Most everyone who knows me knows I’m a little oily. No, not greasy… ESSENTIAL-oily—meaning I love me some essential oils. I’m an “investigator” by nature, so when I first stumbled onto people touting the myriad benefits of essential oils (at a homeschool conference, no doubt), I began doing my own research. I wish then I’d had a trusted friend to answer all my questions. OR a basic beginner’s guide…

Since most everyone who knows me knows I do oils, I get lots of questions from friends who don’t know where to safely begin–or even what to do with them! Those same people probably know I’m an information nerd. I’ve definitely considered studying aromatherapy in earnest. But since I’ve not wanted to pursue a career in the field, I’ve had neither the time or money to reach that degree of expertise just for hobby’s-sake. Instead I’ve taken a handful of courses and read everything I could get my hands on. So I’m going to share some of what I know and try to build your confidence to experience some basic benefits of oils, if indeed you’re still shying away from them. If on the other hand, you’re oily yourself, I’d love any feedback you can add to the conversation.

So you’ve been a little hesitant? Trust your instincts.

If you’ve felt a little unsure as to what to buy and how to get started, your instincts were correct. There are some things you need to know before diving in, and several basic mistakes you want to avoid. The reasons you want to know some basics are 1) for safety 2) for efficacy and 3) in order to maximize benefits since good oils aren’t cheap, and overbuying or unnecessary overuse wastes valuable resources.

Of course, there are do’s and don’ts to using rubbing alcohol, for example, but most of us keep it in our medicine cabinet and use it confidently when needed. I realize however, where there are only a couple of choices (percentage of concentration) when buying rubbing alcohol. And there is a world of choices where essential oils are concerned. But I believe essential oils are definitely worth a little education and exploration to experience the many benefits they offer. 

A few words of caution

Before we get started, let me first say I am not an aromatherapist or practitioner of any kind, so any advice I give is purely as a friend and fellow lay-person.

For that reason, I’d recommend for you to err on the side of caution any time you’re using essential oils. Stick to the basics until you’re confident with them, and then look to reputable sources expand your repertoire. To move beyond the basics, I recommend you do your research and consider taking a course or two. There are lots of options that aren’t a huge commitment money or time-wise.

Essential oils = natural ≠ safe

Yes, essential oils are derived from plants. Natural plants. But natural, of course, doesn’t equate to SAFE. Poison Ivy is natural but very unsafe for many people. Remember the havoc it can wreak before you decide to start using oils with wild abandon without first educating yourself. It may seem silly to say that now, but once you become comfortable with a couple of starter oils, it’ll be important to remember not all plants are equally benign. And some oils that can be very useful must also be handled with care.

Thankfully what you need to know to get started with oils is not all that hard. 

More than just good smells…

So the two main ways to use essential oils are inhalation and topical application for a number of different purposes. Those purposes can include elevating your mood, energizing you, relaxing you, making you feel calm, soothing a burn, promoting healing on a cut while protecting from infection. Oils can also be used around the house, however, for removing sticker residue from hard surfaces, making your own cleaning products, even repelling insects. Some people take them internally, but it’s largely not recommended, and definitely not unless you’ve had some expert training. I personally do not recommend for you to ingest essential oils AT ALL.

Inhalation

Passive

Inhalation can be as simple as just depositing a few drops onto a porous material (NOT your furniture), such as a handkerchief or a piece of terra cotta or even a clothes-pin. Just not anything you’re worried about staining, and nothing that will come into contact with your skin or other materials that may absorb the oil.

Diffused

Most people opt to go ahead and use a diffuser. You can find ultrasonic diffusers at most home stores or online fairly inexpensively. To use them, you add water plus a few drops of oil (according to directions that come with your diffuser, and the ultrasonic part of the diffuser vibrates and creates a fine mist that diffuses into the air. Most diffusers add a little ambient lighting into the mix as an added benefit. Ultrasonics also humidify the air, which is a benefit in the dry winter months if your house is like mine.

Atomized

Another slightly more expensive option is a nebulizing diffuser. Nebulizers or atomizers create such a fine mist from only the oil (no water added) that it completely evaporates into the air. It covers slightly more area than ultrasonic diffusers, since the water mist from the ultrasonic diffusers is heavier and floats back down to surfaces closer to the diffuser. Since the oils are VOC’s (volatile organic compounds), when nebulized, the very lightweight molecules spread out and cover a larger area. Don’t be scared by the term VOC, by the way. I always buy paint with low to no VOC’s, so buying VOC’s on purpose seems counterintuitive. But the “volatile” part (that sounds so menacing) is just that the molecules burst forth and cause the odor to disperse in the air, which in this case is not a bad thing.

Topical Application

Topical application is generally recommended as adding a drop or two to a teaspoon of carrier oiI and rubbing into the skin. However, I recommend that you avoid topical application for the most part (I’ll make an exception or two below) at least until you become more familiar with properties of different oils.

