​Lemon oil is such and all-around, adaptable and handy oil to have in your essential oil kit and can be used in many different ways. It has many different beneficial properties and it is one of the most popular oils to be purchased for this reason. We've written a comprehensive article to include: What is lemon essential oil, 20 interesting facts, the main constituents, how its made and so much more. We hope you enjoy reading it to the end. Please leave us a comment below on how you use lemon essential oil.

​What Is Lemon Essential Oil?

​Essential oils are classed as any volatile oil made from plants, trees, roots, stems and flowers that possesses the fragrance and other characteristic ​properties.

Lemon essential oil is made from the rind of the lemon and not the internal juice of the fruit, contrary to what most people think. 

As you may have experienced adding some lemon rind when cooking, it's the zesty rind that adds most of the flavor to the dish rather then the juice, this is where the concentrated oil is taken from the fruit and made into an essential oil.

​20 Interesting Facts About Lemon Essential Oil

​Lemon Essential Oil Main Constituents

• ​Limonene
  
• β-pinene
  
• γ-terpinene
  

​How Is Lemon Essential Oil Made?

Nowadays with the help of plant machinery and modern technology lemon oil can be made much quicker and more efficiently.

It starts with lemons grown to the very best standards, in the most optimal conditions, located in the best region in the world to be cultivated.

​Lemon Essential Oil Aromatic Description

• ​Clean
  
• Bright
  
• Fresh
• Citrus
  
• Uplifting
  

​How Can Lemon Essential Oil Be Used?

In the world of aromatherapy ​all essential oils are not created equal! Most essential oil brands contain harsh chemical fillers and nasty additives which have no beneficial properties whatsoever and may even cause more harm than good.

You can even find products masking themselves as essential oils in some of the cheapest bargain basement thrift shops in most shopping areas. (OMG!!!!)

Some brands of oils may not be taken internally due to there quality.

You really have to be very selective about which essential oils you are going to choose to use for yourself and your family. Cheaper doesn't mean better, please remember this!

There are certain items for sale that you can look for a bargain, but when it comes to natural safe health purchases you should only buy the very best for your family.

dōTERRA source only the very best raw materials from the best growing locations around the world, grown the correct way and made to 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade standards.

These oils are unadulterated and the most pure and potent essential oils on the market today.

If you are going to choose an essential oil only choose the best! I choose dōTERRA and highly recommend them, here are a few ways in which Lemon Oil can be used.

When we mention internal use we refer to only the dōTERRA brand and research should be undertaken by the reader of this article to ensure safe and proper use of essential oils for your own health purposes.

There are 3 ways dōTERRA lemon oil can be used.

• Aromatically
  
• Topically
  
• Internally

​Aromatic Use

​Diffusing essential oils is the most popular ways of experiencing essential oils aromatically.

You can use a home diffuser filled with water and try adding 4-6 drops of Lemon essential oil and enjoy the uplifting and fresh citrus aroma as it fills your room.

Another popular way to experience aromatic essential oil use is to place a drop or 2 onto the palms of your hands and inhale, you can get the exact same benefits as you would from a diffuser, on the go, right in your hands, anywhere you please. 

Lemon is a great oil for cleaning with it leaves a lovely fresh and zesty aroma long after its use. It is great to make up spray bottles of water and adding 5-10 drops of oils to clean surfaces, furniture, curtains, counter tops, bathrooms the ways are endless on how you can use this very versatile essential oil.

For a fresh aroma and to clean those smelly gym clothes and gym bags watch the video below.

​Topical Use

​Want to lighten your hair naturally while enjoying the sun at the beach? Looking for a great natural hair blend, for that cool summer beachy wave look? Check out this awesome recipe for the summer.

​To make your very own DIY Sea Salt Beach spray you'll need:

• A  clean spray bottle
  
• 1 tbl spoon of all natural Sea Salt
  
• 1 cup of warm water
  
• 2 teaspoons of​ dōTERRA Fractionated Coconut oil
  
• 1 teaspoon of Lemon juice
  
• 2 Lemon essential oil
  

To lighten your hair just add 15 drops of lemon essential oil to the mix, for extra holding power add 1 tablespoon of dōTERRA salon shampoo.

Have fun making this cool summer hair beach spray and be sure to follow the instruction of the video below.

​Internal Use

Some dōTERRA ​essential oils can be taken internally as they one of the most purest essential oil brands ever made.

The standard in which the company produce, test and regulate their essential oils are a cut above most companies out there today.​​​

Some other branded essential oils are not supposed to be taken internally so it is vitally important to do your own research first before taking any other branded oils. We only recommend dōTERRA as a brand. These oils are 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade.

​Taking lemon oil internally is one of the greatest ways of experiencing its amazing benefits.

Lemon is naturally cleansing and super refreshing when added to a glass of water, it gives water a lovely lemon flavour which makes it easier to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Remember!!! Only add essential oils to a glass or glass bottle! Never use plastic glasses or plastic water bottles as the lemon oil is so pure and potent it can erode the plastic and it would make it unsafe to drink.

Taking lemon oil internally can be a part of your weight management and cleansing plan on a daily basis, it can be great for eliminating toxins naturally from the body.

Check out the explainer video below.

​Drinking water on a daily basis is so important for the body!! Our body's need water to survive, as we are mostly made of water.

Some benefits of drinking water include:

• flushing out toxins from the bladder
• helping organs and tissues
• regulating body temperature
• ​controlling blood pressure
• aiding digestion
  
• ​increased immune support
  

Try adding 2 drops of Lemon essential oil to your glass of water up to 5 times a day for increased digestive and immune support.

​Cooking with essential oils is fast becoming very popular nowadays for the concentrated flavour they provide with very little effort and there ease of use.

Everybody knows that the best flavour from a lemon comes from the rind and it is widely used when cooking to add a zesty kick to dishes.

Try adding a drop or two to extra virgin olive oil and use a the perfect zesty salad dressing replacing sugar laden store bought dressings.

​Lemon Essential Oil Usage Tips

In conclusion  here's a little list to sum up some usage tips:

• Less is more! You only need a drop or two max at any given time
• Don't go out in the sunshine for at least 12 hours if you have used lemon oil or (any of the other citrus oils for that matter) topically on your skin as these oils are Photosensitive and may cause harm to your skin and cause some irritation problems
• ​If taking the oil internally please only use a couple drops max at any one time as less is always more with these very potent and pure oils  
  
• Only pick a good reputable supplier and always buy Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils. As we've mentioned plenty of times before, we only recommend using dōTERRA essential oils
  
• Always patch test on skin before using it topically and dilute if necessary with a high quality carrier oil, there's no point in using a cheap and toxic carrier oil Right? it would defeat the purpose of using the best quality oil on the market like dōTERRA supply. The company also make a fractionated coconut carrier oil for topical usage and it's wonderful!

​Top 30 Lemon Essential Oil Benefits And Uses

Get 25% Discount On Lemon Essential Oil

​Lemon Essential Oil Caution

​As with all dōTERRA essential oils caution should be taken while using them as they are made 100% pure and unadulterated (we only write about dōTERRA and can't vouch for other essential oils that may not be as pure).

​If you are using the oils topically always test a little bit on your skin first by performing a skin patch test to check for sensitivity. 

If it is a case that it may be a little bit strong for your skin you can always dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil, we would recommend fractionated coconut oil as one of the best carrier oils to use. As a rule of thumb a safe bet is to use a carrier oil from the beginning. 

There is a caution that should always be taken with citrus essential oils such as lemon oil, wild orange, lime, tangerine, grapefruit, red mandarin, Kumquat, Bergamot and certain oil blends such as Citrus Bliss, Air, Aromatouch, Cheer, Elevation, Forgive, InTune, Motivate, Onguard, Purify, Slim and Sassy, Sunny Citrus and Zendocrine etc.

These citrus oils and blends may cause Phototoxic or Photosensitive reactions and care should be taken if you are venturing out into the sun.

NB!!!! It is very important not to go out in the sun for at least 12 hours after applying a citrus oil or blended Photosensitive essential oil as the UV rays of the sun can cause damage to the skin cells ranging from a dark pigmented skin color to red or irritated skin. 

If you know you'll be exposed to the sun don't use these essential oils on your skin until the evening time and once again at least 12 hours before thinking of venturing out into the sunshine to guarantee there safe usage.

It's safe to take certain citrus oils internally and you should not be affected by this Photosensitive reaction​, it only counts for topical use of these oils.

