So...what are essential oils?

This is a question that many of us would like the answer to. If you’ve never heard of essential oils before, you may probably think that they’re just strong-scented small dark bottles with some sort of benefit to them.

On the surface, that’s actually a quite accurate description. But in all honesty, there is an entire world about essential oils; with all kinds of different health benefits, uses and formats that pretty much anyone could enjoy.

If you want to find out more about what the essential oil benefits are, how they work and what they are good for, this post is the right one for you. 

What are essential oils?

In a few words, essential oils are natural plant extract concentrates. The oil that remains from the extraction process is saturated with aromas and smells; which is why essential oils are called ‘essential’.

Essential oils do not only come from plants. The scents of fruits, stems, flowers and roots can also be extracted and turned into essential oils. But essential oils are not produced mindlessly. There is actually an incredible amount of time, effort and science that goes into essential oil research studies that is very selective and careful in the kind of plant that is extracted. It is made sure that whatever gets turned into an essential oil has true health benefits, and that make a positive impact on wellbeing. In other words, you could consider essential oils to be a holistic kind of medicine or bottles of natural healing remedies.

Now that you know the foundation of what essential oils are, let’s jump right into answering another common question about them: why essential are essential oils good.

Why are essential oils good?

Besides essential oils being called ‘essential’ for their strong aromas, the impact they have had on many people’s lives has been such, that they are indeed considered vital, and hence  ‘essential’ for the daily.

Since the most prominent characteristic about essential oils is their powerful smell, the benefits of aromatherapy are probably the most popular reason for which essential oils are used for. Aromatherapy works by sending healing signals to the brain every time you smell a particular scent. The essential oils uses and benefits are different according to which ones you use, and what issue you want to address.

But if you want a short, clear summary of what essential oils are good for exactly, the answer is quite simple - to promote wellbeing and mindfulness.

Essential oils don’t just intend to help resolve a specific problem that you have. Instead, through an aromatherapeutic and sensory experience, they target to improve your overall mental and physical health at much deeper levels. As a result, not only can they aid to help you resolve a particular issue, but they can assist in enhancing your wellness and by strengthening your connections with emotions, thoughts and mood at the same time.

You can imagine that the reasons why essential oils are good are many - especially health benefits. That said, it’s important to note that essential oils are not just good for their own sake. The real benefit of essential oils come with how you use them and which ones you use.

So this probably leads to your next question, what are the different essential oils, and their uses.

Different essential oils and their uses:

There are dozens of essential oils that you can use for a wide range of reasons. But if you are new to essential oils, there are a couple of particular oils that you should definitely try out first.

Here is a list of the top three most used essential oils, and what they can be helpful with:

Lavender

Perhaps the most favourite essential oil out there is lavender. Among the many benefits of lavender essential oils are its abilities to help achieve moments of calmness, relaxation and pain relief -  which makes it the perfect choice for those who struggle with anxiety, stress, insomnia, or headaches.

In general, lavender essential oil is incredibly versatile. Not only can you use it by itself inside a diffuser, but you can use it within your skincare routine,  or as a roll-on perfume in combination with other essential oils and carrier oils. For example, if you need to take a moment to destress during the day, using a calming body mist will promote an overall sense of wellbeing and relaxation to take any challenge with a positive attitude. On the other hand, if you want to make sure you get a night’s rest, a lavender essential oil bedtime mist would be an excellent option.

Frankincense

The frankincense oil benefits are actually quite similar to those of lavender essential oils. On the other hand, the most common frankincense oil uses are to refine concentration and focus skills. Using frankincense for activities like meditation or yoga is a great move - it will assist in enhancing your experience, while encouraging self confidence and feeling grounded.

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There are also several frankincense skin benefits. Its anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties can help with issues such as stretch marks, wounds and redness. Try mixing some drops of frankincense essential oil into your moisturizer to enjoy its healing and immune system boosting characteristics throughout the course of your day.

Peppermint

Do you ever feel like your body is begging for a boost of energy in the middle of the day? Or maybe like there’s nothing that could make you get out of bed in the morning? Peppermint essential oil can be a great option for these cases.

The most popular peppermint essential oil uses are for boosting bad moods, awaken the senses and feel energized. Body mists such as the Rebalancing Energizing Body Mist  includes peppermint as well as other complementary essential oils like Ylang Ylang and grapefruit, which are ideal energy boosting tools to use whenever you’re feeling down, and want to feel refreshed. Otherwise, if you’re looking for a more nourishing and hydrating alternative, the Wake Me Up! Body Oil also contains peppermint essential oil. It will improve your circulation while reviving your senses and moisturizing your skin. Don’t worry about getting that sticky, oily feeling on the skin - this body oil makes sure to leave your skin smooth and velvety instead.,

It is recommended to start your day off right with a few spritzes. Your whole day is likely to unravel nicely after starting on a good note!

How to use essential oils?

As you could see from the short explanation above, there isn’t just one way to use essential oils. 

Pure essential oils can be mixed in with moisturizers, or inside diffusers. But essential oil blends can also come in the form of mists, body oils, massage oils or even natural essential oil perfumes that leave no trace of any nasty chemicals on your skin. Depending on what sensory experience you’re looking to have, it is very likely that there will be something especially for you, and your needs. 

A common misconception about essential oils is that they’re harmless. However, you shouldn’t underestimate the risks of essential oils. Make sure you take the necessary precautions before using them to ensure your safety, and are able to experience the full potential of essential oils. Here are a few tips on how to use essential oils correctly:

• Don’t go overboard:

Remember that essential oils are highly concentrated compounds; and you only need a few drops to see them take their full effect.

• Not all essential oils are suitable for everyone

Make sure to talk to your doctor or an aromatherapist before using essential oils. For example, if you suffer from Epilepsy, oils like Eucalyptus, Rosemary and Lavender Spike will not be suitable to use as they have a high risk of causing seizures.

• The best and safest way to use essential oils is through topical application or inhalation. The ingestion of essential oil is not encouraged without professional guidance from an aromatherapist or a health care practitioner trained at an appropriate clinical level.

• Keep essential oils (and yourself) away from direct sunlight, when using essential oils! Oils can get damaged and rancid when exposed to the sun, which can make them harmful to use. Also, make sure not to apply the oils topically on the skin, and directly exposing yourself to the sun as some oils are photosensitive and can cause skin sensitivity.