Geraldine Howard, Aromatherapy Associates co-founder, died yesterday afternoon (7 January) after a long battle with cancer.

Aromatherapy Associates issued a statement, saying, "Geraldine was celebrated across the world for her huge contribution to the industry...She was also recognised as one of the best-loved people in beauty and wellbeing and her passion, enthusiasm and love for her work was infectious.

"...Geraldine’s philosophy was to treat people well, always be fair and live a full life with no regrets and having spent much of her career educating people, she is known across the globe for her kindness, generosity of spirit and incredible passion," the statement continued. "Working tirelessly to spread the word and try and help improve lives, Geraldine has always credited a huge amount of her success to the people who have surrounded and supported her over the past 30 years and for those people she was eternally grateful."

Howard got her start in aromatherapy in 1973, when, at age 21, she joined Micheline Arcier’s renowned aromatherapy clinic in Knightsbridge, London, where she met Sue Beechey.

Beechey and Howard founded Aromatherapy Associates in 1985, and grew the British brand to international success in the spa world.

Tributes have begun pouring in via social media, with industry friends calling her “inspiring,” “awesome,” “majestic” and “down-to-earth.”

Geraldine Howard - as @KathleenBM a giver of peace. What an amazing legacy and an incredibly sad day.

— Grace Timothy (@GraceTimothy) January 8, 2016