​Whether you're using essential oils topically or internally one rule of thumb always prevails! Less is more!!!

dōTERRA essential are 100% pure without fillers or other additives, it takes approximately 50 lemons to create a 15mL bottle of oil, so only a drop or two at most is needed to feel their benefits working.

It is always recommended to read the labels on each bottle of oil for exact instructions and consult your medical practitioner before changing any health regime or adding anything new to it. The official dōTERRA company website should always be read for the best way to use these incredible gifts of the earth.

Learn How dōTERRA Source Lemon Essential Oil

​Check out this awesome little video on how dōTERRA source their lemon oil from Sicily Italy, learn all about the farmers who cultivate the amazing raw product to achieve 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade lemon essential oil.

​How I Personally Use Lemon Essential Oil

​I have to say I just love the smell of lemon!!!! It's so fresh and uplifting. It's no wonder why its zesty fragrance is used in so many home products today.

It is in everything from dish washing soap to laundry detergent, shower gel to bathroom and kitchen cleaners. It leaves behind a fresh odor that just smells clean and uplifts your mood.

I love to diffuse only 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) lemon essential oil from dōTERRA of course! In my home to purify the air, create a positive mood and to get rid of any unwanted odors in the kitchen after cooking strong smelling foods.

I love to add a couple drops of lemon oil to my water on a daily basis, I aim to drink 2-3 liters of water every single day and it helps me drink more water, as a result of this I feel it improves my digestion.​

I have used it in the past to clean counter tops and have added it to a natural home made cleaner solution to clean bathrooms and shower units to get the fresh clean smell.

It's one of my favorite oils to give as a sample to someone new who have not been introduced to essential oils yet as it is such an enriching oil that provokes such an amazing response form anyone who is experiencing it for the first time.

​Stay Healthy Folks

​

​

​Lavender Oil has been highly regarded for thousands of years for it's amazingly calming, peaceful and unforgettable floral aroma along with it's many therapeutic benefits, and it's use has been well documented throughout history. Today Lavender Oil is still in use now more than ever, as it is such a versatile essential oil. Learn about Lavender Oil's Uses and Benefits.

​What Is Lavender Oil?

​Lavender essential oil is made from the Lavender plant or also know by it's scientific name Lavandula Angustifolia which is a Perennial plant that is part of the Lamiaceae family or (mint family) of plant species.

Even if you are new to essential oils we​'re sure you have heard of the amazing calming and relaxing beneficial properties of Lavender.

It has been used in so many cosmetic products and household products including soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, facial creams, moisturisers, and even fabric softner's, washing detergents and washing up liquid to name just a few. 

Lavender essential oil is a must have oil you should always have to hand in your natural therapeutic and wellness arsenal. Essential oils date back right through history and for very good reason.

​​Here are a few interesting facts about Lavender oil.

18 ​Interesting Lavender Plant And Lavender Oil Facts

​Lavender Oil Main Constituents

• ​Linalool
• Linalyl Acetate
• Ocimene
  

​How Is Lavender Oil Made?

​dōTERRA source their Lavender Essential Oil in Bulgaria. We are going to begin with the harvesting process and work all the way through from distillation, testing right through to the end product.

​The leaves and purple petals of this amazing aromatic plant are used to make Lavender Essential Oil which is an ingredient in many health and beauty products today.

The Lavender plant is a perennial plant which begins flowering in it's second year.

​Farmers will pick the perfect time during the peak of the lavender flowers first bloom. The farmers will look at the quantity and colour of the flowers produced to determine the perfect time to begin harvesting the plant.

It is said that the colour of the flowers should be purple - blue on the verge of turning greyish - brown.

​Lavender producers have specially designed harvesters attached to tractor trailers to cut the lavender stems and flowers from the plant.

​The front of the lavender harvester is V shaped, almost like an open scissors and runs along the row of the lavender plants.

​There is a rubber conveyor belt on the inside edge of the harvester that pulls and lifts the stems and flowers of the plant straight upwards and cuts the stems at the base of the plant, leaving the root system still in the ground.

​The flowers and stems that are cut to approx 40cm in length then travel up a conveyor belt to the trailer where a worker usually stands to place them into bunches and clear the converyor belt of any blockages. 

​When the trailers are full to capacity with lavender they are then transported to the distillation facility for processing.

The flowers and stems of the plant are loaded into the distillation stills which are very similar to alcoholic spirit stills.The stems and flowers are compacted very tightly to help prevent the formation of air pockets. The less air in the still means the greater the oil yield.

The Lavender is then distilled by way of steam distillation where high temperature steam is pushed into the bottom of the stills.

The steam travels up through the still heating up the lavender and bursts the oil sacks attached to the petals of the lavender flowers to a lessor extend the leaves and stems. ​

The hot steam which now carries the lavender oil is transported to a different chamber where it cools, condenses and changes back into water and is stored in large barrels or holding tanks. 

When the liquid eventually settles the oil and water separate naturally. Then the water is pumped out of the barrels or holding tanks and what remains is the pure lavender essential oil.

​dōTERRA have state of the art labs which then filter and test the essential oil to Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) an extremely pure and potent essential oil is the end product we have all grown to know and love to use.

​The end product is an amzingly soothing, calming and relaxing bottle of dōTERRA Lavender Essential Oil with many versatile uses and therapeutic benefits.

​Lavender Aromatic Description

• Light
  
• Powdery
  
• Floral
  

​How Can Lavender Oil Be Used?

​There are 3 main ways Lavender Oil can be used.

• Aromatically
  
• Topically
  
• Internally
  

​When we refer to internal use of Lavender essential oil, we are referring to a particular brand called dōTERRA which we highly recommend using. Some other brands may or may not be made to a 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) and may not be meant for ingestion at all. Care must be taken as to what oils may be taken internally and we urge you to do some research into quality and purity of the essential oil that you may choose to use

​Check out this short video explaining the uses and benefits of Lavender Oil 

​Aromatic Use

​The most popular way to use this incredibly floral and aromatic oil is to place 3 to 4 drops in an aromatic diffuser to calm and soothe the mind and body. 

​To directly inhale you can place a drop or two into the plams of your hands rubbing them together and cupping them around your nose and mouth (taking care not to get any essential oil in your eyes) and taking a few deep breaths to promote feelings of relaxation and reduced stress.

Another way would be to place a drop or two of lavender oil on your bed sheets or pillows to relax the mind and body and promote a restful nights sleep.

​Topical Use

​One topical method of using lavender essential oil wold be to place a drop or two into the bath tub to help soak away stress.

Also before bedtime lavender oil can be placed on the bottom of your feet as part of a nightly routine to promote a relaxing night's sleep as it is renowned for it's calming and relaxing properties.

Lavender oil can be added along with Epsom salts to warm water to make a soothing foot soak and can help calm sore and tired feet.

Lavender can be added to shampoos or home made hair conditioners.

It can also be used topically to help reduce the appearance of skin imperfections.

If feeling stressed or tense Lavender oil can be placed on the back of your neck and to your temples, for a relaxing aroma.

A note of caution! Always use a carrier oil to see how your skin reacts to avoid skin sensitivity when applying essential oils directly on your skin.

​Make A Relaxing Foot Soak With Lavender Oil

Another fantastic way to use lavender oil would be to make your very own after sun spray to maintain healthy looking skin. Exactly what the family needs after a day out soaking up the sun by the beach or pool.

Here's the recipe:

​Get a glass spray bottle (do not use a plastic bottle) essential oils are so potent, pure and strong that if you were to use a plastic bottle or container the essential oil may erode the plastic inside the bottle and leach into your spray mixture and contaminate it with harmful plastic chemicals.

Place 20 drops of Lavender, 10 drops of Peppermint and 15 drops of Frankincense oil along with Fractionated Coconut Oil into your glass spray bottle to make a cooling and soothing after sun spray to refresh the skin.

​Make A Refreshing After Sun Spray With Lavender

Internal Use

​When first starting out using essential oils you may not be used to taking them internally and it may not be a method you prefer, which is totally fine. It is better to find a way you are most comfortable using essential oils.

A lot of brands are not of the same quality as dōTERRA essential oils and may not even be ingested so please be careful in what brand of oils you decide to use especially if thinking of using essential oils internally.

One way to take Lavender oil internally would be to place a drop or two into an empty veggie capsule and take with a glass of water at bedtime to promote a relaxing night's sleep.

Another way would be to add one drop of Lavender oil to 4 fl. oz. of liquid to help ease feelings of tension.

