My favorite essential oils
I’ve long been intrigued by essential oils, for the simple pleasure of the scents, but also for their apparent health-promoting properties. Finally, about nine months ago I decided to give them a try, and I’m hooked. Part of the reason I took so long to actually try oils is that all the options and ways to use them were a bit overwhelming. I didn’t know where to start.
In case you are in a similar situation, I thought it might help if I shared my three current favorite essential oils with you, along with a brief description of what these oils are typically used for and how I use them.
Peppermint
Why to use: Peppermint oil is typically used to invigorate, calm the stomach, or freshen the breath. Lesser known usages are to treat headaches and repel bugs.
How I use: First thing in the morning, I take a couple of deep breaths over the bottle and then rub a small amount directly on the back of my neck to serve as a natural pick-me-up. Sometimes, I’ll put a drop in my foot cream and give myself an invigorating mini foot massage. I also mix it with eucalyptus in my diffuser, while I exercise or meditate.
Other ways to use: Though I haven’t tried it myself, I’m told you can add it to water with lemon for a mouth rinse or to your shampoo for a scalp massage.
Eucalyptus
Why to use: Eucalyptus oil is used to relax, clear the mind, and promote clear breathing. It can also be used to treat sinus headaches or as a household cleaner.
How I use: As mentioned above, I like to use eucalyptus in the diffuser in my exercise/meditation room. I also keep a bottle in my shower. I put a couple of drops around my feet. When the hot water hits the oil, it creates a refreshing smell that helps to clear my mind and my sinuses.
Other ways to use: I’ve also heard it’s good for cleaning kitchen and bathroom surfaces when combined with lemon, peppermint, and water in a spray bottle.
Lavendar
Why to use: Lavender oil is best known for easing tension and promoting sleep. It is also used to soothe sunburn or other minor skin irritations.
How I use: Each evening, as I’m preparing for bed, I rub a couple of drops between my hands, cup them around my nose and mouth, and inhale deeply. I have also diffused lavender in the evening.
Other ways to use: I know some people put a few drops on their pillows or apply to the bottoms of their feet. I’m also told you can use it in cooking or even drink a drop diluted in four ounces of liquid. I once tried a drop in water and didn’t care for the taste; though, I do like lavender tea.
Your turn
- Have you used essential oils?
- If so, what is your favorite? How do you use it?
- Is there a scent (not limited to oils) that instantly brings back a memory?
- Do you have a favorite scent?
8-week transformation challenge – week 6 update
In order to create accountability for myself, I will be giving a weekly update of my efforts and progress in the 8-week Transformation Challenge. If you are not interested in this portion of my blog, please feel free to skip down to the Comments. I’d love to hear from you.
Workouts. I attended three Orangetheory classes this week.
In between the Orangetheory workouts, I did one yoga session, went on one run, and took two rest days. I had planned to ride the stationary bike as well, but the day it was scheduled, I wasn’t feeling it. All I wanted to do was rest, so I did.
Nutrition. My food win for this week: we had an all-day training at work, which included a catered lunch. I’ve been eating out a lot lately, so I decided to bring my own healthy lunch. I made sure to bring something I like a lot, so I wouldn’t be jealous, and it worked.
Weigh-in. I lost 0.8 pound this week, for a net loss of 3.5 pounds so far. This puts me almost back to where I was on week 4. I’m hoping to finish out strong to meet my 5-pound goal.
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Hi, Christie – Thanks for the tips of the essential oils. Like you, I am intrigued by the thought of using them….but find the choices and options overwhelming. I appreciate the examples that you have shared.
Congratulations on your continued perseverance and successes with your Transformation Challenge. Well done!
Thanks Donna. I’ll be curious to see if I’ve gained any muscle or lost any fat at the end of the challenge, but regardless, I am eating healthier and have been motivated to push a little harder on my physical activity, so I’m pleased about that. I do love the oils. I think I’ll try a citrus blend next.
Hi Christie about a year ago my cousin introduced me to DoTerra and essential oils. I just kept procrastinating because I didn’t really understand them and what they could do. I actually had written a couple of posts which I deleted. Thank you for explaining some of the types of oils and their uses. As to your fitness program I’m so glad you listened to your body and took an extra rest day. I’m guilty of pushing through but am coming to realise that the world won’t end if my body is not feeling up to a workout. I’ve walked, did two runs and a yoga session last week. I need to get back into my weights and total body workouts. Thanks for sharing at #MLSTL and have a beautiful week.
