Essential Oils

What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are basically plant extracts. They're made by steaming or pressing various parts of a plant (flowers, bark, leaves or fruit) to capture the compounds that produce fragrance. It can take several pounds of a plant to produce a single bottle of essential oil. In addition to creating scent, essential oils perform other functions in plants, too.

How to Apply Essential Oils

There are three ways to use essential oils:

1. Through smell. We call this “aromatic” use of essential oils. This includes any application method that helps you experience the aroma of the oil. You can use essential oils aromatically by:

• Diffusing in an essential oil diffuser

• Applying a drop to your hands and inhaling

• Wearing as a personal fragrance

2. On your skin. “Topical” application of essential oils allows the oil to absorb into the skin. Some ways to use essential oils on your skin are:

• Massage

• Apply to targeted areas and rub in

• Add to lotions or moisturizers

3. Ingesting, or “internal” use of essential oils allows the oil to be transported throughout your body. Make sure the essential oil is safe for internal use first, and then try one of these methods: 

• Add to a glass of water

• Take in a veggie capsule

• Put a drop under your tongue