Essential Oil Basics
Essential oils are helpful for so many of life’s little emergencies. This guide will help you understand what they are and how to start using them! Click here to attend an intro class…
Why use Essential Oils?
If you have ever enjoyed the scent of a rose, you’ve experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils!
These naturally-occurring aromatic compounds are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, and flowers of plants. Essential oils provide plants with protection against environmental threats and play a key role in plant pollination. In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants, oils have long been used for food preparation, beauty treatments, and healthcare practices for humans. We can use essential oils for our mental, emotional, physical, and even spiritual wellbeing.
Why doTERRA?
If you’re wondering where to buy essential oils, you don’t have to look far. You can find essential oils at grocery stores, online, and even in your neighborhood market.
The problem is, many essential oils on the market are heavily contaminated or adulterated with synthetic chemicals. Not only that - they are frequently adulterated or contaminated with heavy metals or pesticides, even if they say they’re organic. Make sure that you don’t inadvertently buy something you think is natural- but turns out to be synthetic or impure!
The most important thing to look for in an essential oil is purity. Pure essential oils will allow you to reap the full benefits that nature has to offer, and you can be confident knowing that they are safe to use.
Essential oils are everywhere. But no other company has the rigorous testing and sourcing procedures that doTERRA has. In fact, our testing results for each individual bottle are released publicly! I love doTERRA’s transparency and ethical sourcing practices.
Lastly, when you begin using doTERRA oils with me I get the joy of supporting you whenever you have questions. This is another unique and special aspect of doTERRA and my oil community - we welcome and support you as you learn to implement natural solutions into your home.
How to use Essential Oils: The 3 ways
Aromatic
You can enjoy oils by inhaling them. We call this “aromatic” use of essential oils. This includes any application method that helps you experience the aroma of the oil. You can use essential oils aromatically by:
Diffusing in an essential oil diffuser
Applying a drop to your hands and inhaling
Wearing as a personal fragrance
Topical
You can apply doTERRA oils to your skin. “Topical” application of essential oils allows the oil to absorb into the skin. Some ways to use essential oils on your skin are:
Massage
Apply to targeted areas and rub in
Add to lotions or moisturizers
Internal
Ingesting, or “internal” use of essential oils allows the oil to be transported throughout your body. I recommend using only doTERRA oils for internal use. If the side of the bottle reads “Supplement Facts”, then you can use your oil internally through one of these methods:
Add to a glass of water
Take in a veggie capsule
Put a drop under your tongue
Essential Oil Safety Guidelines
Avoid applying oils to sensitive areas like the nose, ears, eyes, or broken skin. Avoid using “hot oils” on the face.*
Always read labels and package instructions before using an essential oil for the first time.
Use dilution to minimize skin sensitivity. “Dilute” or mix with a carrier oil for children, the elderly, or sensitive skin. See below for a super-simple dilution guide!
Be aware of oils with sun sensitivity warnings. Citrus oils react to light (with the exception of Green Mandarin essential oil), so don’t use Citrus oils on your skin and go into sunlight for 12+ hours.
Practice safe storage—keep oils out of reach of children.
Always supervise young children when applying essential oils.
If you have specific health concerns or take medication, talk to a healthcare professional before trying essential oils.
*Hot oils or strong oils include Cassia oil, Cinnamon Bark oil, Clove oil, Oregano oil, Thyme oil, and a few others.
What is Dilution?
Dilution is when you combine an essential oil with a “carrier oil” to spread small amounts of the oil more evenly, and reduce risk of skin irritation. I suggest diluting when using oils with children and the elderly. Both small children and elderly people - or those with sensitive skin- can vastly benefit from using essential oils even in small quantities!
You can dilute essential oils with carrier oils like Fractionated coconut oil (which stays liquid all the time), jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, or rosehip oil, among others. In doTERRA we usually use fractionated coconut oil because it’s non-greasy and neutral but if you have super dry skin, I would suggest exploring jojoba oil or even rosehip oil to hydrate your skin while using your essential oils.
Using oils with Children
Children have more delicate and sensitive skin than adults, so it is always necessary to dilute oils before applying them topically on your kids. We also know that our skin becomes thinner and more dry as we age - so it’s important to dilute and the carrier oil can help keep the skin hydrated.
This dosage chart includes recommendations for effective usage- keep in mind that the dosages for children will always be much less than that of an adult because they have smaller, more sensitive and developing bodies and require far less oil to be effective.