Dr E. Joy Bowles is best known for her contribution to the understanding of essential oil chemistry in the aromatherapy community. After completing her Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Organic Chemistry and Cell Biology, she developed the first course in essential oil chemistry in Australia in 1991. The third edition of her book "The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oils" (Allen & Unwin, 2003) is still used as a text in many aromatherapy courses around the world.

In 2007 she gained her PhD on the effect of essential oils on cognitive function in dementia. After motherhood and working in chronic disease management, Joy has returned to share her chemistry and pharmacology understanding with a new generation of essential oil enthusiasts, aromatherapists and health practitioners. In 2016 she attended the Botanica conference in England, and was invited to present in the Asia-Pacific Aromatherapy College's World Expert series in Hong Kong.

In 2017 she presented two webinars for the Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association, developed a 10-week webinar series titled “How Essential Oils Work on the Body”, and a one-day “Inside Aromatherapy” workshop. In 2018 she collaborated with the Tisserand Institute to create the Foundational Chemistry webinar series, and presented a 2 day “Joy of Chemistry” workshop 20-21 October in Longmont, Colorado, as well as several other offerings of the “Inside Aromatherapy” workshop, and a 21-hour webinar series titled “Refreshing Chemistry”. Dr Bowles was the key-note speaker at the annual NAHA conference in Salt Lake City, Utah (23-28 October 2018), and her talk on the psychological effects of essential oils included insights on dementia gained from her PhD, and current research on the neurobiology of olfaction.

In 2019, she appeared as an aromatherapy expert in the Netflix series "(Un)Well" in the first episode on Essential Oils. Her measured scientific input balanced the emphases of the other participants.

In 2020 she gave a keynote presentation at Botanica 2020, in which she expressed her concern about where aromatherapy finds itself in the current environment of home essential oil use, and called for a new emphasis on the holistic aspects of aromatherapy.

Since 2018 she has operated a micro-college Essential Oils Education with Dr Joy on Teachable, where you can find her current offerings like the Aromatherapy Journal Club available for subscription. https://eo-education.teachable.com. Interact on Facebook @DrEJoyB and also on LinkedIn.