Essential Oils: An Introduction

|Have you been wondering about the benefits of using essential oils in your daily life? Perhaps you have heard friends or family members talking about essential oils, or you have seen links or discussions about them online, and you would like more information about what essential oils are all about.​If so, you have found the right blog post! This post will provide an overview of essential oils.

"Nurturing yourself is not selfish - it's essential for survival and your well-being." ~ Renee Peterson Trudeau

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What are essential oils?

​​If you have ever enjoyed the scent of a rose, you’ve experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. Essential oils are naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. Essential oils provide plants with protection against environmental threats and play a role in plant pollination.

​In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and being beautifully fragrant to people, essential oils have long been used for food preparation, beauty treatment, and health-care practices.

Recommended:  A Guide to Using a Nebulizing Diffuser for Essential Oils

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How can essential oils be used?

There are so many fantastic ways that essential oils can be used and can be categorized into three different methods:

• ​Aromatic​ally: can be diffused to create a calming or soothing environment
• Topically: can be absorbed into the skin directly or with the use of other lotions/agents such as coconut oil
• Internally: some oils can be ingested or using in cooking for health or dietary benefits

There are almost endless ways that essential oils can be used every single day. Some of my favourites include using them aromatically with the help of a diffuser (my favourite oil is lavender), safe and natural household cleaning (a great oil for this is lemon) and lotion for pain relief (I use it on my wrists).

When using essential oils, it's important to take note of the appropriate and safe uses of the specific oils application. Later this month I will post about what to consider when using essential oils around animals and pets, so check back for that! For professional information about the medical uses of essential oils, speak with a doctor or veterinarian with any concerns or questions. 

There are also many different ways that essential oils can be crafted through recipes and DIY (do-it-yourself) practices:

DIY for wellness:

• Wild Orange & Clove Soap
• Fizzing Bath Bombs

DIY for cleaning:

• All-Purpose Spray 
• ​Yoga Mat Spray​

DIY for fun:​

• Aromatherapy Play Dough
• Fun Soap for Kids​​

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Where can I start buying essential oils?

Now that we have explored what essential oils are and some of the ways they can be used, you may be interested in finding out where to actually purchase some for your own use. There are many different options to buy essential oils, including local stores and various companies. 

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More Resources

• Essential Oils For Emotional Wellness
• Essential Oils: For Aromatherapy
• Essential Oils: With Pets​

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Already using essential oils?​ Comment below with your experience of using essential oils, how you use them and your favourite recipe or DIY method to share with other readers.

Essential oils are highly concentrated and as such should be used with great care, particularly with children, pregnant women, or those with medical conditions. The statements and information on this website are not intended to diagnose, cure, or prevent disease. The links on this page may be embedded with affiliate links for products that I may receive commission from.