Starting a journey with essential oils can be, at times, overwhelming. From deciding how you want to use them, deciding what essential oils you’ll want in your starter kit, and even how they can benefit your body and mind.
A little research and a lot of patience can make your journey with oils a lot less stressful, and I just want to make things easier! There are a few ways you can use essential oils, but one of the most common methods is applying them topically. If you do use that method, you’ll want to dilute your essential oil with a carrier oil.
What’s the difference between a carrier oil and essential oil?
Essential oils are extremely highly concentrated plant extracts. To put that in perspective, one drop of peppermint oil is going to fall somewhere between 25 – 75 cups of peppermint tea, depending on the potency. The essential “oils” themselves aren’t even really oily; if you add it to paper and let it dry, there won’t be a trace.
This goes to show that not only are essential oils extremely potent, they evaporate easily. Using a carrier oil will help to make sure the essential oil doesn’t irritate your skin AND ensure that it is able to be absorbed, rather than evaporated, so that you can reap the benefits.
Carrier oils that you can use have quite a bit of variety, but chances are you have at least one in your house already— olive oil! Other popular carrier oils include coconut oil, grapeseed oil, almond oil, and sunflower oil.
How do I use carrier oils?
Your carrier oil’s main purpose is to simply dilute the essential oil’s potency. I recommend adding 3 – 5 drops of essential oil for every teaspoon of carrier oil that you use. A little goes a long way in both cases!
If you’re using your blend on your face or children, you might consider diluting it a little bit more, but this should give you a good ratio to base things off of! The end result should still smell like the essential oil you’re using, but offers a safer application that really lowers the risk of skin inflammation or the essential oil evaporating before you can benefit!
This article is intended for education and entertainment. Consult a doctor before consuming herbal supplements. Some medications or conditions can have adverse effects. Do your research and be responsible.
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