So if you're googling using essential oils, you have been told to dilute....and yep, I agree, in most cases, that's a great idea!
Now what tho? How do I dilute? and with what?
First we want to understand a few things about EO's.
They dont like water, they like fat, so when we are gonna dilute we want to use what we call a carrier oil. A carrier oil is a fatty oil usually pressed from the seed of a plant. Think avocado oil, apricot kernel oil, coconut oil...
Carrier oils are the best way to dilute for topical use cause the eo will bind with the carrier oil, be absorbed slower and stay on the skin longer. That decreases the chance of a reaction, makes it easy to target large areas, and makes your essential oils go a long way. This is especially important if you are using EO's with your fur kids! But that's another blog :)
What carrier oil is best? Well that depends....on what your goal is...certain carrier oils are better for the skin than others. Some have their own aroma, or we might prefer one that has no aroma. Maybe we want a really thick oil, or maybe we want one that absorbs super quick...
If ya don't have a specific goal, my top 3 are:
- Fractionated coconut oil
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
Why? 'cause most of us have these in our kitchen and so ya don't have to go buy anything special, and they work well with most recipes.
If ya want more deets, click HERE to read my other blog post where we go a tad more in depth with info on carrier oils.
Once you pick your carrier oil, simply add a dollop or squirt in your hand, add your drops of EO's, rub your hands together, and apply.
You can also make a roller bottle, if ya need deets on that, click HERE
Let's get oiling!
So.... we've chatted smellin' our oils and eatin' 'em.....Now let's chat gettin' 'em on!
I can't stress enough, ya gotta read your labels, they will tell you how the essential oil is safe to use. The label will tell you if you can use it topically, as a supplement (orally), or by simply inhaling. It will tell you if the oil is a photosensitive oil (meaning increases sensitivity to sunlight). It will also tell you if ya need to dilute it first.
Let's chat a minute about photosensitive oils...we just learned that they may increase our sensitivity to the sun and our skin may burn more easily and quicker in the area of application.. So, what do we do?! We apply at night or under clothing...generally 12-24 hours prior to sun exposure is adequate.
If ya do need to dilute before application....how do ya do that, you ask?!
You simply mix it with a carrier oil. What is a carrier oil?!
A carrier oil is simply a fatty vegetable oil, usually derived from the nuts and seeds of plants (think olive oil or coconut oil) that is used to 'carry' the essential oil. For more info on dilution and carrier oils, check out my blog post "Should I Dilute My Essential Oils?...And With What?! HERE....
I like to keep things simple, so here is my 'easy button' for dilution....take a swipe of coconut oil with your finger, put in palm of hand, add a drop of essential oil, rub your palms together and apply. I like olive oil too 'cause I have it in my kitchen and don't have to purchase anything different.
Making a rollerball is also an easy way to dilute and have your oils ready to go. If ya don't know how to make a rollerball, download my step by step guide HERE
While we're on the topic of dilution, you may have heard of the term 'hot oil'. What is a hot oil?! A
hot oil is an oil that may cause redness or irritation with application. Oils high in phenols such as Oregano, Thyme, Cinnamon, Clove, and Basil are some examples.
It doesn't mean ya can't use these oils, just means ya need to dilute or find the best way to use them. Let's take Oregano for example- I don't want to smell like a pizza all day long, so I might take Oregano Vitality™ in a capsule for my immune system, rather than apply topically....
Here are some ideas to get you started with topical application:
- Make a rollerball (need help-grab my freebie 'How To Make A Rollerball' HERE)
- Use in a massage oil
- Make a liniment
- Make your own perfume (need help-check out my blog post on 'DIY Perfume' HERE)
- Make your own deodorant (download my fave recipe HERE)
- Add a drop to your natural face cream, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toner, lotion (really any natural skincare product you have to make it better or give it an added benefit)
Our Skin is our largest organ so supporting it is never a bad idea!
If you are using a roll on, massage oil, or liniment, you might ask-where should I apply?! Answer is, it depends on what you're using it for.... for example:
- perfume...wrists, back of neck pulse points
- deodorant...underarms
- Massage oil or liniment....target area that you want to support
If you're ready to start gettin' those oils on and easily incorporate them into your day, sign up for my weekly newsletter full of tips, tricks, hacks, and recipes HERE
Oil on!
Welcome back to 'Ya got some oils-Now What?!'...lol...last week we chatted bout a fun way to use your oils by simply smelling them, if ya missed it...check it out HERE
This week let's chat about another way you can use your oils, by 'eating' them. Say what?! We can 'eat' our oils?! Short answer....YES!..... but it does depend......on what, you ask? Well, there are a few things you should know.
