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Essential Oil Basics

In the beginning, I had no idea what essential oils were or what they could do.

I was only interested in diffusing to replace candles, but it was not long before I was researching what else these little bottles of oil were capable of doing. One of my favorite resources is The School for Aromatic Studies.

Want to expand your essential oil education. I highly recommend the free online Introduction to Aromatherapy. Just click the button below to learn more.

I also listed some of the most frequently asked questions about essential oils, but if  you don’t see what you’re looking for, feel free to contact me.

Resources

What are essential oils?

Since ancient times, essential oils have been used for medicinal and beauty purposes as as for spiritual, purification and cleansing rituals thanks to their aromatic, and even digestive benefits. They are literally the “life blood” extracted from the plant through careful steam or cold press distillation. THis careful process ensures all the important therapeutic and health-giving constituents of the oil remain intact. You can read more about this process and Young Living’s Seed to Seal to process here.

The hidden danger is that not all oils are created equal.

Some essential oils contain fillers or synthetic materials to make producing them cheaper. Others contain dangerous toxic chemicals that take a toll on the body. The saying “you get what you pay for” definitely applies when it comes to essential oils.

Who should use them?

Everyone. They support wellness by supporting our body functions and systems. I have found them to be very beneficial for boosting emotional and spiritual health. Essential oils are the perfect alternative to toxic cleaning products. I have swapped out every chemical-based cleaning product in my home for a cleaner safer option and saved money at the same time.

blue tansy flowers

Are they are the same as vegetable and olive oils?

Nope. Vegetable oils are obtained from the fatty parts of a plant, such as nuts, seeds, and kernels. Essential oils are usually derived from roots, barck, flowers, leaves, resin, etc. Vegetable oils are greasy and can go rancid over time. Young Living’s essential oils do not go rancid or expire when stored appropriately. In the world of essential oils we refer to these oils (olive, coconut, avocado, grapeseed, etc) as carrier oils since they are often used to dilute the potency of therapeutic grade essential oils applied to the skin.

Is smell important?

Essential oils should smell EXACTLY like the plant they are derived from. Many times, companies will add things like vanilla to make them smell sweeter. You essential oils should NOT smell like a sweet dessert! If the bottle is labeled as 100% pure but has a sweet smell that is a strong indicator that something has been added. Which may mean that the therapeutic properties are either reduced or non existent in that bottle.

How do they work?

Each drop of essential oil contains large amounts of molecules that are so tiny that they can enter every cell of your body. There are even a few that can cross the blood-brain barrier. Essential oils support our wellness at a cellular level – cleansing, oxygenating, and regenerating. The is no body function or system that can not be supported by essential oils.

How do I use essential oils?

There are three ways that you can use Young Living’s essential oils. Since Young Living’s oils are 100% pure therapeutic grade, they are safe to use in the following three ways:

Aromatically

The fastest way to get oils into your system!

Use 5+ drops of your favorite essential oils in our diffusers.

Inhale directly from the bottle.

Add a few drops of essential oils to a bowl of hot water. Cover your head with a towel. Breathe deeply and slowly.

Rub 1 – 3 drops of essential oil between your palms and inhale.

Adding drops of Joy essential oil to palm for topical use.
Topically

Some oils can be applied directly to the skin (neat) while others need to be diluted with a carrier oil. Check the label for recommendations.

Mix 1 – 3 drops of essential oil with a carrier oil, coconut oil, Young Living’s V-6 blend, or an all-natural lotion, and massage directly onto your skin.

Combine essential oils with Epsom salt for a relaxing, aromatic bath.

Apply essential oils to the bottom of your feet for the fastest absorption (FUN FACT: your largest pores are located on the soles of your feet).

Apply to the inside of you wrist and behind your ears for a natural perfume.

Internally

I only recommend ingesting Young Living’s Vitality line of essential oils as it is labeled for internal use. 

Add  1-2 drops of essential oil to a glass of water, Ningxia Red, yogurt, or a plant-based milk.

Add 2-3 drops to a clear vegetable capsule and take with water.

Add 1-2 drops of essential oils (to taste) for cooking, baking and flavoring.

*NOTE: Only therapeutic grade essential oils may be ingested. The white label product line of Vitality Essential Oils contains the same exact oil as the matching colored label. The purpose of the labeling is for compliance with FDA regulations and to insure you that the oil is safe to ingest.