When I mention dilution, 1-2 drops in a teaspoon of a carrier oil such as MCT oil (medium chain triglyceride usually derived from coconut oil) is a safe combination. Other oils include olive oil, avocado oil, or jojoba oil. Whatever is okay with your skin is the ticket. The dilution actually allows the molecules of the oils to spread out for better absorption over a larger area of skin. So contrary to what you might think, sometimes less is more ( i.e., diluted instead of full-strength) when it comes to essential oils.

Around the House

The citrus oils are good as I mentioned for removing sticker residue from dishes, for example. They’re a hard surface that would not be damaged by the oil itself. I’ve also made cleaning sprays for countertops and other hard surfaces with 1/2 c water + 1/2 c alcohol + 20-30 drops essential oils like the ones we’ll be discussing. (If you use vodka instead of rubbing alcohol, the alcohol odor is less prominent, and you get the real benefit of smelling the oils as you clean!)

What even are essential oils? And why use them?

The most important thing to remember about essential oils is inherent in the name. They are derived from plants, which are reduced to their highly concentrated “essence.” In other words, it’s definitely not the same as taking a peppermint leaf and popping it in your mouth and chewing it up to release the oils (like I used to do each summer at my grandmother’s house). Think of a more like an armload of peppermint leaves concentrated into a tiny bottle, and you get the idea of the potency you’re dealing with. 

When I first began to learn about oils, I was surprised to not actually LOVE the smell of most of them. And I thought the smell was the whole point. Aroma+therapy, right? Something that smells good and makes you feel good! However, there’s a lot more going on. All oils have chemical profiles that affect how much they linger in the air, how they blend with other oils, how they affect us neurologically, physically, emotionally.

They can be anti-fungal, antiviral, antibacterial, analgesic, stimulating, calming, relaxing, among other things.

Over time, I’ve actually gotten used to many of them and like them smell-wise much more than I did initially. (I’ve also found I like synthetic fragrances MUCH less!) And from one source to the next there can be a huge difference in the smell of supposedly the exact same oil. Where the plants are grown and how and when they are processed will make two of the same oils sometimes hardly resemble one another. And overall, they are definitely different than the “perfume-y smells” most of us are used to. But I’ve also come to realize the benefits go way beyond pleasant aromas.

So with no further ado… let’s dive in!

Best Starter Oils

Lovely lavender!

Lavender is probably universally recognized as the best starter oil. It’s extremely versatile. As to lavender—even though the smell is pleasant to most people, I didn’t immediately like it. You have to remember it’s super-concentrated, and I’ve always found regular lavender a little strong and soapy to start with.

It’s a familiar smell used in everything from cleaning products, to perfume, to sachets. But a good quality lavender essential oil is pretty easy to get used to, smell-wise. And in my opinion it plays nicely when mixed with other oils.

It’s probably the best known of the essential oils, and has likely had the most scientific study done on it. It is gentle enough to be used neat (i.e., straight—without dilution) even though it’s not necessarily most effective that way, as I mentioned under “Topical Application,” above. At my house, it’s our go-to first aid for burns and any minor skin cuts or abrasions. It’s great for relaxing, and can actually help you get to sleep. But ironically it can also be a mood lifter, and help with anxious feelings.

The following are some ways I use LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL:

Sniff straight from bottle, on handkerchief, or nasal inhaler (blanks can be purchased and filled with your oils of choice)

Diffuse– alone or with other oils

Dilute with carrier oil (2-3 drops per teaspoon carrier oil) and rub on mild burns or bug bites (roll-on bottles are good for portable use)

Mix (10-20 drops) with (1 T) carrier oil and then (2 c) epsom salt for bath soak

Emulsified with alcohol and used for cleaning either alone or in any combination with other two oils we’ll discuss (see above recipe under “Around the House”)

20-30 drops mixed with 2 oz alcohol + 4 oz water and sprayed on linens to promote relaxation

Peppy Peppermint!

Peppermint is my second go-to oil. Actually one of my more favorite oils smell-wise, it’s great for respiratory issues, as well as stimulating/energizing, and we use it for digestive woes. We use it topically, but I don’t recommend it until you are extremely comfortable with handling it. It should not be used around animals (even though our gigantic orange tabby seems to have an odd attraction to it…) and you should exercise extreme care when using around your face. Even for inhalation, you have to be careful. It’s extremely irritating to the eyes. And I’m not talking even IN your eyes. I’m talking NEAR your eyes. I’ve used it to help with cough suppression by dropping some into a steaming bowl of water, (and it worked when nothing else would!) but I found out that one drop is enough!

The following are ways I use PEPPERMINT essential oil:

Inhale for respiratory woes (nasal inhaler)

Diffuse with other oils for energizing blend

Steam tent (1 drop in steaming water in a bowl)

1-2 drops blended into carrier oil. Rub blend onto forehead for headache relief (cooling, numbing), under nose for congestion.

Blend same as above and rub on abdomen for stomach discomfort. Inhale from cloth for nausea relief.

Drip a few drops on inside of TP cardboard roll to freshen bathroom (rolling off more TP activates it a little each time)

A Sassy Citrus!

