounder passes away after long battle with cancer.

Aromatherapy Associates today announced the passing of company chairman and cofounder Geraldine Howard, who was diagnosed with cancer several years ago.

Howard was regarded as a pioneer and expert in the aromatherapy oil arena. She initially trained at Micheline Arcier’s renowned aromatherapy clinic in Knightsbridge, London, where she met Sue Beechey. Together, Beechey and Howard founded Aromatherapy Associates in 1985, and in the intervening three decades the brand has grown beyond its signature bath and shower oil collections to encompass skin- and bodycare, candles and more.

In 2013, Aromatherapy Associates launched Inner Strength, an essential oil that Howard had specifically created to help herself get through treatment. One tenth of all the proceeds from the sale are donated to the Defence Against Cancer Foundation. Aromatherapy Associates commented: “It’s a testament to Geraldine that even in the midst of her personal struggle, she found a way to help other people.”

“Geraldine was recognized as one of the best loved people in beauty and well-being and her enthusiasm and drive was second-to-none,” read the official AA statement. “It was always Geraldine’s mission to tell the world how incredible essential oils are, and she saw Aromatherapy Associates as more than a business; it was her way of life. We are honored to continue this mission on behalf of Geraldine and the brand she loved so dearly, and we celebrate her life and legacy each time we use and share her beautiful and transformative aromatherapy blends. Thank you for all your support as we give thanks for having Geraldine in our lives and leaving us with her legacy that is Aromatherapy Associates.”

Howard received numerous accolades over the years, and last November was awarded the Leading Woman in Wellness award at the Global Wellness Summit for “her unfaltering mission to educate on scent’s impact on the health of the body and mind, and for bringing aromatherapy to the forefront of wellness practices.”

“My views on wellness and health have changed as I’ve gone through treatment,” said Howard in her video message to attendees. “Particularly over the last 18 months, with a rampant cancer that has spread throughout my body. I now believe more than ever that it’s vital that medical therapies and natural remedies are used together.’