Are you beginning to explore the use of essential oils? This journey is exciting and rewarding, but there is so much to learn when starting. If you’ve ever gone shopping for essential oils, you know how overwhelming the experience is—products are abundant with many effects and benefits. Most of these products require a little background information to understand their benefits, but fear not! Check out this beginner’s guide to essential oils and aromatherapy for your convenience.
Different Oils and Their Effects
First and foremost, it’s important to figure out what products suit your needs. Are you looking to relieve stress? Feel more present? Fight off physical, mental, or spiritual ailments? There are many reasons to enter the world of aromatherapy and even more pure essential oils that can help you on your journey.
Lavender
Lavender oils are undoubtedly the most popular for both newbies and longtime enthusiasts. This product is highly recommended for people beginning aromatherapy because its effects are obvious and enjoyable. Lavender helps soothe the mind and body, and can help you achieve deep sleep and relaxation.
Many pre-op hospital rooms provide patients with lavender fragrances to reduce stress before providing anesthesia. Some lavender oil users believe that the oil effectively relieves physical pain, like general aches or minor strains. You can rub the lavender oil into your skin or diffuse it in the air to enjoy its benefits.
Peppermint
Peppermint oils are another popular choice for newbies and longtime users for many of the same reasons as lavender. The effects are obvious and beneficial to our health. Like lavender, peppermint helps relieve bodily pain. It has anti-inflammatory properties, making it the perfect complement to pain relief medicine.
Unlike lavender, peppermint is an energizing fragrance that keeps you alert and attentive. It’s also known to lift your mood, fight off early-morning grogginess, and even quell headaches. Some users remark that peppermint is a good remedy for digestion issues like irritable bowel syndrome or gastric irritation. Be sure to dilute peppermint before applying it directly to the skin, as it can cause skin irritation.
Lemon, Lemongrass, and Orange
Most citrus-based oils boost your mind and soul. Most notably, lemon helps fight feelings of depression and anxiety—lemon essential oils supercharge your mood. Additionally, lemon essential oil fights nausea and physical pain, making it the perfect fragrance for pregnant women or people who suffer from vertigo and migraines.
Lemongrass essential oils have similar benefits to lemon, and have antibacterial abilities. They can stop the growth of fungus and other bacteria. Orange essential oil is another popular citrus-based oil for people struggling with anxiety and stress. It kills bacteria effectively, so consider diffusing orange oils throughout the house during flu and cold season.
Eucalyptus
Like orange, eucalyptus essential oils are great for fighting cold and flu symptoms, like nasal inflammation and body aches. Just a few drops of eucalyptus oil in a diffuser can help clear out your nose and allow you to breathe easier.
Consider taking a warm shower and dropping some eucalyptus oil on the floor. The steam will naturally bring the fragrance up to your face. Additionally, this oil has antimicrobial abilities to prevent the spread of minor bacteria before they become a problem.
Different Devices and Their Abilities
Once you have the right oils for your needs, it’s time to purchase aromatherapy devices and accessories. Various equipment will make your aromatherapy experience more convenient and enjoyable. Here are the best devices for beginners.
Diffusers
Diffusers are the most common essential oil devices that effectively dispense oils into the air, allowing fragrances to travel and fill a space. Many people have a diffuser next to their bed or somewhere else in the house. There are many kinds of diffusers, like ultrasonic diffusers and evaporative diffusers.
Ultrasonic diffusers look like humidifiers—they dispense fragrances through vibrations. This action produces misty clouds of oil at a consistent rate. This device is commonly placed on bedside tables and atop dressers.
Try a diffuser that utilizes evaporation over electricity if you want something smaller for the bathroom or kitchen. Reed diffusers and clay pot diffusers are the most common evaporative diffusers. The oil is mixed with water, and the fragrance permeates into the air over time without electricity or batteries. They’re also great décor options to add to any home.
Misters and Salt Lamps
Aromatherapy isn’t restricted to the mind and soul. Many essential oils have antibacterial properties that can stop the spread of illness. How exactly do you effectively dispense essential oils to kill bacteria?
Misters are the easiest to use and double as a quick way to freshen up a room. They’re essentially spray bottles that you can buy with premade mixtures, or fill with homemade concoctions. Salt lamps also help fight bacteria, but operate more like a diffuser than a mister. The heat of the salt lamp releases fragrances into the air, just like other diffusers. However, the oil on the lamp’s surface traps bacteria in the air.
Work With Yourself
Ultimately, oils and diffusers are useless if you aren’t using aromatherapy for your needs. This journey should be dedicated to improving your body, mind, and soul. To achieve this, you must find the practices and items best suited for you.
This might involve some trial and error, or require consulting a more experienced individual. Additionally, you can talk to doctors about specific aromatherapy options to use congruently with other medicines and therapies. Buying a starter kit is often the best way to introduce yourself to different products. Our kits include a selection of various fragrances to better inform you of what works for your needs.
This beginner’s guide to essential oils and aromatherapy is the perfect starting point for your journey. Remember that it’s OK to be confused when starting aromatherapy, so consult as many friends and professionals as possible to clarify the different products. At Escents, we are here every step of the way, whether you seek resources or further information, or the best pure essential oils for all your needs.
