Essential Oil Aromatherapy for Beginners

Essential oil aromatherapy offers a tried-and-true method for boosting health and wellness or creating a new regimen altogether. If you need any more proof, take a look back in time. Aromatherapy as a medicinal treatment has been around for a long, long time, about 6,000 to be exact. While the aromatherapy treatments they used back then aren’t like those currently being used, the people who lived back then used plants for their aromatic essence and beneficial therapeutic treatments.

How to Find Essential Oils

One of the first steps to starting an aromatherapy regimen is finding the right kind of oil for your needs. There’s a difference between essential oils and aroma oils: essential oil is a compound that’s been naturally derived from a plant. Aroma oil is a diluted form of essential oil, which usually contains at least 2% or more of actual essential oil from plants. You can find essential oils with all different types of aromas, from oils with floral scents to others with scents like sweet basil, lemongrass, or mint. Different essential oil scents all have different beneficial health and wellness properties. That’s why it’s so vital to perform in-depth research and explore various oils to find the right scent profile and combination that works best.

Curate a Collection

Start by doing a lot of that research that was just mentioned a few sentences ago. It’s crucial to remember that every oil doesn’t work for every person the same, so there might be some trial and error involved. Experts recommend starting with a basic collection that contains a wide range of beneficial properties that runs the gamut of health and wellness. The following ten varieties are a great place to start a novice collection:

• Tea tree
• Clove
• Eucalyptus
• Lavender
• Rosemary
• Chamomile
• Geranium
• Peppermint
• Lemon
• Thyme

This selection of essential oils offers a comprehensive range of properties that can energize, soothe, relax, or calm, or even boost wellness. It’s also crucial to consider quality. Try to avoid brands that say things like “scented oil,” “perfume oil,” or “fragrance oil” because they contain synthetic ingredients that offer zero value in terms of aromatherapy or any therapeutic benefits. They’re effectively rendered useless except for the fact that they have a pleasing scent. Instead, look for brands with the purity level listed right on the side, so you know exactly what you’re buying.

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment and Try New Things

Another great piece of advice when trying essential oils for the first time? Don’t just stick to just one or two scents, even if they are your favorite. While it’s not a good idea to just try different kinds without research, as some people could be sensitive or experience irritation if the oils are used the wrong way, it’s still vital to have some variation. After all, variety is the spice of life! Experiment with different aromas or scent combinations, or set up a plan to try two new scents each month. No matter what, don’t get stuck in a “scent rut.” That way, you’re prepared with options on days when aromatherapy is needed the most.

Benefits of Using Essential Oils

The best part of using essential oils as a beginner is taking advantage of the numerous health and wellness benefits that they provide. Whether you’re a frazzled working mom, suffer from anxiety, need more focus, or just want a mood boost, essential oils could be the solution. Essential oils aren’t just luxe air fresheners, either they have scientifically proven health benefits to take advantage of for all who use them. In fact, that’s one reason why it’s crucial to perform so much research on which oils are used they have real effects on adults and children, so be prepared and know what to expect when using essential oils. However, with the right combination, you can use essential oils alone or with other wellness regimens to really take advantage of the benefits they provide, including:

• Boosting overall mood and positivity
• Purifying the air and improving air quality
• Improving focus and concentration
• Reducing stress and anxiety
• Promoting feelings of relaxation and calm

For those with a big family, hectic life, or busy work schedule, essential oils can provide the perfect way to supplement an existing health and wellness plan to give some great benefits while giving your house a clean, fresh scent.

How to Use Essential Oils

For beginners, it’s important to know that there are several different methods for using essential oils, some of which you’ve probably heard of already. There are three methods for using essential oils: aromatherapy, on the skin (topically), or internally. However, the most popular methods are aromatherapy or using essential oils in creams, lotions, or with carrier oils. It’s not really recommended to ingest essential oils, though some people swear by it. Using an essential oil diffuser is an efficient and cost-effective method for aromatherapy and boosting health and wellness. They also offer a way to add some trendy home décor, too.