- Only ingest an essential oil labeled for use in this way... How do ya know that? Simple, read your labels. Any essential oil you buy will have a label and that label should clearly state directions for use, or do not ingest. If it isn't stated, don't eat it! I like Young Living's Vitality™ Line, a complete line of essential oils labeled specifically for internal use! (easy peasy)
- Quality matters! One of our goals with using essential oils is to try a more natural approach and be the gatekeeper of our homes, barring chemicals that are bad for us. We sure don't want to be eating more chemicals!
- You can also check out the FDA's GRAS list (google it) GRAS stands for generally regarded as safe....
- Remember, a little gos a long way. There can be the equivalent of around 75 lemons in one 15 ml bottle of Lemon essential oil. Wowza!
Now you may be asking how? This is the fun part, so many options! Here's my favorites:
- Add a few drops to a capsule to support wellness
- Add a few drops to honey, then add hot water and make a tea
- Infuse honey, salt, vinegar, or olive oil
- Add to recipes to boost flavor
- Substitute in recipes for the dried herb
For a handy e-book with guidelines, substitution amounts, and some of my favorite recipes all in one place, click HERE
Stay tuned for a re-cap on topical essential oil use…and in the meantime….’Oil On’
…and if ya haven't done so yet…be sure to click HERE
and join my online community where we chat oils, horses, dogs, and even some massage!
Yay, welcome to the wide world of essential oils!
I remember the day I got some oils....woo hoo-how can anything smell thiisss good? Then....hmmmm....now what?!
No worries, I got ya covered!
The easiest and simplest way is to inhale them.
How do we do that?
● Simply remove the lid and Inhale directly from the bottle for at least 5 seconds ( that's about the time it takes to make it into the emotional center of the brain)
● Make a scent tent by applying 1 drop of essential oil into your palms, rub together, cup your hands over your nose, and inhale deeply.
● Put your favorite essential oil in an ultrasonic diffuser. (Follow instructions on the label of your diffuser)
No diffuser? No worries...try this:
Place a drop or 2 on a cotton ball and stash in strategic places
Place a drop or 2 on a wooden clothespin and stash in strategic places
Make a spritzer (need help-download my 'How To Make A Spritzer PDF HERE )
Wear diffuser jewelry-just google it…its a fun rabbit hole to go down :)…if you already have any jewelry that contains tassles, lava beads, ceramic, wood-congrats-you already have diffuser jewelry-simply add a drop of essential oil to that part of the jewelry…
Stay tuned for a re-cap on topical essential oil use…and in the meantime….’Oil On’
…and if ya haven't done so yet…be sure to click HERE
and join my online community where we chat oils, horses, dogs, and even some massage!
Drumroll.....all you have to do is wear them as a perfume!
Horses have more scent receptors than we do and that means that they are getting a good ol' whiff just from smelling you!
So what's the best way to wear them as a perfume? Glad you asked!
My 3 fave ways are:
1: Apply a drop to the palm of your hands, rub your hands together, form a scent tent over your nose, inhale deeply for 5 seconds, then rub the residual oil anywhere you'd like. I like the back of my neck. Inhaling deeply first gets the oil into the emotional center of your brain.
2: Make a roller ball. Diluting the oil In a roller is never a bad idea and a carrier oil will sit on top of the skin longer so your 'perfume' lasts longer. Roller bottles can easily be purchased from Amazon. I think 10 ml is the perfect size. Simply add 10-20 drops of the essential oil you choose and fill the remainder up with a carrier oil. I like fractionated coconut oil, it doesn't have that greasy feel and it has no odor of its own. Then roll wherever you'd like. Back of neck, wrists, and chest are my fave spots.
3: Diffuser jewelry! Let's get shopping! From bracelets to necklaces, diffuser jewelry is a great option. They usually contain a wood, ceramic, or lava bead element, that you apply a few drops of essential oils to and ta-da...easy diffusing all day long.
Now you may be asking why we want to use essential oils with our horses?
If your'e like me, I'm always striving to have that perfect partnership with my horse and my emotions can sometimes get the better of me. Sometimes its hard to shake the day off when I get to the barn. Inhaling one of my fave essential oils can really do the trick. Horses are like people too, good moods and bad, and we can positively affect their emotions just like ours by inhaling an aroma.
So go ahead and give it a try! It's easier than you think!
Wondering which oil to use? Download my free PDF Guide HERE where I list my favorite oils I use for certain emotional responses such as calming or focus, and in the meantime-Try your favorite!
