Simple Tricks
There are plenty of ways to enjoy essential oils without any extra equipment! You can put a few drops of oil onto a tissue and place it on a radiator, or leave an open bottle on a high shelf (out of reach of pets and children). The oils will evaporate naturally, dispersing the scent around the room.
For a relaxing soak, you can add a few drops of essential oil to the bath. Then just lie back and relax!
Diffusers & Oil Burners
The most common way to use essential oils is in a diffuser. These work in various ways to diffuse essential oils and carry the scent into your room as a vapor. Please check if your diffuser is suitable for use with essential oils, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. 4-5 drops of your desired oil should be enough to fill a room with scent. You can find diffusers on our website.
To use an oil burner, pour a small amount of water into the top dish, then add a few drops of your desired essential oil. Never just pour oil in the top as it can spit when hot, potentially causing damage or injury. Place a tea-light candle underneath and light it. The heat from the flame will cause the oil to evaporate, diffusing the scent around your room.
Skin Application
You should never apply pure essential oils to your skin undiluted – we suggest mixing them in a carrier oil (e.g. Grapeseed) or plain moisturiser. Start with a ratio of 1% essential oil to 99% carrier and increase the amount gradually until you’re happy with the strength. You can follow this same method for hair application, using shampoo or conditioner.
Cosmetics
Creating your own cosmetics can be a really fun way to use essential oils. You can make big batches to sell or small pots for yourself and your friends and family. Each product you make will vary and many recipes will ask for different amounts. But, there are a few general rules you can use to help you get started.
If you decide to have a go at soap making, one of the easiest and safest ways to do so is with Melt and Pour Soap. For a strong, lasting scent you should use 20ml of essential oil per kilogram of melt and pour soap as a general guide. It’s not recommended to use any more than 30ml per kilo.
If you want to make candles with essential oils you’ll need to do some calculations. The amount you need to use differs with each wax brand. Soy wax is a great choice to blend with essential oils. The result is a gorgeous and totally natural candle. When you purchase your wax it should come with instructions, including the correct temperature to add your oils, and the “fragrance load”. This is the maximum amount of fragrance you can add, usually written as a percentage. If your wax has a fragrance load of 7%, you would make a 100g candle using 7g of essential oil and 93g of wax.
If you’re following a recipe, use the amount of essential oils as given. We have lots of ideas for making cosmetics with essential oils on our blog!
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