6 Ways to Use Essential Oils

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Wondering how to use essential oils? There’s no need to be overwhelmed about it–it’s fairly easy to learn.

Here are 6 ways to get started using essential oils–you’re sure to find some helpful ways to add them to your daily life.

essential oil bottles with lavender in background

From adding them to DIY personal and home care products, to touting them as cure alls, information about essential oils is everywhere.  I myself was skeptical about them for a long, time, not having any idea about how to use essential oils or whether they would really be effective.  I found out that they are really effective and loved what they were doing for me and my family.

I later ended up doing a bunch of research to choose which company’s oils I wanted to use and recommend, but now they are pretty much an “everyday thing” in our home.

I use them in my Homemade Hair Spray, DIY Chest Rub, Nourishing Hair Rinse, Homemade Body Wash, Hand and Body Cream, and at bedtime to aid in sleep.

If you’re new to essential oils, or even if you’re a seasoned user, I think this list will be of interest to you and will hopefully give you a few more ideas about how you can safely use essential oils for a more natural approach to beauty, home care, and healing.

You can read more here about my hunt for the best essential oils company.
How to Use Essential Oils - Whole New Mom
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How to Use Essential Oils

1.  Diffuse

This is my current favorite method of use. I finally found a diffuser that I love and I have literally been using it round the clock for about 2 months.  (Many of you have been asking about diffusers.  I will share a post as soon as I can, but here are several great options.)

Simply put water and the oils in the diffuser according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and your home (or room) will soon be filled with the oil’s scent and properties.

I have been diffusing my DIY Antibacterial Blend frequently, as well as Orange and Peppermint on occasion. The citrus and mint are invigorating when the afternoon slumps occur.

2.  Inhale

Simply open a bottle, bring it close to your nose and inhale. I have done this with peppermint oil for a headache and with both Peppermint and Helichrysum (here’s a link to both versions: Gymnocephalum or Italicum) after I sustained a head injury.

3.  Apply topically

Just apply the oils to the desired location.

If you are just getting started with how to use essential oils in your daily life, you should start by blending the oils with a carrier oil.  The most commonly used carrier oil is Fractionated Coconut Oil.  It has a long shelf life and is odor-free.  However, you can use any oil that you have in your home.  I have personally used olive, but more commonly coconut.

Many people like to apply the oils to the bottoms of their feet.  I do that occasionally, but I personally use essential oils more frequently directly on the area that is affected.  I have used essential oils effectively this way for many issues – sleep aid (Lavender), tendon injuries (Peppermint and Lemongrass), body support for head tension (Peppermint), head injury (Peppermint and Helichrysum), skin support for acne (Grapefruit or Immune Strength, or my DIY Antibacterial Blend)

4.  In the Bath

Mix 3-12 drops of essential oil into a tablespoon of carrier oil. This is essentially emulsifying the essential oils so that you don’t end up with oil adhering to your skin and creating a problem (and it could be a HUGE problem indeed!)

Oils that would be perfect for this would of course be lavender or rose.  Or use oils such as eucalyptus for respiratory issues. A nice steamy bath with Eucalyptus Oil might be just the thing for your stuffed up little one so he or she can get to sleep.

Even when using a carrier oil, please do take care not to use “hot” oils like cinnamon, oregano, lemongrass, etc., as they can still do damage to the skin.

5.  Compress

Blend 6 drops of your essential oil of choice into a tablespoon of carrier oil.  Then add this mixture to a cup or so of water. Soak your compress pad in the water, squeeze the excess water out, and apply. You could do this with either a hot or cold compress. Peppermint would be a great choice for an injury or back pain. I’ve had many friends feel so much better after applying peppermint oil to stubborn back discomfort.

I personally do what I consider to be a simpler version of a compress.  I put the oil (always diluted) on my skin and then apply a warm heating pad on top.  That helps to drive the oils into the injury and avoids the added messiness of having to soak a pad in the oils, plus avoids waste of the oils.

6.  Internally

There is a lot of controversy over this issue, but here is my official stance.

I recommend you consult with a professional before ingesting any essential oils.  Consult a Medical Doctor, Naturopath, or clinically trained Aromatherapist who knows you and is aware of your medical history, as well as any medications you are on.  With this information, the professional can tailor a regimen that works for your body.

Too many people out there are recommending willy nilly internal use of essential oils. This post goes into more detail about why you need to be careful about this.

Of course, none of the above is medical advice. Please talk with your physician before making any changes to your diet or exercise routine or before using essential oils :).  (Sorry but I have to write that.)

If you are interested in learning more about how to use essential oils, this short report on 10 Things to Know About Essentials Oils is a great resource as well.  Plus you get access to my VIP newsletter – neato :)!

Do you use essential oils?
What is your favorite safe way to use essential oils?

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45 Comments

  1. Essential oils offer many benefits as they aid in healing stress and also have many medicinal properties. Thanks for this post on the use of essential oils.

  2. When using oils in a bath, do you need to emulsify them first? If so, what is the best way to do this?
    Thanks!

  3. Hello! My question is regarding whether I can use various brands of oils in a single diffuser? My friend is starting out with a few NOW oils, and registered for a NOW diffuser for her wedding. I happen to use YL oils and was thinking about gifting her some to try out. But can she use YL oils in a NOW diffuser? Or vice versa? I can’t seem to find the info online so I thought I’d try here. Just wondering if there’s any harm in using various oil brands with a specific brand diffuser? Thank you!