What's that amazing smell?! It's the scent of Essential Oils!
Turn your space into an at-home spa with the help of some aromatherapy! Your nose, skin, and mood will love the blends and scents that essential oils bring. They're even known to have some health benefits like reducing stress, anxiety, headaches, migraines, helping with sleep and insomnia, reducing inflammation. In some cases, these oils are also antibiotic and antimicrobial.
Essential oils, used as a form of aromatherapy, can promote overall well-being and have been around for thousands of years in cultures like China, India, and Egypt. The oils are extracted from different plants to capture their "essence" through distillation, cold-pressing, and other methods.
However, if other chemicals are involved in the process, they're not considered authentic essential oils. You can tell if the bottle is indeed the oil if it's labeled with the scientific name of the flower or plant it comes from instead of "essential oil of rose."
Used both topically and aromatically, essential oils are an excellent extra element to have around for antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial purposes. They're great for everyday use or when the mood strikes you.
By knowing how to use them safely, we can gain many benefits from the use of essential oils! It's all about the blend and learning how to apply them to the skin safely.
Different Kinds of Essential Oils
Here's a list of 10 popular oils:
Lavender - Calming and comforting.
Vanilla - Rich and sweet
Eucalyptus - Clarifying and soothing.
Peppermint - Clean and refreshing.
Ylang- Ylang - Soothing and comforting
Lemon - Clean and refreshing
Sandalwood - Grounding, relaxing, and soothing.
Rose - Soothing and sensual.
Patchouli - Earthy and musky.
Tea Tree -Fresh, cooling, and energizing.
How To Use Essential Oils
Essential oils are used in a variety of ways, and some are easier and safer than others. You can use diffusers, inhalation methods, topically apply them, and so much more! Aromatherapy is a great way to promote physical and emotional health through scents that bring back good memories or encourage relaxation.
Diffuser
Diffusing essential oils are pretty straightforward, add a few drops into the diffuser of your choice, and the scent of the oils will be dispersed into the air. The amount of fragrance you drop into the diffuser will also affect how much scent is in the air. If the room is large, then it's thought that more drops go into the diffuser. The fantastic aromas diffused into the air will lift your mood.
Diffusers are mainly used for mood and can be ceramic, electric, candles, reeds, and ultrasonic. There are so many combinations that you can play with to enhance mood, productivity, or soothe. You can even come up with your unique blends and tailor the oils to your preference.
Inhalation
You can add some drops into a steaming bowl of water and cover your head and the bowl with a towel and inhale the scented steam. Or open a bottle of your favorite scent and inhale the essential oils normally.
Topical Use
Essential Oils can be used to help heal the skin and relieve pain, but they must be diluted with a carrier oil. Some oils can cause rashes if not mixed with carrier oils to help you transfer them safely to your skin. Some are considered poisonous when directly absorbed into the skin, do your research before adding any oils onto your skin.
You can apply essential oils to the crown of your head, temples, and behind the ears; some apply the oils to the tops and soles of the feet. You'll find that essential oils play a big part in messages and post-workout pain relief as well. For your skincare routine, some essential oils help reduce blemishes and can help smoothen skin.
Other Uses
Some people like to add the oils onto cotton balls and leave them around the home or place them in car vents, pillowcases, and even laundry. You can add a few diluted drops into your bathwater, lotion, shampoo, or soap. Some scents are stronger than others, so it's good to keep your nose out for which scents can do more by using less.
Carrier Oils
Like essential oils, carrier oils are made from plants, some come from vegetables or tree nuts and are usually unscented or mildly scented. If you have any nut allergies, avoid using carriers like almond oil. Make sure carriers are cold-pressed, 100 percent pure, additive-free, and preservative-free.
Burning Time & Precautions
Before using essential oils, take note of your environment if you have pets, children, or pregnant women in the area. Inhaling certain scents may not be advisable for specific conditions. It's also important to note that essential oil scents shouldn't be inhaled for more than an hour at a time.
Essential Oil Benefits
The mind, mood, and emotions can benefit from using essential oils, every oil targets certain things. Lavender and orange can help with some anxiety; meanwhile, peppermint and lavender can help with headaches, and with just lavender alone, you can improve your sleep and wake up refreshed.
Tea Tree is known to help acne, nail fungus, and warts. Lemon boosts immunity and has antibacterial and antiviral properties. So really, there's practically an oil for almost everything, but it's essential to consult with an aromatherapist to make sure you're using the oils correctly.
Take a deep breath and let go of your worries while filling your space with the scent of relaxation during work or your alone time. You could say that it's essential to find ways to boost your mind and your mood with the right scent. All you have to do is find the right one for you.