Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts created through distillation or mechanical methods, such as cold pressing. They can be used as individual scents and combinations of oils are made for specific uses. Aromatherapy is the use of aromatic essential oils to improve health both emotionally and physically via inhalation.
It is often recommended that essential oils are diluted before use. A couple drops at a time is all that is really necessary. Here are some ways to dilute your oils:
- add to a carrier oil such as almond oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, argan oil, arnica oil, olive oil or avocado oil
- put a few drops with water into a diffuser to scent a room
- put a couple drops can be placed on a cotton ball, washcloth, or pad to place nearby or smell directly
- add to baths or facial steams
- as aromatic spritzes
Some people like to put the oil directly on their hands, then cup the hands around one’s nose to smell. However, caution should be taken before using essential oil undiluted and directly on one’s skin. When trying an oil for the first time, try just a small amount to see how your body reacts to it.
When first getting into essential oils and aromatherapy, below are a some oils to consider adding to your oil cabinet listed in alphabetical order. The one word descriptions are from Aura Cacia products. This information is for one’s general knowledge and not substitute for any medical advice.
Atlas Cedarwood: Centering
Aromatherapy: Grounding. Fortifying and strengthening. Clears and cleanses, steadies the mind, and promotes concentration.
Uses: Dermatitis, dandruff, itching. Repels insects.
Bergamot: Uplifting
Aromatherapy: Helps balance emotions. Strengthens emotions. Brings positive and optimistic energy. Help to reduce stress, depression, sadness, anxiety, tension, insomnia.
Uses: Acne, oily skin, eczema, psoriasis, prevent scarring, wound healing, skin growths.
Clary Sage: Balancing
Aromatherapy: Creates balance between stimulation and relaxation. Calms the mind, promotes relaxation. Aids frazzled nerves: nervousness, anxiety, stress.
Uses: Ease muscle and nervous tension, spasm, pain, headache. Can help relieve menstrual pain, cramps, PMS, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea. Dry skin, dandruff, skin inflammation. Intestinal cramping, flatulence.
Eucalyptus: Clearing
Aromatherapy: Increases energy, promote mental motivation, energy, focus and optimism.
Uses: Sinus congestion and pressure, colds, flu, fever, bronchitis. Muscular pain and arthritis. Can help repair skin, relieve inflammation and itching.
Frankincense: Restoring
Aromatherapy: Grounding, relaxing while also elevating. Eases stress, anxiety ,worry.
Uses: Coughing, bronchitis. Scars, stretch marks.
Geranium: Soothing
Aromatherapy: Balance emotions, calming. Relaxes nerves, can help anxiety and depression.
Uses: Balancing to all skin types. Female reproductive health, PMS symptoms, menopause.
Lavender: Relaxing
Aromatherapy: Nurturing, supportive, and uplifting. Encourages relaxation of mind and body. Ease stress and anxiety. Promotes sleep.
Uses: Anti-bacterial. Soothes skin irritation, minor burns, bruises, cuts, bites.
Lemon: Renewing
Aromatherapy: Energizing, invigorating, Inspiring. Promotes joy. Relieve apathy, mental blocks, fear
Uses: Colds. Soothes allergies, sinus congestion, clear mucous. Disinfect air in room in diffuser.
Lemongrass: Revitalizing
Aromatherapy: Uplifting and focusing, especially when feeling sluggish or exhausted.
Uses: Muscular aches and pains, indigestion, gas. Insect repellent.
Patchouli: Balancing
Aromatherapy: Harmonizing, grounding, stabilizing the mind. Helps overthinking and worry.
Uses: Skin and hair care. Cracked, chapped, dry skin and oily skin. Dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, dandruff. Athlete’s foot, insect repellent.
Peppermint: Cooling
Aromatherapy: Uplifts, energizes. Focuses and sharpens the mind. Motivation, alertness, self-confidence.
Uses: Clears sinuses, reduces nausea, soothe sore muscles and joints. Digestion.
Rose Otto: Equalizing
Aromatherapy: Encourages contentment, happiness, love, wholeness. Motivation, liberating. Helpful during times of high stress, grief. Anxiety, insomnia, PTSD.
Uses: Skin care. Menstrual irregularities.
Sweet Marjoram: Calming
Aromatherapy: Emotional stability and support, anxiety, stress, grief. Calm obsessive thinking.
Uses: Aches, pains. Muscle relaxant. Headaches, spasms. Gastrointestinal disorders, constipation, IBS, diverticulosis, indigestion.
Ginger: Comforting
Aromatherapy: Warming, energizing. Can ease anxiety.
Uses: Nasua, motion sickness. Improve circulation, muscle aches and pains, arthritis.
Rosemary: Activating
Aromatherapy: Invigorating. Confidence, perception, memory, creativity. Mental focus and clarity.
Uses: Stimulates nervous system, adrenal glands, digestion, circulation. Oily skin and hair. Massage: muscle cramping, aching muscles.
Sandalwood: Centering
Aromatherapy: Relaxing. Promotes becoming grounded, openness. Helps to relieve depression, anxiety, stress, or insomnia.
Uses: Good for all skin and hair types. Sore throat, decongestion.
Tea Tree: Purifying
Aromatherapy: Encourages energy, focus, optimism. Uplifts spirit. Invigorating.
Uses: For a variety of skin issues. Acne, dandruff, scalp dermatitis. Relieve athlete’s foot, insect bites, minor wounds, warts.
Vetiver: Quieting
Aromatherapy: Comforting, soothing. Grounds and Centers. Help to release fear and tension. Good for restlessness, irritability, anxiety, anger, times of burnout, insomnia, depression.
Uses: Stimulates circulation, eases muscle pain, sprains. Acne, oily skin.
Once you see essential oils on the shelf, it may be overwhelming. If you would like to get just a few, one suggestion is to get Lavender, Peppermint, and a citrusy oil like Lemon or Bergamont. This gives three different types of effects: calming, cooling/stimulating, and uplifting respectively. While lavender is useful for skin care, if you would like to add another first aid oil to this combo, tea tree is a versatile oil. Essential oil bottles are small, but the oils themselves are very potent. A small amount goes a very long way.
Featured photo by Kadarius Seegars on Unsplash