11 Ways to Use Essential Oils

We’ve got 21 ways to use essential oils at home for aromatherapy and wellbeing. These simple yet effective ways serve as an A-Z guide on essential oil methods of use. Do share which is your favourite method and why it works the best for you, Happy reading!

1. How to Use Essential Oils for Baths?

1.a. Method: General bath

Essential Oil Quantity to be used-  Diluted: 3-8 drops  |  Undiluted: 1-4 drops

Run the bath as usual but remember to keep the door closed to prevent the aroma from escaping the room. Essential oils can be used neat or diluted with milk, milk powder, glycerin, baking soda, or salt. Do not forget to dilute the essential oil with carrier oil to take care of sensitive skin. They can also be dropped directly in water in bathtub and dispersed by agitating the water before getting in the bath. 

1.b. Method: Sitz bath

Essential Oil Quantity to be used-  2-3 drops per sitz bath

A sitz bath is defined by one where you immerse the lower part of your torso in water to treat specific conditions. Run a bath to hip level or use a bowl that is large enough to lower your glutes into. Add the essential oils to the water and immerse your body in it for 5-10 minutes.

2. How to Use Essential Oils on Clothes?

Essential Oil Quantity to be used-  1 or 2 drops

Essential oils have a tendency of leaving stains on clothes so use this method only when necessary. This method is useful for putting insects away especially mosquitoes, use essential oils undiluted on socks or on the bottom of shorts or trousers. To keep insects away from your head apply the oil to a hat hair, band or a scarf

3. Essential Oil Compress

Essential Oil Quantity to be used-  3 to 10 drops

Compress can be applied hot or cold. Mostly hot compressors are used for muscle pains while cold is used for any inflammation or swolen areas even on strains. Hot compress increases circulation to the area where as a cold compress can decrease the circulation something important to keep in mind while using a compress is to always use natural material.

Two ways of applying a compress are:

Place Essential oil in half cup of water and then dampen in the material, collecting the Essential oil onto the material squeeze out excess water and then placed over the problematic area

 Wet thr compress, apply Essential oil directly into the wet material.  Rub material together to disperse Essential oil and place over the problem area

4. How to Use Essential Oils in Diffusers?

Essential Oil Quantity to be used-  As desired

Wide variety of diffusers are available in the market some of these diffusers rely on a heat source which is a candle, electricity to heat the Essential oil molecules and disperse them into the atmosphere while others rely on different ways like using a fan, for example, to disperse the molecules. Diffusers are designed for room as well as vehicle use.

5. Using Essential Oils for Face Masks

Essential Oil Quantity to be used-  1-2 drops

Essential Oils, when added to any natural face mask, can be of great benefit.  Pick your choice of Essential oil upon your skin type and the action on the skin, whether it is a treatment for Acne or a General stimulant, you can use it as a cleanser, as a purifier or even to add that natural glow on your skin

6. How to Use Essential Oils for Gardening?

Essential Oil Quantity to be used-  1-2 drops in 4 litres of water

Another interesting one in our list of 11 ways to use essential oils! A large number of essential oils can be very effective as plant mister for microbial infection or to deter insects. Add the right Essential oil to water, shake vigorously and leave to blend for 24 hours before filtering through a paper coffee filter. Essential oil should never be combined with chemical gardening products but it can be used with another natural organic method

7. Using Essential Oils in Lotions and Creams (Body)

Essential Oil Quantity to be used-  5-20 drops in 30 ml of natural unfragranced lotion/ creams

Use Unscented lotion and cream base that is made out of organic and natural ingredients. Add the required number of Essential oil drops and mix well. Use as you would a normal body cream. Voila, you have your homemade lotion ready!

8. How to Use Essential Oils on Pillows?

Essential Oil Quantity to be used-  1-3 drops

Essential oils can be applied on pillows to assist breathing in cases of respiratory infection or sleeping problems. Simply place 3 drops of essential oil on the corner or underside of a pillow, away from the eyes. Alternatively, put the essential oil on a cotton ball or tissue and tuck it under the corner of the pillow or inside the pillowcase behind the pillow. Ensure that the essential oil is located in an area away from the face, especially the eyes.

9. Using Essential Oils with Potpourris

Essential Oil Quantity to be used-  As desired

Add the essential oils to the potpourri in the same way as you would add a commercial synthetic potpourri-refresher product. Single essential oils or blends can be used. Essential oils may cause colour changes to pot-pourri material that has been coloured

10. How to Use Essential Oils for Perfumes?

Essential Oil Quantity to be used-  Between 15% – 30% of total perfume

Essential oils and absolute oils are original perfume materials. To create a natural perfume, they can be blended together or incorporated into a carrier oil, liquid wax base or alcohol.

11. How to Use Essential Oils for Body Massage Oils?

Essential Oil Quantity to be used-  10-30 drops to 30 ml of carrier oil

Use a dark coloured glass bottle. Measure the carrier oil. If using a single Essential oil or a prepared blend, add it to the carrier oil. Is making your own blend of essential oils, first combine them then add the required number of drops to the carrier oil. Use no more than the amount required to cover the area being massaged