WHAT CAUSES ESSENTIAL OILS REACTIONS?

What causes essential oil reactions, and how can you prevent them?

Many people assume that if they have a reaction to an essential oil, they must be allergic to it. However, that’s not often the case. True essential oil allergies are rare, and reactions are more often the result of improper usage or skin sensitivity.

Here’s how to use essential oils safely, so you can make the most of these powerful little allies.

1. Pay attention to labels

All of our essential oil bottles are labeled with safety usage information that can help you prevent any mishaps. If an oil label says that it needs dilution when used topically, be sure to follow the necessary dilution requirements.

2. Use only high-quality, unadulterated oils

Some companies mix their essential oils with synthetic ingredients to cut costs or increase shelf life. These additives not only reduce the effectiveness of the oil but can also cause skin irritation or other adverse reactions.

3. Patch test to discover skin sensitivity

We recommend that you patch test prior to your first use of any oil, epecially if you tend to have sensitive skin. To perform a patch test, mix 1–2 drops of essential oil with a carrier oil and apply the diluted oil to a patch of skin that does not have hair, such as the forearm. Observe that area of skin over the course of 1–2 hours for any noticeable reaction.

4. Wash your hands after handling essential oils

Never use water in an attempt to flush oil off of the skin, as this may increase discomfort. If you experience a hot or burning sensation, have feelings of discomfort and irritation, or develop a rash, saturate the affected area immediately with V-6™ Vegetable Oil Complex or another carrier oil like olive oil to dilute the oil. Follow up by washing the area well with mild soap and water. If needed, apply more carrier oil and a cool compress to soothe any irritation.

ESSENTIAL OILS FOR GROUNDING

Scents useful for grounding practices are going to be the ones that help with focus, clarity, and concentration as you centre yourself and connect with the Earth. Also, essential oils that promote a feeling of calming and peacefulness will go hand in hand with your grounding oils during aromatherapy meditation.

VETIVER

Vetiver assists in closing the gap between the root and crown chakra. It is a natural sedative, with grounding and calming properties.

FRANKINCENSE

Used in spiritual and religious ceremonies for thousands of years, Frankincense essential oil is called the King of oils and is one of my all-time favorites. It has an uplifting effect, soothes anxiety and calms the mind.

CLARY SAGE

A great choice to calm frazzled nerves and enhance a relaxed state of mind. It does have a strong scent, so start with only a couple of drops and see if it’s for you. I like to offset it with a tiny bit of lemon or wild orange essential oil and a few drops of lavender.

EUCALYPTUS

Eucalyptus helps your respiratory system and promotes deep breathing, which is an essential part of a grounding meditation. It seems that along with clearing your nasal passages, it can clear your mind and help with mental focus.

CEDARWOOD

Cedarwood is a wonderful grounding oil as it enhances breathing and helps quiet a racing mind. It is excellent for all types of meditation and finding stillness.

SANDALWOOD

Benefits are plentiful including promoting mental clarity while simultaneously promoting a sense of calm and well-being. It is also said to be quite an aphrodisiac, so that could be an added bonus for couples.

MYRRH

Emotionally, Myrrh essential oil is grounding, calming, and helpful in mellowing out emotions.

Myrrh, like Frankincense, has a high content of sesquiterpenes, a class of compounds that have a direct effect on the pituitary, hypothalamus, and amygdala, which are the seat of our emotions. Its warm and woody aroma is purifying, restorative, revitalizing, and uplifting.

LAVENDER

Lavender is best known for its calming properties so it’s no doubt a great choice for earthing or grounding. It can help to relieve anxiety and calm any strong emotions that can overwhelm the mind.

CINNAMON BARK

Cinnamon essential oil is quite potent so use it sparingly and combine with other oils such as Clove, Black Pepper, Ginger, Geranium, or Ylang Ylang in a diffuser.

It has calming and relaxing properties as well as a host of physical benefits, just as cinnamon itself does.

Remember Cinnamon is a “hot” oil so best to diffuse just a little and if you do add to a roller bottle to use on your skin, dilute well and use very little.

PATCHOULI

Patchouli has a strong, sweet, musky earth scent and can be quite strong.

