*This post has affiliate links.
Recently I have taken an interest in essential oils. With my fibromyalgia diagnosis, I was looking for something that might give me some relief, at the very least maybe help with my anxiety. I have a few friends that use essential oils and swear by them; I also had friend who once had me put peppermint on my temples when I had a raging headache and to my surprise it worked. I had used essential oils a little bit in making soap and a few other crafty projects, but I also used them some at work with my yoga curriculum, YoGalore. Sensory exploration is a big part of YoGalore’s focus, along with yoga, so I sometimes use essential oils in sensory bins, making playdough, slime, and even crayons to enhance the sensory experience. That being said, I wasn’t in the habit of using them for myself, only for other people!
What are Essential Oils?
According to the Essential Oils Natural Remedies, essential oils are, “Pure essential oils are highly concentrated compounds that have been pressed or distilled from plants. Called “essential” because they carry the distinctive fragrance or essence of the plant or plants from which they are made…” By the way, if you are new to the world of essential oils, I recommend getting a book that has the basics. I purchased the Essential Oils Natural Remedies book from Amazon and I have been very happy with it. It’s a complete A to Z reference guide (which I definitely needed). I know I could research everything online and compile it, but gosh, this was such a time saver. And it’s all right here and organized in such a way that I can find what I need quickly.
About Brands/Quality of Essential Oils
As far as getting a straight answer regarding what brands of oils are best, it depends on who you ask. I know that doTERRA is a very popular brand and those that use it/sell it swear by it. I haven’t used it. My friend Michelle, who I like to think of as an “essential oil guru”, (she makes her own soap, lotions, deodorant, lip balm, etc.) advises that brand doesn’t really matter — it’s the quality of the oil. She said as long as the essential oils are therapeutic-grade, most any brand is okay. There are countless brands on Amazon, I use two brands primarily — Art Naturals and Healing Solutions. Since Art Naturals is what I started with, I always search for their brand first and if the oil I need isn’t available on amazon, then I go to the Healing Solutions. Between the two brands I have found pretty much everything I have needed so far.
Now What?
There are so many ways to utilize essential oils in everyday life; I just wasn’t familiar with how to use them. As I mentioned I had some miscellaneous oils I had used for work and craft projects, so I thought the best thing to do would be to order a basic “starter kit” and a good reference book (mentioned above). Amanda sold me on trying a diffuser after she got one for herself (which I did) and fell in love with it. The diffuser is like a small humidifier that puts out a light refreshing mist that smells really good. My particular diffuser has a light on it which changes color and I like that, but there are a ton of different styles and I’m sure that regardless of your style/decor you will find something that you will like. Of course I found my diffuser on Amazon, but you can find them so many places now that essential oils have increased in popularity.
So basically I just played around with the scents and combined things I liked to see what would happen. I’m definitely drawn toward the citrus scents and I knew lavender would be a staple since it is known for its ability to calm and relax. There are TONS of recipes on Pinterest, but also my starter kit came with quite few recipes that I tried as well. My diffuser is something that I use pretty much every day. I have combined grapefruit, lavender and rosemary and I really think it helps with my anxiety. Maybe part of the reason is because I have a positive association with it, but I do enjoy using it. I need to play around some more with scents because I am a creature of habit and once I find a blend that I really like, I tend to stay with it, but to really be able to fully utilize the benefits of essential oils, I really need to try different blends and expand my horizons.
Since this is a new thing for me, I am still learning and finding new ways to use essential oils. I know there are household cleaners, for different physical ailments and issues, making blends and using rollerball bottles to dispense, sprays, inhalers, potpourri, ornaments, jewelry and items with the kids, but if you have a unique way of using essential oils, have a great blend or even have any tips for using essnetial oils, please let us know. We would love to hear from you. I am working on another post to share all about my first experience at a rollerball/essential oils party. IT. WAS. SO. FUN!!!!!!! As I learn more, I’ll keep posting.