Lavender oil can also be used in cooking and has become a very trendy ingredient in recent times. There are many recipes out there that include lavender oil.

​If you are going to use fresh Lavender flowers as a cooking ingredient make sure you find and purchase culinary lavender as some plants can be sprayed with harmful chemicals. 

If you are going to make it easier on yourself and use a lavender essential oil in your cooking care must also be taken when choosing a brand.

Most lavender oils on the market may not be fit for human internal consumption and are filled with harsh chemicals that are only meant to be used as a fragrance and have no therapeutic benefits whatsoever.

doterra essential oils are safe for internal consumption as they are 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils, free from chemical fillers and harmful synthetic ingredients.

There are so many recipes online that use lavender that include everything from drinks recipes like tea's, lemonade drinks and cocktails.

Food recipes like potatoes, salads, meat grilling dishes, omelets, even jams.

There are also a lot of desert recipes using Lavender oil like cookies, cakes, chocolate fudge, sorbet's, and ice creams.

One last thing to remember is if you are choosing to use Lavender essential oil as a cooking ingredient Less Is More!!!!

Essential oils are highly concentrated and highly potent, therefore only a drop may be necessary to add to a dish or a drink. A higher amount may overpower other ingredients and ruin your creation, so please be careful and start small and add as necessary.

​Experimenting is half the fun, so put on that apron, roll up your sleeves, get stuck in and create a new culinary masterpiece.

​Lavender Recipe For Lavender Ice Cream Cake

​We thought we should add a nice recipe to get your creative juices flowing and to maybe inspire you to try Lavender as an ingredient with this very tasty treat.

Ingredients:

​For the exact recipe and how to make this very tasty looking ice cream cake check out the Food Networks link and follow the step by step instructions.

​Lavender Oil Usage Tips

1. ​Always use a carrier oil when using essential oils to avoid skin sensitivity and limit irritation. A great example of a good carrier oil would be a fractionated coconut oil which remains fluid when cold.
2. If you are under a doctor's care, pregnant or nursing  always consult with a professional medical physician.
3. Less is always more with any essential oil use!!! Start small, see how you personally react with small amounts and work up to what you think your body needs. There is a lot of advice out there, but remember everyone is different which leads to the next tip.
4. Find a method of essential oil use that suits your personal needs and a way you are most comfortable with do not be pressurized by anyone else's methods.
   
5. Avoid contact with your eyes, inner ears and other sensitive areas.
   

​If you are a total beginner and would like to know how and where to start your essential oil journey, read our beginners guide. Start here.

​Top 25 Lavender Oil Benefits And Uses

Get 25% Discount On Lavender Oil

​Lavender Essential Oil Caution

​As with any essential oil caution should be taken to find out how your body will react to it's use.

There is a possibility of sensitivity with any essential oil so we recommend to always use a carrier oil to dilute the essential oil and patch test you skin. 

A great example of a carrier oil would be fractionated coconut oil as we mentioned earlier, but there are many to choose from.

Lavender Oil may or may not be suited to you and your personal circumstances. Always seek professional medical advice if you are unsure if you can use essential oils.

Always avoid sensitive areas such as eyes, inner ears etc etc.

Consult your physician if you are pregnant or nursing.

​Learn How dōTERRA Source Lavender Essential Oil

​In June 2016 doterra opened up their very first distillery in Bulgaria and they called it Esseterre. Bulgaria is one of the foremost producing countries of essential oils, particularly for Lavender and Melissa.

​The Esseterre distillery is closely situated to a town called Varna, which is the third largest city in Bulgaria and is located very close to the Black Sea. It boasts a perfect climate and rich sandy soil which is ideal for growing a wide assortment of aromatic plants.

The distillery at Esseterre is one of the largest and most technologically advanced in the country.

Bulgarian farmers have a rich history in growing and harvesting aromatic plants going back a couple hundred years.

Local farmers are thought how to grow the plants to doterra's high specifications and are often given seedlings to plant these crops and even given the use of farm harvesting machinery to help them to cultivate these plants directly for doterra's use. 

doterra have an initiative in place called co-impact sourcing, whereby they deal directly with local harvesters and farmers to cut out the middlemen, paying a fairer price for their hard work and helping local communities and local charitable organisations.

In the future doterra hope to eventually distill other types of essential oil at this distillery in Bulgaria such as: Juniper Berry, Coriander Seed, Fennel Seed, and Blue Chamomile to name but a few.

​Check out this video about the new distillery in Bulgaria and learn how doterra work with the local farmers to produce the very best quality of essential oil on the market today.

​Watch an interview by Emily Wright and Esseterre distillery General Manager Plamen Nikolov about the opening of the facility back in June 2016.

​How I Personally Use Lavender Oil

​Hi this is Des here,

​I have a very deep affinity to Lavender Essential Oil as it is the very first essential oils that I have tried. It is still today one of my favourite essential oils that I use on a regular basis.

​To start off I have to give a big shout out and to say a big thank you to my sister for introducing me to essential oils and making me try them.

I will admit I was a huge skeptic about essential oils in the beginning and it was just due to my lack of knowledge and lack of experience with them. I thought like many people they were just for massage purposes.

For many years I had trouble sleeping due to my job, working long irregular hours and traveling constantly to different countries, the jet lag and frequent changing of time zones played havoc with my sleeping pattern and overall health. 

​Normally I would just survive on 4 -5 hours of sleep a night, and it was something I had just gotten used to. 

I have tried many remedies from the pharmacy some natural and even tried prescription medication to help improve my sleep, nothing would really work long term for me until I tried essential oils.

​My sister has been a wellness advocate for essential oils for some time and had suggested to me on a number of occasions to try essential oil to help me with my sleep issues and I foolishly refused her suggestion many times before I gave in and tried them.

In my ignorance I thought I've tried everything to try help me sleep better, how could essential oils possibly help me?

I was so wrong!!!! I gave in one time and I told her ok I would give them a go to see if they could help me.

​My sister gave me her essential oil diffuser with some lavender essential oil to try. That night I followed her instructions (which were so simple) fill the diffuser with water and add 4 drops of lavender oil.

I turned on the diffuser in my bedroom about 30mins before I went to bed that night. The room filled with a lovely calming lavender scent, which I found very relaxing.

Normally I wake up at night after 4 - 5 hours of sleeping and usually lay awake and find it very difficult to try get back to sleep, but that night I tried the diffuser and lavender oil I slept straight for seven and a half hours! This was like a personal miracle for me!

I was like WOW this stuff is amazing! I woke up well rested and felt refreshed. I thought to myself this could just be a one off thing, so I used the diffuser for a second and third night just to make sure it was the essential oil that was the cause of this amazing change, and it was!!! 

​From that moment I thought to myself I must investigate these oils a little further and see what other ways I could possibly use them. 

My first purchase of essential oils was a Touch kit as I still wanted to see if other essential oils were right for me. ​The Touch Kit came with 9 Essential Oils in roller bottles premixed with fractionated coconut oil for easy topical application.

When I started experimenting and using the other types of oils that came in the Touch Kit such as Peppermint, DigestZen, Frankincense, OnGuard and Lavender (of course) I was completely hooked!  

Today I use essential oils every single day and I still use Lavender essential oil to help me sleep better and I can't recommend them enough, hence why I started this blog you are reading now.

​Here are some ways I like to use Lavender Essential Oil:

• As I mentioned above I love to diffuse Lavender Oil at bedtime to help me relax and calm down after a long day. It helps me to have an unbroken and restful night's sleep, which I am so thankful for.
  
• I am usually on the go most of the time and get very little time to relax and take a time out. So the odd occasion I get a moment to myself I like to place a couple of drops of lavender oil along with some Epsom salts into a bath after a workout or long run to help soothe aching muscles.
  
• ​I have always suffered with acne for as long as I can remember, I use Melaluca Essential oil to help me with this and if I have a particularly bad breakout I find Lavender oil also helps reduce the appearance of my skin blemishes.  
  
• I have in the past used Lavender oil to help cool minor burns and I find it works a treat.
  
• If I am feeling a little stressed out I always reach for my Lavender roller bottle, I find it works great to help ease feelings of tension.
  
• I also like to use my Lavender roller ball as an after shaving cooling oil. I can get razor burn sometimes especially if I am shaving every morning during my work week. I like to apply the oil directly to my neck area where I shave and it helps reduce skin irritations and blemishes from appearing.
  

​

​We hope you have liked our article on Lavender Essential Oil and we hope we have answered some of your questions about the many Lavender Oil uses and benefits.