DIY SCALP SCRUB

 If you love essential oils and are always on the lookout for new ways to incorporate them into your beauty routine, here’s a DIY scalp scrub recipe you will love. You can definitely experiment with a variety of essential oils to use in your homemade scalp treatment but in this case, I am keeping it simple with lavender and peppermint.This is an easy DIY recipe for stimulating and nourishing your scalp, encouraging hair growth, exfoliating those flaky dead skin cells, and for just plain good overall scalp and hair health.

It’s tingly and soothing, smells fantastic, and I absolutely love it!

Before you start:

Brush hair from root to tip, find your natural part and throw a towel or cape over your shoulders.

You can also lay a towel down over your bathroom counter or sink to catch any stray drops or sugar/salts grains.

DIY BATH BOMB POWDER

This fizzing bath mix gives you all the fun and soothing qualities of a bath bomb, without having to make the bombs or wait for them to cure. Although this recipe is for one bath, it scales up easily to make a bulk batch.

EMOTIONAL DETOX

You’ll know you need an emotional healing detox if you find yourself struggling with an abundance of negative emotions such as:

• Anger
• Resentment
• Regret
• Hurt
• Discouragement
• Bitterness
• Shame
• Sorrow
• Powerlessness

Essential Oils help calm your mind, boost your mood and help put you in a meditative, mindful state. Keep this inhaler with you on your emotional detox journey and start to experience an abundant life today!

NON-TOXIC RUST REMOVER

Do your metal utensils always rust, even when they are stainless steel?

Do you end up having to get rid of your favourite kitchenware because you simply can’t find a way to restore it? If so, then you need to try out this Natural Rust Remover!

Not only is this Rust Remover powerfully effective, it is also completely natural. Use this cleaner around your home and kitchen with no worries about chemicals or artificial ingredients. Using 100% pure Lemon essential oil, this recipe is completely safe to use on kitchenware and silverware that are used for eating. You also don’t have to worry about using this recipe on items that your children interact with, since it is 100% natural.

Natural Rust Remover and Cleaner

Rusted utensil

1/3 cup baking soda

10 – 15 drops of Lemon Essential Oil

4 tsp of water

Bowl (for mixing paste)

Tray (or plate or bowl to soak your utensil in)

• Spoon (for mixing)
• Silicon bowl spatula (optional)
  2 cups of vinegar
• Sponge

*You can adjust the ingredients’ measurements based on the size and measurements of your rusted item.

Add 10-15 drops of lemon oil to the 1/3 cup baking soda, and mix well in a bowl. Add the 4 teaspoons of water to the bowl and mix the ingredients until they turn into a paste. Using a silicon bowl spatula or your hands if you wish, cover your entire rusted utensil with your paste. If you elect to use your hands, it is advised to wear protection or gloves as the lemon oil could irritate your skin. Leave the paste on your utensil for an hour or more so the paste can have time to absorb and work.

Afterwards, let the utensil soak in about 2 cups of vinegar (depending on the size of your utensil). For the best results, let your utensil soak in the vinegar overnight. However, if you are in a rush, you should leave it to soak for at least an hour. Lastly, use your sponge to scrub your utensil clean and watch as it emerges rust-free. The more time you let your utensil soak in the vinegar, the less elbow grease you will need to remove the rust.

DIY ESSENTIAL OIL WAX MELTS

If you’re not familiar with wax melts or how they are used, they are essentially blocks of aromatic wax and oil that are used with a wax warmer to diffuse scents in the home. When made with organic ingredients, they serve as natural air fresheners and are safer than chemical-laden alternatives found at most stores. The warmers can also add a beautiful aesthetic to your space.

Another benefit of using wax melts is that they last longer than standard candles so they are more affordable and sustainable in the long run. I also appreciate that they are flame-free which means they are safer, especially for those with young children, dogs, or cheeky cats who may knock them over accidentally (or intentionally—looking at you cheeky kitties!). Lastly, wax melts don’t put off any of the “soot” that burning wicks do. This makes wax melts a cleaner way to enjoy aromatherapy.

Here is how you can make your very own!