What’s the Deal with Essential Oils?

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Essential oils, what are they and how to use them? Essential oils are easy to use no matter if you choose to diffuse or apply them topically.

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What exactly are are Essential Oils?

Essential oils have been around for a very long time, they can be dated back as far as Ancient Egypt in 4500 BC!

Most of us have heard of essential oils, but do you know exactly what they are? Essential oils are plant extracts, and different oils are made different ways. Commonly, oils are made through a distillation process although other processes are necessary depending on the type of oil.

The result is a small jar of a very potent oil. How potent? Well, just for an example it takes about 75 lemons to make one 15mL bottle of Lemon Essential Oil (from Young Living). Just a few drops is generally all you need, depending on the oil and what you are using it for.

How do Essential Oils work?

Essential oils are frequently used in aromatherapy, because of their effects on the limbic system. Our limbic system is a part of our brain that is responsible for behavioral and emotional responses.

Pretty wild that smelling something can impact part of your brain, right?

How to use Essential Oils

There are three ways to use your essential oils:

1. Topically: People often apply essential oils to their skin. Different oils are rubbed onto different parts of the body, but it should be understood that some oils need to be diluted before applied directly to the skin. Generally the label of the oil will indicate if dilution is necessary. A very popular topical method is through use of a “roller bottle”. A roller bottle is traditionally 10mL, and contains some essential oil (or a blend of several) and is topped off the rest of the way with a carrier oil.
2. Aromatically: One of the most popular methods of using essential oils, is through the use of a diffuser.
3. Ingestion: Some people are comfortable with ingesting essential oils while others are not. Young Living has a line of essential oils (called their “Vitality” line) that are labeled for consumption.

I love to use essential oils in my DIY skincare products. You can see all of the different DIY skincare recipes I make here.

All Oils are Not Created Equally

It would seem like you can grab a bottle of essential oils from anywhere, and you technically can. So, what’s the difference? Essential oils are not heavily regulated, meaning companies only have to use 5% of an oil in a bottle to be able to call it 100% pure. So, what’s the rest of it?!

I have chosen to use oils from a company called Young Living. Why them? well, because of their Seed to Seal promise. Basically, Young Living owns and partners with many farms around the world. They also own their own distilleries, and see the entire process through from start to finish to ensure crops were harvested at the exact right time, and distilled at the exact right temperature. Don’t believe them? If you give Young Living a call, they will give you the information to go visit any of the farms, whenever you want and see the process (and talk to the farmers) yourself. No other essential oil company does this, which is why I purchase my oils (and non-toxic cleaners, personal care, baby care and makeup) through Young Living.

What about testing? Young Living has both in-house and third party testing done on their oils.

Young Living doesn’t use anything un-natural on their crops, no pesticides. Oh, and you probably already guessed, but this company is also very conscious of the environment.

How to Get Started with Essential Oils

Once I began learning about essential oils and Young Living, I immediately wanted to try all of the oils. I wanted to smell them, put them on my skin and just keep learning!

The most cost effective way to get started in the oily world is through the purchase of a Premium Starter Kit from Young Living. This is the kit that got me started, and showed me the power of plants and the power of essential oils.

A starter kit comes with a diffuser, 12 different essential oils, 2 roller balls, 10 hand sanitizer packets, 2 (small) Thieves spray bottles, and 2 samples of NingXia Red.

Essential Oils for Beginners

Are you new to the world of oils? Don’t be overwhelmed, there’s a lot to learn but it’s all good! Here are the oils that come in a starter kit, perfect for beginners!

Lavender

• Lavender: supports sleep and skin (and about a thousand other things). This oil is also called the “swiss army knife” of essential oils because it is so versatile! Diffuse this in the evening with a few drops of Cedarwood for sleep support. Or, provide some extra support to angry skin with a couple of drops right on the area. I have been using lavender oil on my face every night as part of my new, non-toxic skincare regimen.

Peppermint

• Peppermint: Looking for a fresh, energizing aroma? Look no further! Peppermint can not only help provide support with headaches, but it’s also a great pick me up in the diffuser (especially paired with lemon).

Lemon

• Lemon: Another invigorating oil to diffuse, this lemon oil smells exactly like a fresh lemon. Love to add a few drops to the diffuser while I am cleaning! Got stuck on goo? A drop of two of lemon oil can help get sticky messes cleaned up.

Citrus Fresh

• Citrus Fresh: a beautiful blend of citrus and mint, this invigorating blend will make you smile. I love to pair this with a few drops of Thieves in our diffuser. As you may have guessed by now, citrus is an invigorating flavor!

Frankincense

• Frankincense: Let’s talk about skin support! Frank is a grounding but uplifting oil that’s also known as the “fountain of youth oil”. I have been using 1 drop of “Frank” in my new skincare routing every night, and I can attest to the skin support this oil offers!

Thieves

• Thieves: If you’ve read my non-toxic living post, you may recall seeing Thieves in there! This blend provides immune support with a fall spice scent. I use Thieves in an immune support roller each day on the bottoms of my feet and down my spine. In the diffuser, I like to add a few drops of Thieves and a few drops of Lemon.

Raven

• Raven: Quickly one of my favorite oil blends, containing eucalyptus radiata, lemon, pepperment, ravintsara and wintergreen oils. This is refreshing when inhaled, and I am currently using shower bombs that I made with this blend. Need extra support during the cold, winter months? Mix Raven with some fractionated coconut oil and roll onto the chest or throat.

DiGize

• DiGize: Another great blend, this one contains terragon, ginger, peppermint, juniper, fennel, lemongrass, anise and patchouli. Many people don’t love the smell of this oil, but I actually quite enjoy it! DiGize helps to support digestion, and rollers of DiGize and Peppermint applied right to the area can help with tummy troubles.

PanAway

• PanAway: A soothing, stimulating aroma made from a blend of clove, helichrysum, peppermint and wintergreen. Great for post workout! My favorite way to use this oil is in a roller with some peppermint and fractionated coconut oil.

Stress Away

• Stress Away: This was my “ah-ha” oil, meaning the oil that made me love oils so much. A blend of lime, vanilla, copaiba, lavender and cedarwood. When diffused, this blend promotes a relaxing/calming vibe but I prefer to roll it directly on as a perfume. I apply behind my ears and to my wrists and take deep breaths of it throughout the day.

Valor

• Valor: A blend of black spruce, blue tansy, camphor wood, geranium and frankincense. This is many people’s favorite blend of essential oils. My favorite blend in the diffuser is Valor and Raven, I can’t describe the scent but it is heavenly.

Peace and Calming

• Peace and Calming: It’s sweet, and it’s definitely peaceful. This blend contains blue tansy, orange, tangerine, patchouli and ylang ylang. Looking for support winding down at the end of the day? This oil is just beautiful, and is my favorite before bed oil blend.

Ready to Try Essential Oils in Your Home?

If you’re ready to try out essential oils in your home (and see what oil is your ah-ha oil) here are the steps:

Click here to access my link to Young Living.

Select the premium starter kit you wish to go with (you’ll have to choose which diffuser is your favorite).

Next, Young Living will ask if you would like to participate in Essential Rewards. This is a great way to get points (money back) on non-toxic products that you would normally be purchasing at a different store. This is not mandatory, just an additional perk (and tons of freebies) if you choose to enroll.

Then click next, and fill out your information.

Under Sponsor/Enroller Information, be sure to enter 25807692 for the Sponsor and Enroller. This will assign you to my team, so that I can send you valuable resources and connect you to our Education Groups.

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