Starting with Essential Oils

• As you begin to use essential oils, start with the essential oil that you are drawn to. It is usually the ones that will be the most helpful to support your well being.  Be cautious of lesser expensive oils, as you get what you pay for in the essential oil world. Avoid synthetic and fragrance oils.

Blending and Notes

• Essential oils that are top notes are the most volatile, which means they disperse quickly into the air.  So, when making a blend, it's nice to use a combination of top, middle and base notes so that you get not only the synergy of the blend, but a longer effect. 

  The oils derived from citrus peels are top notes, oils from flowers, leaves and stems are middle notes, and oils from roots and wood are base notes.  All oils on our website are listed with its note.

Safe Usage

• Inhalation gives you some diverse options for using the essential oils; it can be done as simply as a few drops on the shower floor to make your shower an aromatherapy spa.

  Aromatically diffusing the essential oils into the air with a diffuser that creates a mist and allows molecules of the oil to linger in the area is a very popular method of using essential oils. This method can allow you to safely benefit from the different healing properties of the individual oils.  Some oils support rest, calmness, digestion, stress reduction, strengthening the immune system, pain reduction, circulation, and can purify the air, reducing the risks of airborne diseases.

• Steam inhalation is another method, primarily for respiratory conditions, it’s the hot water and head under the towel method from long ago as probably recommended by your mother with a menthol vapor product. Well, it definitely does help to support your wellness in times of sinus congestion, using 1-2 drops only of essential oil in the hot, not boiling water. You will want to keep your eyes closed and breathe in the vapors of the oils for no more than 10 minutes. Some of the oils that can be used for this method are Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globules), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), and Siberian Fir (Abies Sibirica).

• Topically applying essential oils to benefit from the support that can be derived from their therapeutic properties is another safe method if care and caution is considered. Research the dilution rates advisable and the possible safety issues. A safe guideline for blending dilution rates is one ounce of carrier oil and 5-6 drops of essential oil would be equal to a 1% dilution, 10 to 12 drops 2% and 15 to 18 drops 3%. If you maintain these standard rates and always do a skin test you can avoid a harmful situation. A skin test really is an advisable practice, as some people react differently to even mild and diluted oils. We know that some people react differently to plants, and so this is the safest method and can save you some possible discomfort.

  Topical choices may be to make, lotions, body butters, or massage oils, and dilution is the key in this method. Inaccuracies are that the stronger the better, when actually the carrier oil will help with the absorption into the skin and keep the process safer. Especially with this method it is very important that a 100% pure essential oil is used so that it has retained its therapeutic properties and will be less likely to have any adverse side effects.

• Baths are a great way to relax with essential oils.  Mix with salts or an emulsifier (milk, bath gel) before adding to a full bath.

• The only mention of internal consumption as a method will be that many qualified and experienced experts do not recommend internal consumption of essential oils, unless your physician or health practitioner, who is trained in the use of essential oils recommends it.

Other Uses

• Other uses for essential oils are natural cleaners, disinfectants, deodorizers, sanitizers, and insect repellents. These uses liberate homes and people from the toxic synthetic cleaning and repellent products.  We have free printable recipes on our page for your use and reference.