Aromatherapy

The most popular and common way to use essential oils is with aromatherapy or simply put, by using your nose. If you’ve ever walked into a spa and been delighted with the pleasing scents of lavender or jasmine, then you’ve experienced the joys of aromatherapy. The best way to use aromatherapy is with an essential oil diffuser. There are four main kinds of essential oil diffusers, including evaporative, heat, ultrasonic, and nebulizing.

1. Evaporative Diffusers

The evaporative style design of essential oil diffusers works by using a thick, absorbent pad or wick that’s been soaked in essential oil. Then, a fan blows air across the soaked pad, which causes the oil to evaporate in the air, leaving your home with a fresh scent. This style can even be taken a step further by using a pendant necklace or bracelet that doubles as an evaporative diffuser, something readily available online or from essential oil providers. You just have to add oils to a diffuser bracelet or necklace.

2. Heat Diffusers

Heat diffusers are not ideal for aromatherapy. If you’re considering using essential oils for the first time, don’t go for a heat diffuser. They require diluting essential oils with water, and then heat is used to turn the mixture into gas, dispersing it into the air. That may sound okay, but there’s just one problem: heat in general affects and alters the chemical composition of essential oils, rendering their beneficial properties useless. While this kind is perfect for scented oils or fragrance oils, it’s not the right kind of diffuser for essential oil aromatherapy.

3. Ultrasonic Diffusers

Ultrasonic diffusers are a great option. They work by creating a fine mist from water and essential oils, expressing and releasing the beneficial properties into the air. The best part of ultrasonic diffusers is that they double as humidifiers. This makes them the perfect choice for those in an icy climate or for use during winter. However, the one drawback to using ultrasonic diffusers is that they don’t disperse a very high oil concentration because the mixture must be diluted before use. Also, this kind of diffuser isn’t recommended for usage with any citrus oils since they can actually cause corrosion over extended periods.

4. Nebulizing Diffusers

To really dive headfirst into aromatherapy, consider purchasing a nebulizing diffuser. These are often considered the most powerful type of diffuser because they don’t require heat or any water. Instead, they use a fancy atomizer that uses the essential oil in its purest form to create microfine particles and then expresses them in the air throughout your home. They’re also very powerful because they attach right to the essential oil bottle to provide an uninterrupted flow of aromatherapy. However, be forewarned: this diffuser design uses up essential oil the quickest, so make sure that you have a supply of your favorite oils.

Popular Oils that are Perfect for Beginners

For those who already have established wellness, beauty, health and meditation routines, essential oils can be the cherry on top. Here are a few of the most popular oils and how they can benefit a pre-existing wellness regimen.

Lavender

Lavender is perhaps the most common essential oil and the most well-known, too. It’s famous for its ultra-calming capabilities, making it a popular choice for things like perfumes, soaps, shampoos, lotions, etc. The compounds of this beautiful purple plant promote relaxation, wellness, calm feelings and can even help provide sinus relief for those who suffer from allergies.

Peppermint

This essential oil is another popular one, and everybody knows what it smells like because most people have either had mint gum or tasted a candy cane. However, peppermint essential oil offers more benefits than a refreshing scent and pleasing aroma. It’s perfect for boosting productivity and mental clarity, making it easier to focus or work on demanding tasks. With most people working from home, this is more important than ever.

Thieves Essential Oil

This essential oil is actually a potent blend comprising cinnamon bark, eucalyptus, rosemary, lemon, and clove. It offers a rich and spicy scent that is both invigorates, refreshes, and also provides the comforting essence of cool crisp weather and fall. Try this essential oil blend for aromatherapy and as an addition to homemade, all-natural cleaning products for a pleasing scent rather than the harsh smell of chemical cleansers.

Try Essential Oil Aromatherapy

No matter who you are, there’s a good chance that you could benefit from some wellness, stress relief, or immune support. Luckily, essential oils offer the perfect way to get all of those benefits and more, too. Some of the most common ways to experience essential oils are through aromatherapy. For beginners, try using an essential oil diffuser to take advantage of all those great wellness and stress relief benefits that essential oils provide. No matter how you want to use them, take the time to do thorough research. Essential oils contain different properties and have real effects on health and wellness. However, with some research, a diffuser, and the right essential oils, it’s simple to enjoy aromatherapy and reap all the benefits it provides.