Please leave us a comment on how you like to use Lavender Oil in the comment section below, we are always looking for other success stories and other ways to use this amazing essential oil.

Stay Healthy Folks

​

​Peppermint Oil Benefits have been widely known throughout history and the oil has been in use for thousands of years. We are going to try and answer a few questions that you have asked about Peppermint Essential Oil in this article like : What are Peppermint Oil Uses? What are Peppermint Oil Benefits? How Peppermint Essential Oil is made? and Is Peppermint Oil safe on skin?

Firstly we would like to start off with a couple of very interesting facts about this amazing essential oil.

10 ​Interesting Peppermint Essential Oil Facts

​The Peppermint leaf or plant is very well known today and has many uses. You may be used to placing it in your drinking water as a refreshing beverage or adding it to a dish while cooking.

I'm also very sure that we have all heard of a Mojito cocktail which has become very fashionable over the last number of years. I think it is safe to say we have all heard of this cool, minty plant.

How Is Peppermint Oil Made?

​Peppermint essential oil is made by way of steam distillation by using the leaves and stems of the Mentha Piperita plant.

We will start with the process from the very beginning of how the Peppermint plant is harvested all the way to production.

​The first step in the process is to harvest the Peppermint plant at the right time. Peppermint harvesters with literally decades of experience will determine the exact time to cut the crop when conditions are optimum to produce the best possible peppermint oil. 

The harvesters will use a farming machine called a Windrower to cut the Peppermint plant from the ground. A windrower is the same type of harvesting machine used to cut hay from fields.

​The second step in the processing of the plant will be to let the plants leaves and stems to dry out in the field for about 3 to 5 days depending on the outside temperature.

This is very similar to harvesting hay before bailing, except for the Peppermint plant will not be bailed for storage, it will be processed straight away when it has dried sufficiently.

​The third step in the process would be to use a farming machine called a forage harvester (also known as a chopper, forager or silage harvester) it is used to chop the dried out Peppermint plants leaves and stems into small pieces for processing.

​The forage harvester will then blow the chopped up pieces of plants into specially designed distillation containers. The containers are lined with exposed perforated tubes to allow steam to enter beneath the loaded stems and leaves. These containers will then be sealed up and transported back to the distillation factory for processing when full.

​The distillation container is then hooked up to 2 pipes. The first pipe is a high powered steam pipe, which is connected to the bottom of the container where the steam will enter at a very high pressure rate.

This high powered steam is blown into the container and will travel up inside, as the high powered steam rises through the Peppermint plants it will explode their oil glands found underneath the leaves.

The steam will travel up to the top of the container where the second pipe is connected. The second pipe is used to extract the steam which is now carrying the Peppermint oil to the factory for processing.  

​After all the steam is extracted the now spent leftover plants will be dumped out of the container stored and then recycled and used in manure spreaders as mulch to help the next crop of plants to grow, so the whole process can start again.

​The end product after processing is an incredible highly potent and pure Peppermint Essential Oil with a high Menthol content. dōTERRA only source the very best raw materials to make their Essential Oils.

​Peppermint Aromatic Description

• ​Fresh
  
• Minty
  
• ​Herbaceous
  

How To Use Peppermint Essential Oil

​There are 3 ways Peppermint Essential Oil can be used.

• Aromatically
  
• Topically
  
• Internally
  

​When we refer to internal use of Peppermint essential oil, we are referring to a particular brand called dōTERRA which we highly recommend using. Some other brands may or may not be made to a 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) and may not be meant for ingestion at all. Care must be taken as to what oils may be taken internally and we urge you to do some research into quality and purity of the essential oil that you may choose to use.

dōTERRA Peppermint Essential Oil Uses And Benefits

Aromatic Use

​Diffusing essential oils in an aromatic diffuser seams to be the most popular method of using essential oils and Peppermint oil is no different, it is a great way to experience it's amazing wellness benefits.

Placing 3 - 4 drops into a diffuser is a great way to fill a room with it's amazing aroma.

Alternatively you can place a drop or two in the palm of your hands, then rub your hands together and cup them around your nose and mouth (taking care not to get any of the oil in your eyes) to directly inhale this amazing essential oil.

Peppermint Essential Oil is great for healthy respiratory function, it helps clear your airways and makes breathing easy. Breathing efficiently help you produce energy which will help you during your workouts.

Maintaining A Healthy Respiratory System

Topical Use

​Peppermint oil is great for tired and sore muscles after a work out. Placing a drop or two with a carrier oil and rubbing directly into the muscles that need attention, it can promote a relaxed and cooling feeling within those muscles.

​When working out you can get quite hot​ and sticky at the gym or if you are out running in the sun you can get quite over heated. A great way to cool down is to create you own topical cooling spray with Peppermint oil.

​Fill a small glass spray bottle with water and place one to two drops of Peppermint Essential oil for every ounce of water. Make sure you shake the mixture well before topical application.

​You can spray or spritz your neck, chest, arms and feet for a great refreshing, cool and invigorating feeling. Just make sure you avoid spraying the Peppermint solution in your eyes.

Another great way of topical application is to place a couple drops of Peppermint Essential Oil onto a wet towel, then place the towel on the back of your neck for a very intense cooling sensation. Amazing for a really hot day or after an intense workout.

Keep Cool With Peppermint Essential Oil

Internal Use

​Peppermint Essential Oil can be taken internally to soothe occasional stomach upset. Place a drop or two inside a veggie capsule and take internally.

Alternatively you can place one drop of Peppermint into a four ounce glass of water as a refreshing beverage.

Another way to use Peppermint oil is to place a drop on your toothbrush to brush your teeth for a refreshing and clean feeling. Also see natural toothpaste recipe below.

You can also place a drop into a glass of water  to rinse and gargle in your mouth to make your own invigorating mouthwash to freshen your breath naturally.  

Dr Josh Axe's Natural Toothpaste Recipe

Essential Oil Usage Tips

1. ​Always look for a method of using essential oils that suits your needs best, as everyone is different and can have a different effect when applying them or taking them.
   
2. As we mentioned earlier start small! and build up gradually. Start applying very small diluted amounts and build up to what works best for yourself.
   
3. Seek professional advice for all medical conditions you may be concerned about before changing any health regime and be safe, do your own research.
   
4. Be consistent with what works and listen to your own body, we are amazing as humans, our own body's will tell us what we need and what works best.
   

​Learn How dōTERRA Source Peppermint Oil

​dōTERRA go to great lengths to source the very best of raw produce and materials to make their essential oils. The company tests the oils to a very high standards. All Essential Oils produced by the company are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade or (CPTG) which are free from all harsh contaminants, harmful additives or nasty chemical fillers.

Learn in the video below how dōTERRA source their Peppermint Essential Oil and learn how it is produced.

​The Top 30 Peppermint Oil Uses And Benefits

​Get 25% Discount Off Peppermint Oil

​dōTERRA's Peppermint Essential Oil is offered in 3 different products. 

1. 15mL Bottle - which is undiluted pure Peppermint Oil with 250 drops per bottle
   
2. 10mL Rollerball - which is diluted with fractionated coconut oil
   
3. Peppermint Beadlets - comes mixed with other ingredients for internal usage
   

​Peppermint Essential Oil Caution

​As with any essential oil, care must be taken with it's usage. Whether applying topically or taken internally, less is always better.

These Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils are extremely potent and pure and can be quite harsh to the skin. Every person is different and we can all have different reactions to using essential oils.

It is wise to always perform a patch test on your skin with an essential oil to find out how your body reacts first. A carrier oil should be used to dilute their effects on the skin.

Always take care and seek professional medical advice if you are unsure if you can use them or not.

​How I Personally Use Peppermint Essential Oil

​Hi it's Des here to talk a little about how I personally use Peppermint Essential Oil.

Peppermint Oil is a great starter oil, most people have their first experience of essential oils with either Peppermint or Lavender.

​Peppermint has an amazing powerful cooling and soothing effect by just inhaling and breathing it in, it's pretty cool to watch someone's reaction the first time they try it. How one tiny drop of this incredible oil can have such a dramatic effect. A lot of people are instantly hooked from that moment on. 

If you are new to essential oils check out our Essential Oils For Beginners Guide.

​I would have to say it's one of my personal favourite essential oils and it is one of my most used oils.

I travel a lot for my profession and I suffer a lot with my sinus's when flying to and from different countries. Long plane rides with recycled air plays havoc with my sinus's so I never travel without a little pouch of essential oils and Peppermint is one I use almost every day.

