“What are your top ways to use essential oils?” asks Julie B. on today’s #AskWardee. I’m sharing my thoughts below!
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The Question: “What are your top ways to use essential oils?”
Julie B. asks:
Hi, Wardee! I’m just beginning to get into essential oils and it seems like there are so many ideas out there for how to use them! It’s exciting, but I’m a little overwhelmed. So I thought I would ask you: what are the top ways to use essential oils? How do you use them in your home? I can’t wait to get started! Thanks so much.
My Answer:
First, let’s get on the same page… what are essential oils?
This is a quote from my favorite source of essential oils, Rocky Mountain Oils:
In short, essential oils are concentrated, liquid plant extracts used for therapeutic and medicinal purposes. They are called ‘essential’ because they contain the essence of a plant, including its aroma and health properties. Since essential oils can be taken from virtually all plants, many essential oils come from various sources, including flowers, grasses, fruits, roots, trees, and leaves. There are three common ways we use essential oils: diffusion, topical application, and household.
Now that that’s out of the way, here are…
My Top Ways To Use Essential Oils
Here are my 9 top ways to use essential oils for our health, home, kitchen, and even personal items.
1. Common Ailments
Lavender is wonderful when someone is having an allergic response or needs to calm down. Rub on the feet.
Peppermint is amazing for headaches or a tummy ache. We turn to it every time.
At the onset of any cold/flu symptoms, we put a few drops of Immune Strength in coconut oil and rub all over the neck, glands, and chest.
Anytime we have an ailment, I look it up in my favorite book “The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy“, and we try out remedies.
2. Homemade Deodorant
I am completely sold on my homemade deodorant. It works, and I have used nothing else since summer of 2013 — that’s 3 years now!
I bumped into a friend recently who has been making it; and in the summer, the baking soda irritates her skin, so she replaces some of it with DE (diatomaceous earth). So there are options and you can tweak for how you need it! Mine already features reduced baking soda (replaced with arrowroot) but some people need even more reduction.
3. Ant Remedy
Vinegar spray + peppermint essential oil works wonders to deter ants!
4. Foaming EO Hand Soap
Foaming hand soap gives you the benefits of essential oils while washing — for anti-bacterial and good smells. Plus you can save a TON of money because you use hardly any soap in the pumps at all.
5. Body Butter
I hate, hate, hate dry skin. Body butter is the answer. It works better than lotion because it’s thick and stays on. I rub myself down nearly every night and wake up each morning soft. It’s amazing on dry arms and legs, feet especially, and even elbows.
It’s also an ok choice for massage, but even better is…
6. Homemade Massage Oil
You can use this on yourself or on a partner. The essential oils give you healing properties plus a smell that enhances the experience.
Lotion is not a good choice for massage. The body butter works ok, but it’s thick until it melts on the skin. Massage oil is the best choice.
Not only can you save money by making your own, but you’re able to choose the carrier oil and the essential oils that you prefer.
7. In Cooking
Yes, I know this is controversial. I have no problem if someone says, “It’s not for me.” It is for our family, however, and we do it safely. I actually will have a free webinar coming up about this in August, and if you’re on my email list you’ll hear about it!
I use only quality essential oils that are considered safe for internal use. (Again, my pick is Rocky Mountain Oils.)
- 1 drop of essential oil is equivalent to 1 teaspoon of dried herb.
- 1/4 teaspoon of essential oil is equivalent to 1 teaspoon of extract.
With those equivalents, you can use essential oils in cooking for great flavor.
8. Perfume
I love my essential oil perfume and recently I found these diffusing necklaces (pictured in video above)! So I put a few drops of my favorite single or blend on the pad inside and the smell lasts for hours… it can be healing, cleansing, refreshing, soothe a headache…
Here’s my perfume recipe. Or you can buy a diffuser necklace here.
Read on to find out more about how you could win a diffusing necklace!
By the way, we have a tutorial on how you can make your own diffusing jewelry. Here are the instructions.
9. All-Purpose Cleaner
I use essential oils in my easy, cheap, and powerful all-purpose cleaner.
Those are my top uses for essential oils. What are yours? Please share in the comments!
Links Mentioned:
- Rocky Mountain Oils — my favorite!
- Essential Oils For Children
- Immune Strength EO Blend
- “The Complete Book Of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy”
- Homemade Deodorant Recipe
- Foaming EO Hand Soap Recipe
- Homemade Body Butter Recipe
- Homemade Massage Oil Recipe
- Homemade Perfume Recipe
- Diffusing Necklace
- DIY Diffuser Jewelry Tutorial
- All-Purpose Cleaner
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What are your favorite top uses for essential oils?
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Just wanted to offer ip a caution or 2: not to use peppermint oil on children, some can have a serious respitory reaction (as if they cannot catch their breath( a spasmatic diaphragm ). Also, essential oils are precious and should be diluted , for the intent of conserving natural resources(some EO are now rare because of over farming), and more importantly use of next oils is never recommended by naturopaths and aromatherapists, and to take them internally is typically only done under the supervision of someone with experience in aromatherapy, it’s both a science and an art.
That being said, I’ve used oils safely for decades, and for the better par of that time I was unaware of any of the above advice. I am lucky though because I know of folks who created a reaction by over use of essential oils. Use good judgement, and organic oils that are well scorched, and are not concerned with selling you mass amounts of product.