Using essential oils in the home is easy, there are so many amazing ways to incorporate them into your day, so why not make them a regular part of your daily routine?
We've all heard of the electric diffuser which is a fantastic way of adding fragrance to your space, but if you've been putting off buying essential oils because you haven't got one, then you've been missing out.
using essential oils at home safely
Oil Burners
Similar to the electric diffuser but without the need to plug in. Simply add some water to the dish on the top of your oil burner and add a couple of drops to the water. Pop a lit tealight candle underneath and the candle flame will heat up the water and oil releasing the beautiful fragrance into your space.
In the Bath
A 20-minute aromatherapy bath will soak away the stresses of the day. All you need to do is add 5 - 10 drops of your preferred essential oil blend to 10 millilitres of carrier oil (grapeseed oil, olive oil or coconut oil), or unscented bubble bath and mix thoroughly before adding it to the running bathwater.
Step in and relax for a max of 20 minutes.
At Home Massage
For a relaxing body massage oil, add 5 - 10 drops of Lib's Aromatherapy Relax essential oil blend per 10 millilitres of carrier oil (grapeseed oil, olive oil or coconut oil) and mix thoroughly. Warm a little between your palms and apply to the skin.
If using on the face add 1 - 2 drops per 5 millilitres of carrier oil.
If you have a dark or amber glass bottle (with a lid) and you want to keep some for another time, simply store it in the bottle in a cool dark place with the lid securely closed.
Shower
After washing with your normal shower cream, drop 2 - 3 drops of essential oils onto your shower puff or sponge and rub it lightly over your body whilst standing under the running water (avoid the face and delicate areas). Or hold the sponge under the running water and inhale in the steam.
You could also add 4 - 10 drops to 10ml of unscented shower gel base and use it as you would any other shower gel (avoiding the face and delicate areas).
DIY Room Spray
An easy room spray would consist of just water, a mister spray bottle and your favourite essential oil blend.
Add 10 - 20 drops to one pint of distilled water into the spray mister and shake to mix. If you don't have distilled water, simply boil some water in a kettle and leave it to cool before adding it to the bottle. You could also replace a quarter of the water with witch hazel which helps the oil and water to blend.
Shake the bottle vigorously each time before using.
Steam Inhalation
This is especially good if you suffer from hay fever or are suffering from a cold and a blocked nose.
Boil a pint of water and pour it into a heat-resistant bowl. Add 3 – 5 drops of Lib's Aromatherapy Soothe essential oil blend to the steaming water. Place the bowl on a table and sit with your head over the bowl and a towel over your head. Close your eyes and breathe the steam in through the nose. Do this for no more than 5 minutes at a time.
Drawer/wardrobe smellies
This is a particularly nice way of making your clothes smell lovely and fresh.
Place a couple of drops of essential oil onto a cotton ball/pad, leave to dry, and place in the bottom of a drawer, wardrobe, or coat cupboard.
Have you tried our clay diffuser? Our lovely snowflake clay hanging diffusers are part of our Christmas Collection and made for hanging on the tree, but are also fantastic for exactly this method. They can be hung in the wardrobe, on the back of a cloakroom door or placed in a drawer to keep clothes smelling beautiful. They can even be hung in your car! Simply apply a few drops to the face of the clay disc, let dry and leave it in your desired space.
Moisturisers
Adding a couple of drops to your unscented body oil, moisturiser or hand cream is a nice way of bringing therapeutic benefits into your daily routine. Add 4 - 10 drops to 10 millilitres of the oil, moisturiser or hand cream and blend thoroughly before use.
SAFETY FIRST
Always make sure you are aware of each blend and your own sensitivities. All of our blends come with an information leaflet, and all allergens are listed under each product on our website so that you know what you are using. It is always advisable to perform a patch test before applying essential oils to the skin, especially for sensitive skin. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, suffer from a skin condition, epilepsy, asthma or are taking medication please seek medical advice before use.
how to do a patch test?
To carry out your own patch test, dilute the oils as above, and apply a small amount of the diluted blend to the underside (thin skin) of the forearm, waiting 24 - 48 hours for any side effects. If you do experience any irritation, redness or itching within that time, wash the area with soap and water and discontinue use.
See our dilution table for more on diluting essential oils yourself.
If you are still unsure about using Essential oils on your skin, or you have any medical conditions, please ask the advice of your GP.
I hope you enjoy using our essential oils. Explore our full collection and find the blend that works for you.