Essential oils 101: What are essential oils, and what do they do?
Before they can conquer their field, master chefs need to know how to boil water; mathematicians need to know 1+1; and musicians need to know how to hold their instruments. The same strategy applies to essential oils: Before you can blend aromatic masterpieces and wow the crowd with your Vitality™-infused cooking, you need to perfect the basics!
Congratulations! Now that you’ve mastered the basics, keep up your essential education with these answers to some of our most commonly asked questions.
Q. How can I use essential oils at home?
A. Essential oil uses are as numerous as the leaves in a forest! Get ready to DIY, concoct, and create with a few ideas for using essential oils in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and more.
- Create a homemade body butter.
- Relax with Valerian.
- Elevate your massages.
- Spice up your cooking.
- Freshen the air.
- Find your signature scent.
- Love on your little ones.
Q. What are the benefits of essential oils?
A. Essential oils can benefit your body, mind, and emotional well-being in many ways. Here are just a few of the handy ways that essential oils can enhance your life:
- Lemon essential oil can remove the sticky residue left by stickers, grease, and gum.
- Peppermint essential oil can create a cooling sensation when applied to fatigued muscles after a workout.
- Tea Tree essential oil and Lavender essential oil help reduce the appearance of blemishes.
- Kunzea essential oil and Citrus Fresh™ essential oil blend purify the air when diffused.
Q. How do I know if the oils I’m using are high quality?
A. Now that essential oils are so popular, they’re everywhere! But you don’t want to purchase them from just anywhere, because purity matters when it comes to essential oils. Here are some things to look for to ensure that you’re getting the highest quality available:
Sourcing: The soil the plant is grown in, the seeds used, and the experts who handle the plant material are just as important as the final product.
Science: Testing is the best way to ensure that the oil meets every benchmark of quality and purity each step of the way.
Standards: Ethically sourcing plant material, benefiting communities around the globe, and staying legally compliant with local regulations should be the highest priority for essential oil producers.
Take your essential oil investigation to the next level! Get a look at the ingredients you don’t want to find in your oils.
Q. How can I use essential oils in aromatherapy?
A. Aromatherapy is the use of aromatic plant extracts to promote health and wellness. Because aromatherapy works through the skin and with your sense of smell, essential oils are a fantastic complement to this ancient practice. We recommend diving in and utilizing the therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy with a soothing bath or a rejuvenating massage!
Q. Do essential oils stain?
A. Most essential oils of the purest quality do not stain. However, some oils, like Blue Tansy, do have a dark color and can stain due to the naturally occurring colors in the plant material.