Draven Jackson
Blogger | Teacher
Twitter

In the last decade, essential oils have become incredibly popular to relieve smelly odors at home, replace ineffective acne solutions, and even provide simple medical relief without over-the-counter drugs. However, how do you know what oils to use and when to use them, or what’s safe to apply to your skin and what needs to be diluted?
Have no fear! We have compiled an easy-to-understand list of practical uses for essential oils and how to use your favorite scents safely and correctly.

A Fresh Deodorizer

One of the most popular ways to utilize essential oils is as a deodorizer to rid your home of smelly odors like pet stench, shoe stink, and the leftover kitchen smells. There are different ways to get rid of each type of stink, but here are some of the basic suggestions.

To help lighten the stench of your trash, mix a couple of drops of citrus essential oil (like lemon) with baking soda and dust the bottom of your trashcan with the mixture.

If you want to rid your kitchen of lingering smells, boil water in a pot with citrus or clove oil.

For those moms looking to create a deodorizing spray to get rid of pet odors, mix 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil with apple cider vinegar and pour into a spray bottle. Spray as necessary.

Energy Boost

Do you get those mid-afternoon blues during work that make you want to lay down for a long nap after lunch? Do you need a boost of energy to get you through the last half of the day? Essential oils can fix that too!

Grab your diffuser and add a few drops of peppermint essential oil. The stimulating effect of the peppermint step will make you more alert and add that little splash of pep you need to get through the rest of your day!

Nausea Reducer

Upset stomach or nausea bringing you grief? Essential oils can fix that. Tangerine oil is great for easing stomach acid, so add a few drops of it to your water to help bring you relief. It also aids in digestion and metabolism and is known for encouraging a healthy immune system when it’s ingested.

Muscle Relaxer

Essential oils are also a great way to relax and soothe stiff or aching muscles. Since inflammation is the major source of muscle soreness, essential oils that are supposed to help ease inflammation are the perfect remedy for muscle relaxation. Tea tree oil and lavender are anti-inflammatory essential oils, and the best way to get their full effects are by adding a few drops (5-10 of both) into a warm bath along with some Epsom salt. Soak for about half an hour to help get rid of muscle soreness and stiffness.

Headache Relief

Essential oils are a great way to get natural headache relief without relying on over-the-counter medication. Peppermint oil is one of the best oil for headache relief – simple rub diluted peppermint oil onto your temples when you feel a headache coming on.

Make sure to dilute your oil before applying it directly to your skin. Some possible carrier oil (used for diluting oil) options are coconut oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, and sweet almond oil. The ratio is usually about 4 drops of peppermint oil to 1 tablespoon of carrier oil.

Lavender oil can also be used for headache relief as it is commonly utilized to help with stress and promote relaxation. Simply breathing in and smelling lavender oil has been known to help relieve headaches, so put a few drops into a diffuser or a warm bath and inhale the sweet, relaxing scent.

Skincare Routine

One of my favorite ways to use essential oils is for my skincare routine. There are multiple essential oils that are known to help with skin problems, like breakouts or clogged pores. Lemon and tea tree oil and hot water are a great way to unclog pores. First, fill a bowl with hot water and let the steam fan over your face (like a sauna). Then rub the diluted oil mixture onto your face, allowing it to soak in before wiping your face with a clean towel.

Ratios for diluted oils can change for what type of oil you’re using, so for tea tree and lemon oil, it’s 1-2 drops of your essential oil to 12 drops of carrier oil.

Tea tree oil is also good for treating acne and breakouts due to its anti-inflammatory properties. You can use tea tree oil as a part of your acne treatment routine by dabbing the diluted oil to the blemish area with a pad or cotton ball. Make sure to moisturize afterward as it can dry out your skin if you’re not careful.

Disinfectant

Did you know you can also use essential oils as a disinfectant? Well, now you do. Clove oil is a powerful disinfectant you can use to clean scrapes and treat difficult fungal infections. The dilution ratio for clove oil is 15 drops of clove oil with one ounce of carrier oil. After it’s diluted, you can apply it directly to cuts and scrapes.

PMS Relief

Cramps are the bane of every woman’s existence and they come every month, without fail (if you’re one of those women who never cramps, I do not understand your magical abilities). So how can you use essential oils to help with cramps? Easy – apply a couple of drops (5-6) of rose oil to a hot bath and soak. Rose oil is supposed to have antispasmodic characteristics that help with muscle relaxation and period pain relief.

Relaxation

Essential oils can also be a great way to promote relaxation and ease stress. How? With the powerful magic of lavender, chamomile, and bergamot. All of these oils smell amazing, and by adding a few drops of one to your bathwater, you can help encourage relaxation in your mind, body, and spirit with these sweet, stress-relieving scents.

Restful Sleep

Having trouble sleeping? There are essential oils for that too. Relaxing essential oils are great for relieving stress or muscle pain, but they’re also good for encouraging sleep. Add a few drops of lavender or chamomile oil to your pillow before bed, and enjoy a night of deep, restful sleep.

Do you know of more ways to use essential oils in our daily lives? What’s your favorite way to use essential oils? Tell us in the comments!

About Draven Jackson

Draven is an avid writer and reader who enjoys sharing her opinions on movies, books, and music with the rest of the world. She will soon be working as a teacher in Japan and hopes to use her experience to connect with other teachers and students around the globe. Draven spends most of her time at home with her family, her dogs, and her ferret.

To see more, view all posts by Draven Jackson here.