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In this post, we explore 30 ways to use essential oils in your everyday routine.
Essential oils have many wonderful benefits, including aiding with physical health and mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
Below, we discuss 30 different ways to use essential oils with a focus on home hacks, wellness and natural living.
It is recommended to do your own research when it comes to selecting essential oils to use to ensure safe and suitable use. Some essential oils are toxic to animals. Some essential oils are also unsuitable for use during pregnancy and with certain medical conditions.
30 Ways to Use Essential Oils
1. Cotton Ball Air Freshener
For a natural scent boost, add a few drops of your desired essential oil to a cotton wool ball/pad and place it in discreet areas, such as closets, drawers, or behind radiators (the heat helps the scent to disperse throughout the area!).
2. Hair Oil
You can create your own hair oil by combining a carrier oil (such as jojoba or sweet almond oil) with a few drops of essential oil for a natural and nourishing hair and scalp treatment.
Essential oils provide many benefits when used in scalp and hair care. For example, using tea tree oil to treat dandruff or rosemary oil to promote hair growth.
Massage your hair oil into the scalp and apply it to the length of the hair, leave for 30+ minutes and then wash it out.
3. DIY Hand Wash
Make your own natural scented handwash using essential oils.
Homemade Handwash Recipe
What you will need:
- 2 tablespoons of castile soap.
- 3-5 drops of essential oil.
- Distilled water.
- Foaming soap dispenser.
Steps:
- Combine 2 tablespoons of castile soap and 3-5 drops of essential oil in a foaming soap dispenser.
- Top the rest of the soap dispenser with distilled water.
4. Bath Salts
Apply essential oil to Epsom salts, and add to your bath water for a relaxing at-home pamper.
5. Perfume
Make your own essential oil perfume blend by combining a carrier oil with your chosen essential oils into an amber glass roll-on bottle.
Not only do these DIY perfumes smell amazing, but they also provide health-boosting benefits when applied to the skin.
These bottle types are available to buy in bulk and are super affordable! Roll-on bottle perfumes fit easily in purses, making them great for day-to-day use and bringing them with you when travelling.
6. Essential Oil Diffuser
Oil diffusers are one of the most common ways to use essential oils.
Simply fill your essential oil diffuser with distilled water, add your chosen essential oil(s) and switch it on.
To determine how many drops of essential oil to use, refer to the guidelines on the box/manual of your diffuser.
7. Room Spray
A DIY room spray is a great natural alternative to air fresheners and plug-ins.
Add witch hazel to a glass spray bottle along with a few drops of your selected essential oil, and top the spray bottle with distilled water.
Spritz around the room or onto fabrics for a refreshing and uplifting natural fragrance.
8. Add to Your Bath
Add essential oils to your bath for an at-home spa experience.
Combine a few drops of essential oil with carrier oil or add to Epsom salts before adding to the water.
Opt for lavender essential oil for winding down before sleep or eucalyptus for reducing tension and soothing muscles.
9. Vacuum Hack
An easy hack for a fresh-smelling home is to add essential oil to a tissue or cotton wool pad and vacuum it up before vacuuming as normal.
As you vacuum, the scent will spread throughout your home, leaving a fresh, pleasant aroma behind.
10. Cleaning Spray
Create a natural cleaning spray by combining white vinegar (or rubbing alcohol), distilled water and a few drops of your chosen essential oil into a glass spray bottle.
You can add antibacterial essential oils such as citronella, tea tree or cinnamon.
This is an affordable, non-toxic alternative to store-bought cleaning sprays, which also helps the environment! The glass bottle will last you forever, and you can refill it as needed.
RELATED: Citrus Infused Homemade All Purpose Cleaner – Just 3 Ingredients!
11. Wool Dryer Balls
For a natural alternative to dryer sheets, switch to wool dryer balls, adding a few drops of essential oil to them before adding them to your dryer.
Wool dryer balls help to reduce static and drying time, and the essential oils will leave your laundry smelling fresh without the use of artificial fragrance.
12. Toilet Roll Tube
Add around 5 drops of essential oil inside the cardboard tube of your toilet roll for a chemical-free bathroom air freshener.
13. Whipped Body Butter
Essential oils are great for adding to DIY natural skincare recipes.
Natural whipped body butters with essential oils are super nourishing to the skin, and they make wonderful gifts!
Whipped Body Butter Recipe
What you will need:
- 1/2 cup organic unrefined shea butter
- 2 tablespoons of a carrier oil of your choice (e.g. jojoba, rosehip, grapeseed oil)
- 10 drops of essential oil
- Double boiler
- Electric whisk
- Spoon or spatula
- Glass jar
Steps:
1. Melt 1/2 cup of organic unrefined shea butter in a double boiler.
2. When melted, turn off the heat and mix in 2 tablespoons of carrier oil.
3. Leave the mixture to cool in the fridge for around 1 hour.
4. Once cooled, take your mixture out of the fridge and add 10 drops of essential oil.
5. Whisk the mixture until it forms a whipped, fluffy texture.
6. Add your mixture to a clean, glass jar. (For extra cute presentation points, you can add the mixture to a piping bag before adding it to the jar!)
