by Sabrina Cooklin
We live in a generation of on-the-go people. Work, school, and family life all have to fit into a short span of 24 hours, causing stress, and lack of sleep. If you’re struggling with burnout, stress, constant anxiety, chronic pain, or insomnia, essential oils can help calm your spirit and lift your mood.
If you’ve never heard of aromatherapy, we at PURA D’OR are happy to tune you into this traditional medicinal technique that’s even older than sliced bread. It’s a wonderful salve for these complicated times. Keep reading to learn more!
What Are Essential Oils?
An essential oil is considered to be the ‘essence’ of the plant it is derived from. For instance, clove essential oil is sourced by cold-pressing clove leaves. This process creates a very concentrated oil filled with compounds naturally found in the leaves. Essential oils can be created by distillation --a process using steam or water-- or by cold pressing, which involves extraction via a hydraulic press. The press delivers thousands of pounds of pressure to the plant and squeezes out its ‘juices.’ Once the compounds have been extracted and concentrated, they are usually added to a carrier oil that helps increase efficacy and ease of use. Carrier oils are typically either coconut or sweet almond oil.
Essential oils can be made from the flowers, leaves, stalks, roots, bark, or fruit of a plant, depending on the plant species. There are thousands of different types of essential oils on the market. There are some things you should look for so you can have a brighter, happier life.
What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is a holistic approach to ailments of the mind and body. It’s a method of calming your mind and body via your olfactory sense, or your sense of smell. The goals of aromatherapy are to soothe anxiety and stress, release chronic pain, increase sleep quality, and increase immune and other bodily functions.
Aromatherapy originated around 3500 BCE in Ancient Egypt. It is used in traditional medicine in Indian, Chinese, and Greek cultures. These days, there are registered aromatherapists, and some universities even offer majors in aromatherapy!
While essential oils are the most commonly used tool of aromatherapy, perfumes, smelling salts, and incense sticks are also common aromatherapy treatments. Most aromatherapies call for you to breathe in a scent, but some essential oils are put on the skin. We’ll explore this further later on.
How to Use Essential Oils
Essential oils are quick and straightforward to use. You definitely don’t need to be an expert! These oils come in small bottles that can be opened and sniffed directly, making them easy to transport for on-the-go use. Sometimes all you need for a pick-me-up is a quick sniff of your favorite essential oil and a deep breath to get on with your day.
Another popular way to use essential oils is to put them into a diffuser. A diffuser creates water vapor and blows it around a room. When a few drops of your favorite oil are put into the water, the vapor smells great, making your space smell wonderful. This form of aromatherapy is perfect for calming stressed-out families or for those who just want a sweet-smelling living room. While PURA D’OR doesn’t currently have a diffuser on the market, there are tons of high-quality essential oil diffusers you can find in health stores or online to use with your PURA D’OR oils!
Essential oils can also be applied topically. Even after a carrier oil is added, essential oils are still extremely refined and pack a powerful punch. This is why you need to dilute them with added carrier oils, which we’ll discuss next.
To apply oils topically, you’ll need:
- A carrier oil
- An essential oil
Steps:
- Wash the area you wish to apply essential oils to with soap and water. Dry thoroughly.
- Place a few drops of your chosen carrier oil on the area.
- Place just one drop of your chosen essential oil over the carrier oil.
- Gently rub the oils into your skin until fully absorbed.
- Kick back and relax!
Carrier Oils
There are many carrier oils that can be used hand-in-hand with essential oils. While essential oils are very safe when used properly, due to the highly concentrated plant compounds they contain, they can cause irritation or even mild burns if applied directly to the skin without dilution. That’s why you should always dilute your scented oils with a carrier oil before applying the solution to your skin. Carrier oils often have their own benefits, especially for the skin and hair. They’re very versatile! Here are some of our favorites:
Fractionated Coconut Oil
PURA D’OR USDA Certified Organic Fractionated Coconut Oil is the perfect addition to your aromatherapy closet. It can even be used as a massage oil when mixed with a few favorite essential oils.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil has long been known as a cult-classic beauty treatment. It’s excellent for hair, skin, and nails. In fact, you’ll find jojoba oil in high-quality anti-aging products since it helps decrease the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots. Due to its mild smell and skin benefits, you can use it as a non-comedogenic makeup remover, cuticle oil, hair conditioner, or as a carrier oil for essential oils.
Our USDA Certified Organic Jojoba Oil is great for anything you need. Moisturizer? No problem. Nail serum? We’ve got you covered. Essential oil carrier? Yes, yes, and yes! Jojoba oil can be used with any essential oil and it helps prevent dry skin. Reap all the benefits of your essential oil, plus those of the jojoba plant!
Sweet Almond Oil
Sweet Almond Oil is rich in Vitamins A and E, which is why you’ll often see it in moisturizers and lip balms. It’s a great makeup remover for hard-to-remove
waterproof mascara. It’s also a facial treatment that helps reduce the appearance of acne by deeply hydrating the epidermis, the water-carrying layer of your skin. It also helps thicken the hair cuticle, increase shine, and reduce damage to dry, brittle hair. Did we mention it’s great as a carrier oil?
