Hot Stone Massage Vs Aromatherapy Massage [Key Differences]

The practice of massage treatment has been shown to alleviate soreness and tightness in muscles, promote relaxation, and even enhance mental health.

In general, the many styles of massage, such as aromatherapy and hot stone massage, each concentrate on distinct aspects of healing and have different methods of the process.

You may maximize the benefits of your massage session by first determining which kind of massage is most appropriate for your needs.

In this blog, we will discuss the technique, the cost, how long each kind takes, how it may be done at home, and the aftercare requirements for each type.

What’s The Difference Between Aromatherapy and Hot Stone Massage?

1. Technique

Aromatherapy massages feature the use of essential oils in conjunction with a full-body massage that employs mild, soft pressure. Occasionally, the massage may concentrate on a specific location, such as your head, shoulders, and back.

To create a calming, multi-sensory experience for you during the massage, in addition to having the oils absorbed via your skin traditionally, you will also be breathing them directly through a diffuser.

In a hot stone massage, the therapist will use heated stones to massage your body instead of hands. The stones will be placed on and around your body.

2. Duration

The duration of an aromatherapy massage is normally between 60 and 90 minutes. While a session of hot stone massage might run anywhere from 70 to 85 minutes.

3. Convenience

You can have a hot stone massage or an aromatherapy massage in your own home, also you can even get chair massages in your workplace.

Because the therapist will come on time, it is important that you be present at your home or place of work, whatever you have designated as the location of the therapy appointment.

In addition, check that there is sufficient area for one sofa (for a single client) or two couches (for double clients), sufficient space for movement, and an accessible switch for any plug-in equipment that may be used during treatment.

If you have any injuries or allergies, as well as specific parts of your body that you wish to concentrate on, please make your therapist aware of this information.

4. Price

The hourly rate for a hot stone massage ranges anywhere from $85 to $150 or more at upscale resorts. When essential oils, specialized towel wraps, and other treatment additions are used in addition to a hot stone massage, the price of the massage goes up.

While aromatherapy massage can cost from $50-$75 per hour. Also, it is very common for aromatherapy to be offered as an add-on to a hot stone massage for an additional 10 to 20 percent of the standard massage charge. When aromatherapy is used, a massage that normally costs $85 will most likely cost between $95 and $105 instead.

While the typical hourly rate for an in-home massage is from $100 to $130, this fee covers the therapist’s travel time and expenses as they come to your home to do a hot stone or aromatherapy massage. In addition, the chair massage costs around one dollar per minute and typically lasts either 10 or 20 minutes and may be reserved for $10 or $20 for each session.

5. Aftercare

Because you’ve just put your body through a workout, whether it be a hot stone massage or an aromatherapy massage, you should drink a lot of water afterward.

Even while it may have been a soothing exercise, the reality remains that your muscles have been stretched, worked on, and manipulated in ways that are quite similar to how they would be during a workout.

Drinking water can assist you in getting rid of the waste products that have built up in your muscles as a result of receiving a massage, which promotes the muscles to release waste products that have been stored.

You should go home and spend the rest of the day enjoying yourself to allow your body to repair itself. This will allow you to take advantage of the relaxed sensation and the sense of release that you should be experiencing.

If you want your body to be able to concentrate its energy on repairing itself, you should eat a diet that is light and healthy.

For the next twenty-four hours, you should stop smoking and drinking alcohol to prevent more toxins from being reintroduced into your body.

After receiving a massage, you could experience some muscular tightness as well as muscle spasms. Both gentle exercise and postural exercises, which focus on the body’s posture, may help relieve muscular tension. Exercises that focus on mobility can also be beneficial.

If you had an aromatherapy session do not take a shower or bath for at least eight hours, since this will prevent the oils from penetrating the skin and entering the bloodstream.

What Is Hot Stone Aromatherapy Massage?

Certain massage therapists may utilize aromatherapy with a hot stone massage. This may take the shape of room diffusion, applying layers of diluted essential oils to your back, or incorporating essential oils into massage oil for full-body or spot treatments.

One or two drops of diluted oil will be massaged into your skin in a gliding motion, beginning at the base of your spine and going up to your neck. Following the application of the oils down your spine, a barrier fabric is placed on your back, and hot stones are placed along either side of your spine. The therapist may then massage your head, foot, or legs as the relaxing heat from the stones and scented oils relax you.

However, whether aromatherapy is employed in a full-body hot stone massage or just a spot treatment with hot stones, you will benefit from the revitalizing, soothing, immune-supporting, or pain-relieving properties of essential oils. This is due to the presence of volatile aromatic molecules in essential oils.

What Is Better Aromatherapy Or Hot Stone Massage?

If you like to get relaxed from essential oils you should go to aromatherapy; Whereas if you are suffering from chronic pain in the neck and the back you can go for a hot stone massage.

However, If you are allergic to essential oils, you should avoid aromatherapy; And, if you have skin tears or breaks, an infection, diseases of the heart, thrombocytopenia, a bleeding disease, or consumption of blood thinners you should avoid hot stone massage.

Hot Stone Vs Aromatherapy Massage [Comparison Summary]

Aspect	Hot Stone Massage	Aromatherapy Massage
Technique	the therapist will use heated stones to massage your body instead of their hands.	Use of essential oils in conjunction with a full-body massage that employs mild, soft pressure
Duration	Between 70 to 85 minutes.	between 60 and 90 minutes
Convenience	Can be done at home or work office by using a chair massage.	Can be done at home or work office by using a chair massage.
Cost	range from $85 to $150	Can cost from $50-$75 per hour. Also, it is offered as an add-on to a hot stone massage for an additional 10 to 20 % of the standard massage charge.