8 Surprising Uses for Essential Oils

Essential oils are therapeutic compounds that have been used for centuries to promote good health and enhance spiritual practices. Nowadays, they are better known for supporting relaxation and sleep, relieving sore joints, repelling bugs, and soothing skin problems.

But essential oils have many uses - beyond what you might expect.

In this article, we share 8 unusual - but useful - ways to incorporate essential oils into your life.

1. Keeping pets off your furniture

Animals have a magnified sense of smell, which means you can use essential oils to train them to stay off your precious furniture. This works by creating a negative association in their brain, stopping them from wanting to climb on your couch. It's completely natural and won't harm them - or your furniture!

Make an all-natural, pet safe furniture spray with the following ingredients:

• 5 cups of water
• 2 tablespoons of white vinegar
• 10 drops of lemon essential oil
• 5 drops of eucalyptus oil

Add to a spray bottle and shake well before spritzing onto your furniture and carpets. Reapply when the scent wears off.

2. Soothe your aching feet

Do you experience sore, achy, or swollen feet after a long day?

Soaking your feet in anti-inflammatory and analgesic essential oils is one of the best ways to ease foot spasms, improve circulation, and reduce swelling.

Add 5 drops of peppermint oil, 5 drops of eucalyptus oil, 2 drops of lavender oil, and 1 cup of Epsom salts to a large container filled with warm water. Soak your feet for 20-30 minutes. It's also a great stress relief practice!

3. Relieve morning sickness

Inhaling certain essential oils may naturally soothe digestive symptoms and nausea during pregnancy.

Make an anti-nausea blend with 2 drops of peppermint oil, 2 drops of lemon oil, and 1 teaspoon of fractionated coconut oil. Apply this to your pulse points and the soles of your feet while taking slow, deep breaths.

Note: As a safety precaution, speak to their doctor before using essential oils while pregnant.

4. Neutralize bad odors

A few drops of essential oil on a cotton ball will naturally deodorize your garbage can, fridge, and shoes. We love using eucalyptus, peppermint, grapefruit, lemon, sweet orange, and bergamot to remove bad smells.

You can also create a "deodorizer box" by filling a small container with baking soda, 5 drops of grapefruit oil, 5 drops of lemon oil, and 5 drops of bergamot oil. Keep in the fridge or the kitchen counter to capture any lingering odors.

5. Freshen your laundry

Essential oils make great laundry fresheners - without the environmentally toxic effects of commercial laundry products. Add 3 drops of oil from our Woolzies Laundry Collection to the Woolzies dryer balls. Throw them in with your clothes after they're dry and run the dryer on an Air Fluff cycle for 10 minutes.

As a bonus, our natural wool dryer balls significantly reduce drying time and save you money!

6. Improve concentration

Essential oils can perk up your energy and improve mental focus - they might be better than a morning cup of coffee!

When working or studying, place an ultrasonic diffuser next to your desk and add 2 drops of peppermint oil, 2 drops of bergamot oil, and 1 drop of lemon oil. Add 100 ml of water to your diffuser and let it run for 30-60 minutes.

7. Scent homemade candles

Candles transform the ambiance in your home, making you feel calm and cozy. Unfortunately, synthetic fragrances from conventional candles can be a hidden cause of allergies.

Making non-toxic DIY candles allows you control over the ingredients you and your family are exposed to. Essential oils help you customize your candles, providing emotional and physical benefits when you burn them. Our Woolzies Essential Oil Candle-Making Collection contains 3 delicious-smelling - and all-natural - blends!

8. Polish wooden furniture

Use essential oils to spruce up dull wooden furniture for many years to come.

Combine the following ingredients in an 8 oz glass spray bottle:

• 2 tablespoons of jojoba oil
• ¼ cup white vinegar
• 5 drops of lemon essential oil
• 5 drops of orange essential oil
• 5 drops of cedarwood essential oil

Shake well before spritzing onto a microfiber cloth and wiping over wooden furniture to remove stains and give it a nice shimmer. You can use this solution every few months - but make sure you also dust the furniture regularly.

Wrapping up

We could talk about the amazing uses of essential oils all day.

If you'd like us to make a part 2 to this article, let us know!