The Newbie's Guide to Essential Oils

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Essential Oils

 

Are you thinking about trying essential oils but don't know where to start? If so, you've come to the right place!

 

You may think that essential oils are just for certain people. Maybe you think you need to be a fan of incense and wind chimes to use them, but never fear, because they really are for everyone. They are easy to use, chock full of benefits, and smell incredible. Plus, there is real science behind these healing oils.

 

We know getting started with essential oils can be overwhelming, so we will cover the basics in this foolproof article. As you learn more, we have no doubt that these incredible oils will open your mind to a whole new world.

 

What are Essential Oils?

 

You may be aware that essential oils smell good, but what are they and where do they come from?

 

Essential oils have a history of use by ancient tribes and civilizations for their medicinal properties — think Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans — dating back thousands of years. And as we now know, the ancients had the right idea!

 

Essential oils are concentrated liquid plant extracts that are steam-distilled or cold-pressed from various parts of the plant including the flowers, leaves, grasses, fruits, roots, resin, and bark.

 

If you've ever crushed and smelled the aroma from common herbs like peppermint, thyme and basil — you've already experienced essential oils!

 

Contrary to their name, essential oils are non-greasy liquids that are volatile — meaning they evaporate easily. They are potent, and only a few drops are required to exert their effect on mind and body. A little goes a long way in the case of essential oils — so a bottle will last you a while, making it an economical choice!

 

Essential Oil Benefits

 

The great thing about essential oils is that they're super versatile. They offer a gentle and effective way to maintain and improve general health and can even be used to replace conventional body products.

 

Some of the popular benefits of essential oils:

 

● Reducing stress, anxiety and depression

● Soothing headaches

● Improving sleep

● Reducing inflammation

● Providing antimicrobial properties

● Improving focus and alertness

● Boosting immunity

● Soothing pain and inflammation

● Soothing digestive issues

● Relieving respiratory problems

● Disinfecting cuts and wounds

● Reducing nausea

● Soothing skin problems - acne, eczema, rashes, insect bites

● Repelling insects

● Making natural perfume

● Making natural home cleaning products

● Disinfecting and freshening the air

● Freshening laundry

 

How Essential Oils Work

 

Essential oils can influence our physical, mental and emotional health. But how exactly do they work?

 

One of the ways essential oils work is by binding to receptor sites in the nose when we inhale their aroma molecules. This sends a message to the limbic system of the brain that controls emotions, behavior and memory. In this way, essential oils can induce a sense of calm, relaxation, alertness, energy, focus, joy and more — depending on the properties of the oil.

 

Used topically, essential oils are absorbed into the skin and bloodstream where various plant compounds may reduce inflammation, kill microbes and provide pain relief.

 

How to Use Essential Oils

 

Let's explore some of the popular uses for essential oils and how you can incorporate them into your everyday life.

 

Essential oils are most commonly inhaled, diffused and applied topically for massage and personal care. They are also used to purify the air, clean and disinfect the home and freshen laundry.

 

Adding them to an essential oil diffuser is the best way to inhale the oils and enjoy their benefits. As a bonus, your home will smell great and the air will be purified. To diffuse your essential oils, add 3-5 drops per 100ml to an oil diffuser.

 

If you don’t have a diffuser, put a few drops into the palm of your hands or a tissue and breathe deeply to inhale the aroma.

 

Using essential oils topically is a great way to enjoy their benefits. However, many people make the mistake of applying neat essential oils to the skin when they should be diluted before topical use as they are concentrated. Just because they're natural compounds doesn't mean there aren't risks if used incorrectly.

 

For topical use, add 4-6 drops of essential oil to 10-20ml (1-2 Tbsp) of carrier oil such as grapeseed, apricot, avocado or jojoba oil. Be careful of sensitive areas the skin around the eyes, ears and broken skin. Exercise care when using essential oils with children and babies as their skin is more sensitive. Essential oils must be even more diluted when applied to children’s skin.

 

Other ways to use essential oils include:

 

● Adding 5-10 drops of essential oils to a warm bath.

● Adding a few drops of your essential oil of choice to body lotion or face cream and gently applying to the skin.

● Apply essential oils topically using our convenient Woolzies Essential Oil Roll-ons.

● Essential oils can naturally freshen clothes. Pair 2-5 drops of your desired essential oil with our Woolzies dryer balls for great-smelling clothes.

● Use essential oils to make your own DIY natural bath salts, body scrubs, lip balms and beard oils.

● Make non-toxic home cleaning solutions with antimicrobial essential oils.

 

Quality Is Important

 

Not all essential oils are created equal, so it's important to buy oils from a reputable brand. This ensures the oils are extracted in the right way and tested to ensure the highest therapeutic standard.

 

You can rest assured that Woolzies essential oils are 100% pure, natural and therapeutic grade.

 

The Next Step

 

Now you know a little more about essential oils and their uses, you're ready to give them a try!

 

To make it easier, we offer a set of essential oils just for beginners like you. Woolzies Starter Collection contains three pure essential oils of lavender, lemon and orange. These oils have a whole host of benefits and can be inhaled, diffused, applied topically and used for cleaning.

 

For more information on essential oils and their uses, you can visit the product pages at woolzies.com.

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