What is the purpose of an aroma wheel in the context of aromatherapy?

The purpose of an aroma wheel in aromatherapy is to categorize essential oils based on their scent characteristics. This tool provides a visual representation of the different fragrance families and helps practitioners and users to understand the relationships between various scents. By organizing essential oils into distinct categories such as floral, citrus, earthy, or spicy, the aroma wheel aids in selecting oils that will complement each other or achieve the desired therapeutic effect. This categorization is particularly useful for blending oils and for helping clients identify their preferences or the properties they seek in aromatherapy practices.

The other options do not align with the primary function of the aroma wheel; it is not designed for tracking production, measuring potency, or charting shelf life, which require different methodologies and tools. The aroma wheel focuses specifically on the sensory experiences of essential oils.