​Here are just a few ways I like to use Peppermint oil:

• ​Like I mentioned above I use peppermint oil to open up my airways and sinus's. I like to place a drop or two in the palm of my hands, I rub them together and cup them over my mouth and nose and inhale deeply. The almost immediate effect opens my airways and helps me breath easier.
  
• If I'm felling a little lethargic or tired when I'm working on my computer and staring at a screen all day. I like to diffuse Peppermint Oil to give me a little boost of energy and a pick me up. I place 4 drops in my USB diffuser. Within a couple of minutes the area where I'm working fills with the amazing aroma of peppermint and I feel invigorated and energised. Keeps me working longer.
  
• I like to inhale Peppermint oil by the method I mentioned above, before I workout at the gym. I feel it opens my airways and helps me breath easier when I'm running on the treadmill or lifting weights.
• After I go for a long trek or walk and my feet feel hot, sticky and sore, I like to make a foot soak with Peppermint oil for a cooling and soothing sensation to help recover from my walk. I place a couple drops into a foot spa full of water.
  
• I like to use Peppermint oil as a natural mouth wash. I fill a glass of water and place just one drop into the water and swish it around my mouth after brushing my teeth. It's a really cool minty feeling that you kinda get addicted too.
  
• I also like to mix Peppermint, Wild Orange and Frankincense Essential Oils adding a couple of drops of each to a diffuser to uplift my mood.
  

​We hope you have liked this article on the Top Peppermint Oil Use's and Benefits and we hope we've answered a few of your questions. If you liked it we would ask you to please share it with your friends.

​Please Let Us Know How You Use Peppermint Oil In The Comment Section Below!

​Stay Healthy Folks

​

​In this article you will learn all about what Is Frankincense Essential Oil? You will also learn all about Frankincense Essential Oil Uses, The Top 15 Benefits and Why Frankincense Oil is called The King Of Essential Oils.

​Frankincense has been documented throughout history as being used for it's therapeutic and beautifying benefits for thousands of years. 

There is documented evidence of this highly sought after oil as being traded on the Arabian peninsula up to 5000 years ago. Everyone from The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and even as far as China have been known to have traded this powerful aromatic substance for it's medicinal properties.

Frankincense was just as expensive as gold back then and could fetch a hefty price on the market. Southern Arabia was once seen as one of the richest places on earth due to the Frankincense trade.

The ​3 Wise Men

​One of the most popular and widely known documented stories in history of Frankincense usage can be found referenced in the bible.

Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh were brought to the baby Jesus at his birth and given as a gift. The 3 Kings or wise men followed a star in the sky which led them to the stable in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Check out more on essential oil history.

​Frankincense is also documented across a lot of other different religions, used as an anointing oil and in a variety of religious ceremonies and practices.

What Is Frankincense Essential Oil?

Frankincense or also known as "Olibanum" (Latin name - meaning "gum of frankincense") is a powerful, potent yet mild aromatic resin derived from the Boswellia tree.

There are literally dozens of types of species of the Boswellia tree, but there are generally only 4 species that produce the resin from which Frankincense Essential Oil is actually made from.

4 Types Of Boswellia Tree That Make Frankincense Oil

1. Frereana
   
2. Carterii
   
3. Sacra
   
4. Papyrifera
   

Where Does Frankincense Oil Come From?

​Today the majority (over 80%) of the worlds production of Frankincense Oil is said to come from Somalia in Eastern Africa. There are other regions to name just a few, where it is also in production such as:  

• Oman
• ​Sudan
• ​Yemen
• Ethiopia ​
  

How Is Frankincense Essential Oil Made?

Let's start at the beginning of the production chain where the resin is first harvested and then eventually turned into the amazing essential oil we can purchase and use today.

Firstly the bark from the Boswellia tree is gently chipped or sliced to open a wound in the tree. A method which is called "Tapping". 

After a number of wounds or small holes are made in the bark, a white milky sap then bleeds from underneath the bark, these are known as "tears". The harvester will then leave the sap or "tears" to dry out and return to the Boswellia tree at a later stage.

​Once the tears have dried out and turned into a hard yellow/brownish colored resin, only then will the harvester begin collecting the resin.

The now hard Frankincense resin will be cleaned, sorted and separated into batches which can then be brought to market. 

​Frankincense essential oil is made by distilling this resin harvested from the Boswelllia tree by way of steam distillation methods.

The Essential Oil that is produced from the Boswellia tree is highly regarded and has a very powerful aroma with a broad spectrum and variety of uses.

Frankincense Aromatic Description

• Woody
  
• Warm
  
• Spicy
  
• Earthy
  
• Clean
  

​How Can Frankincense Oil Be Used?

​There are 3 ways Frankincense Oil can be used. ​

• Aromatically
  
• Topically
  
• Internally
  

​When we refer to internal use of the essential oil, we are referring to a particular brand called dōTERRA which we highly recommend using. Some other brands may or may not be made to a 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) and may not be meant for ingestion at all. Care must be taken as to what oils may be taken internally and we urge you to do some research into quality and purity of the essential oil that you may choose to use.

​Why dōTERRA Frankincense Oil?

Aromatic Use

​One of the most popular ways to use this amazingly powerful oil is to diffuse it in an aromatic diffuser. Place 3 to 4 drops into the difusser for feelings of peace and an overall sense of mental wellness throughout the day. Mixed with Peppermint oil makes an uplifting blend.

​Another way to use the oil aromatically would be to place a drop or two on the palms of your hands and rub your hands together, then cup your hands around your nose and mouth (taking care not to get any essential oil in your eyes) and directly inhale to promote better lung function.

Topical Use

​To use the oil topically a drop or two can be placed directly onto the skin where needed, mixed with a carrier oil. Some people have sensitive skin so a carrier oil maybe needed to dilute the oil. One example of a carrier oil would be fractionated coconut oil, which is an excellent carrier oil to use to dilute essential oils.

Placing a drop or two on the soles of the feet works well as there is a large concentration of nerve endings in the feet connected to the whole body, the skin on the foot is also thicker and will slow release the oil over a longer period of time to help stimulate relaxation and balance the mood.

​The bottom of the feet is probably the best way to apply topically to children.​ It is always recommended to use a carrier oil when applying oils to children.

​Placing a drop or two directly onto agitated muscles, tissues and joints to support better function.

Applying Frankincense directly onto the skin as part of a daily beauty regime may help reduce the appearance of blemishes and rejuvenate the skin and help support the normal aging process.

Internal Use

​The oil can be put into a veggie capsule and taken internally to help support healthy cell function, support the health of the liver and digestive system.

It can be used internally to help support the whole of the musculoskeletal system, structural tissues and bones.

A drop or two can also be placed under the tongue as another option to help support healthy inflammatory responses.

​Essential Oil Usage Tips

1. Find a method which you are most comfortable with and suits your body's needs and remember consistency is key to successful use. 
2. Always remember! Less is more!!! These oils are very potent volatile aromatic compounds that are highly concentrated so only a drop or two at a time is ever needed.  
3. Always use a carrier oil to see how your body reacts.
   
4. ​Seek proper medical advice if unsure about any condition you have before adding a new wellness regime.  
   

​If you are a complete essential oil novice and would like to start and learn from the beginning, check out our Essential Oil For Beginners Guide.

​Frankincense The King Of Essential Oils

​Why is Frankincense called "The King Of Essential Oils" I hear you ask?

Simply put I think it's because of the broad spectrum and wide variety of uses that it has. It is extremely versatile and can be used from everything from beauty to wellness  and it's applications are limitless.

It has been in use for literally thousands of years and is highly revered and regarded for it's medicinal properties.

It's distinct and powerful aroma is just incredible, it certainly has a very regal or royal feeling about it. 

In my opinion Frankincense truly deserves the title of The King Of Essential Oils and is one of my absolute favourite oils.

Top 15 Frankincense Oil Benefits

​Get 25% Discount On Frankincense Oil

Frankincense Essential Oil Caution

Always use caution when using this oil and any essential oil. Use a carrier oil and use sparingly to begin with until you find out how your body reacts to it's use.

Frankincense may or may not be suited to your personal circumstances, always seek professional medical advice before using as part of your healthcare regime. Not suitable for use during pregnancy or when nursing.

​Learn How dōTERRA Source Frankincense Essential Oil

dōTERRA are committed to sourcing and supplying only 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) unadulterated Essential Oils. dōTERRA are also committed to helping local communities where the the raw materials are sourced.