You’re welcome Sue. I can’t swear by any physical health benefits, but I do enjoy them, and pleasant smells have a powerful positive effect on my emotional well-being. I feel guilty when I don’t do a scheduled work out, which is good when I’m just feeling unmotivated, but can be a problem if my body needs rest. I guess like everything else, it comes down to listening to your body and your intuition. Thanks, as always, for hosting #MLSTL.
Hi Christie, I have commented before but thanks for sharing at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty and have a great week!
Hi Christie
Yes, I use aromatherapy more than I thought. I have lavender candles, made with soy, in my room and sometimes rub it under my nose. I also use it in my bath with Epsom salts when I am really weary. I’m also growing some in my yard so I can run my hand along the foliage, take a whiff and instantly relax.
Eucalyptus is another of my favorites. It reminds me of my childhood days along the coast. Like lavender, I use it in the bath and rub it under my nose.
Rosemary. When I walk the neighborhood I cannot resist running my hands along the rosemary plants in peoples yard. It’s a wonderful scent. I’m growing some in my herb garden
There’s more but I’ll stop here. Except for, Sea n Ski suntan lotion. We had it when we were kids. Our parents would swipe some down our noses and across our shoulders. Just the thought of it brings back memories. I wonder where I can get some, I think I’ll google it. (Coppertone too.)
Off I go, down the rabbit hole.
Laura
Smell is a powerful sense and a strong memory trigger, isn’t it? Thanks for sharing some of your favorites and the lovely memory of your parents sunscreening you.
Hi Christie – Congratulations on your continued success with your Transformation Challenge! I like the eucalyptus and lavender scents. Both brought back fond travel memories. I like the lemon scent, too. I read that lavender and lemon scents are good for stress relief.
Thanks Natalie. I was actually thinking about trying a citrus next. I may go with lemon and try that combination.
Anything that can possibly help me sleep through the night is worth trying. No problem getting to sleep, it’s the 2:30 am “wake-up” call I keep getting. Perhaps I should try the lavender… if nothing else, it smells good!
There is that. It definitely smells good. I tried several things to improve my sleep around the same time, so I’m not certain the lavender oil was the cure, but I have been sleeping better lately. Good luck! Sleep well!
I’ve often thought about using essential oils but apart from buying some Sandalwood and putting it under my pillow (which I loved) I haven’t really used them. You’ve given me some ideas though and inspired me to try more.
I haven’t tried sandalwood, but I might now. It’s said to promote healthy looking skin and enhance mood–both sound pretty good to me. If you decide to try some others, I’d love to hear what you think.
I love lemongrass – it has such a fresh and zingy smell to it. I don’t use the oils much personally but I do like them in a diffuser and I often add a little to my floor cleaning water to make the house smell nice when I’m finished.
whoops – forgot to say….Thanks for linking up with us at #MLSTL and I’ve shared this on my SM xx
Thank you Leanne and thanks for hosting #MLSTL!
Lemon just smells clean, doesn’t it? I haven’t tried lemongrass, but am going to check in out. Thanks for the idea.
Hi Christie, thanks for sharing your favourites. I love lavender oil too, I like to use a few drops in a relaxing bath, and I love having it growing in my garden. Another of my favourites is patchouli. I don’t know what it is about this one but it somehow draws me in. Apparently it’s meant to “ground and balance” so perhaps that says something about me, lol. I’m also a bit partial to frankincense – I think those 3 wise men were really onto something – hmm, looks like I’m in need of relaxing, grounding and balancing……..
Hello Sue! Thanks for stopping by. It is interesting that your drawn to all the scents intended to relax, ground, and balance. There’s a message there. 🙂 I haven’t tried frankincense, but it’s on my list. Have a lovely day!
My daughter and I went to Koln yesterday and stopped at a shop. One of the scents that was sold made us both remember a trip to the Carolina coast that we took several years ago. The perfume smelled just like a suntan lotion we had used while on vacation. We bought the perfume so we could keep the memory fresh!
That’s so interesting, because you’re the second person that has mentioned suntan lotion as triggering a memory. I love that you bought the perfume, so you could keep your memory fresh.
Hi Christie, I use some of the essential oils too, my favourite being wild orange and citrus bliss. I use them in the diffuser, in my body moisturiser and sometimes just as a perfume. Lemon and lemongrass are also great cleaning/freshening up agents. There’s so many to choose from and I have a lot that I don’t use to their full potential. Great to read your progress update too ? #mlstl
Thank you Debbie. I’ve been make a list of the oils everyone else is using, so I can give them a try too. Like you said, there are so many to choose from, it’s good to have some recommendations.
