With many responsibilities to attend to, it’s not surprising to discover that your anxiety levels are soaring high. Although you can’t really avoid being stressed with work and life in general, there are things you can do to create a stress-free atmosphere when you’re at home. One of those is to take advantage of essential oils that you can use in different ways.
Essential oils are concentrated extracts derived from plant stems, flowers, and leaves. Known for their therapeutic and medicinal properties, these oils are a staple in spas and homes. Essential oils may help encourage healthy sleep and lessen discomfort and headaches. Additionally, some extracts can help promote good digestion, treat skin issues, and cure a common cold.
Choosing The Right Essential Oils
With so many available options, it can be pretty tricky to know which essential oils are best to be used at home. Whether you’re buying online or at a physical store, here are a few pointers you can take note of:
Know How To Distinguish The Real Thing
Not all essential oils are created equal, and this is something you must be aware of. Some are pure and authentic, while some are filled with low-grade synthetic extenders and fillers. In fact, some brands claim to be essential oils when they’re only actually fragrance oils.
These knock-offs don’t contain the essential components of natural extracts; that’s why you should be very careful when choosing quality essential oils in the home. Make sure the oil you’re purchasing is pure and not just fragrance oil.
One good tip is to examine the bottle and look for the Latin name of the plant species the oil was extracted from. For example, if you’re trying to buy a bottle of lavender essential oil, there should be an indication that it was derived from ‘Lavandula Angustifolia.’
Have A Sniff
Improving your sense of smell is one of the simplest ways to determine whether essential oils are genuine and of excellent quality. Due to their high concentration, essential oils typically have a strong scent, primarily upon opening the bottle. Some are naturally more subdued yet recognizable, such as chamomile or rose.
Trust your sense of smell and take note of what you’re smelling when getting a sniff of the oils. You should look for a natural and pleasant scent with no twinge of a kitchen cleaner or alcohol. If you’re shopping online, check the reviews and see if previous buyers have anything to say about the oil’s scent.
Tips For Using Essential Oils At Home
Once you’ve chosen the right quality and type of essential oil, the next step is to know how you can use them for your home.
Knowing that there are different rooms in your house, it can be tricky to understand how to use your chosen essential oils and which scent would work best for your intended purpose. That said, here are a few tips that can help you out:
Use Essential Oils To Freshen Up The Air
Everybody loves walking into a room or space that smells nice and cozy. Making your own air freshener is simple and easy with essential oils. All you need to do is add a few drops of your preferred oil variety to purified water and alcohol and use a spray bottle to sprinkle the scent into the air.
The most recommended essential oils for this purpose include lemon, grapefruit, and orange. You can use rosemary, eucalyptus, or peppermint to eliminate pungent and lingering odors such as cigarettes. This trick is also excellent when preparing large meals with overpowering smells like stews or pot roasts.
Use Essential Oils As An Anti-Fungal, Antibacterial, Or Antiseptic Agent
The next time you think you need to run to the pharmacy for an over-the-counter antiseptic, you might want to check your shelf first. Essential oils like lavender, peppermint, and tea tree help work as an antibacterial agent. As much as possible, you must always have a bottle of the aforementioned essential oils and make them part of your first aid kit at home.
Each one has a variety of applications; for example, you can apply lavender oil topically to treat a kitchen burn, rub peppermint oil on your chest to treat a cold, and put tea tree oil on an insect bite. There are also several ways to use essential oils for massage and skin care. For a safer method, apply a mixture of diluted essential oils (with a carrier oil) to your skin.
Add A Few Drops To Your Bath
Another way you can use essential oils for your home is by incorporating them into your bath or shower routine. You can try adding a few drops of essential oils like rose, chamomile, and lavender to the shower walls to inhale the scent while taking a shower.
Alternately, apply a few drops of diluted essential oil on a warm towel that may be used to exfoliate your skin. You can also dissolve two cups of Epsom salts into your bath and add a few drops of aromatic oils if your muscles feel stiff and sore.
Use A Candle Diffuser
The calming scent of essential oils is perfect for different rooms in your home. The bedroom, for instance, is where you’ll likely spend most of your time relaxing. Using a candle diffuser is an excellent option if you want to disperse the scent without utilizing energy.
Try a metal or ceramic candle diffuser for your essential oils if you enjoy the cozy ambiance of a candle when you’re about to sleep. Pour a few drops of oil and some water into the top dish of a candlelight diffuser to utilize it. Light the candle underneath the plate to allow the flame’s heat to warm the water-oil combination and spread it throughout the air. Just be sure always to check the candles for safety since they work with open flames.
Final Words
It makes sense to use less chemicals around the house and opt for more natural alternatives, like essential oils. Take note of the tips above to know how to choose and use different essential oils for your home.