Lemon or orange (among others like lime and bergamot–and there are several varieties of each). These oils, unlike some others, usually smell great right out of the bottle. The intense bright citrus aroma is literally light—it evaporates quickly—and “lightening,” as in your mood. I like always having citrus oil in my arsenal. Besides smelling fabulous on their own, they blend nicely with other oils. They’re great for getting started with diffusing. They also work well for cleaning blends around the house.

Most citrus oils cause light (sun) sensitivity on skin, so they’re a great example of an oil NOT to use for most topical applications. And just a good example in general of a reason to know your oils if you go beyond very basic usage.

I use LEMON/ORANGE essential oil in the following ways:

Blended with other oils for my FAVORITE diffusing blends–to wake me up, brighten my mood, energize me

Sticky residue removal

Cleaning/ deodorizing – great in the aforementioned cleaning sprays. Also, sometimes a couple of drops in new garbage bag to freshen the can.

Drop in garbage disposal to freshen/ deodorize

Don’t be like me:

I feel like I should start including a section in each post like this: Do what I say but not what I’ve done. When I discovered essential oils, I wanted to try them all! I also ordered from a company that charged a flat shipping rate whether I bought one bottle or twelve. So of course I bought lots.

But it’s a bit like shopping at Sam’s (wholesale shopping club). You have to be careful about overbuying items that don’t have a long shelf life. Just like you don’t want to bulk buy herbs and spices that you only use a little of and are better fresh than ten years old–oils don’t last forever and they go a long way. They are susceptible to light and oxygen. So this is another reason to start small and get a feel for how much you use over time. If your oils get older, they’re okay to use for diffusing and cleaning, but may not be as effective for other uses. And many oils are WAY too expensive to not use them at their best.

A word about the “snake oil” aspect of essential oils.

Some people will make wild claims about oils curing everything from insomnia to cancer. And the truth is oils can be a gentle, natural way to treat some conditions. There is scientific data to back up certain benefits. But it’s sketchy on others. Because oils are not regulated, there can be a broad range of difference in the quality and character of even the same type oil, depending on sourcing. So studies on oils can be a little “all over the board.”

It is fairly safe to say they are no instant miracle cure for anything I know of. But on the other hand, they can provide a whole range of benefits. Often in a very gentle, effective ways minus side effects. And if they can help your body return from a place of imbalance to a place of balance without resorting to pharmaceutical remedies that have some serious drawbacks, they’re worth a shot. Even sometimes if they’re only successful as a placebo, they’re still beneficial. As long as you’re not putting yourself in jeopardy and avoiding needed medical treatment, there’s little to lose and sometimes much to gain. Sometimes to see results, you have to be consistent over time. But I’ve found them to be worth the trouble.

Where to buy essential oils?

This was one of the hardest parts to me about getting into using oils. When I first learned they even existed, the only source I knew of for buying them were multi-level-marketing or direct sales companies. There were two big ones which I shall not name here that were both actually known for really high quality oils, but were in direct and seemingly hostile competition with each other. Additionally, I was immediately overwhelmed with the wide array of oils and the amount of information coming at me, not to mention the price!! I also did not want to have to buy bulk packages of oils to get anything resembling a fair price, and I didn’t want to have to contact a representative every time I ran out of lavender.

So I did a good deal of reading and opted for neither of the big companies. Instead I discovered a small, family-run company online, who were in touch with the growing practices of their suppliers. All their oils were responsibly wild-sourced or where applicable, certified organic. This is so important because of the concentration of the oils. You don’t want to buy oils laced with concentrated pesticides! I ordered from them then and still do today.

After I took a couple of online classes, I also ordered from the companies used and recommended by my instructors. I’ve had good experiences with all of these companies. And I still buy from them rather than purchase oils from any local retailers. There are probably some good ones available, but it’s difficult to research a company while standing in a store aisle. I generally only ever use store-bought oils for cleaning. 

These are the companies from which I have and still do purchase oils:

Hopewell Essential oils (formerly Heritage Essential Oils)

Mountain Rose Herbs

Pompeii Organics

Ancient Nutrition—Dr Axe (formerly Ancient Apothecary)

I’ve taken courses/webinars from these people/companies:

Franklin Health Research (formerly Vintage Remedies/Franklin Institute of Wellness)

Aromahead Institute (Andrea Butje)

Aromatic Wisdom Institute (Liz Fulcher)

A few last words…

Do you need to rush out and take an aromatherapy course?? Only if you’re like me and won’t rest until some of your burning questions are answered. I hope I’ve given you enough to get started enjoying oils if you haven’t used them before now. I think most everyone who gets started does find herself branching out and trying other oils because there is such a lovely, wide array of them, and once you get into the habit of using them, it becomes easy to add on an oil or two to your routine. That’s part of the fun.

I hope I’ve cleared up some of the questions you may have had and hopefully not muddied the water/oils!

Let me know if I skipped over something that’s still keeping you from being your best, oily self.

Blessings,