15 Ways to Use Essential Oils

1. Therapeutic massage. Add up to 8 drops of your chosen essential oils to 10ml of carrier oil and either massage yourself or get someone else to do it. Professional therapeutic massage is very relaxing and beneficial for many common ailments.

2. Inhalation. Add 4-6 drops of your chosen essential oils to hot water. Cover your head with a towel, lean your face over the bowl of hot water ensuring that your eyes are closed, and breathe deeply.

3. Baths. Add 6-8 drops of essential oils to the bath water just before you get in. For a foot bath, you will only need 4 drops. With both, add the essential oils to a teaspoon of milk or dispersing agent and stir well before adding it to the bath water.

4. Room sprays. Add 8-10 drops of your chosen essential oil to 250ml of water. Distilled water is best for this. Pour into a spray bottle, and shake well before use.

5. Potpourri. Add 4-6 drops of essential oils to dried flowers, petals, leaves, fruit, etc. and shake up in a plastic bag. Place in a bowl in the room you wish to fragrance. Also, if your old potpourri has lost its fragrance, add some essential oils as above to bring it back to life.

6. Oil burners. Oil burners can be used therapeutically or to fragrance a room. Learn how to use an oil burner .

7. Ring burners. These are an alternative to an oil burner and do not require water or a candle. A specially designed terracotta or metal ring is placed on top of a standard light bulb and you can add 2-3 drops of your favourite essential oil to it to fragrance the room.

8. Aroma-stream. These are quite expensive items but are excellent to use if you have children or pets as there is no need for a candle making it a safer option. Also they can be left on over night so you can use oils to help aid sleep, relieve congestion, or to relax while you are sleeping.

9. Car diffuser. This device plugs in to your car cigarette lighter and diffuses the essential oils in to the car. Only a couple drops are required. Use essential oils to keep you focused and alert such as rosemary or peppermint; or oils to wake you up in the morning such as grapefruit; or even lavender to help reduce anxiety levels when you are stuck in traffic.

10. Aroma-dough. Essential oil scented dough can be handled and squished about to help reduce stress and to help mobilise fingers and wrist joints.

11. Scented candles. Essential oils can be added to a lit candle (but not near flame) to fragrance the room.

12. Pillows and handkerchiefs. If you don’t have an oil burner, add 2-3 drops of essential oils to a cotton wool ball and place on top of the radiator. Place one drop of essential oil on to a handkerchief and breathe in deeply – this is especially good using Eucalyptus or other decongestant oil when you have a cold, sinus congestion, hayfever, or other respiratory problems. Add 3 drops of essential oil to your pillow (or on a tissue which you can place on your pillow) – this is great if you suffer with insomnia and headaches. Lavender is always a good choice for this.

13. Body and facial creams. Essential oils can be added to unscented cream for use as body and facial moisturisers and can also be added to aloe vera gel and applied to cuts, burns, and various aches and pains to help alleviate the pain and speed up healing. Add up to 8 drops of essential oil to 10ml of base cream or gel for use on the body, and up to 4 drops to 10ml for use on the face.

14. Toiletries. Essential Oils can be added to unscented base toiletry products such as shampoos, conditioners, bubble bath, and bath oils. Use in same dilutions as for the body and facial creams above.

15. Compresses. Add 5-8 drops of essential oils to either hot or cold water. Soak a flannel in the water, wring out, and apply to the affected area. This is great for aches and pains, inflammation, and headaches. Learn how to make a compress.