Essential oils are an age-old product that’s incredibly versatile. They can be used in aromatherapy, massage therapy, perfumes and cosmetics, even in food! When you get a bottle of essential oil, it can really last you a long time. In this article, we want to explore all of the things which you can do with essential oils and the four best ways to use them.
Do essential oils really work?
Many people are skeptical about the effects of essential oils. After all, how could a natural product that just “smells nice” cure diseases? As research shows, essential oils are rarely a substitute for medication, but they do have useful properties. For example, studies have shown that smelling essential oils can relieve anxiety, migraines, insomnia, and nausea. These studies tend to be quite subjective because there is no effective placebo for essential oils, though. What’s more certain is that many essential oils have antimicrobial and antifungal properties. This is an easy benefit to measure, and studies show that they can be just as effective as more conventional antimicrobial treatment options.
4 ways to use essential oils
1- Use them to perfume a room
Aromatherapy is the most popular way to use essential oils, and for good reason! The simple, soothing scent of essential oils can have a big impact on the way we feel. For example, smelling mandarin essential oil is immediately invigorating and lifts up the mood. Meanwhile, smelling lavender soothes us and puts us in the mood for sleep or relaxation. There are many ways that you can use essential oils for aromatherapy. The simplest one is probably to use an essential oil “roll-on” on your wrist and smell it throughout the day. You could also get an oil diffuser. Oil diffusers come in many formats: humidifiers that also diffuse oils, oil burners that use a candle, scent diffusers that work with a wick…
The great thing is, you don’t actually need to use a lot of essential oils to fill a room with scent. Just a few drops of strong oils like geranium or patchouli can scent a whole room. It’s the easiest way to use essential oils and, we think, one of the best!
2- Make your own cosmetics
Using essential oils in cosmetics really reveals their potential. Many essential oils have interesting properties for your skin. For example, rosemary essential oil can relieve redness and lighten up scars and stretch marks. Meanwhile, a few drops of tea tree can do a lot to kill bacteria on the skin and relieve inflammation. One of our favorite recipes that use essential oils is a simple clay mask. In a bowl, mix two tablespoons of skin-grade clay with 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 3 to 5 drops of your favorite essential oils. Mix into a thick paste and apply liberally all over your face. Wait until the mask has dried and rinse it off with warm water. This mask gives your pores a deep cleanse, helps your skin regenerate, and makes your complexion more radiant.
Another great recipe is to use essential oils in a toner. For example, you can mix witch hazel, rose water, and a few drops of essential oils together to create a gentle, astringent toner. Use lavender essential oils for soothing effects, tea tree for acne-prone skin, or geranium for more brightness.
3- Use essential oils together with CBD oil
If you’re interested in natural health and wellness, you’re probably familiar with CBD already. But did you know that CBD is actually a great companion for essential oils? The interesting thing is that both CBD extract and essential oils contain molecules called “terpenes”. These molecules are what gives them their unique aroma and flavor. Terpenes also have a wide range of interesting properties. For example, some can be invigorating, others calming, others are great for nausea or appetite suppression.
When you take broad or full-spectrum CBD products, they naturally contain a lot of terpenes. As research shows, this is beneficial because terpenes help our bodies to absorb CBD. Scientists describe the “entourage effect” as what happens when you take several cannabis molecules together. Compared to taking pure CBD extract, taking hemp extract that contains other cannabinoids and terpenes is a lot more effective. As it turns out, taking CBD oil together with essential oils has the same effect. The terpenes in essential oils can actually help your body to process CBD oil better. And it may even affect the way that CBD works on you. For example, taking CBD oil together with bergamot essential oil can make it more energizing and mood-boosting. Meanwhile, taking it with peppermint essential oil will boost its nausea-fighting benefits.
So next time you’re about to take CBD oil, why not add a few drops of essential oils?
4- Learn to cook with essential oils
Essential oils have incredibly powerful flavors that can revolutionize your cooking. Whether you add them to salad dressings, sorbets, or even hearty curries, they can bring a delicate touch to your dishes.
But before you start emptying a bottle of essential oils into your soup, remember that they are very strong! You may only need to use a drop or two of lemon peel oil to flavor a whole bottle of salad dressing. It’s always best to start with just a drop and adjust later if the flavor isn’t strong enough. You can also use the “toothpick method” if you’re afraid of adding too much. Simply dip a toothpick into your bottle of essential oils, and dip it into your dish. This will infuse whatever you’re making with a very subtle touch of essential oil flavor. Our favorite essential oils to use for cooking are citrus-based oils which add a great fresh touch to any salad dressing, marinade, sorbet, or homemade drink you’re making. Herbal essential oils like oregano, coriander, or taragon are also great to use in marinades, dressings, and even soups and stews. Finally, you can try less conventional essential oils in your cooking. For example, a few drops of lavender in your homemade lemonade can give it an instant touch of refinement!