They have created an initiative called Co-Impact Sourcing where they deal directly with the harvesters and farmers themselves. They have taken out the middle sales men, so that more of the money can directly benefit the local farmers, harvesters and communities.

Learn all about how Co-Impact sourcing has worked with local Frankincense farmers and harvesters in the video below.

​How I Personally Use Frankincense Essential Oil

Hi this is Des here, Frankincense oil is probably one of my very favourite essential oils. My first purchase of essential oils was a dōTERRA touch kit, which contains 9 of the most popular essential oils already mixed with fractionated coconut oil, for easy topical usage. You can read how I got started here.

When I first received my kit I had a lot of fun experimenting and smelling the oils. I quickly fell in love with Frankincense because of the soothing peaceful effect it had on me. It is a truly magical oil and deserves the title of "The King Of Essential Oils".

Here are just a few ways I like to use Frankincense oil:

• ​To calm my mind and bring a peaceful feeling over me when I'm travelling. I like to place a couple drops in the palm of my hands and I will rub it on my neck and as the oil heats up on my skin the fragrance becomes more intense and calms me throughout the day.
  
• ​I take a couple drops under my tongue to support my immune system if I feel like I am getting a cold of flu.
  
• ​I like to apply the oil on my skin to help me reduce the appearance of my acne scars and blemishes.
• I like to diffuse the oil for mindfulness when I'm stressed, when I need to relax, meditate and gather my thoughts. I like it to place 4-5 drops in my diffuser.
  
• ​Frankincense is my go to oil for sore muscles or joints. I rub a couple drops directly on the area I need support.
  

​We hope you like our article on​ What is Frankincense Essential Oil and we hope you have a better understanding of this amazingly powerful essential oil. Please feel free to share this article and add how you use Frankincense oil in the comment section below.

Stay Healthy Folks

​In this article we are going to explain exactly what is an essential oil and what essential oils are used for today. We recommend watching some of the short videos to get a better idea of how they are used and all about the possible benefits they may have.

​Check Out This Short Video Explanation Of Essential Oils

​Simply put Essential Oils are naturally occurring highly concentrated volatile aromatic compounds, found in the flowers, roots, stems, bark, resin or seeds of plants and certain trees.

Volatile meaning it can change it's state very quickly, when the essential oil mixes with air. It's molecules can evaporate into a gaseous state and be inhaled.

There are over 3000 identified varieties of these aromatic compounds each different from one another, and can have a different effect.

These natural occurring compounds are then extracted from the plants, trees, fruits or flowers by means of water / steam distillation, cold pressing or by other various methods. The end result is highly concentrated and potent oil substance which has many various health, wellness, emotional and physical application benefits.

Essential Oil use has been documented throughout history dating back to pre-biblical times. Read all about the history of essential oils.

Essential oils are becoming more and more popular today as people are looking more towards natural ways of taking care of their health and well-being.

The popularity of plant based diets and natural organic therapies are on the up and up. People are moving away from traditional western fast food diets and harsh chemical personal care products that have been shown to have detrimental effects on the body.

​What Are Essential Oils Used For?​​​​​​

There are many ways essential oils are in use today, here is a short list of these uses.

• Pharmacology And Medical
  
• Aromatherapy
  
• Massage Therapy
  
• Reflex Therapy And Reflexology
  
• Health And Well-being
  
• Natural Therapy
  
• Cooking / Baking
  
• Cosmetics
  

​Have a read of this beginners guide to using essential oils and learn how to implement them into a natural way of taking care of your own health and well-being.

Watch How This U.S Hospital Has Implemented The Use Of Essential Oils Into Every Day Health Care.

​Henderson Hospital Offering Unique Alternatives To Pain Medication

Essential Oils A Gift Of The Earth

​We hope you like our article and please feel free to share this with your friends on social media.

Stay Healthy

We will delve into the 3 main ways of using essential oils in great detail in this article to help you use them correctly and safely to get the maximum wellness benefits as possible.

As you know each one of us are different, essential oils can have a different effect on our bodies as individuals and we may all experience something different when using them.

Some oils work better for some more than others and it can be fun experimenting with what oils we prefer and work best for ourselves. This article should start you off in the right direction if you are completely new to the amazing world of essential oils.

​Essential Oils are made up of volatile aromatic compounds taken from the stems, roots and flowers of plants and trees. Volatile meaning they will evaporate quickly when exposed to air.

Essential Oils have been studied for quite a long time and have been documented throughout history and have been shown to have profound health benefits when used correctly. 

We have put this beginners guide to safely and effectively using essential oils as a form of natural wellness and we hope to answer the question of how to use essential oils safely and effectively at home in an everyday setting.    

​There Are 3 Main Ways To Use Essential Oils

• ​​Aromatically
  
• ​Topically
  
• Internally
  

​Check Out This Video On How To Use Essential Oils By Dr. David C Hill. Must Watch!

​How Do I Choose​ An Essential Oil?

• ​Choose Only Unadulterated 100% Pure Essential Oils
  
• Make Sure There Are No Fillers Or Harmful Chemicals Added
  
• Free From Herbicides and Pesticides
  
• Check For - Purity, Potency, Efficacy
  
• Choose A Company With Integrity And Values
  
• ​Look For A Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade or (CPTG) Essential Oil
  
• Packaging - ​Oil Should Be Packed In Dark Bottles To Prevent Spoilage
  
• Price Point - Just Cause It's Cheap Doesn't Make It Good For You, Beware Of Cheap Oils. You May Think You Are Getting A Bargain, But You Will Only Pay For It In The Long Run
  

​We only recommend using a quality essential oil that is 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade or CPTG. Many oils can be purchased over the counter in a variety of different stores from your local corner store to a high end pharmacy to even a tourist gift shop.

Essential oils today have been mass produced and marketed in many ways to be beneficial for your well-being, but what are you actually buying??

The majority of essential oils in these shops can be full of fillers and synthetic chemicals and have little to no health benefits whatsoever, some may even be causing more harm to you than good. A lot of these oils can not be taken internally or ingested at all.

We only recommend using dōTERRA essential oils as they are a company with integrity and only produce unadulterated 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils and are regarded by many as the leading company producing essential oils today.

These are the essential oils of our choice as they have worked wonders for our own personal health needs and we recommend them wholeheartedly without prejudice.  

Be careful when choosing an essential oil for you and your family, do some research and find a company that has integrity and produces an amazing quality pure essential oil.

How To Use Essential Oils Aromatically?

Aromatic use of essential oils is probably the most popular way to start using these amazing oils and there are a few different ways to do so.

Here Are Some Of The Popular Ways To Use Essential Oils Aromatically:

• Diffusion With An Essential Oil Diffuser (I love Diffusing Peppermint Oil)
  
• Direct Inhalation Form A Bottle Or Dram Vile
  
• Cupping Your Hands And Inhalation
  
• Wearing Essential Oils As A Cologne Or Perfume
  
• Using a Humidifier Or Vaporizer
  
• Placing Oil On A Cloth Or Tissue/Handkerchief
  
• Placing A Few Drops Of Oil On A Pillow Or Bed Linen
  
• Making A Spray Bottle For Use On Carpets, Furniture, Curtains (Lavender is Awesome)
  

The Olfactory System

The Body has 5 main senses:

1. Sight (vision)
2. Hearing (audition)
3. Touch (somatosensation)
4. Taste (gustation)
5. Smell (olfaction) 

The sense of smell is one of our powerful senses and can affect the mind and body in many ways. It can help us detect hazards, it also integrates with our sense of taste when eating food to help us detect flavor. It can also affect our mood and forms part of the chemosensory system or the chemical senses.

The sense of smell can trigger memories and transport us back to a moment or place in time that we may have once forgotten and bring that specific memory back to us quite vividly and rapidly once activated.

The ability to detect odors and smells comes from specific sensory cells, which are called Olfactory sensory neurons. These neurons can be found high up in the nasal cavity. The detection and perception of odor is the connection between gaseous chemical molecules picked up by the olfactory epithelium beneath the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb's process's can then project these responses directly to the brain.

This is how and why essential oils work so well when diffused or inhaled and are able to trigger certain powerful physical and emotional responses. The powerful volatile aromatic compounds that are essential oils can be used to uplift your mood and have been shown in studies to affect the mind and body in very positive ways. This is why direct inhaling or diffusing is a very popular method to use essential oils.

Check Out This Video About The Olfactory System

​​​​​​Shop Essential Oils​​​​​​​​​​ Click Here

​How To Use Essential Oils Topically?

