Essential Oils are a big part of my daily self-care and self-love rituals and it is my honor to share their benefits with you. Take a moment to read a little about essential oils below.
WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?
If you have ever enjoyed the scent of a rose, you’ve experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. These naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. Essential oils give plants their distinctive smells, essential oils protect plants and play a role in plant pollination. In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and their beautiful fragrance, essential oils have long been used for food preparation, beauty treatment, and health-care practices.
But what exactly is a volatile aromatic compound? In short, these compounds are small organic molecules that tend to change quickly from their solid or liquid state to a gas at room temperature. They are called volatile because they change state quickly. When you first open a bottle of essential oil, you instantly notice that the aroma is potent and you can smell it typically even from some distance. The physical and chemical properties of the volatile aromatic compounds that compose essential oils allow them to quickly move through the air and directly interact with the olfactory sensors in the nose. Such unique properties make essential oils ideal for applications inclusion in aromatherapy – using these compounds from plants to help maintain a healthy mind and body – as well as other applications. The type of volatile aromatic compounds present in an essential oil determines both the oil’s aroma and the benefits it offers.
HOW CAN I USE ESSENTIAL OILS?
Essential oils can be used for a wide range of emotional and physical wellness applications. They can be used as single essential oils or in complex essential oil blends depending on user experience and desired benefit. There are 3 ways to use essential oils:
Aromatic - The sense of smell is a tool that can elicit powerful physiologic, mental, and emotional responses. Essential oils are quickly absorbed by the smell receptors, which have a direct link to the limbic system by way of the olfactory nerve. The limbic system is part of the brain that supports a variety of functions including smell, emotions, behavior, and memory. For this reason, essential oils have an especially powerful effect via aromatic application.
Topical - Topical application is a very effective method for applying essential oils. Because essential oils have low molecular weights and are lipid soluble, they easily penetrate the skin. Once absorbed, they stay in the applied area for a localized benefit. Although essential oils are readily absorbed, there are many ways to increase absorption. Using a light massage will increase the blood flow to the area of application, in turn improving distribution throughout the body. Use of a carrier oil can also increase absorption, especially in skin that is dry or flaky as it helps moisturize the skin and slow evaporation of the oil.
Internal - When ingested, essential oils directly enter the blood stream via the gastrointestinal tract, where they are transported throughout the rest of the body. Essential oils are lipid soluble so they are readily transported to all organs of the body, including the brain. Then, like all things we consume, essential oils are metabolized by the liver and other organs and are then excreted. Please read the labels on the oils and make sure they are safe for internal use. Not all oils are created equal.
HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT BRAND?
There are many great essential oil companies available around the world. I did my research, and to me, I found that doTerra Essential Oils met and exceeded my expectations in quality, ethics, and opportunity. I highly recommend you do your own research as well. Here are a few tips when searching for a brand to purchase from:
Where were the plants grown?
Oil composition can vary depending upon the geographic region that the plants are sourced from. The purest essential oils are gathered from plants that are indigenous to the region they’re grown and harvested in.
How and when were the plants harvested?
Plants must be harvested at crucial times of the year and even specific times of the day in order to maximize their potent chemical composition. Each plant is different, so it’s important to partner with farmers who are knowledgable about the specific plant they’re working with.
What is the extraction process?
Extraction methods and temperatures can make a significant difference in oil purity and potency, so they must be closely monitored. Steam distillation ensures that the essential oils are separated from the plant matter without altering their chemical composition, without extracting anything more than just the essential oils, and to guarantee that there is no alcohol or other solutions in your oils. Cold pressing is the safest, purest way to extract the oils from citrus peels.
What type of testing is done?
Two crucial tests to determine oil purity are Mass Spectrometry and Gas Chromatography. For the best quality, essential oils will also be tested against an ideal standard. The company I choose also performs Organoleptic testing, Microbial testing, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Chirality testing, Isotopic analysis, and Heavy Metal testing on all of their oils. Learn more here https://sourcetoyou.com/en
Are all batches tested?
