Aromatherapy, or the use of essential oils, dates back thousands of years, when the ancient Egyptians first burned incense made from aromatic woods, herbs and spices. As many alternative medicine enthusiasts have been increasingly subscribing to the power of essential oils for years and its growing availability in the market, essential oils have been going mainstream.
Essential oils are extracted from plant matter, usually from the different parts of a plant by a method called extraction and it is said to have different benefits that can improve our physical and psychological well-being. “Essential oils are a fantastic way to help with myriad issues such as sleeplessness, nausea, anxiety, allergies and pain,” says Michele Mack, LMT, CPMT, a licensed massage therapist at Ohio State Integrative Medicine.
In this blog, we are going to discuss the ten (10) essential oils that are included in our Pure Essential Oils Pack and the benefits that it has to our body, mind, and wellness.
1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
This is arguably one of the most versatile essential oils because of the amount of ways that we can use it and the many benefits that we reap from using it. Distilled from the plant Lavandula angustifolia, the oil promotes relaxation and is believed to treat anxiety, fungal infections, allergies, depression, insomnia, eczema, nausea, and menstrual cramps.
Suggested Uses:
- Add Lavender Essential Oil to your favorite skin care products for added benefits.
- Diffuse together with Cedarwood and Sweet Orange to create a relaxing mood during nighttime.
- Add Lavender Oil to any preferred carrier oil and massage it onto sore muscles and tension areas in the body.
- Add a few drops of Lavender Essential oil to Epsom salts then toss it into your warm bath water to help you feel more at ease and relaxed.
2. Lemon (Citrus limon)
Lemon is one of the most easily recognized essential oils because of its refreshing, energizing, and uplifting scent. It is extracted through the fruit peel using cold pressed extraction. Lemon essential oil is known for its cleansing properties, and it is widely used in skin care and home cleaning solutions for these benefits. Its strong and refreshing aroma also helps to have a healthy immune system.
Suggested Uses:
- Diffuse Lemon Essential Oil to get rid of unwanted odors and fill your space with uplifting and refreshing aroma.
- Add to your multi-surface cleaning solutions for an added boost in aroma and cleaning power.
- Put a few drops to your dishwashing detergent to help clean and deodorize your dishwasher.
- Use a therapeutic grade Lemon Essential Oil and add 2-3 drops of it to your hot tea to soothe a sore throat.
3. Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)
Cedarwood essential oil is extracted through the process of steam distillation from the wood pieces of the cedar wood tree. It is historically used by ancient Egyptians in their ritual and ceremonies. This oil produces a grounding aroma that promotes feelings of vitality and wellness. Cedarwood oil has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that can be helpful in alleviating and reducing stubborn breakouts.
Suggested Uses:
- You can apply 1-2 drops of Cedarwood with Lavender or Roman Chamomile to your pillow to help achieve a good night's sleep.
- Create an anti-bug spray by combining drops of Cedarwood with Citronella, Rosemary, or Lemongrass and with water or alcohol-bug free witch hazel.
- Incorporate it in your skincare routine by adding 1-2 drops to your facial toner or moisturizer for added clarifying and purifying benefits.
- Massage 1-2 drops of Cedarwood oil with carrier oil onto your chest when doing any physical activity (like working out) to maintain vitality and to promote wellness.
4. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus)
Lemongrass is known for its fresh invigorating scent that can neutralize stuffy odors. It also makes an excellent ingredient to home cleaning solutions because of its antibacterial and cleaning properties. Lemongrass Essential Oils are also analgesic which means it can relieve muscle and joint pains and it is antiseptic, making it helpful to prevent wounds from becoming infected.
Suggested Use:
- Add a few drops to your facial cleanser and toner to help with troubled and greasy skin.
- Blend with a carrier oil and massage into the muscles after a workout.
- Add a few drops into a bottle of distilled water and vinegar for a fresh and anti-fungal surface cleaner
- Apply the essential oil topically to insect bites or dilute a few drops in carrier oil before applying to rashes or other skin irritations.
5. Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
Peppermint is a hybrid between watermint and spearmint. Steam distilled from the leaves of the mint plant, Peppermint Essential Oil creates a strongly aromatic scent that has a fresh, cool, grassy-minty smell which promotes energy and alertness. This oil has a cooling and revitalizing effect which is why we often see it as an ingredient for hygiene products like soap and toothpaste.
Suggested uses:
- Place one drop of Peppermint Essential oil in your palm with a drop of Orange or Frankincense for a quick pick-me-up.
- Mix a couple of drops of Peppermint oil with carrier oil and massage it onto your temple and back of the neck to get rid of headaches.
- Put a drop of this oil on a damp cloth and use it to wipe your counters for a clean and crisp smelling kitchen.
