Expand Your Essential Oils Knowledge

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Welcome to our learning hub, dedicated to the fascinating world of essential oils we use to handcraft our products! Embark on a journey of discovery as we unravel the secrets of nature's remedies, exploring the powerful benefits and diverse uses of essential oils and herbs.

Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or just beginning to explore the realm of natural wellness, our website offers educational content covering everything from the origins of essential oils and herbs to their applications in aromatherapy, skincare, and overall health with valuable insights and practical tips learning how they can enhance your well-being and contribute to a healthier lifestyle.

As always, please consult your healthcare practitioner if you have concerns about using herbs or essential oils. Do not use this information to treat medical conditions. This information is for educational purposes only. Whether you're interested in relaxation, skincare, or natural remedies, this information empowers you with the knowledge and tools to make informed choices on your journey to a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.

Aromatic essential oils are highly concentrated essences derived from plants. They have a long history of natural healing and are used in aromatherapy and fragrances. The oils harness a plant's therapeutic properties to restore the mind, body, and spirit balance. 

Essential oils can contain as many as 100 chemical components, which combine to give them unique properties and aromas. Each element plays a role. Some are more dominant and determine how an oil will act on the body and mind.

Holistic healing involves treating the entire person so that the body, mind, and spirit are in harmony. This approach is very different from the conventional one that uses targeted drugs to tackle or suppress symptoms but does not always address the root of the concerning symptom.

Our sense of smell is more sensitive and immediate than our other senses so that aromas can be evocative. Chemicals in a scent can trigger physiological responses and affect our mental state. These combined effects enable aromatic oils to work holistically on mind, body, and spirit, bringing balance, healing, and often a profound sense of well-being. 

Essential oils act on the mind and body to achieve more profound healing. When relaxed, the body may be better at letting go of toxins and maintaining healthy circulation. We are proud to share that we curate our essential oils using plants, flowers, and herbs. 

MIND 

Essential oils can help promote a state of mind. Stimulating oils such as rosemary can clear the mind, enhancing focus, while oils such as lavender have deeply relaxing properties to combat the effects of stress. When we feel anxious or depressed, it's not just our minds that are affected; our bodies can also suffer, for example, holding tension in our muscles. Several parts of our brain regulate adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine levels. Many oils have mood-enhancing properties and physiological effects, so they treat mental and physical stress and anxiety symptoms.  

BODY

These oils are natural healers, harnessing the medicinal properties traditionally associated with plants. Oils can be anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antifungal, and many essential oils are also antimicrobial, helping to kill harmful microorganisms and protect us against disease. One of the best antiseptic essential oils is tea tree, which is thought to be as effective in treating athlete's foot as conventional drugs. Chemical components such as thymol found in thyme essential oil, menthol in peppermint, and eugenol in clove essential oil, to name a few, have been powerfully antiseptic. Applying them directly to the skin or inhalation therapy has been used to treat bronchitis and acute sinusitis symptoms for many years. In a world where many strains of bacteria are becoming resistant to conventional antibiotics, essential oils are beginning to be seen as a viable alternative. 

SPIRIT

Oils have been used for centuries to enhance spiritual practice and prayer. Historically, frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon, cedarwood, and rose have been used in religious ceremonies. Aromas that calm the mind or help lift the spirits, such as lavender, elemi, and bergamot, can improve focus during yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises. 

Essential oils are used to clear blockages in the chakras, believed to be the energy centers in the body that relate to specific glands and organs. Connected by meridians, chakras are channels through which vital energy, or chi, flows. Blockages in these areas are thought to lead to poor health in the related parts of the body. 

If you have sensitive skin or have not used a particular essential oil or blend of oils before on your skin, do a patch test before using the oil for the first time to check that you won't have an adverse reaction. To do a patch test, apply a small amount on the inside of your elbow and wait for 24 hours. If there is no redness or irritation, you can try using the blend on a larger area.

The quickest way is to inhale the aroma, which directly affects the brain. Oils can also be absorbed through the skin during a massage, bath, or cream. You can also disperse oils in the air, dab a few drops on a tissue or pulse point, and inhale the scent deeply. These routes allow oils to enter the bloodstream, where their healing properties take effect. 

MASSAGE

It is ideal for addressing problems over a large surface area, such as achy muscles and joints, digestive issues, and fluid retention. You can also hone in on areas like massaging the abdomen to relieve period pain or digestive upsets.

INHALATION

Inhaling is a quick and easy way to enjoy the benefits, and since an essential oil's aroma is inhaled irrespective of the application, aromatherapy is the basis of it. Sprinkle 2-3 drops of oil on a tissue and inhale deeply. Similarly, you can sprinkle a few drops onto your pillowcase at night to help induce restful sleep. Or make a steam inhalation by adding 4-8 drops of oil to a bowl of steaming hot water. Lean over the bowl and place a towel over your head to contain the vapor; then, with eyes closed, breathe deeply for 10 minutes or until there is no more steam. For people living with epilepsy or asthma or with young children, use caution. Place the bowl of hot water nearby and capture wafts of steam. 