The mass spectrometry test is fairly expensive, thus, not all oil companies test every batch for purity. Testing of every batch ensures consistency in therapeutic use. The company I choose also has their oils tested by 3rd party testing facilities to validate and confirm their test results. This simply adds an extra level of honesty, safety, and accuracy.
Are the essential oils adulterated?
The FDA does not regulate the use, production, or sale of Essential Oils. Like everything in life, this presents us with pros and cons. You can literally go to any health food or online store and purchase Essential Oils without the company needing to tell you what’s in it. The label can say Lavender, the company can mix half lavender oil with half coconut oil, and it wouldn’t say anything different. The company I choose has a regulatory process that makes sure that every single drop is exactly what the label says it is. No fillers. No additives. Nothing other than the purity, potency, and consistency that we expect and deserve from our oils.
Please watch the video below and see why doTerra meets my standards.
HOW DO I KNOW WHICH OILS TO BUY ?
When choosing essential oils to use for your individual needs, you’ll want to ask yourself:
What are my top 3-5 health concerns or goals?
There’s an oil for almost everything, which can be overwhelming to get started. Choose your top 3-5 concerns or goals so that you can focus on those, observe your experiences, and then expand from there. You can refer to this app or this book for reference on a specific health concern.
Do I want to replace all or some of my synthetic home & body care products with natural ones?
Synthetic fragrances are often found in air fresheners, perfumes, cleaners, and so much more. Lot’s of people experience allergies and irritations that are so mild, it’s hard to find which cleaner is the exact source. Mild doesn’t mean that it’s not bothersome, it just means that a trip to Your Local Drugstore instead of the Doctor will usually suffice to mask the symptoms. You have the choice then to either take an over the counter medication to cover the problem (usually with side-effects) until you somehow track down the source, or you can choose to replace your synthetics with all natural cleaners that will promote health and wellbeing.
Personally, I love making DIY cleaners at home with my oils. However, I have lots of loved ones who simply prefer to buy cleaners that they can trust are safe, natural, and effective. That being said, you can find my DIY cleaner recipes here, or you can buy essential oil cleaners here.
Hi highly recommend you watch STINK and THE HUMAN EXPERIMENT, both on Netflix.
Am I looking to use oils to help my immediate family? If so, what are their challenges and struggles?
The oils I choose to use are completely safe to use on anyone with proper care, from infants to elders. Pregnant women can use most of these essential oils as well but will want to check each oil first for warnings or special directions during pregnancy. During these sensitive stages of life, you’ll want to ensure that you dilute the essential oil with fractionated coconut oil. Everyone else can use the oils as instructed on the bottles – usually without needing to dilute. Consider your loved ones’ health concerns and find some oil options to support them on their journey.
Do I already believe in the power of Essential Oils, or is this something totally new for me?
This question is important in helping you decide if you want to get just a few specific oils to try them out first, or if you’re already ready to get yourself a good deal on a variety kit of amazing oils that you can use anytime for anything you need.
WHERE DO I BUY ESSENTIAL OILS?
Looking to simply purchase Essential Oils for your own personal consumption? doTerra Essential Oils are the oils I recommend.
Important info to consider:
My advice for consumers? Open a wholesale account instead of a retail account that way you can SAVE 25-55% on your purchases!
To open a wholesale account you simply pay $35 yearly membership fee, and you can easily make that back with your wholesale pricing.
There is zero monthly obligation with a wholesale account. For real!
With a Wholesale account you qualify for plenty of additional benefits.
Another TIP for you: Consider getting yourself a essential oil kit when starting out, I started with the Family Kit, and you also get the $35 wholesale account fee waived when you buy a kit! That way you get the top 10 oils for home and self use.
Pro Tip: If you think you will buy at least 1 oil a month I suggest you enroll in the LRP program (Loyalty Rewards), so that you accumulate points per purchase, and use them to buy for your next order. It’s like oil dollars. More details HERE
So if you have decided to start your shopping experience with me and want a wholesale account, click any of the buttons below.
If you have any questions please fill out the form below and I'll connect with you.