A guide to essential oils

What are essential oils? Pure essential oils are concentrated oils extracted from trees, flowers and shrubs. You can use them in your massages, baths, body oil and as an air fragrance. It will heal your skin, relax the mind and stimulate your senses. Which oils can be used directly on the skin? There are many different types of essential oils which can be rather confusing, especially those “latin names” on the bottle. Let me show you how you can use them in your daily lives the easy way! Some of us probably have a blue bottle of Lavender or Tea tree oil tucked away somewhere in your cupboards. These 2 pure essential oils are the only ones which can be safely used directly on your skin. Others are a no no as this is concentrated stuff and needs to be diluted. Tea Tree is an antiseptic, anti- inflammatory and antibiotic so perfect for those insect bites, blisters, acne, warts, athlete and even dandruff. Just dab it on your bites when those nasty buzzing mosquito has taken a liking to you. Lavender has had a bad name for a while as it was often associated with the “older ladies” but these days with the revival of natural products, Lavender is seen as an all-purpose oil. It’s an antidepressant, antiseptic, antiviral, decongestant and has many other properties. It can speed up the healing of burns, clear acne & dandruff and minimizes scarring and stretch marks. It also smells lovely & conjures up an image of a violet Lavender farm in France. You can dab it on scar marks and over time, it will reduce the marks. If you cannot sleep, put a few drops onto a tissue or aroma diffuser to inhale and relax. All other pure essential oils have to be mixed with a carrier oil before use on the skin either for a massage, bath or body oil. Make sure you are buying 100% pure essential oils so it is totally natural and not mixed with artificial fragrances. How to make your own massage / body oil: If you would like to make your own massage blend, the best way is to use 3 pure essential oils which are a combination of oils from the top, middle and base notes. Top tend to be fruity notes like Mandarin, Grapefruit & Lemon. Middle are floral notes like Lavender, Roman Chamomile. Base tends to be heavier like Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine & Frankincense. Each essential oil has its own benefits but becomes more synergistic when combined. Perfect for your skin and your mind. Here are some massage / body oil mix for you to make: (Avoid if you are 1-3 months pregnant & do a patch test if you have sensitive skin.) First choose your Carrier oil to suit your skin type and condition – Measure 25ml of the carrier oil. Sweet Almond – for dry & sensitive skin Evening Primrose – for dry skin and PMT Jojoba – for all skin types Choose your essential oil mix and drop it straight into the carrier oil. Mix well. Then use as a massage oil, body oil or in the bath. Relaxation Ylang Ylang -3 drops Lavender – 3 drops Lemon -4 drops Revitalizing Grapefruit – 4 drops Orange – 3 drops Geranium – 3 drops Calming and Uplifting Frankincense – 3 drops Mandarin –4 drops Patchouli – 3 drops If you want your room to smell its best, then drop 5-10 drops of essential oils directly onto the water in the burner but for best effect, use an aroma stone or aroma diffuser so you will gain the most benefit. I hope you enjoy using the pure essential oils. Let it calm you or revitalize you and help you achieve a better life balance. Irene Li Aromatherapy