The world of aromatherapy is literally thousands of years old. Besides whole herbs, essentials oils are one of the oldest therapeutic agents still used by humans. So for the newcomer to aromatherapy, exactly how to use essential oils can be somewhat mystifying at first.

What is an essential oil? First of all, it probably helps to understand what an essential oil is. Essential oils are volatile compounds found in the roots, leaves, seeds, bark, heartwood, or resins of plants. Sometimes called the “blood” of plants, essential oils consist of different classes of molecules, such as terpenes, phenols, and esters, that perform various functions for the living plant, such as stimulating cell growth, preventing bacterial growth, and protecting it against predation. The molecules in an essential oil are often small enough to enter cell membranes when applied to the skin or inhaled, which is why they are such useful agents in aromatherapy.

Preparing essential oils: There’s no one guide to how to use essential oils in aromatherapy, as different practitioners have their own favorite methods. However, most aromatherapists recommend that you dilute concentrated essential oils in a carrier oil before using them directly on your body. Carrier oils are usually vegetable or nut oils such as olive, coconut, almond, or jojoba oil. Adding essential oils to natural lotions such as shea butter is another method of dilution. The motto for diluting essential oils is that a little goes a long way: in general, a diluted oil blend should consist of 2% essential oil for adults. So, for every 30 mL (or 1 fluid ounce) of carrier oil, you would add about 12 drops total of any essential oil.

One question we get all the time is whether any essential oils can be used “neat”, that is, without any dilution. Opinions vary widely among aromatherapists about the safety of using essential oils at full strength: some sources claim that a few essential oils, such as lavender, tea tree, and sandalwood oil, can be used neat on small areas of skin. However, other aromatherapists err on the side of caution and recommend diluting any essential oil you work with, even those generally regarded as nonsensitizing. The general rule with any essential oil is to recongnize that these are powerfully concentrated therapeutic agents and to treat them with respect: always do a small patch test with the essential oil in dilution before applying it to a larger area of skin, even if you have worked with that essential oil in the past.

Blending essential oils: After you’ve become familiar with a few essential oils, you can get creative and blend multiple essential oils to create a synergy. This is when knowing the properties of the oils in your cabinet really comes into play: after all, you want a blend where the oils complement each other and enhance the overall effect. Consider how you want to use your essential oil blend: as a fragrance? A massage oil? For diffusion? You wouldn’t want to add potentially irritating essential oils such as cassia or cinnamon bark to a massage blend, but these same oils might work great in a diffuser. To help you out, each of our essential oils comes with a handy list of other essential oils with which it blends especially well. Don’t be afraid to use your own instincts as a guide, either—if you don’t like how certain oils smell together, don’t combine them.

Storing essential oils: Ever wonder why essential oils come in those dark glass bottles? The volatile active constituents of essential oils are fragile and can be easily degraded by exposure to sunlight and temperature changes; the dark glass acts as a shield to greatly extend the shelf life of your oil. Place your custom essential oil blends in an amber or dark blue glass bottle with an airtight lid or stopper. Store all essential oils in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and out of reach of children or pets. Finally, many essential oils are flammable, so be sure also to keep your essential oils away from open flames and sources of heat or electricity.

How to use essential oils in aromatherapy: There are two basic ways to use essential oils in aromatherapy, with endless variations depending on the practitioner.

Topical application: Diluted essential oils are applied to the skin in treatments that target specific areas of the body. An essential oil massage might be used to address sore muscles or joint aches, indigestion or stomach upset, menstrual discomfort, or skin problems such as acne or infections. In a variation of the massage technique, essential oils can also be added to warm bathwater along with a moisturizing agent.

Diffusion: In this aromatherapy method, essential oils are added to an oil diffuser, burner, or sometimes to a bowl of hot water to create steam, which is then inhaled. Aromatherapy by diffusion is the preferred method of getting the benefit of oils that can be too strong for topical massage, such as lemongrass, cassia, or cinnamon bark. Because the point of entry for diffused oils is through the mucosal lining of the throat and lungs, diffusion is often used to address respiratory complaints such as excessive mucus, congestion, or coughs. Essential oils are often used at full strength in diffusion aromatherapy.

How to use essential oils in the home: You don’t have to be into aromatherapy to take advantage of essential oils. Looking for a natural way to spruce up your bathroom or living room? Consider adding some elevating essential oils to a diffuser to scent a room and perk up your senses! Citrusy scents like lemon, sweet orange, verbena or lemongrass can also eliminate odors and airborne bacteria. Some oils such as catnip and citronella may be diffused outdoors as natural insect repellents. Antiseptic essential oils such as pine needle, thyme, peppermint, and most citrus oils make effective cleansers for disinfecting your kitchen and bathroom, especially when added to water above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. For a double dose of cleansing power, add lemon juice or vinegar to your cleanser: the concentrated acids and hot water act as efficient antimicrobial agents that are safe to humans.