I have never gotten into using oils but daughter has and does. She has a small suitcase of different oils she uses for everything. I was having hip pain and she used oils mixed with coconut butter for a lotion for me to rub in my hip, I didn’t find much relief but it did smell good. I do have a lavender spray that I spritz the bed and pillows with that does help with sleep.
I’m just a dabbler myself, Victoria, but am finding that I really like them, even if just because they smell good. I do find them to be mood enhancers–either to relax or to boost my spirits.
THANKS FOR THIS. I use lavender every night for instant sleep. Last week peppermint got ants out of my kitchen. When my husband was ill, he used lavender also. Gifts of our planet. Thanks.
Hello Beth and welcome! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I’m a relative newby to essential oils, but am loving what I’m learning. Have a wonderful day!
I don’t know anything about essential oils but am curious about them. Thank you for being specific about these 3, and only 3, so it’s not overwhelming for the uninformed (like me:)
Welcome Candi. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I like the number three–it’s manageable. 🙂 If you decide to try an oil, I’d love to hear about your experience. Have a beautiful day!
I love essential oils and when wanting to concentrate I will often burn a combination of peppermint and a citrus oil. It smells amazing and it really does help. And yes, eucalyptus oil is great for cleaning and deodorising. We are about to move house and have used the oil over and over again to remove stubborn or greasy marks, particularly on white formica. So many lovely oils to experiment with. Sharing this on Facebook
Welcome Jan! Thanks for stopping by and for sharing your experience with oils. I’m definitely trying a citrus next!
I love essential oils and use them – lazily – on my pillow, but I’m going to get more organised about using them with my diffuser. I like lavender and orange. Lemongrass is a good way to keep mosquitoes at bay.
Thanks for the tip, Kalpana. I’m going to try the lemongrass this summer. The mosquitoes love me! (The feeling is not mutual.)
I love using essential oils. Among my favs are lavender, tea tree, PanAway (wintergreen, helichrysum, clove, and peppermint), and Peace & Calming (ylang ylang, orange, tangerine, patchouli, and blue tansy). Too many to list them all. Some of them I use a drop in a water bottle, some in my whirlpool tub with epsom salt, some directly on my body diluted if needed with olive oil, and some in a diffuser for the air in our home. My shampoo and toothpaste also contain essential oils. Shared on Fb, G+, Pn, and Tw ♥
It sounds like you’ve got it down, Dee. I’m definitely going to branch out more. I just ordered a citrus blend and one called Serenity (Lavender Flower, Cedarwood, Ho Wood Leaf, Ylang Ylang Flower, Marjoram Leaf, Roman Chamomile Flower, Vetiver Root, Vanilla Bean Absolute, Hawaiian Sandalwood Wood). I can’t wait to try them out. Thanks for sharing Dee!
You know I love oils! Lately I am most drawn to Tangerine. I love having it going in my diffuser as I get ready in the morning. When I am sluggish in the afternoon I like to mix Peppermint and Orange. Picks me right up!
Tangerine sounds lovely, Stacie. Thanks for helping me get started with oils. I love them!
Hi Christie,
I love Euclyptus, Peppermint, Lemon and Cinnamon. I have 4 diffusers and I keep the Lemon going downstairs in 2 and upstairs I love to mix Euclyptus with cinnamon or with the peppermint. I am not drawn to lavender, but could tolerate it at night if it would help with my insomnia. I love the way the house smells when I open the door and the Euclyptus helps with my sinuses. A friend recently shared a citrus blend with me that I loved as well. I tend to lean towards the fresh invigorating fragrances versus the sweet ones. Thanks for sharing and congratulations on your continued transformation.
Thank you for sharing your favorites, Clearissa. I just ordered a citrus blend that I can’t wait to try. I’m with you on a preference for the invigorating scents.
I love lavendar Christie but lately I’ve been loving the smell of vanilla I don’t know why??? Thanks for co-hosting and sharing at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty and have a great week!
Interestingly, vanilla is said to do some of the same things that lavender oil does–relieve anxiety, promote rest, lift spirits. I haven’t tried it as an oil, but I have a night lotion that combines lavender and vanilla, and it smells lovely. Thanks for cohosting #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. Have a lovely day, Sue.