So you enter the spa and are met with glorious, earthy scents that manage toΒ lift your mood and calm the soul all at once. You probably ask yourself, how do I take this smell home with me? Enter essential oils!
Wondrous gifts from nature, essential oils have really made a name for themselves in the last couple of years. And rightfully so!
Now you may have asked yourself, what are essential oils actually good for? How do I know which essential oils are right me? I feel you! It can be a little overwhelming when first starting out on your essential oils discovery journey.
That’s exactly why I’ve created this quick guide with 10 of my favourite essential oils. They provide tons of benefits and are readily available for purchase.
So let’s get started!
What Exactly Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are naturally occurring, aromatic compounds that are found in the various parts of plants. They are powerfully fragrant and give plants their distinct smells.
Lucky for us, they are made available through a distillation process, whichΒ allowsΒ them to retain the characteristics and properties from their plant of origin.
They have a long history and have been used by cultures around the world for centuries for many different purposes.
General Uses of Essential Oils
There are so many amazing ways for essential oils to enhance your life. Β
From assisting with healing, to being diffused around the home as air fresheners, to mood boosters and natural cleansers, or blended into beautifully delicious body products; essential oils have got your back.
Suffering from a headache? Grab a little lavender. Time to clean your kitchen? Lemon is all over it. Need a little pick me up? Throw some Ylang Ylang into the diffuser and call it a day. You get the idea.
Natural Living Must Have
Essential oils provide a wonderful alternative to generic products such as perfumes, air fresheners, and cleansers. If you are thinking about stepping into a more non-toxic lifestyle essential oils are aΒ must have addition to your natural living toolkit.Β
Wondering what took you so long to jump on the essential oil band wagon? Don’t sweat it. You’re here now!Β
Chemical filled fragrance oils step aside, you are no longer needed!
Now let’s get this show on the road.
Top 10 Essential Oils for Every Day Use:
1 – LAVENDER
- eases muscle tension (add a few drops to your bath)
- calming and relaxing properties
- alleviates headaches, nausea and menstrual cramps
- excellent sleeping aid (place a few drops on your pillow)
- moisturizes dry skin
- treats acne
- diffuse in home to promote feelings of positivity and calm
2 – LEMONΒ
- naturally cleansing
- promotes positivity & cognitive ability
- smooths cellulite
- promotes circulation
- softens feet
- brightens skin
- diffuse in home for a natural boost of energyΒ and mood lift
3 – TEA TREEΒ
- aids in healing of cuts, scrapes & bruises
- eliminates odoursΒ
- alleviates allergy symptoms
- fights dandruff
- kills mold
- stimulates the immune system
- eases sore muscles
4 – SWEET ORANGEΒ
- protects against seasonal & environmental threats
- wards off ailments during cold & flu season,Β
- combats germs
- naturally uplifting to the mind & body
- is divine when mixedΒ with lavender
- diffuse in home to feel invigorated and calm
5 – PATCHOULI
- has a grounding/balancing effect on emotions
- wonderful benefits for skin
- reduces blemishes
- calms anxiety
- natural insect repellent
- deodorizes
- diffuse in home or add to bath to relieve anxiousness & anxiety
6 – YLANG YLANG
- helps reduce anxiety
- creates an aura of calm
- great for healthy hair & growth (natural conditioner)
- releases muscle tension
- enhances feelings of joy, confidence & peace
- natural aphrodisiac
- softens dry skin
- diffuse in the homeΒ forΒ stress relief
7 – ROMAN CHAMOMILEΒ
- calming properties
- assists with earaches, headaches & PMS
- eases insomnia
- may promotes heart health
- provides allergy relief
- reduces acneΒ
- moisturizes dry skin
8 – ROSEΒ
- strengthens weak nails
- boosts confidence
- reduces stretch marks
- relieves PMS symptoms
- boosts the immune system
- helps with premature aging & fine lines
- natural romance enhancer
9 – EUCALYPTUSΒ
- Relieves sinus headache & congestion
- eliminates odours
- aids asthma symptoms
- eases sore throat
- healing properties
- stimulates brain function
10 – PEPPERMINTΒ
- stress management
- brightens skin
- soothes and relaxes sore muscles
- natural cleanser
- eases headaches & nasal congestion
- allergy relief
- awakens the senses
- naturally energizing
And our BONUS ESSENTIAL OIL: FRANKINCENSE
- relieves stress
- boosts immune system
- combats wrinkles
- induces better sleep
- natural cleanser
- aids arthritis
- enhances spiritual awareness during meditation
Just the beginning of your journey
So there you have it my list of 10, or 11 really, must have essential oils π
Now, this is just a dip in the ocean showcasing the benefits of these oils and the variety that is out there. I compiled this guide as a starting point and to give some practical tips and ideas for you to work with π
And, no, you do not need to run out and purchase all of these right away! Though you can if you like of course lol.Β Pick one or two that call out to you the most and go from there.
HANDLE WITH CARE
All that being said, essential oils are indeed awesome but should be handled with care. Do some research to make sure you are using them properly.Β
On that note,Β I shall leave you with a few basic tips for using essential oils safely π
ESSENTIAL OILS: SAFETY TIPS
- they do expire and should have an expiry on the bottle
- storeΒ in small glass amber or blue bottles away from direct light
- they are not always suitable for children (VERY IMPORTANT!)
- you should never ingest unless you have been properly instructed and they are extremely high quality
- a little goes a long long way (for real!)
- diluting with a carrier oil is good practice, especially if you have sensitive skin
- always do a patch test first when using a new oil
- never put directly into open wounds
You can check out THIS POST on WebMD for some additional do’s and don’ts of using essential oils.Β
DISCLAIMER:Β I am not a doctor. I am simply sharing with you some of the common, beneficial uses of essentialΒ oils. This post is by no means a replacement for proper medical advice.
Your thoughts are most welcome!
So, what are some of your favourite essential oils? Do you have any favourite ways to use them?
As always, leave me a comment or connect with me on social media. I love to hear from you!
Want more natural living tips and ideas?Β You canΒ SUBSCRIBEΒ to my blog and receive my full WholesomeΒ Kitchen Clean-up Guide completeΒ with my Toxins to TossΒ Checklist forΒ FREE!
Blessed be pixies! xo
Krystle
Wholesomewitch
Hi Liv π
There are really so many things you can do EO’s. Each could certainly have it’s own post and I am planning a couple dedicated posts for future. A couple of quick tips though….to alleviate a headache massage a drop or 2 of Lavender into your temples, mix a few drops of Tea Tree with water for a great natural cleanser, rub a couple drops of Chamomile into your abdomen to relieve menstrual pain. It is highly recommended, and especially if you have sensitive skin, to mix the EO’s with a carrier oil before putting directly onto your skin. A few good ones to use include Olive Oil, Coconut Oil or Jojoba Oil. And have fun!
Liv
Oooh! Thanks! It hadn’t occurred to me to mix essential oils with other oils! Thanks for the tips!
Wholesomewitch
You are most welcome! π
Liv
THANK YOU! This is super helpful! I have lavender but never really know what to do with it! Now I am looking forward to a bath with a drop of lavender tonight, to help me with my aching muscles from climbing!
I always want to use essential oils but I really have no idea what to do with them! I really appreciate the practical application that you noted for lavender. How about for the other oils? Right now the only thing I do is put the oils on my diffuser! Doh! So any other tips on how else to use the oils?