Perhaps no other plant holds as storied a place in Mediterranean history as the bay laurel tree (Laurus nobilis). Not be confused with the Caribbean bay tree, the bay laurel is an evergreen tree or shrub with lance-shaped, shiny green leaves. It is native to the Mediterranean regions of Greece, Italy, and West Asia. Bay laurel essential oil is renowned for its ability to stimulate appetite and digestion, and has a variety of ancient uses as a food and medicinal herb.

The bay laurel tree appears in the Bible and in Greek and Roman myth. In the ancient Mediterrean world, the bay laurel was the symbol of victory: victors in the ancient Greek Panhellenic games (the precursor to our modern-day Olympics) were crowned with wreathes of laurel leaves to commemorate their achievement. This practice gave rise to the saying, “to rest on one’s laurels”. Laurel leaves have continued to be associated with achievement up to the present day—we still use laurel symbolism to denote people who have earned a college degree as baccalaureates, meaning “those crowned with laurels”.

Why is the bay laurel so firmly linked to accomplishment in ancient and modern minds? For one thing, bay laurel oil and leaves were sacred to the Greek god Apollo, the father of poetry and artistic endeavors. Furthermore, the scent of bay laurel oil is widely thought to stimulate creativity, inspiration, and confidence [1].

The bay laurel tree also left a lasting impression on Mediterranean cuisine and herbalism. Along with thyme, oregano, and rosemary, dried bay leaves have been one of the key ingredients in pasta sauce even before the tomato was brought over from the New World. Because they are rigid and can have sharp edges, whole bay leaves are inedible and must be removed from sauces before eating. However, bay leaves are often ground up to render them edible and added to Bloody Mary cocktails for a distinctive savory flavor.

Bay laurel oil or the fresh leaves have also been used as a wound salve [2], appetite stimulant [3], and an expectorant to clear respiratory congestion [4]. A poultice made of boiled bay laurel leaves was a common folk remedy for skin rashes caused by poison ivy, poison oak, or stinging nettles [2]. Since bay laurel oil can cause skin sensitization, it is best used in dilution. Try mixing a small quantity of bay laurel oil with other camphoraceous, fruity or spicy oils such as lavender, frankincense, cypress, or clary sage. Or you can diffuse bay laurel oil directly from an oil burner to aid your concentration, mental clarity, and confidence!

REFERENCES

1. Worwood, Valerie Ann. 1999. Aromatherapy for the Soul. Novato, CA: New World Library: 202.

2.”Laurus nobilis“. Wikipedia. Last modified April 16th, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurus_nobilis.

3. Rudrappa, Umesh. “Bay Leaf Nutrition Facts, Medicinal Properties and Health Benefits”. Nutrition and You. Accessed June 4th, 2014. http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/bay-leaf.html.

4. “Bay Laurel Essential Oil.” Aromaweb. Accessed June 3rd, 2014. http://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/bay-laurel-oil.asp.

The magnolia is one of the most well-traveled flowers in the world, with species in South Asia, the Pacific, and North America. The magnolia essential oil we offer at the Essential Oil Exchange is steam distilled from the flowers of Michelia alba, a hybrid species created by crossing the South Asian Magnolia champaca with Magnolia montana. Our magnolia essential oil is pale to orangish yellow with a crisp, green, not too floral scent with a tropical-fruity hint!

The magnolia plant has broad green leaves and large white flowers with spear-shaped petals that exude an alluring scent. Also called white champaca, white sandalwood, and white jade orchid tree, magnolia flowers have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years to move qi, the vital force that regulates the body’s organ systems [1]. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine believe that when qi becomes blocked or stagnant, illness is the result. A fragrant tea known as yulan is also steeped from magnolia flowers in China, and the blossoms are used in temple ceremonies in India to mark life milestones such as births, deaths, and religious holidays. In South Asia, the scent of magnolia flowers is associated with renewal, growth, and new beginnings.

The uses of magnolia essential oil in aromatherapy are many, and more aromatherapists continue to discover its roster of therapeutic uses every day. As an antimicrobial and antiseptic agent, magnolia oil is often diffused to treat respiratory infections [2], and may also offer relief for allergenic reactions and congestion [3]. The oil is also sometimes applied topically to reduce fevers, regulate female hormones, and as an emollient that nourishes the skin and balances oil secretions [4]. On the emotional plane, magnolia essential oil is thought to calm the nerves while stimulating awareness, increasing overall confidence, and acting as an aphrodisiac. That’s quite a profile!

