By now, you have figured out that I’m an essential oil junkie- I admit it. I love this stuff!
The amazing impact they have had on my family, and the families around me, have just left me in awe. It’s amazing what we can do when we use products that are healthy and all natural.
But, before you go out there buying just any oils- it’s important to understand a few do’s and don’t’sÂ
It’s also a bit overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. So I will share what I like to use and buy, a few tips on how to use the oils properly, and how to make sure you’ve got “the real deal.”
First thing’s first, what are essential oils?
Essential oils are liquid plant extract that can be used for therapeutic and medicinal purposes.
But be careful! I want you to know how important it is to use pure essential oils. If you are using oils that are not pure, they may contain harsh chemicals, may have been reproduced in a lab, or may even be extremely diluted (losing any benefits they have). It is important to use high-quality oils.
Cheap oils will give you cheap results. Plain and simple.Â
When you google essential oils, more than likely, the first thing that will pop up is the companies Young Living and Doterra. Both are very reputable brands and highly recommended by many. However, they are pretty expensive. You have to become a distributor to get the oils at a decent price, and that price is still a bit much for me. (You know me, I like simple and cheap- but still good quality)
So, that’s when I began researching and can now save you the trouble.
I found an awesome brand of 100% pure essential oils that is easily affordable:
I have been using these oils for over 2 years now and love them!
You can buy them through Amazon and, my favorite part, you can buy them in bundles- saving you money!
You can get 14 Plant Therapy Essential Oils for less than $5 each!! Not sure you want 14 to start out with? That’s fine. You can also buy a bundle of 6 for $5 each too. Paying $5 a bottle for PURE oils is honestly like a steal!
They have many different bundles to choose from. You can pick a mixture of their “synergies” blends (which is pretty much a mixture of different oils together that can be used for different purposes, like my “germ fighter” blend I recommended in my flu post). You can also buy single blends which is just one oil, like peppermint or lavender.
And the best part? I’ve tested them- they are in fact 100% pure!Â
How to Test to See if Your Oils are 100% Pure:
A simple way to test if your oils are pure or not is to place a single drop on a piece of paper. Wait for the oil to completely dry. If it dried and left no mark at all, no ring or stain, then it is pure! If it is completely dry and you can still see a mark where it was, then it has some sort of chemicals or fillers.
Now, How to Use Essential Oils:
There are three main ways to use essential oils: diffusion, topical application, and household
Diffusing oils is one of the best way to keep the oil’s medicinal properties and is very easy. I have oil diffusers in almost every room of my house. All you do is fill your diffuser with the recommended amount of water and 3-5 drops of oil.
It creates a light mist that fills the air and as you breathe it in, the oils are able to stimulate many receptors in your body. They can stimulate your immune system and help you fight illnesses, or they can stimulate your mind to help calm and relax you.
Those are just two ways that, when inhaled, the oils offer medicinal benefits.
It is also important to know that when you heat essential oils (I have seen blogs recommend placing drops of oil in wax burners- no.) they lose their medicinal qualities. When oils are heated to a certain temperature much of the healing essence is lost. Therefore, I do not recommend this at all. You will still get the nice smells of the oils, but it will not do anything other than that: smell good.
Don’t mistake “heating” for DIFFUSING!
Topical Application is the second most effective way to use essential oils. To do this you apply the oils topically (onto your body). Many oils are referred to as “hot oils” which mean they could irritate the skin if applied directly.
Therefore, it it best to use carrier oils with your essential oils to help the oils apply easier on the skin. Carrier oils (vegetable, nut, or seed oils) have therapeutic properties of their own and they do not lessen the effects of the essential oils. Actually, they help them and allow the oils to spread easier on the skin.
A few carrier oils are Olive, Jojoba, Avocado, Sweet Almond, and Fractionated Coconut oil (I use olive oil because it is what I already have on hand).
**If you are interested in learning more about applying oils topically, read my post here. It explains terms, how to’s, do’s and don’t’s, and much more (applying topically can be harmful if it is not done properly)**
Household Use is another favorite use of mine. This is simply using the oils to create household cleaners or products and tossing away those toxic chemicals you have hiding under your sink!
You can use oils to create:
- an All Natural, All Purpose Spray
- a cheap, DIY Febreze
- an amazing Fabric Softener
Oils can be used to create your own dusting spray, to clean your floors, to deodorize your carpets and furniture, to clean stubborn shower stains, and the list just goes on.
Simply put, any product you buy for your house can (more than likely) be created with a few simple ingredients and some essential oils.
Recommendations for Oil Diffusers:
Since diffusing oils is one of my favorite ways to use them, I have tried and tested many diffusers throughout these two years. Â I have had some with success and some not so much…
- OPOLAR Aroma Essential Oil Diffuser– Amazon here for $26 – A STEAL!
- This is currently my favorite diffuser. I just bought it about a month ago, and it’s been great! My favorite feature is that it is made to cover larger areas (most diffusers are best used in small rooms). It also has so many different water levels, so you can run it all day diffusing or just for a few hours. It has automatic shut off options for different time intervals or until the water runs out.
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GuruNanda Ultrasonic Diffuser Kit– Amazon here for $30- Another Steal!!
- I have loved the diffuser, but I do not think the oils that it comes with really are pure. They didn’t pass my test. So I just use them if I want to make my house smell good real quick. I use these diffusers in the kid’s rooms because they have a really neat LED light and you have the option to set the diffuser for intervals of every 15 minutes, which makes it last longer throughout the night.Â
- ZAQ Allay LiteMist Oil Diffuser – I do NOT recommend this diffuser at all.
- I bought, literally, 4 of these on amazon for $40 each when I first started out (it was still cheaper than buying diffusers through Young Living, so I thought I was doing good). But in that time, I have had to return two and currently have two sitting in my cabinet that don’t work. So I would NOT recommend these. I have two that are functioning, for now, but for how much longer… I’m not sure.
And there you go (: Those are my recommendations for 100% pure essential oils, which diffusers to try, and a snip-bit on the importance of using pure essential oils.
Do you have any favorite oil brands you would like to share? Have you found a diffuser that you absolutely love? Let me know! Do you still have any questions? Comment below (:
*This post contains affiliate links. By clicking on those links (bold & blue) you will be redirected to Amazon and I will receive a small commission on any purchase made.
I have been thinking about trying essential oils but didn’t know where to start and the few sites I checked were so expensive. I found this post to be very informative thank you 🙂
You are so welcome, Jennifer! I was in the exact same boat as you when I first decided I wanted to try essential oils; luckily, I found a few resources to help me on the way and I’m happy to share what I’ve learned with you! Let me know if you have any questions (:
I love Plant Therapy oils. I first found out about them when I got a massage, and those were the oils being used, and since they are such a great price compared to some of the other brands, that is an extra bonus!
The price was a real selling point for me too, Kim! And the fact that they are 100% pure and such high quality. I could promote them until I lost my voice (& then I’d go home and diffuse some of their oils to get it back! lol) I just love them, and I’m glad you do too!