Essential Oils
Essential Oils for Everyday Self-Care
My introduction to essential oils started in 2014, when a friend invited me to a class. As a mom looking for ways to care for my family, I had questions and a lot to learn.
That curiosity grew into a passion for essential oil education and led me to become a doTERRA Certified Essential Oil Specialist. Today, I help others learn about essential oils and explore simple ways to include them in their everyday self-care routines.
Whether you’re brand new to essential oils or already have a few bottles and wonder what to do with them, you’re welcome here. I’ll help you understand the basics, find helpful resources, and feel more confident about where to begin.
What are essential Oils?
Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that capture the natural aromatic compounds found in flowers, leaves, peels, roots, and other parts of the plants.
You may already be familiar with these aromas. Think about the fresh scent of peppermint leaves, the fragrance of lavender, or the smell of an orange peel.
Essential oils can be a simple addition to your everyday self-care routine. Whether you're looking to create a relaxing atmosphere, enjoy a refreshing scent, or make your own personal care products, there are plenty of ways to explore them.
If you’re curious about how I use oils in skin care, I share my routine in Get That Glow With Yarrow|Pom: My Skin Care Routine.
Because essential oils are highly concentrated, learning how to use them safely is important. A little goes a long way.
How to Use Essential Oils
There are several ways to incorporate essential oils into your everyday self-care routine. Two of the most common are aromatic and topical use.
Aromatic Use
Enjoy essential oils through their natural aromas. You can add a few drops to a diffuser according to the manufacturer's instructions, inhale the scent from a personal inhaler, or simply enjoy the aroma from the bottle.
Aromatic use is a great way to create a calming atmosphere, freshen a room, or enjoy your favorite scents throughout the day.
Topical Use
Essential oils can also be applied to the skin when properly diluted with a carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil or jojoba oil.
Try adding appropriately diluted essential oils to a massage blend or incorporating them into your personal care routine.
A Few Safety Tips
- Always follow recommended dilution guidelines.
- Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas.
- Keep essential oils out of reach of children and pets.
- Some citrus oils can increase sun sensitivity when applied to the skin.
- Avoid ingesting essential oils unless specifically directed by a qualified healthcare professional.
Remember, essential oils are concentrated plant extracts. Using them safely is just as important as enjoying their benefits.
How to Choose Quality Essential Oils
Not all essential oils are created equal. The quality of an essential oil can depend on the plant source, growing conditions, harvesting methods, distillation process, and how the oil is stored.
When shopping for essential oils, here are a few things to look for:
- Botanical name: The label should identify the plant by its scientific name.
- Purity: Look for oils without added synthetic fragrances, fillers, or undisclosed ingredients.
- Testing: Reputable companies use testing methods such as Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) to analyze the chemical composition of their oils.
- Transparency: Choose companies that provide information about sourcing, testing, and quality standards.
What About doTERRA Essential Oils?
I personally use and recommend doTERRA essential oils. Their Certified Pure Tested Grade (CPTG) process includes testing designed to evaluate identity, purity, and consistency.
CPTG is doTERRA's own quality standard, not an independent certification recognized across the essential oil industry.
My goal is to help you make informed choices, understand what you're purchasing, and feel confident using essential oils as part of your self-care routine.
Getting Started with Essential Oils
New to essential oils or wondering what to do with the bottles you already have?
You don't need a large collection or a complicated routine to get started. Begin with a few oils you enjoy, learn how to use them safely, and discover what works for your everyday life.
If you’d like a little help choosing your first few oils, start with Essential Oils Made Easy! How to Get Started.
As a Certified Essential Oil Specialist, I'm happy to help you explore your options, answer questions, and find resources to get started.
Whether you're interested in diffusing, creating your own personal care products, or learning more about doTERRA essential oils, I'm here to help.
If you’re curious about diffusing, I share a few ways I use oils in my Respiratory Wellness with Essential Oils post.