PURA D’OR USDA Certified Organic Sweet Almond Oil is easily absorbed into the skin and is full of antioxidants. It can be used hand-in-hand with any of the essential oils in your collection for a refreshing aromatherapy treatment.
Specific Essential Oils
Now that you know the basics, let’s get into the specific oils you’ll love for daily use.
Lavender Oil
Lavender essential oil is probably the most-used essence on the market. It
induces a tranquil mindset and is thought to relieve anxiety, menstrual cramps, allergies, insomnia, depression, and nausea. Some studies have even shown that lavender essential oil may be a safer treatment for insomnia than sleep
medications. This oil is great to carry around in your purse or wallet for a quick-grounding break wherever you need it.
PURA D’OR features our USDA Certified Organic Lavender Essential Oil. This is a 100% pure essential oil, meaning it has not been diluted with a carrier oil, which allows you to control the strength. Lavender oil is excellent to diffuse in a smelly room as it has deodorizing properties and is also an antifungal. What’s not to love?
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus is another well-loved essential oil. Eucalyptus has a fresh, relaxing (yet energizing), slightly sharp smell. Most people use it when they come down with a cold to relieve a stuffy nose by breathing it in straight from the bottle or via diffusion. It’s also a natural mosquito repellant and may help with arthritic pain.
Our USDA Certified Organic 100% Pure Eucalyptus Oil is great for all these things and more. Our oil can be used to make DIY cleaners that disinfect surfaces without all the harmful chemicals. If you dilute it with a carrier oil, it’s also excellent in massage oil, since its herbaceous essence calms angry muscles and relieves stress and tension.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint essential oil is used in plenty of ways, such as in candy canes, skincare products, or around the house for a cleansing smell. Like lavender essential oil, studies have shown that peppermint oil can potentially relieve the effects of insomnia and get you a better night’s sleep. Like eucalyptus oil, peppermint is frequently used in times of illness to clear up air passageways and expel mucus. In topical use, peppermint essential oil is slightly tingly and energizing and may reduce pain in stiff joints and sore muscles.
PURA D’OR’s (organic, of course) 100% Pure Peppermint Essential Oil is just what you need for productivity. It is thought to increase attention span and memory and helps relieve itchy scalp. If you’re feeling sluggish and need a boost in energy, try our peppermint essential oil.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has a plethora of benefits, including boosting skin health, revitalizing the scalp, and relaxing the mind. Tea tree oil is an antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory oil, so those struggling with acne can use it to reduce redness and kill acne-causing bacteria.
PURA D’OR USDA Certified Organic 100% Pure Tea Tree Oil can be easily diluted with argan or rosehip oil to create a topical application to fight blemishes. Put a few drops in your laundry detergent to fight odors. Or take a whiff of this powerful oil for deep relaxation!
How Can I Get Started?
Totally new to the aromatherapy game? We have a solution. Instead of purchasing large bottles of everything to figure out which
scents you love most, try our PURA D’OR (you guessed it, USDA Certified Organic) Sweet 16 Essential Oil Set. It comes in a cute wooden storage box! The Sweet 16 Kit contains turmeric, patchouli, ylang ylang, basil, cedarwood, eucalyptus, bergamot, tangerine, tea tree, lemongrass, frankincense, peppermint, sweet orange, rosemary, lavender, and lemon essential oils with no-nonsense therapeutic grade ingredients.
Want to start off smaller? No worries, we have something for you, too. Our
Perfect 10 USDA Certified Organic Essential Oil Set is perfect for you. You’ll get sweet orange, rosemary, lavender, lemon, tea tree, lemongrass, frankincense, peppermint, eucalyptus, and cedarwood essential oils packed in an aesthetically pleasing artisan wooden box.
BONUS: Relax in the Bath
Did you know you can combine aromatherapy with bath time? Essential oils can easily be diluted in a bath full of relaxing, warm water for some much-needed me-time.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- A bathtub full of warm water
- A carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil or sweet almond oil
- Essential oil(s) of choice
Steps:
- Fill your bathtub full of warm to hot water depending on how you like it. Do not put your essential oils in the tub while the water is running because the steam could pull the oils from your bath and into the bathroom air.
- Mix your carrier oil with an essential oil prior to dumping them both into the water. A good rule of thumb is a tablespoon of carrier oil per two drops of essential oil. A small bowl works well for this.
- Pour the mixture into the tub and swirl the water around with your hand.
-
Step into the tub and relax!
Recommended Essential Oils:
Energy:
- 5 drops lemon
- 3 drops rosemary
- 4 drops lemongrass
- 3 drops lavender
Relaxation:
- 5 drops lavender
- 3 drops frankincense
- 2 drops ylang ylang
Essential oils to stay away from during bath time:
-
Cinnamon
- Clove
- Oregano
- Spearmint
- Any spicy scents
Aromatherapy: Your New Best Friend
Who knew that your sense of smell could make your skin, sleep, hair, and mental health so much better? Whether you choose lavender, ylang ylang, or eucalyptus as your favorite scent, you’ll love the adventure of de-stressing anywhere.
For more PURA D’OR, check out our homepage. Your happiness is worth everything to us.