How To Apply Essential Oils

Essential oils are a great remedy for pretty much anything that ails you. These magical plant extracts can help alleviate anything from depression to lethargy to acne. The household uses for essential oils goes on for days too (we’ll touch on that in another post, too much to cover in just one)!

While there are a ton of uses for oils, there are also a lot of different ways to apply them for optimal results. With so many options for how to apply essential oils, it can get a little confusing on what the best methods are and how long each will last. The length of time that the scent lingers for depends on how much is applied and how robust the scent is to begin with. Here are some great tips on the best ways to apply essential oils.

Dilute With Carrier Oils

Many essential oils are perfectly safe to apply directly to the skin, but there are some that are highly concentrated and powerful. With this power comes the possibility of skin irritation if not properly diluted with a carrier oil. The most popular oils to dilute essential oils with are jojoba, coconut, sweet almond, or olive oil. These oils help to reduce the concentration of the essential oils and help to moisturize the skin simultaneously. Here’s a handy guide to show you how much you should dilute an oil to achieve your ideal blend strength. 

Direct Application of Essential Oils

The many essential oils that are typically approved to apply directly to the skin without a carrier oil are tea tree (melaleuca) oil, lavender oil, Roman chamomile oil, sandalwood oil, and rose essential oil. These oils are gentle enough that they will usually not cause any irritation when applied topically. You’ll want to test a small area if you’ve never used these oils before slathering on just in case though. 

Essential Oil Jewelry Applicators

These trendy new items are popping up in everyone’s stockings this year! Essential oil jewelry isn’t just limited to bracelets anymore, you can accessorize with your favorite essential oil scent with earrings, necklaces, and even specialized bracelets that contain lava stones. The benefits of using lava stones in essential oil jewelry is that the stones are able to hold scents for longer than other stones dues to being so porous in nature. The stones are made of solidified molten lava, are also said to have healing properties and can reduce anger and bring about positive change when needed. 

These fashionable baubles are great for application on-the-go and for experimenting with making custom scented blends. 

When And Where Not To Apply Essential Oils

There’s a time and a place for everything. One rule of thumb is to not apply photosensitive essential oils prior to sun exposure. Wearing sunscreen is always recommended for skin health and especially so if you plan on having a day at the beach or going to a tanning bed. The biggest culprits for essential oil-related sunburns are oils that belong to the citrus family. These photosensitive essential oils can turn a day at the beach to a day at the dermatologist’s office quickly. If using essential oils or blends that contain photosensitive oils, it’s recommended that you avoid UV exposure for up to 12 hours after application. 

Another big no-no for essential oil application is membraneous areas like the nostrils or other parts of skin that are delicate. If where you’re applying would be considered “inside” of an area of the body, don’t do it!

Testing different ways to apply your favorite oils is the best way to figure out what’s right for you, it’s a fun and delightful process to find what you prefer, have fun with it and see all the benefits oils can bring to your life!