Over the past month I’ve been reconnecting with essential oils. When I was young my mom used essential oils, and I always loved it when she’d use lavender oil to promote healthy skin, or used tee tree oil for its cleansing properties. This reconnection with essential oils has stirred something within me. I’ve uncovered the little girl in me who loves flowers, pretty fragrances, and making life more beautiful. I’ve reconnected with my feminine side, which is softer, calmer and more patient, as opposed to my “go go go” masculine side.

What Essential Oils are

If you’ve ever enjoyed the scent of a rose, you have experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. These naturally occurring vaporous aromatic compounds are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. Essential oils provide plants with protection against environmental threats, and play a role in plant pollination. In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants, essential oils have been used for their beautiful fragrances, their healing properties, for food preparation, beauty treatment, and health-care practices since the old times. They have potent attributes on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. The different chemical components of the flowers, plants and trees that have been distilled into oils have a powerful effect on our brain. Scents can help us remember events from the past, and may assist in clearing negative thought forms, and manage emotions. In fact, essential oils can be used for a wide variety of emotional and physical wellness applications.

How to use Essential Oils

You can use essential oils in one of three methods: aromatic, topical, or internal, either with a single oil, or in multiple oil blends.

Aromatic: using essential oils in a diffuser is a wonderful way to experience the proprietary effects of an oil, or oils, while cleansing and purifying the air and making your home (or car!) smell great. Only a few drops will suffice for several hours of enjoyment.

Topical: essential oils are easily absorbed in the skin, and as such can have a potent effect. Some oils can be applied directly to the skin whereas others may need to be diluted with a neutral carrier oil (like fractioned coconut oil) to avoid any possible skin irritation.

Internal: certain essential oils can be used as a dietary supplement, and have a rich culinary history. Make sure that the oils you take internally are certified therapeutic grade.

How I use my Essential Oils

To give you a better idea how you can use essential oils, I’ll share my daily routine with you:

When I sit down for my morning practice, I put a drop of Eucalyptus oil in my hands. I gently rub my hands together, and inhale this uplifting and healing fragrance. While I practice my Pranayama (breathing exercises) the smell of the Eucalyptus oil opens my respiratory system and allows me to breathe more easily. Then, I rub a drop of Frankincense oil – also known as the King of Oils – on my temples, to assist in opening my consciousness and connecting to my essence, as I become quiet and meditate.

Before I have breakfast, I drink a glass of warm water with one drop of lemon oil. I like adding a drop of Bergamot oil to my green tea, to make it taste like Earl Grey. During the winter I love oatmeal for breakfast, to which I add one drop of Wild Orange oil.

Essential Connection 

I pause and take a moment to ritually “put on” my oils. I have been using the following oils, because they resonate with me right now: I rub a drop of Bergamot oil on the tops of my ears. Bergamot is the oil of self-acceptance. It elicits feelings of confidence and trust in one’s capabilities. I rub a drop of Patchouli oil at the back of my neck. Patchouli is the oil of physicality. After the car accident I had in November, this oil helps me to stay grounded in my body. I put a few drops of Geranium oil on my wrists and collar. Besides the amazing smell of this oil, I love it as a reminder to love and trust others. At some point I’ll change the oils I’m using to other ones that I feel will be supportive in that moment then.

I love mixing different oils together, and waiting to smell the result as I put them in my diffuser. Right now, some of my favorite blends are:

Lemon  / Lavender  / Peppermint

Frankincense  / OnGuard

Wild Orange / Rosemary

Peppermint / Wild Orange / Bergamot

Lavender / Clary Sage (every night next to my bed)

What I Love

I appreciate people saying I smell good, and can say it is the oil I put on (instead of a chemical perfume). I am delighted that even my husband used the lemon oil I gave him to help him stay focused while studying for an exam.
I also love that I’m making a difference in the world, as using these oils provides for a fair and sustainable income for the farmers in (mostly) developing countries who grow and harvest the flowers and plants needed.

For me, the connection I’ve made with my oils is essential. It not only aids in connecting my body, mind and spirit, and as such is a magnificent addition to my yoga and meditation practice, it also allows me to connect with the gifts the Earth provides us with. And for this, I only feel gratitude.

Would you like to learn more about essential oils or how to purchase them for whole sale price? Feel free to email me, or click here.

Picture credit: Patricia Wilcox Photography