Aromatherapy for Beginners: How To Get Started With Essential Oils - The Ultimate Guide
What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils in a way that brings healing and/or well-being.
Ways aromatherapy has been proven to aid humans:
Healing acute and/or chronic illness
Restore and/or help maintain well-being
Aid in well-being on every level of our existence: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual (bringing us joy)
Aromatherapy requires knowledge before practice
Essential oils have several actions.
What are actions?
Actions are scientifically-proven actions of any given essential oil. Actions tell us how the oil acts in our body. The bulk of Aromatherapy 101 here at Creative Mamas’ Collective is an intelligent organization of essential oil actions.
Essential oils also have contraindications.
What are contraindications?
The list of “Don’t use this if…”
Essential oils also have recommended dosing. Some oils can’t be used for very long.
Be knowledgeable of an oil before you use it. Do a skin patch test before you use it. More on that in a bit.
When you practice aromatherapy with knowledge, you can bring healing and well-being into your life.
Why essential oils?
While herbs are wonderful and absolutely have their place, it’s just easier to rub on medicine than consume it. Especially, when it comes to children. That said, you have to be especially careful with essential oils when it comes to children, more on that below.
Getting Started - Important Safety
Quality
First and foremost, it’s important to know - quality and source matter and not just for ethical reasons. Clary sage, for example, can contain thujone - a neurotoxin - if not harvested properly. You actually won’t see clary sage in any recipes here at Creative Mamas’ Collective for that reason. Honestly, though, if I didn’t include every oil that had a potential uh-oh if gotten from the wrong source, I’d be out of oils. The solution is to always get your oils from the right source. I personally trust Eden’s Garden. I’m sure there are other brands that are just as wonderful. I’ve used Eden’s Garden for many years and they keep updated reports of the constituents of the essential oils they are sending out. In my experience, they’re quality and beauty cannot be matched. I feel safe getting my oils from them.
Storage
Improper storage can lead to oxidation which can cause allergic reactions. If your oils become cloudy or smell off, discard them. Citrus oils are especially sensitive to oxidation.
Always store oils and aromatherapy creations in a labeled amber bottle in a cool, dry, dark place. The refrigerator crisp drawer is a great place.
Essential oils by themselves keep from 2-5+ years. Some, ylang ylang, get better with age. The source your purchase your essential oils from will have an estimated shelf life of their oils.
Labeling
Always label your aromatherapy creations with:
Name
Ingredients (with amounts)
Date made
It also helps to have a card or paper that states the oils’ actions, maximum length of usage, and contraindications. In the Aromatherapy Apothecary here at Creative Mamas’ Collective, I include all of that information with every recipe post. The Aromatherapy Apothecary is linked below.
Dilution
Dilution is also of the utmost important. NEVER use essential oils on the skin without a carrier oil - also referred to as “neat” use.
What is a carrier oil?
A carrier oil is a base oil that you add drops of essential oils to. The carrier oil dilutes the essential oil and makes it easy for your body to absorb in healthy amounts.
Children require smaller dilution ratios than adults. You’ll find that in the dilution chart here on Creative Mamas’ Collective - referenced at the end of this guide.
Consumption
Never consume essential oils without the guidance of a trusted healthcare professional. Essential oil consumption is not something I practice, not even with a healthcare professional. Discuss this with a trust healthcare professional if you are interested in learning about it for you.
Skin Patch Testing
Before using any oil, perform a skin patch test. That is taught in Aromatherapy 101 here at Creative Mamas’ Collective and will be linked below.
Do Not Use on Sensitive Areas
Do not use essential oils near the eyes or mucous membranes. Never put essential oils in the nose. Not even diluted.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Many oils are contraindicated during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding. Always consult a licensed aromatherapist and a trusted healthcare professional before using oils if pregnant or breastfeeding, whether the oils are contraindicated or not as every pregnancy and baby is unique.
Children
Essential oils should not be used on children under 2 without the explicit instruction of a licensed aromatherapist and trusted healthcare professional.
Children 2+ require different dilution ratios which can be found here at Creative Mamas’ Collective and are linked below. Always err on the side of caution especially with children and essential oil amounts. And of course, always give them proper skin patch testing.
Pets
Some essential oils are not safe around pets. If you have pets, check the oils you wish to use at EdensGarden.com. When you click on a specific oil on their site, it tells you what the pet safety protocol is.
Homeopathics
It is generally advised not to mix homeopathics and essential oils. Consult a specialist before doing so.
Methods of Use
Diffusing: This is when you add essential oils to an electronic water diffuser. Many people think you can do this all day for fragrance purposes. That’s what I thought until I took a class at American College of Healthcare Sciences. Diffusers shouldn’t be ran more than 20-30 minutes, 10-15 minutes if around children - and of course, only child-safe oils at child-safe dilutions around children. Even when you are using a diffuser for scent purposes, you should be aware of the actions of the oil on the human body, the age requirements of the oil, the length of exposure allowed, and contraindications.
Topical application: This is a fabulous way to take medicine without having to consume something. Always dilute properly. It is scientifically estimated that our body absorbs 50% of essential oils we apply topically. Possibly more if we are also inhaling the oil at the same time.
Inhalation: Part of diffusion is inhalation. You can also use a personal inhaler that contains cotton soaked with essential oils.
Bath: A few drops to a bath (for an adult)- minding all safety protocols and not staying in the bath more than the allotted time for the specific oils.
Body Mist or Room Spray: A Water-based shake-before-use mixture with a bit of witch hazel or alcohol (think Everclear or Vodka).
Cleaner: A vinegar-based mixture.
Base recipes are available on Creative Mamas’ Collective and are linked below.
Building Your
Aromatherapy Apothecary
While Eden’s Garden does have some amazing starter sets, don’t rush to get them just yet. I used to think I wanted their biggest set - their 500 piece set. Then, I took a class in aromatherapy and realized that’s a nightmare for a stay-at-home mom like me. Before you rush to buy any oils…
First things first:
Learn what essential oil actions you want to utilize. That information is available here at Creative Mamas’ Collective and linked below.
Decide what blends you want to try, choose blends you want to try from the Aromatherapy Apothecary here at Creative Mamas’ Collective, and/or craft your own blends using the Aromatherapy 101 articles linked below.
Now, feel free to go to EdensGarden.com or your favorite trusted essential oil supplier and buy the oils and carrier oils you need for your blends. If you’re not sure which carrier oils to use, I made an article for you and it’s linked below :)
Be sure to get the bottles and labeling goods you need as well.
You’re all set to dive into this first things first list and then start making your aromatherapy goodies and using essential oils in your daily life for healing, well-being, and joy. I sincerely wish you a joyful journey. Feel free to reach out through a comment here if you have any questions. Here are the reference articles I mentioned above. Use the arrows in the top right to see more:
