Sign In

Web

Specialists

Articles

Videos

Blogs

Travel

Ways to Use Aromatherapy Essential Oils

Basic Methods

Blend

An aromatherapy essential oil blend is the ideal method for applying oils to the human body. It gives you an opportunity to make a personal essence. It can be based on just the pure joy of fragrance. It can be thoughtfully crafted with knowledge of the actions of an oil to be therapeutic for health purposes. It can be created as a perfume with a top, middle, and base note. It takes some study and experience to create a balanced synergy of aromatherapy oils.

It’s best to begin with just three different essential oils. Choose three oils and put one drop of each in an amber bottle (protection from UV light) and shake by rolling bottle between your hands. Continue adding oils, blending, and smelling each new addition. It is best to make a 2 ½- 3 % ratio of essential oils to carrier oil. For example, in an 8-ml. bottle, put 7-8 drops of essential oils total and fill the rest of the bottle with a carrier oil like jojoba oil. Apply directly to the skin.

Diffuser

The best diffuser I have found (none of them are perfect) is one that does not heat the aromatherapy essential oil and sprays the oil molecules into the air in a fine mist. So my choice is a nebulizing diffuser. It has a small air pump and glass tube that aspirates the oil vapor into the surrounding air. One model has a timer that allows you to diffuse the aromatherapy oil at specific times and in cycles of time.

Adding 10 drops of 3 pure, undiluted oils can provide fragrance into a large space. After one to three hours, the oils may need to be replenished. It can subtly enhance the mood of a room. It can be used in a classroom, living room, hospital room, or office.

Diffusers with candles or light bulbs create too much heat that rearranges the chemical molecules of the aromatherapy oils.

Massage oil and lotion

When giving or receiving a massage, adding aromatherapy essential oils to a vegetable oil base or lotion, makes the experience more therapeutic and enjoyable.

To mix a fragrant massage oil, begin with a 2 oz. or 4 oz. plastic bottle with cap. The 2.5 % ratio makes approximately 30 drops per one ounce. So a 2 oz. bottle would contain 60 drops total of essential oils and a 4 oz. bottle would have 120 drops of total essential oils. Add 10 (20 for 4 oz.) drops of liquid vitamin E (2 – 4 capsules) and shake. Vitamin E is an anti-oxidant for the vegetable oils, plus good for the skin. Pour a tablespoon in hand, rub hands together and massage on body. Continue adding more as needed. If the client has a cold, put two drops of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) or Ravensara in the face cradle.

Steam

Someone with the beginning of a cold or flu will greatly benefit from this method. It is a simple, but powerful aromatherapy experience. With proper heat and timing, It can send steam and essential oils into all parts of the respiratory system: the throat, the lungs, the sinuses. The aromatherapy oils will directly attack a bacterial or viral invasion. It can cause momentary pain, which is a sign of how effective the steam is at ridding the body of infection.

All you need is a ceramic bowl placed on a table with chair, a towel, and 3 bottles of essential oils. Boil two cups of water and pour (keeping it very hot) into the ceramic bowl. Immediately put one drop of each essential oil (3 total) in the water and cover your head and breathe in deeply. I recom-mend 1 drop of Eucalyptus globulus, 1 drop of Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea tree), and 1 drop of Mentha piperita (Peppermint). Repeat every few hours until all cold symptoms are gone.

Water Spray

There are many ways to use a 4 oz. bottle filled with water and essential oils. It can be used to cheer and disinfect a room’s atmosphere. For this purpose as a room spray, put in 60-80 drops of aromatherapy essential oils and distilled water in the 4 oz. bottle and shake before spraying. Some suggestions for oils would be Lemongrass (Cymbopogan citratus), Lemon (Citrus x limon), and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis).

If you make a body spray for say, poison oak rashes or a deodorizer, use 20-30 drops in the 4 oz. bottle. Use Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and Roman Chamomile ( Cham-aemelum nobile) for the poison oak. Use Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi) and Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) for the deodorant.

To make a facial toner in a 4 oz. spray, use only 8-10 drops of essential oils. The face has delicate, often sensitive tissues. If you can get some hydrosol, which is the water part of steam distillation, use it as the base water and add some drops of Rose (Rosa damascena), Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), and Sandalwood (Santalum album).

Shake, Spray and enjoy!

Gargle

A sore throat cries out for an aromatherapy gargle. It will concentrate and vibrate the essential oil in the throat area to kill the growing bacterial or viral infection.

Put 3 drops of Peppermint (Mentha piperita) or Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) in an 8-oz. glass of water. Drink a gulp of aromatic water and gargle for 30-60 seconds. Then repeat and continue gargling until the glass is empty. Your throat will feel refreshed and free of infection.

Compress

A compress is a useful way to relieve tension and pain. It is commonly used in Europe for certain first aid situations. A headache or stomachache will be relieved by an aromatherapy compress. Menstrual cramps or menopause hot flashes can be helped by this method too.

To reduce the pain of the first two, put 2 cups of hot water in a small bowl. Add 10 drops of essential oil, Peppermint (Mentha piperita) or Spearmint (Mentha spicata) and dip a 12 inch piece of cotton cloth into the bowl. Wring it out. Then apply it to the source of pain, over the forehead or the abdomen. Leave it for 10 minutes and redip the cloth in the aromatic water. Continue process, adding more drops of oil as needed. For menstrual or menopause pain, use Clary sage (Salvia sclarea), Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), and Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Experience the relief!

Bath

This is a favorite aromatherapy experience! Relaxing into a warm, enticing aromatic bath can bring many mind/body benefits. Hot water enriched with Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata) and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis l. verbena), whether in a bathtub or a hot tub can offer muscle, tendon loosening. Adding essential oils like Bergamot (Citrus x bergamia) and Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata) will bring stress relief for the mind.

So, first draw the water, filling the tub. Add 6-8 drops of oil that will float on top. As you get into the tub, the lipophilic oils will be drawn to your skin and fatty tissue. Light a candle and relax for 15 minutes, enjoying the fragrant interlude.

Bath Salts

A wonderful aromatherapy addition to the bath is bath salt scrubs. Mix 20% dead sea salts, 30% sea salt, and 50% Epsom salts with essential oils like Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi), Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea), and Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum). This would be an uplifting, euphoric blend.

Rub blend on skin before a bath for dead skin removal and then add some into the bath to watch it dissolve in the water and rejuvenate the senses.

Dry Brush Massage

Using a brush on the skin before or during a bath is a healthy activity for the skin. It will brush off some of the dead skin cells. Adding 4-5 drops of an essential oil is even more beneficial. Use an oil like Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), which is astringent for oily skin, or Sandalwood (Santalum album) for dry skin. Brush towards the heart on the arms, legs, back and chest.

Facial

Splash

Begin the face rejuvenation with a Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi) splash. Fill a washbasin with 2 cups of warm water and 3 drops of Grapefruit and Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Keep eyes closed.

Gently splash the face to awaken the skin. It is great as a morning ritual.

Facial Scrub

Do a quick scrub to rid the face of dead skin cells in the stratum corneum, outer layer of the epidermis. Mix a cup of oatmeal with 2 tbls. of finely ground cornmeal and add 3 tbls. of water. Make a creamy paste. Add 2 drops of aromatherapy essential oils, according to your skin type:

Normal skin

Use Rose (Rosa damascena) and Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia l. grosso)

Dry skin

Use Palmarosa (Cymbopogan cablin) and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)

Oily skin

Use Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana) and Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)

Facial Steam

Do a steam as previously described, using oils like:

Mature skin

Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) and Carrot Seed (Daucus carota)

Oily, Acne skin

Lemon (Citrus x limon) and Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Facial Mask

Create a mask by adding ¼ cup of clay to the above ingredients of oatmeal and cornmeal. Add oils for skin type. Apply to face, massaging in circles and leave on five to ten minutes. Let it dry only if you have oily, acne skin, otherwise rinse off in ten minutes.