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New to the essential oil game?
There are a few things to note before you start using:
When applying to the skin:
The most popular areas to apply the oil to your skin are on your temples, wrists, feet or behind the ears — although for most oils, you’ll need to dilute it with a carrier oil.
The most popular carrier oils are coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil or grape-seed oil. Don’t use carrier oils that you would not ingest due to allergic reactions. If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin either.
A 1% dilution is one drop of essential oil and one teaspoon carrier oil. A 1% dilution is best when used on facial skin, for children aged 6-12 years old, pregnant women, the elderly, those with suppressed immune systems and those with sensitive or irritated skin.
When inhaling:
At times, you may choose to inhale essential oils. Rub 3-4 drops in your hands or in a tissue and inhale.
Or, you can boil a few cups of water, pour it into a bowl, and add 3-5 drops of essential oil to the water. Place your nose about a foot away from the bowl, cover your head with a towel, and slowly inhale.
When using an oil diffuser:
Electronic diffusers are my favorite way to use essential oils around the house, in the car, in my kids’ rooms or in the office.
Put a few drops of essential oils in your diffuser along with distilled water, turn on, and enjoy!
Now — take a look at these 19 ways to start using essential oils:
1. Create a lavender oil “Monster Spray” for kids to use before bed.
Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a spray bottle filled with water. Not only will your kids believe their room is monster-free, but they’ll also get restful sleep.
Or, add a few drops of lavender essential oil to their blanket or stuffed animal before bed or nap time.
2. Mix tea tree oil with raw honey for an acne face wash.
To help clear up acne and blemishes, make a homemade face wash out of tea tree oil and raw honey. Apply, then rinse off with water.
3. Create an all-purpose cleaner with lemon oil and tea tree oil.
Add three drops each of lemon oil and tea tree oil to a few ounces of warm water, then spray countertops to naturally disinfect.
4. Use lavender to help with headaches, allergies and anxiety.
For easy application whenever you need it, fill a tinted essential oil roller bottle with carrier oil and 4-5 drops of lavender essential oil. Roll onto your wrists, temples, behind your ears and on the bottoms of your feet for relief from headaches, allergies and anxiety.
5. Deodorize stinky shoes with tea tree essential oil.
Place a cotton ball infused with two drops of tea tree oil into each of your shoes to remove odors and kill the bacteria or fungi.
6. Make a spider repellent with peppermint oil.
Spiders and mice hate peppermint. Fill a spray bottle with water, add 10-15 drops of Peppermint essential oil, and spray the peppermint water in the cracks and gaps where spiders and rodents can enter your home.
7. Clean your jewelry with tea tree oil and white vinegar or witch hazel and baking soda.
Put the jewelry in a glass mason jar, cover your jewelry with ½ cup of vinegar or witch hazel, add a drop of tea tree oil, and swirl to mix.
Let soak overnight and the next morning, carefully scrub the jewelry with an old toothbrush and baking soda.
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8. Deodorize your closet with baking soda and any essential oil.
9. Revive an old, dirty sponge with lemon essential oil.
Add a couple drops of lemon oil to the sponge and wash in the dishwasher to revitalize the sponge.
10. Deodorize and cleanse air ducts.
Add a few drops of tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil or lavender oil to freshen up your air filters and cleanse the air.
11. Scent boost your laundry.
Add a few drops of essential oil to a damp cloth, and toss it in the dryer with towels or linens.
12. Make your own car air freshener by applying 5-10 drops of essential oil onto a clothespin.
13. Kill the sting from an insect bite with lavender essential oil.
Use lavender essential oil to kill the sting and relieve a scratchy bite. It’ll also soothe burns.
14. Make anti-dandruff shampoo with tea tree essential oil.
Add a drop of tea tree oil to your daily dollop of shampoo in order to combat dandruff.
15. Create floor cleaner with lemon oil.
Mix equal parts hot water and vinegar in a bucket or pitcher (a cup or two of each will work.) Dump in a splash of alcohol to keep anything gross from growing in the bottle that you store your solution in.
Add a couple of drops of lemon or orange essential oil — they work as degreasers.
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16. Put a drop or two of essential oil on cotton balls, and place them around your house.
I like to place cotton balls in dresser drawers, in pillowcases, in between couch cushions, and in bathroom cabinets.
Note: If you have kids or pets, be sure cotton balls are out of reach.
17. Make your own dry dog shampoo with baking soda, cornstarch and lavender essential oils.
Lavender helps to calm nervous dogs, and it’s great to use when traveling on long road trips.
18. Freshen your bathroom with a few drops of oil inside a toilet paper roll.
19. Combine lemongrass oil, citronella oil and eucalyptus oil for natural mosquito repellent.
Mix one drop each of lemongrass oil, citronella oil and eucalyptus oil with one teaspoon of coconut oil to make natural bug repellent.
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