​You may or may not know this interesting fact but it is true to say that our skin is the body's largest organ, with an estimated total size of about 20 square ft. 

Our skin helps protect us against outside temperatures, be it extreme hot or cold. It helps us protect our vital organs underneath.

It allows us the amazing sense of touch and protect us against the elements, infections and disease, it also regulates the temperature of the body's. It is a pretty amazing organ that sometimes we often take for granted.

We have to be mindful of what products, lotions, creams and oils we place on our skin as some can have harsh chemicals that can be absorbed by our skin and taken into the bloodstream and affect us in negative ways.

Topical Use Of Essential Oils Is The Application Of The Oils Directly Onto Our Skin.

Most Popular Ways To Topically Apply Essential Oils

​Some people topically apply to:

• ​The Soles Of Feet
  
• ​The Back Of Neck
  
• ​The Forehead and Temples (My Favorite method with Frankincense)
  
• Behind The Ears
  
• ​Legs And Arms
• The Base Of The Skull
  
• Back And Spinal Cord Area
  
• ​The Wrists, Hands And Nails
  
• The Stomach And Abdomen
  
• ​The Chest And Heart Area
  
• ​Pressure Points
  
• ​The 7 Chakra Points
  

​As you can see there are many areas of the body to apply essential oils, as and how you need them to affect your body.

Here Are Some Other Popular Ways To Topically Use Essential Oils

• ​Massage Therapy
  
• Reflexology/Reflex Therapy
  
• Placing Essential Oils In The Bath
  
• Placing Essential Oils On A Washcloth
  
• Making Organic Soap
  
• Adding Essential Oils To Moisturizers Or Lotions
  

When you purchase a Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade or (CPTG) Essential Oil for topical use, you will notice the difference in potency and purity immediately from a cheaply sourced oil. 

CPTG oils are extremely potent and certain oils or blends may in some cases need to be diluted with a carrier oil such as Fractionated Coconut Oil when topically applied to decrease sensitivity on younger children or adults with sensitive skin. 

Less is definitely more in most cases, 1 or 2 drops of oil is sometimes all that is needed as even at this small amount, they can be extremely effective.

​How To Use Essential Oils Internally?

​The thought of consuming essential oils and taking them internally maybe new to you, but you have probably been doing this already without even knowing about it.

Have you ever added a fresh Basil leaf to pasta at home? Have you ever added fresh Oregano to a salad? Or even squeezed a Lemon into some water to add flavor?

​If you have done any of these things at home you most likely have already consumed the volatile aromatic compounds that are essential oils. The only difference is that with buying and taking essential oils from dōTERRA is that they are very concentrated, very potent and the most important part! 100% Pure!!!

When these amazing oils are taken internally they can be easily absorbed by the stomach lining and distributed around the body to all the major organs and the brain by the bloodstream.

​Essential Oils can be taken internally, but only essential oils of the highest standards would be recommended.

Most Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils from dōTERRA can be taken internally, you just need to read the label on the outside of each oil to determine if it is safe to take internally or not, you will see the circular Green "I" sign like above if it's safe to do so.

​How To Take Essential Oils Internally 

• ​Essential Oils Can Be Added To Water, Tea Or Other Beverages.
  
• Oils Can Be Added When Making Dishes In Cooking.
  
• ​Empty Veggie Capsules Can Be Used To Make Pills To Swallow The Oils.
  
• Essential Oils Can Be Placed Under The Tongue Or On The Roof Of The Mouth.
  

Using Essential Oils Safely

• The Eyes And Surrounding Skin
  
• Inner Ears
  
• Inner Nose
  
• Genitals
  
• Some Facial Areas
  
• Broken Skin
  
• Damaged Skin
  
• Injured Skin
  

Essential Oils And Photosensitivity

Photosensitivity is the abnormal sensitivity of the skin when exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun, sun bed or ultraviolet lamp most commonly following exposure to some medications or topical drugs or to some different sensitising chemicals. 

Photosensitivity can result in accelerated burning and or blistering of the skin when exposed.

It is important to avoid sun exposure after using certain oils topically. One example of this would be Citrus oils.

Whichever way you choose to use essential oils, it is all of personal preference. The fun is finding out which way is best for you! Remember to listen to your body and to what works best for yourself.

We hope you found our beginners guide to using essential oils safely beneficial. If you have any friends or family looking to venture into the world of essential oils please share this article with them.  

Here at the Essential Oil Blog we hold Essential Oil classes in person and also online through various apps and methods like Skype, Zoom, Google HangOuts, FaceTime etc. If you would like to learn more about using Essential Oils get in touch with us via our Contact Page.

Stay Healthy.

​The history of essential oils is engraved in our culture, this is something quite spectacular with the term essential oils becoming a household topic across the modern world today. 

Although you may see them mentioned more in popular culture now than you have in the past, they have been around much longer than the people who now market and advertise them to the wider audience.

They have almost been around as long as the earliest recordings of human beings. Even showing up in the bible with many writings about Frankincense and Myrrh, which were given to baby Jesus at his birth.

There are so many properties in essential oils that can help us in many ways, but these findings did not happen over night.  

One spectacular thing we can take from practices that have lasted a millennia is that they must have a good reason to still be around.

Before we delve into what makes essential oils so great, why don’t we take a look at their origins.

Who discovered them? What civilizations first used them? How are essential oils used?

Today we are delving into how they were discovered, used and explored in the past for different cultures, so get comfy because this takes us back more than 5000 years!

If you are still wondering what an essential oils are, they are oils extracted from natural sources.

​Such as plants like Peppermint, fruit like Lemon, tree bark like Cypress, flowers like Helichrysum and used in aromatherapy.

The essential oils have a lot of beneficial nutrients and other magnificent properties.

Check out this short video for visual explanation. 

Once again, the Ancient Egyptians were pioneering essential oils a long time ago. But it is not possible to know who was the very first to use essential oils.

During Ancient Egypt and its triumphs, the River Nile is arguably the most talked about river in history and was the life source of Ancient Egypt.

​Aiding them in their technological advancements and rise to success as a nation. 

The Egyptians utilized agriculture, literature, government and things that cannot be explained by modern day scientists and theorists.

​So it’s no surprise that they also innovated herbal medicine.

One ancient healer named Ebers Papyrus began practices that date back to 1500BC but they are believed to have been copied from scriptures dating back even further.

While we cannot credit Papyrus as a founder he certainly was a well-known practitioner.

The scrolls he had written included methods/ recipes for preservation using essential oils.

Mummification 

We have all heard of fictional stories about ancient mummies, but they did exist to a degree!

Egyptians used aromatherapy to preserve bodies of people who died. These included frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon and juniper!

​Aromatherapy is strongly linked to the development of aromas used in medicine- cultures meant this also crossed over with ideas of supernatural things such as religious beliefs and magic. 

Egyptians used to burn incense and would watch the smoke rise- this was symbolic for them and they thought the smoke was rising to heaven, this lead on to other practices and testing.

​In the 3rd Dynasty of Egypt circa 2650-2575 BC, Egyptians began to explore embalming and mummification because they wanted immortality.

This was spearheaded by those in power such as royalty.
Arabian traders went all over the eastern continents to bring back anything they believed could help.

Perfumery Links To Aromatherapy And Essential Oils?

Egyptians also used fragrances as we do today, simply because they offered a pleasant smell.

Women would adorn scented headgear that would melt and release aromas in the extreme heat the country is oft conditioned to.

​This was a luxury practice and Egyptians certainly loved the finer things in life.

​Scented baths and essential oils would also be used to protect their skin from sun damage and the environment around them.

​Jump to circa 1539-657 BC and the Egyptians had begun to refine the use of essential oils and aromatherapy even further.

​From medicine, cosmetic, incense and then perfumes.

Egyptian perfumes were a commodity sought after from almost every country- for those wealthy enough to afford them that is.

​Up until a few centuries before Jesus was born, they had the largest industry of this sort.

Julius Caesar went on to conquer Egypt, which lead to the fall of Cleopatra’s reign over Egypt.

Caesar apparently dished out Egyptian bottles of perfume to his supporters to show his dominance over Egypt as their new ruler.

Before The Egyptians?

Certain herbs and woods had been used for thousands of years before the Egyptians used them.

​The idea was to ward off evil spirits or cleanse a curse that had made somebody sick or possessed.

Some of the people may have been suffering from mental disorders but back then nobody would have known this.