7. Store in a cool place.
14. Aromatherapy Jewellery
Aromatherapy jewellery is designed to hold essential oils, and the scent of the oil disperses throughout the day as you wear it.
The most popular types of aromatherapy jewellery are bracelets and necklaces.
15. Pillow Sleep Spray
Promote better sleep and relaxation by making a calming DIY pillow spray.
Add witch hazel and a few drops of lavender essential oil to a glass spray bottle, and top the rest of the bottle with distilled water.
Lightly spray your pillow before sleep for a calming bedtime ritual.
16. Simmer Pot
Simmer pots are a simple, cosy way to infuse your home with natural fragrance. They make a lovely go-to seasonal self-care activity!
Alongside essential oils, you can use herbs and spices. You can also use leftover citrus peels for a zero-waste hack!
Simply add your essential oils and other ingredients you wish to use to a pot of simmering water, and allow the simmer pot to work its magic, filling your home with natural fragrance.
17. Foot Soak
Create a DIY foot spa with essential oils.
Combine Epsom salts with essential oils, add to warm water and soak your feet. The salts infused with essential oil make a great addition to at-home pedicures!
18. Menstrual Cramp Remedy
Create a natural menstrual cramp remedy by combining a carrier oil with a few drops of essential oil, and massage it into the lower abdomen area to soothe cramps and reduce tension.
Opt for essential oils with natural pain-relieving properties, such as clary sage or lavender.
19. Anti-Bug Spray
Make your own DIY insect repellent spray with essential oils that repel insects, such as tea tree oil and citronella.
In a glass spray bottle, mix witch hazel (or rubbing alcohol), distilled water and essential oil, and shake before use.
20. Body Oil
Blend essential oils with a carrier oil (such as jojoba or coconut) to create a hydrating body oil with additional aromatherapy benefits.
21. Shower Steamer
Make your own custom-scented shower steamers with essential oils for a fun, creative DIY activity.
Use invigorating oils such as eucalyptus or peppermint, or opt for soothing lavender for the perfect wind-down ritual before sleep.
Simply add one to the floor of your shower, avoiding the direct stream of water and allow the steam to activate it. The essential oils will disperse into the air as you shower, providing you with the benefits of aromatherapy.
22. Chakra Balancing
Different essential oils can be used in chakra balancing practices. Each chakra has specific oils that work well with it.
Essential oils can be used in multiple ways when working with chakras to bring forth balance and restore flow.
Some ways to use essential oils when working with chakras include:
- Making your own custom oil blend.
- Creating your own DIY chakra support spray.
- Inhaling the scent of essential oil in meditation.
23. DIY Cuticle Oil
Make your own nourishing cuticle oil by blending a carrier oil such as sweet almond oil with vitamin E and essential oils. Add this mixture to a roller ball bottle for easy application.
24. Face Oil
Create your own DIY natural face oil by combining essential oils with a carrier oil that suits your skin type.
Customise your oils to match your skincare intentions, for example, tea tree oil to help with acne, or frankincense to reduce the appearance of scars and blemishes.
25. Remove Elastic Hair Ties
Apply citrus essential oil to a Q-tip and rub it on elastic hair ties to remove them; the citrus oil causes the elastic to break. A smart hack to avoid pulling on the hair!
26. Inhale
Essential oils can be beneficial to your well-being when inhaled.
Add a drop to a tissue or a cotton wool pad and hold it near your nose, breathing in deeply. This makes a simple grounding and mood-boosting practice, and is a good option if you do not wish to apply the essential oil topically.
27. Bath Bombs
Make your own DIY bath bombs infused with essential oils. Alongside essential oils, you can add flower petals, eco-friendly glitters and mica powders for vibrant colour.
DIY bath bombs can be made in bulk, and you can store them in your bathroom. They make lovely gifts too, and are a great family craft activity.
28. Headache Remedy
Create a natural headache remedy by mixing a carrier oil with peppermint or lavender. Apply to your temples, the back of your neck or wrists to reduce tension and promote relaxation.
29. Add to Your Shower
For a simple alternative to shower steamers, add a few drops of essential oil to a damp washcloth and hang it in your shower. The steam from your shower will cause the oil to disperse, creating a relaxing aroma.
30. Energy Cleansing Spray
Essential oils can be used for their spiritual properties.
They are effective tools to use in spiritual cleansing rituals. As an alternative to energy cleansing techniques involving smoke, you can create your own energy cleansing spray.
Energy Cleansing Spray Recipe
Ingredients:
- A glass spray bottle.
- 1/2 cup witch hazel.
- 1/2 cup distilled water.
- 10 drops of frankincense essential oil.
Steps:
- Set your intentions.
- Combine 1/2 cup witch hazel and 1/2 cup distilled water into the spray bottle.
- Add in 10 drops of frankincense essential oil.
- Shake the bottle to ensure the ingredients are mixed.
- Shake before each use and spray your space, or yourself.
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