Use Essential Oils Every Day With These Tips

If you're just getting started with essential oils or have been using them for years, it's a good idea to review the basics every now and then. And that's exactly what we'll be doing in today's post! Use this guide to learn how essential oils can benefit your everyday life, back to the basics!

What Is An Essential Oil?

Essential oils are distilled from plants or parts of plants. With distillation, you get an oil that contains both beneficial properties and scent compounds. It's like the distilled oil has the "essence" of the plant in it, so it's called essential oils.

The use of essential oils to promote wellness and treat health conditions is not a new practice. Essential oils have been used for thousands of years!

What Is The Best Way To Use Essential Oils?

In addition to treating physical ailments, essential oils can also promote emotional wellbeing. Each oil has unique qualities and effects, and listing them all would take us all day!

We'll instead focus on two of the most popular ways to use essential oils: aromatic use and topical use. I use essential oils almost every day between the two methods, and I find that both are helpful in their own way.

Here are some ways you can use a diffuser:
Feel calm and relaxed, or revitalised and energised by diffusing mood-boosting oils. It all depends on which oil you diffuse! A few drops of peppermint in a car diffuser can boost your alertness while you drive!

You can purify the air in your home by diffusing certain oils. Because our Defend blend contains several oils with antimicrobial properties, such as tea tree, rosemary, and lemon, I diffuse it frequently during cold and flu season.

Diffusing essential oils will help you fall asleep if you struggle to do so like me.  You can diffuse a relaxing oil (like our Slumber blend or lavender) into the water of your diffuser at night. Before you know it, you'll be drifting off to sleep!

There's no “wrong” reason to diffuse essential oils. Diffusing essential oils is popular because people enjoy the scent, and there is nothing wrong with that!

Topically Applying Essential Oils

Applying essential oils topically to your skin is another way to enjoy their benefits. Despite the fact that some oils can be applied "neat," or undiluted, it is generally safer to dilute essential oils before applying them. Also, you'll get a longer shelf life.

Try to use 3-5 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil as a general rule.

Here are a few ways to apply oils topically:

For headache relief, mix a few drops of our Complete Relief blend into fractionated coconut oil (or buy a handy pre-diluted Complete Relief Roll-On!) Apply the diluted oil to the back of your neck.

Oils can be applied locally to relieve discomfort in specific parts of your body when you feel achy or sore in those areas. Add a few drops of our Restore blend to your favorite carrier oil, or apply a pre-diluted Restore Roll-On to the affected area.

More Ways To Use Essential Oils

There are a lot of different ways to take advantage of essential oils in addition to aromatic and topical use. I have compiled a list of some of my personal favourite uses:

Cleaning: Making homemade cleaners with essential oils is an excellent way to use them, especially since they have antibacterial properties. When it comes to cleaning, I like to use lemon, eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, or our Simply Clean blend.

Laundry: Adding lavender oil to your laundry will enhance its natural freshness! Add several drops of lavender oil to a dryer ball or clean cloth, then toss it in the dryer with your freshly cleaned clothes.

Relax: A relaxing bath can be made even more relaxing and rejuvenating with essential oils. Take a bath with a handful of Epsom salt and a few drops of a relaxing oil like lavender or our Slumber blend.

Fight pests: Peppermint oil is effective in fighting spiders, mice, and other pests. Add 10-15 drops of peppermint oil to a small spray bottle filled with water. Shake it up, then spray it around cracks and gaps around the house where you have noticed pests.

Eliminate Odors: Remove unpleasant odors from shoes, closets, and more with a few drops of tea tree oil. Add a few drops to a cotton ball, then place it where unpleasant smells are lingering.

How To Safely Use Essential Oils

Even though essential oils have a lot of benefits, if used incorrectly, they can cause harm. To help you use oils safely and effectively, here are a few guidelines:

• Do not diffuse essential oils near reptiles, birds, rodents, or other small animals. In homes with dogs or cats, make sure they are free to leave the area if they find the smell offensive or overwhelming.
• Before going out in the sun, avoid using citrus oils on your skin. As a result of their photosensitivity, these oils can cause burns and other painful skin conditions.
• Pregnant women should avoid using essential oils. (Learn more about essential oils and pregnancy here.)
• To ensure the oils last as long as possible, store them in a cool, dark place.