India, Ayurveda And Essential Oils

Egyptians are renowned pioneers of many modern practices; using aromatherapy for food, spiritual healing, physical healing and cosmetic reasons.

​Many experts believe that essential oils were being used at the same time across India and China.

Depending on which sources we believe it could even be noted that Indian culture and Ayurveda began using essential oils earlier than Egypt.

​A combination of enriched cultures across the world have all played a part in what we have today.

The Indian health care Ayurveda system is a practice that uses natural healing by ways of spiritual, philosophical and practical methods.

Ayurvedic medicine is over 5000 years old and is still popular in India today and many other countries have adopted it also.

Aromatic massages use essential oils and literature from 2000 BC shows that Indian healers used oils to help treat sick people.

They used sandalwood, coriander, myrrh, ginger and cinnamon. 

What Does Ayurveda Mean?

The word Ayurvedic comes from Ancient Indian Sanskrit- Ayur means life and Veda means knowledge.

An Indian book called the Vedas goes into detail on over 700 herbs and aromas. Delving into how each one can be used for religious and therapeutic beliefs.

Example- Basil is a sacred plant in India, it is thought to unlock the heart and mind- giving love and devotion.

When used therapeutically it is also believed to have the power of strengthening ones religious beliefs in Hinduism.

Ancient China 

​The Chinese have also been appreciated as pioneers in preservation- we simply have to refer to ‘’Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine’’.

That was written in 2697 BC, making it the oldest recorded medical book in Ancient China.

The book contains solid information on 300 different plants- offering an explanation on each one’s properties and how they could be used as medicine.

Does such an in-depth knowledge dating so far back mean they were more advanced in this field than the Egyptians? We will never know!

The Greeks And Essential Oils

Assyrians, Hebrews and Babylonians all played their part in the diverse knowledge that helped produce aromatherapy into what it is today.

The Egyptians fall from grace happened around 300BC and Europe became the main player in developing the use of essential oils.

​It was from this time moving forward that science and biology became more understood and that aromatherapy had the potential to treat many ailments.

Although things were a long way off being perfected they were certainly practiced a lot in these times.

Asclepius The Greek

Was a practitioner of aromatherapy around 1200bc, he combined the use of herbs to aid him in surgeries that no other could seem to match.

When he died he became a deity of healing in Greek mythology.

Throughout Greece many temples were named after him and were known as Asclepeoin temples; places where people would go to seek healing.

Hippocrates

Hippocrates was a pioneer in other senses than somebody who simply used essential oils for distinct reasons.

He was a physician who challenged the ideals that illness was caused by natural forces.

Thinking that natural causes were the problems and began to promote the in depth study and observation of patients through trials and studies.

​Hippocrates believed the body worked as one single organ and some of his practices are still used today.

Along with famous Hippocratic Oath that doctors pledge upon graduation.

Quite a way to go down in history considering he lived over 2000 years ago!

​So How Did He Use Essential Oils In His Medicine?

He would treat people with a combination of physiotherapy, infusion baths and massages or get people to eat herbs, extracts and roots.

​They have properties he believed could cure or treat certain ailments.

The number of herbs included in his studies has been documented to over 200 different. This is where the inspiration of holistic therapy came from, the man himself.

Botanists And Pharmacology

 
Alexander invaded Egypt in 300 BC and the Greeks flourished even more.

It was Theophrastus of Athens, a student of Aristotle, who investigated how aromas and scents from plants could affect how humans feel emotionally.

​Theophrastus Of Athens 

Theophrastus wrote many books including "The History of Plants" he is also respected as the founder of botany.

The History of Plants was used in reference for the next few centuries and was very influential.

​Essential Oils And Aromatherapy AD

Dioscorides was a Greek physician who worked in the military between 40-90AD.

He was well respected in Nero’s army for his willingness to travel with Roman armies to surrounding countries to such places as Greece, Italy, Spain and Germany.

He recorded all of his findings including the habitat that each plant would thrive and grow in.

This helped people understand how plants should be stored and prepared for best usage.

Dioscorides wrote a total of 5 books in a series called Herbarius.

Accounting the healing properties of every herb he had discovered and studied across different climates and terrains.

Herbarius taught many practitioners of botany how to do things properly and took out a lot of guess work for countries still new to this kind of medicinal treatment.

Herbarius was utilised across Europe for 1500 years and included work on an extensive list of herbs.

Including ginger, lavender, olive oil, rhubarb, sesame and thyme to name but a few- all of which are still used today for their medicinal benefits!

The number exceeded 1000 different botanical medicine ideas- including descriptive analysis and drawings of 600 plants or different scents.

This work lead on to him being donned as The Father of Pharmacology- quite an impressive feat, wouldn’t you agree?

Essential Oils In War And Combat 

In 129- 199 AD, a Greek practitioner of medicine knows as Claudius Galen was responsible for wonderful things in the Roman Empire.

He began studying medicine at 17 years old and by 28 was working with the Romans to heal the wounds of gladiators.

​Through these extreme circumstances he got a lot experience in treating different types of injury and went on to become the personal doctor or Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Right at the time when Rome was at the peak of its powers.

​Rome was an academic leader in studying and sciences- Galen capitalised on this opportunity also and wrote 400 books and 83 of them still exist today.

​Including the famous book De Simplicibus, Describing the plant, its habitat and what it can be used for.

His remedies including herbs and essential oils covered a wide degree of common ailments.

​He also was the first to combine ingredients to create cosmetic cream!

After the death of Galen, the Roman empire began to decline and shortly after was met with the historical dark ages.

In these times things became barbaric and the use of aromatherapy shifted center to other parts of the world. 

Essential Oils Through The Dark Ages

The Middle Ages were a time shrouded in darkness compared to some other eras.

Little history was recorded and the Catholic Church scoffed at the idea of using essential oils for healing purposes.

Essential oils did stay around but only for their pleasurable scent, not for their healing benefits.

Some historical evidence shows that some monks and spiritual people of the time still practiced aromatherapy in secret.

This was to save getting in trouble or being persecuted.

Back then it would have been considered sacrilege and people lived in fear of being accused of Devil worshipping and witchcraft. 

Avicenna- Father of Modern Physics

EUROPE
By the 17th Century, essential oils were not a cult thing nor where they misunderstood.

Aromatherapy was hugely appreciated and practiced all over the world without quarrel.

By 1800, the majority of pharmaceutical practices included essential oils as prescriptive medication with England, France and Germany being the main users.

At the same time, large areas in Southern France would be dedicated to growing flowers.

Supplying the raw materials to be used for French fragrances and perfumes.

When tuberculosis was common, people even believed that those working among oils and herbs were being protected by the flora around them.

Whether this part is true or not, we will let you decide on that for yourself! 

Lab testing

​
The first lab tests on essential oils were recorded around 1887. The tests were designed to look at whether plants could be used as anti-bacterial agents.

In 1910, A chemist known as Rene-Maurice Gattefosse had an accident when experimenting. He burned his hands and arms in an explosion which later lead to gangrene from the gasses.

He bathed his arms in lavender oil and claimed that this one session reversed and halted the damage of the gas gangrene.

The next day he reported a lot of sweating and very fast healing that began within 24 hours.

Gattefosse then looked into other natural healing methods that may be able to help him and others. He applied this knowledge into helping soldiers fighting in WW1.

Jean Valnet

Valnet was a doctor from Paris and also worked in the military alongside Gattefosse.

They delved into using essential oils for antiseptic treatment, keeping wounds clean.

In the Indo-china war from 1948 to 1959 they successfully used the oils and it has been credited to saving the lives and limbs of many injured soldiers and personnel.

Valnet continued working with essential oils in medicine and published the famous book ‘The Practise of Aromatherapy’.

The book influenced a lot of his peers in their studies, personal interest and other discoveries.

The book went on to receive global recognition.

How Are Essential Oils Used In The Modern World Today?

Essential oils are distributed all over the world now and play a role in many different industries.

Whether that be for medicine, or everyday lifestyles, aromatherapy and essential oils are incredibly versatile.

Their use in everyday health related scenarios is becoming more and more popular and for good reason.

Being able to look after your own health in a natural way is so important.

Natural Plant based healthcare is a priority for so many people. They are safe, effective and affordable.

We only recommend the use of Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade or (CPTG) Essential Oils.

dōTERRA Essential Oils are the brand I personally use and highly recommend as these are of course CPTG Essential Oils 100% Pure and free from any fillers or harsh chemicals.

We hope you liked our blog on The History of Essential Oils if you have any comments please leave them below and add to this amazing story.

Stay Healthy.