Unlocking Nature’s Scents: An Introduction to Essential Oils

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are the concentrated parts of plants. They can come from various parts, stems, roots, seeds, peels, leaves, needles, flowers, resins, wood, and bark. They are concentrated extracts of plants typically made through the process of steam distillation or cold pressing. We will skip the chemistry lesson for now as this is an overview post. Those concentrated oils can be used in a variety of ways to improve our daily lives.

How do they work?

Essential oils work with the limbic system of our brains. This is their interaction point. They have the ability to influence our mood and emotions. Nature's gift to us. Essential oils are just another example of how we are connected to nature. When we embrace that concept, our lives can flow more smoothly. Being out of touch with nature can have the opposite effect on us. Leaving us stressed out, worn down, and tired. Nature is a natural booster. Essential oils are a part of that. Before I was essential oil curious, now I use them on a daily basis.

In this post, I will cover three main ways essential oils are used. Inhalation, topical application, and diffusing. Some oils can also be ingested, but that is outside of the scope of this particular post as there are safety concerns related to ingesting these oils.

I am sure most of you have heard of essential oils at some point. They might even conjure up images of people trying to get you to buy into an "essential oil pyramid". Honestly, I stayed away from them for many years precisely because of that. I also questioned whether they had any effect on the body. In this post, I wish to break down the basics of essential oils and give you some great examples of how they can help in our daily living. Along with a nice starting point if you are interested in using them. This post will not end with a call to action of "please join me in selling these essential oils and start a business". In fact I stand to make exactly $0 off this post from you buying essential oils as I am not an affiliate or member of any pyramid schemes. This is a completely honest post with no financial gain to be had whether you choose to use them or not.

In a future post I will discuss some of the most common essential oils and their variety of uses. You can start with just a few and see what you think. I started with a set of 3 or 5. From there I expanded my essential oil collection to about 15 or so. Find the ones you use most often and keep those in stock. As you find more uses for others you can always add more to your tool kit.

In the end you do not need to spend a fortune to have a nice tool kit at your fingertips. I currently have 3-5 that are my go tos every day. The others I use as needed for various things.

Inhalation of Essential Oils

Inhalation is a common way to use them, and it is just what it sounds like. Opening the bottle and inhaling the scent directly. Keep in mind essential oils are ultra concentrated. If you are super sensitive to smells, this may not be the best option for you. If you have ever opened a bottle of essential oils and taken a whiff, you know it can be quite the experience. The scent assaults your senses, in a good way depending on the oil, and the limbic system cascade begins. Inhalation can be used to calm the mind and body. It can also be used to energize or bring focus and clarity. Or even to help with respiratory functions.

As an example, I meditate daily, usually in the morning, to set myself up for the day. I have my favorite calming essential oil near where I meditate, Lavender oil. As I sit down to meditate, I take a few good sniffs from the bottle. That sets the tone for my meditation practice. I also dab some behind both of my ears to keep that calm feeling going throughout my day. Which brings me to the next way to use them.

Why quality is important?

Perhaps the most popular way of using essential oils is through the use of an instrument called a diffuser. You see them popping up everywhere. Even your local Aldi has a diffuser for sale. You can find big, fancy ones that light up and do a host of other things. All the way down to a mobile personal diffuser you can take with you on the go, such as in your car or at your desk at work. They are popular and simple to use. However, most need an electrical outlet nearby. Because we are on the road full time, traveling and living in an RV, power consumption is an important consideration for us as we run off of solar. I use what is called a reed diffuser. A much less expensive alternative that does not require electricity and they can also be used to make your space look nice.

Reed diffusers are an inexpensive and attractive way to add a nice scent to your space. They are more subtle, great for those who are sensitive to smells. Using a container, glass or ceramic preferred, add a carrier oil and then the amount of essential oil drops to your desired potency. When selecting a container it is best to use one with a narrow neck to keep the oil from evaporating. I personally use fractioned coconut oil in mine. Then you add 5-10 reeds to your container and voila instant non-electric diffuser. The reeds last a long time before needing to be replaced. They work by "pulling" the oil up the reed and than diffusing into your space. They are inexpensive and can be found online.

Topical Use of Essential Oils

Applying essential oils topically is another common way to use them. They have so many uses when used this way. They can help ease pain. You can use them in conjunction with traditional Chinese medicine principles to bring the elements back to balance within your body. They can help with skin care or skin conditions. They can even be used to keep pesky bugs away as an all natural alternative to the classic bug spray with Deet. And of course they can be used to calm and soothe the nervous system.

When applying to your skin, it is important to consider your sensitivity level. Some people can tolerate the undiluted oil on their skin; others will need to dilute them first. This may vary from one oil to the next. Always test a small area on your skin before applying to larger areas. To dilute them, a carrier oil is used. Using a glass bottle that is dark, such as amber, is preferred to protect the essential oils. To the carrier oil, a specified number of drops of your essential oil is added. From there, you apply the mixture to your skin.

If you choose to apply essential oils directly to your skin and that works well for you, remember they are super concentrated. A little goes a long way. I usually place my finger over the opening of the bottle and tip it back. I rarely use a full drop directly on my skin.

Diffusing Essential Oils

Quality is important when it comes time to shop for essential oils. You will find prices all over the place. There are basically three ways of buying them. The first is the cheap route. When you buy cheap oil you are skimping on quality. The cheap ones can be diluted or made with less than pure concentrates. Forgo the cheap route.

The second one is through a MLM (multi-level marketing) company. Using this method, you buy from a dealer or representative of the company. There is nothing inherently wrong as they are usually high quality oils. However, you end paying more as there is a "middle-person" involved. This is a business strategy for many. They effectively have an essential oil business where they make a cut of the profit when you buy.

Lastly, you can do your research and find companies that sell high quality oils directly to you the consumer. This becomes a win-win. You get great quality at a decent price without the mark up. After much research I went with Plant Therapy and I still use them for all of my essential oil needs.

One last word of caution, I would avoid buying from Amazon as the quality of the oil is not always guaranteed. If the price is really low, the quality is most likely suffering. Also note, the price of different oils will vary significantly. It all depends on how much is involved to obtain said oil.

Using essential oils as a spray.

Another great use of essential oils is making a spray. Use a dark glass bottle with a spray nozzle, add distilled water and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Essential oils sprays can be used to spritz around your house to remove stale odors or to freshen up a room. My favorite is a lavender spray beside my bed. Before I go to sleep I spritz my pillow to induce a nice calm and peaceful sleep. Essential oils are great for making homemade, non-chemical cleaners, as some have antibacterial and antiviral properties. Or make a natural bug repellent with a variety of essential oils. It repels the pesky bugs and smells great. There are so many great uses in spray form.

Stay tuned for a free essential oil guide