Essential oils are one of the most direct ways to connect with Mother Nature. These powerful plant extracts are distilled from our favourite plants and have such a vast array of uses. From skincare, mental and emotional health, medical conditions such as nausea and insomnia, to insect repellant and cleansing, it is definitely worthwhile to give them a try! However, as with any other product, we need to use the essential oils safely in order to enjoy them. Let's go through some beginner's tips to using essential oils safely and effectively.
Different Ways to Use Essential Oils
Some of the most common ways to use essential oils are inhalation, via a diffuser or clay, beauty and topically for skin care. Essential oils are exceptionally useful for those with insomnia, anxiety, and other health conditions. For those who are new to essential oil, try out gentler scents, taking a whiff and monitoring your reaction to it.
Safe Usage of Essential Oils
Below, we explore some basic safety tips for using essential oils, but do note that this list is far from exhaustive. Please seek professional medical advise before using essential oils if you are pregnant, with sensitive skin, or are suffering from health issues.
Dilution
According to Healthline, a good rule of thumb to follow when diluting essential oils is below 5 percent. Use carrier oils such as coconut oil and rosehip oil. While some oils such as lavender and unoxidized tea tree oil can be used without dilution, this should only be done with professional advise.
Long story short, when in doubt, dilute.
While dilution can be complicated, there are handy dilutions charts and guides, such as this one by Plant Therapy, that help beginners to dilute essential oils for safe use.
Using a Solubilizer
Nowadays, handmade essential oil sprays are all the rage! And why not? They cleanse your homes and give it a pleasant scent via all-natural essential oils. However, it is important to ensure that these essential oil sprays are properly diluted, where the essential oil droplets are emulsified to blend with the solvent.
As you know, oil and water do not mix. Alcohol-based essential oil mists use a very strong alcohol (usually minimum 160 proof grain alcohol) that dilutes the essential oils. However, if the alcohol is not strong enough, the essential oil is not effectively emulsified.
Furthermore, what if you do not want an alcohol-based essential oil spray? Personally, I avoid alcohol because I like to spray my essential oils on my bedding, hair etc., so they do come into contact with my skin. Strong alcohols are too drying and damaging for our skin.
If you have a similar concern, it is important to ensure that your water-based essential oil spray contains a (preferably natural) solubilizer that disperses the essential oil. This protects your skin from the harmful effects caused when undiluted essential oil droplets from ineffectively dispersed sprays comes into contact with your skin.
At Tsukiyo Co, for instances, our essential oil mists use a mix of organic, alcohol-free witch hazel extract (great for skin and hair) and distilled water as the solvent. We disperse the essential oil with a solubilizer made from natural ingredients harvested from plants to ensure that the pure, undiluted essential oils in our mists will never harm you or your loved ones.
Avoid Internal Use of Essential Oils
Although some essential oils claim to be ingestible, do note that there are no Food and Drug Administration for essential oils so only ingest essential oils purchased from a reputable company (we recommend Young Living and Plant Therapy) and with professional medical advise.
Avoid Sensitive Skin & Open Wounds
Generally, popular locations for topical use of essential oils include the wrist and behind the earlobes. Be sure avoid you mouth, nose, eyes and private areas and your fingers too (because, let's be honest, we unconsciously rub our eyes and nose).
Inflamed skin and open wounds also absorb more essential oils which could lead to averse reactions.
Take Note of Expiration Date
Pure essential oils are somewhat self-preserving, but even then, take note of the expiration date and do not use them beyond the stated date. This protects you from skin allergies and other potential problems.
Age
Elderly and young children are more sensitive to essential oils and so need greater dilution. Do note that essential oils are chemicals (natural chemicals are still chemicals!) and some cannot be used on children. So please seek advise from your paediatrician before using essential oils on young children.
Pets
One often neglected aspect to note is that some animals such as dogs are particularly sensitive to smells. Avoid letting them directly sniff the essential oil, even if they are curious. The experience is torturous for them!
Certain essential oils are toxic to animals. Fresh eucalyptus is poisonous to cats, dogs and horses due to the presence of eucalyptol (which is present in eucalyptus essential oil). So please check that the essential oil in your diffuser is safe for your pets!
Storage
Essential oils are not fans of the sun, which is why most essential oils (if not all) come in amber glass bottles. Pure, undiluted essential oils are too strong for plastics and the amber-tinted glass blocks some UV rays and protects the essential oils. So keep your essential oil in a cool place, away from direct sunlight.
If there are children and pets at home, do also lock up your essential oils to ensure that they will not be accidentally ingested or used.
Professional Medical Advise
At the end of the day, stop use of essential oils the moment you experience any averse reactions and seek professional help immediately from a licensed medical practitioner.
How can Essential Oils be Used?
Anxiety & Health
Essential oils such as chamomile and lavender are great if you have anxiety or insomnia. Consider dripping a few drops onto a ceramic diffuser or water diffuser beside the bed.
Scents such as lemon are great for boosting your immunity whereas grapefruit are good choices for weight loss and concentration.
Pets
When used correctly, essential oils can do wonders for our animals. For one, scents can be used to help acclimatize pets to new sensations and environments.
Pets with sensitive skin can also find relief through topical of essential oils. Just as with humans, do seek professional advise and speak to your veterinarian first!
If you're keen to read more, consider reading this article by New Directions Aromatics.
Meditation
Perhaps one of the most common uses of essential oils is as a supportive aid in meditation. Choose a scent that calms and soothes you (my favourite is our vanilla-ylang ylang-rose blend) and use the scent to help you focus. Whenever you find yourself getting distracted, shift your attention to the scent and redirect your energies there.
Common favourites for meditation include sandalwood, which supports the heart chakra and encourages strength, as well as frankincense.
Room & Linen Mist
Say goodbye and instead use essential oil room and linen mists (ours are crystal-infused too!) to keep your room fresh and soothing.
Different rooms should utilize difference scents to create the right ambience. This technique will also ensure that you get in the "right" frame of mind for room's activity. For example, citrus scents are great for the study room while lavender and vanilla scents are perfect for the bedroom.
My personal presence is that my room and linen mists (which I use a lot of) are alcohol-free for both safety and health reasons. However, this means that a solubilizer should be used to ensure that the essential oil mixes well with its water-based carrier.
Hair Mist
Essential oils are great ways to make hair perfume and hair elixirs. For instance, lavender is great for speeding hair growth while tea tree is commonly used in anti-dandruff treatment.
Do remember to properly dilute the essential oils before use!
*Citrus essential oils are photosensitive and can lighten your hair in the presence of UV light.
Skin Care
Essential oils such as tea tree, rosehip, chamomile and lavender are great for toning and brightening the skin, just remember to properly dilute them!
With all our Love
Ren
Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute of any kind for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. Please seek immediate medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative or homeopathic medicine or making a change to your lifestyle and regimen.