- Massage several drops on your abdomen, place a drop on wrists or inhale to soothe motion sickness or general nausea.
6. Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
Included in the Citrus family, Bergamot Essential Oil is the most delicate among citrus oils as it requires a special climate and soil to grow. It is best known for having an Earl Grey tea flavor which is why this oil is often used to add in tea and hot drinks. It has a vibrant, citrusy and slightly floral aroma that can help uplift the mind and ease the worries of the person smelling it. One caution to keep in mind, if your Bergamot Essential Oil has bergaptene as one of its components, you shouldn't apply it to your skin and go into the sun due to phototoxicity.
Suggested Use:
- Diffuse with Lavender or Ylang Ylang to create a luxurious and peaceful environment, especially when the stress and tension levels are high
- Add a few drops to your body wash to enjoy its purifying benefits to the skin
- Put a few drops of therapeutic grade bergamot oil to your cookie batter to make Earl Grey cookies
- Apply to the feet before bedtime or use with a carrier oil for a calming and relaxing massage
7. Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis)
Because of its versatility and affordability, Sweet Orange Essential Oil is one of the most popular essential oils and is always in someone’s essential oil stash. Like most citrus essential oils, Sweet Orange oil is often added to cleaning products and diffused to get rid of bacteria in the air and to improve stale-smelling rooms. This oil has a very pleasant and invigorating smell and can improve the mood of the room. Orange oil has anti-bacterial, anti-aging, and antioxidant properties which is why it is a really good ingredient to add to your moisturizer and serums.
Suggested use:
- Add Orange to your home cleaning solutions for a boost of cleaning and odor-neutralizing power.
- Add it to your nighttime skin care routine to help reduce the appearance of blemishes and smooth skin.
- Because orange essential oil has an anti-spasmodic effort, apply it with a carrier oil to help with indigestion and stomach cramps.
- Try making a homemade furniture polish with 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 1 Tbsp. olive oil, and 10 drops of orange essential oil.
8. Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis)
Rosemary is derived from the Latin words "ros" and "marinus" that means "Dew of the Sea”. It has been used by the ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian civilization as an incense and as a reminder of the life and death cycle. It's used in cosmetics for its antiseptic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties and in medical care for its health benefits. This oil helps to reduce stress levels and nervous tension, boost mental activity, encourage clarity and insight, relieve fatigue, and support respiratory function.
Suggested Use:
- Massage a few drops into your scalp or add Rosemary to your favorite shampoo or conditioner.
- Add a therapeutic grade Rosemary Essential Oil to your favorite dressings, dips, and marinades to infuse it with its herbaceous flavor.
- Research shows that simply inhaling the aroma of rosemary essential oil can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in your blood.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil with 5 drops of rosemary oil to create an effective salve for sprains, rheumatism and arthritis.
9. Eucalyptus Australiana (Eucalyptus Radiata)
Eucalyptus Australiana naturally occur in the Eucalyptus forests of south eastern New South Wales and north east Victoria, including the Snowy mountains. This oil has a purifying, cleansing, clarifying, and immune-boosting scent and has been traditionally been used for its ability to soothe both mental and physical discomforts. In aromatherapy, this oil is used in diffusers to eliminate harmful airborne bacteria and to clear nasal passages. Because of its soothing and anti-bacterial properties, this oil has been a popular ingredient in most balms, massage oils and dental hygiene products.
Suggested Use:
- Put 5-10 drops in a damp washcloth and place it near you during shower to create a cool and spa-like aroma.
- Apply topically with carrier oils or inhale from the bottle to relieve headaches, cough and cold, and muscle pains.
- Combine with water in a spray bottle and use it to wipe down surfaces in your kitchen or bathroom.
- Dilute with Fractionated Coconut Oil and massage onto your lower abdomen to relieve menstrual cramps.
10. Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Tea Tree or Melaleuca Essential Oil, is best known for its purifying qualities, which make it useful for cleansing the skin, home surfaces, and purifying the air. It is often an ingredient to most skincare products because of its cleansing and rejuvenating effect on the skin. It can be used to cleanse and purify the skin and nails and to support a healthy looking complexion. Tea Tree is used on occasional skin irritations to soothe the skin and diffusing Tea Tree will help freshen the air.
Suggested Use:
- Freshen your laundry by adding 2-3 drops of Tea Tree oil to your favorite liquid laundry detergent for extra odor-fighting power.
- Diffuse to combat stale or offensive odors the room.
- Dilute tea tree oil with witch hazel and frankincense essential oil for a clear skin toner.
- Combine 1 teaspoon of Fractionated Coconut oil and a few drops of Tea Tree Oil and apply it to your rashes and eczema.