Tips for Choosing Essential Oils

​It would only be those clients who have been with me for many many years who would possibly remember that I once had my own aromatherapy line of products. No, I am not going back to creating again, however I felt it was time to start sharing my knowledge around Aromatherapy and Essential Oils.

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Aromatherapy is a centuries old practice of using essential oils for therapeutic benefit. Essential Oils can be absorbed by the skin (when diluted). When inhaled, the scent molecules in essential oils travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the brain and especially impact the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain.

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Essential Oils are an opportunity to bring holistic health practices into your daily life. Whether you use a single oil or create a synergy of oils (2 or more essential oils blended together) for a specific purpose they are fun to experiment with for your own use. I would love to see you get the most from those you choose so here are a few tips...

• Choose an Essential Oil company that sources organic oils where possible and sources their oils from countries where that plant grows naturally. An example would be Lavender Oil. You can grow a lavender plant pretty much any where, however the best Lavender plants are native to France. In choosing a Lavender Essential Oil I always choose those distilled from plants in France. I take this approach with all of the oils that I purchase.
• Choose the higher grade (likely a little more expensive) essential oils. You're more likely to be buying a more pure oil (fewer distillations) that hasn't had chemicals extracted or added. An example would be Peppermint Essential Oil. In it's more true form it actually has an earthy undertone to it's minty scent. The sharp scent of some essential oils is because some of the natural elements have been removed to make it smell more like what a person might expect. The earthy undertone has been removed. Some less expensive oils may have also had chemical enhancements added. 
  These oils may cost more up front but you will likely find you use less. I will ask a company for a sample or purchase a really small quantity so that my nose can do a sniff test first.
• Is it a true Essential Oil? Can the scent actually be distilled from that plant? There are some plants where the scent is destroyed in the distillation process and what you are actually buying is a combination of chemicals blended to smell like that flower. Examples would include Honeysuckle, Sweet Pea, Carnation, Gardenia...  
  If you are only wanting the scent and not the healing properties of the plant then these are fine. They are only chemicals though.
• No, it is not safe to ingest Essential Oils. I realize there are those that will disagree with this but Essential Oils are not created to be ingested. 
• It is rarely safe to apply Essential Oils directly to the skin. They are too potent and need to be diluted into a base oil or lotion first. 
• Take some time to know the precautions that go with some Essential Oils. Such as those that are good for PMS and Menopause symptoms but should not be used during Pregnancy, the oils not safe to use with children or for different medical conditions, which oils are phototoxic... Just because they are  natural does not mean they are for everyone. ​

Some of my favourite books include:
The Fragrant Pharmacy by Valerie Worwood
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless
Complete Aromatherapy Handbook by Susanne Fischer-Rizzi

Below are a couple of Aromatherapy recipes. Be sure to do your own homework for specific conditions and always, if you are going to put it on your skin, test it on a small area for sensitivity or reactions first!