BATHS

Adding essential oils to a bath is a hugely pleasurable and widespread use. The warmth of the water relaxes and soothes muscles, encouraging relaxation. At the same time, the pores open to help the essential oils penetrate the skin and enter the body quickly. Even though the water will dilute the oils, you must blend them in a carrier base such as sunflower or almond before adding them to the bath. This helps the oils disperse in the water and moisturizes the skin. 

COMPRESSES

A compress infused with therapeutic essential oils is a simple and effective way to treat local complaints such as bruises, scalds, headaches, and varicose veins. A hot compress with ginger, cypress, juniper, pine, and lavender oils is ideal for skin infections, abscesses, boils, and muscle or joint problems, including strains, sprains, rheumatism, and arthritis. Wonderfully warming and relieving, these are a welcome treat for aching joints and muscles. A cold compress with lavender, neroli, peppermint, and eucalyptus helps to enhance the cooling process, ideal for sprains and sport-related injuries, especially if the area is feeling inflamed and hot.

SHOWERS & SAUNAS

Adding oils to a sauna or shower is a great way to clear sinuses, relieve tension headaches, and soothe irritating hay fever and allergy symptoms. For a steamy aromatherapy shower, put 5-8 drops of oil onto a warm, damp washcloth and then place the cloth in the shower area, but do not wash yourself with it. If possible, hang at face level to enjoy the aroma fully. Make sure the shower is hot enough to produce steam. Add 20-40 drops of oils to the water pitcher to splash the coals in the sauna. Cypress, eucalyptus, and pine essential oils work well. 

DIFFUSION

Diffusers can deodorize or fumigate a room or create a unique atmosphere. Sitting near a burner, diffuser, or vaporizer is an effective way to inhale the oils' vapors and benefit from their therapeutic properties. To make a room spray, combine 20-30 drops of essential oils with two tablespoons of mineral water and vodka and transfer the solution to a sterile atomizer bottle. Essential oils such as cedarwood, eucalyptus, lavender, and tea tree are ideal for fumigating, while lemon, lemongrass, and citronella can be used in a spray to repel insects.   

Since essential oils are highly concentrated, they must be used sensibly and diluted correctly. Spillage and accidents can strip away varnish on furniture and stain fabrics such as bedding and carpets. Here are some tips for dealing with essential oil spillages and accidents and for cleaning diffusers and burners:

INGESTING OILS- Drink milk to dilute the oil and seek urgent medical advice.

SPILLING OILS ON SKIN - Quickly pour vegetable/sunflower/olive oil or any other base to dilute the essential oil. Gently wash the area with soapy water and rinse with cold water. 

SPLASHING OIL IN THE EYES- Rinse the eye with milk, flush the area with cool water, and seek urgent medical advice. 

FURNITURE SPILLS—Wear gloves and mop up spills with paper towels, washing the area with soapy water. If a surface is damaged, you may need to repair or revarnish it. Place bottles on saucers or a towel, not directly on furniture. 

BEDDING SPILLS - Apply a stain remover for oil stains and then wash with detergent. 

CLEAN A DIFFUSER OR BURNER- Wipe with a cloth soaked in mineral spirits or white vinegar, then use a cloth dipped in soapy water to remove the vinegar smell. Rinse the fabric and give the diffuser or burner a final wipe to remove any soap residue.  

A few essential oils must be avoided in pregnancy and when breastfeeding. They may be too stimulating in the early weeks of pregnancy or cause skin hypersensitivity. The following oils are safe to use in pregnancy and when breastfeeding. However, check the botanical name since different varieties of a plant may not be safe. 

Anthemis nobilis - Roman Chamomile

Boswellia carterii/sacra - Frankincense

Cananga odorata- Ylang Ylang

Cedrus atlantica - Cedarwood

Citrus aurantifolia- Lime

Citrus aurantium - Neroli

Citrus limonum- Lemon

Citrus reticulata- Mandarin

Coriandrum sativum- Coriander

Cupressus sempervirens- Cypress

Eucalyptus globulus/radiata- Eucalyptus

Helichrysum italicum- Helichrysum (Immortelle)

Lavandula angustifolia- Lavender

Matricaria recutita- Chamomile (blue)

Origanum marjorana- Marjoram

Pelargonium graveolens- Geranium

Piper nigrum- Black Pepper

Pogostemon cablin- Patchouli

Thymus vulgaris CT linalool- Thyme

Vetiveria zizanoides- Vetiver

Zingiber officinale- Ginger

Be cautious about using oils on young infants as their skin is sensitive and very porous, and babies can struggle with adverse effects. Diffusers can be the best way to use oils with infants. 

As a good rule of thumb, essential oils are not recommended for the skin of premature babies and infants up to 3 months old. Instead, use simple base oils such as olive and grape seeds. 

3 to 6 months—Use only lavender or Roman chamomile. Dilute at 0.25%: 2 drops of essential oil to 2 drops of base oil.

6 to 12 months—Use only Roman chamomile, chamomile, lavender, neroli, mandarin, or rose absolute. Dilute at 0.5%: 4 drops of essential oils to 2 drops of base oil.

1-6 years old - Use oils labeled as nontoxic and nonirritant. Dilute at 1%: 8 drops of essential oils to 2 tablespoons of base oil. 

7-15 years old - Use oils labeled as nontoxic and nonirritant. Dilute at 1.5%: 12 drops of essential oils to 2 tablespoons of base oil.