Of course, magnolia oil can also simply be worn as an exotic perfume: it blends well with citrus or sweet-herbaceous oils such as basil, bergamot, cedarwood, eucalyptus, lemon, lime, mandarin, neroli and petitgrain. Only small amounts of magnolia essential oil are required in any fragrance blend, as it is quite an “assertive” oil; or you can wear it alone as a signature scent that will light up a room the instant you walk in.

REFERENCES

1. Dharmananda, Subhuti, PhD. March 2001. “Magnolia Bark”. Institute for Traditional Medicine Online, Portland Oregon. http://www.itmonline.org/arts/magnolia.htm.

2. Fortunato, Michelle. “Medicinal Properties of the Magnolia Flower”. eHow. Accessed June 4th, 2014. http://www.ehow.com/list_6157057_medicinal-properties-magnolia-flower.html.

3. Pulugurtha, Shamala. “Magnolia Flower Health Uses”. Livestrong. Last modified April 28th, 2011. http://www.livestrong.com/article/430820-magnolia-flower-health-uses/.

4. “Essential Oils Guide – CHAMPACA (Magnolia michelia alba, M. champaca)”. Diamond Heart. Accessed June 2nd, 2014. http://diamondheart.net/essential-oils-guide/126–champaca-magnolia-michelia-alba-m-champaca.

A perennial grass native to tropical Asia, citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) produces a rich essential oil with a lemony top note and woody undertones that is widely used in fragrancing and perfumery. Citronella is also the commercial source of two disinfectant compounds commonly used in detergents, citronellol and geraniol [1]. We source our citronella essential oil from Vietnam and offer it here as an outstanding insect repellent, antiseptic, and energizing oil.

Citronella is a member of the lemongrass genus Cymbopogon. Like its better known relative, it is often used in cooking to flavor food and as a preservative due to its strong antibacterial [2] and antifungal properties [3]. Its strong aromatic compounds, especially citronellol, also made citronella essential oil a popular natural insect repellent before the invention of DDT and other chemical insecticides. Today, as the impact of synthetic insecticides on the environment has become apparent, people are once again turning to natural alternatives such as citronella and catnip oil to gain relief from biting insects, cockroaches, and other household pests.

There are two varieties of citronella you can buy in essential oil form: Java citronella, which has a sharper scent and slightly higher citronellol content, and the softer Sri Lanka citronella [1]. Either can be used as an outdoor or topical insect repellent, although diffusion is the preferred method. When using citronella oil as an insect repellent on the skin, it must be reapplied every 30 to 60 minutes to retain its effectiveness [4]. As an outdoor insect repellent on your porch or patio, simply place a few drops of citronella oil in a diffuser or oil burner, either by itself or blended with another insect repellent oil such as catnip or cedarwood oil. There are also specialty products available such as citronella mosquito coils, and aromatic candles infused with citronella, cedarwood, and other essential oils. These products produce vapors that are repellent to mosquitoes and flies but pleasantly aromatic to humans.

The benefits of citronella essential oil don’t stop there, of course: this gentle, generally nonsensitizing oil has been used in massages to halt excessive perspiration, as a conditioner for oily hair or skin, and a natural deodorant [5]. When inhaled, citronella oil’s lemony scent uplifts mood, banishes fatigue, and may be helpful in combating colds and sinus congestion [5]. Plus, it’s just refreshing!

REFERENCES

1. “Citronella Oil”. Wikipedia. Last modified June 9th, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citronella_oil.

2. Pattnaik S, VR Subramanyam, and C Kole. 1996. “Anibacterial and antifungal activity of ten essential oils in vitro”. Microbioscience 86 (349): 237-46.

3. Nakahara, Kazuhiko, Najeeb S Alzoreky, Tadashi Yoshihashi, Huong T Nguyen, Gassinee Trakoontivakorn. October 2003. “Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Essential Oil from Cymbopogon nardus (Citronella Grass)”. Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences 37 (4): 249-52.

4. “Mosquito Repellents Review”. Choice, The Australian Consumers Association. Last modified November 6th, 2013. http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/household/laundry-and-cleaning/pest-control/mosquito-repellents-review.aspx.

5. “Health Benefits of Citronella Oil”. The Research Pedia. Accessed June 9th, 2014. http://www.theresearchpedia.com/health/aromatherapy/health-benefits-of-citronella-oil.