What are essential oils anyways? I used to think they were just meant to make things smell nice. When I started going green and swapping out toxic cleaners in our home way back in 2008, I used them in DIYs… but honestly, I didn’t know if they did anything I just thought they mainly added scent. Back then, I was an aerospace engineer and overall skeptic.
Watch here, and/or keep reading – this post covers more questions in-depth, like WHY I chose the brand of essential oils I did…but I discuss different ways to use the oils in the video. Stay tuned as this will be a video series! {wink}
It wasn’t until I started really digging into research on plastic (in our oceans and in general) and toxins in mainstream cleaning products that I began to learn about the havoc that both wreak on our body systems and overall health. I was so horrified, I went through every room in the house and filled two big boxes full of toxic cleaners and products that I took to a community hazard waste removal event for disposal. That day I made a DIY cleaner and started seeking healthier plant-based alternatives while looking up ingredients on EWG.org… Thankfully my husband jumped on board pretty quickly!
Fast forward a few years to a conversation I had with some college friends… basically, the consensus was that they didn’t believe a place was clean unless it smelled like Pine Sol or chemicals {bleh!}. Again, I was horrified. I hadn’t used chemicals in our home in YEARS. And we had a dog… all of a sudden I was concerned that people didn’t think my house was clean, or that it smelled bad because it didn’t smell like some floral plugin. Yeah… so began my hunt for non-toxic ways to scent my home.
I was looking for a way to scent our home naturally because candles and plugins give me migraines, blurry vision, and make me feel dizzy and nauseous (you know, symptoms you get from neurotoxins). During my hunt, I repeatedly came across essential oils. OK, that makes sense, I actually already had one of those things that you put fragrant oils (I won’t call those essential oils now that I know the difference!) in a dish above a tea candle – I’m all set!
But then I read how burning the oils destroys their therapeutic properties. Um… yeah OK. How are essentials oils therapeutic, and why does it matter? Ever the skeptic, I needed to see the science. I was surprised by all that I found, and the cool part is that the number of studies on essential oils is exponentially increasing! I’m sensitive to synthetic chemicals, so learning that essential oils could support wellness, emotions, and have cleansing properties had me cautiously optimistic. (Keep reading to the end to learn WHY I chose Young Living.)
Still skeptical, but wanting an ultrasonic diffuser and oils, I ordered my Premium Starter Kit and continued researching… so by the time my kit arrived I knew how I was going to try (read: test) each oil first! I was so excited that I did all the things at once and ended up giving myself a detox reaction, LOL! Yeah, not joking. My enroller (now good friend) just laughed at me and told me I may want to slow down. Yes, essential oils are naturally detoxing so you want to start small and slow, one drop goes a long way! Let’s just say that I was so impressed with my results that not only was I no longer a skeptic, I couldn’t shut up about them. Now here I am, using essential oils in every aspect of my life and blogging about it. 🙂
What are essential oils and how do you use them?
Essential oils are basically the life-blood of the plant! They are the plant’s natural defense and protective mechanisms. Biologically, they work the same in our bodies as they do in nature. In humans, they provide support for every system in the body: your muscular-skeletal system, circulatory system, endocrine system (your hormones), respiratory system, immune system, and more. They even support brain health (one of the few things capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier) and a healthy weight. They are used extensively for emotional and spiritual support. And yes, you can use essential oils as a healthy alternative to all the toxic chemical cleaners in your home!
Check out the infographic below that covers the basics of essential oils – what the are, how they are made, and how they can be used aromatically, topically, and even as a dietary supplement. To be clear, not all essential oils are created equal… so please be sure to read your labels carefully.
A Note About Safety
When using essential oils on your skin, dilute according to the directions on the bottle and watch for redness. If any irritation occurs simply rub a carrier oil on the area. Be sure to always dilute with a carrier oil on children because their skin is more permeable and absorbs the oils more quickly. A carrier oil is a fatty oil such as coconut oil, avocado oil, or jojoba oil (look for cold pressed and organic in your health food store).
What about internal use? Young Living utilizes all three methods of usage: British (topical), French (internal), and German (aromatic). The French have been safely using some essential oils internally for decades – even before Young Living was around. Young Living has created a Vitality supplement line with distinctive white labels so you can easily recognize which oils are safe to use internally.
Why I Chose Young Living
It took me 4 months to decide on an essential oil brand. I looked into all of them and kept coming back to Young Living, the pioneer of the industry and leading research. I was reluctant to purchase from an MLM company back then, but if I was going to give essential oils a serious try, I wanted the best. The bottom line for me was their transparency and how they go beyond organic standards with their Seed to Seal guarantee.
I made the right decision. I’ve now participated in the entire seed to seel process at two of our farms, from planting to harvesting to distilling… all weeding is done by hand or machine and no pesticides or chemicals are used, ever. I can tell you in all seriousness, you get what you pay for! I invested in my health and I haven’t looked back.
I’ve planted yarrow and lavender at our Whispering Springs Farm in Mona, UT, and harvested and distilled balsam fir at our Highland Flatts Farm in Naples, ID. I can’t wait to visit more Young Living farms, they’re all on my bucket list!
Why do some companies sell essential oils so cheaply?
To save money. If you spray your crop with pesticides, you have more crop to distill. If you use a chemical solvent to extract the oil, you pull more out. If you dilute it with a cheaper, synthetic oil, or a carrier oil, you stretch the oil you have distilled. Most essential oils are sold more cheaply because companies cut corners.
Want to learn more about essential oils?
Get instant access to my FREE Essential Oils 101 Class and learn to use them confidently in all areas of your life! Ready for a lifestyle change? Listen to this Toxin-Free Life audio to learn more about WHY and HOW you can start making changes.
Questions? Please join my Natural Living Community on Facebook!
Hi, I'm Jen! I help people ditch toxins for a healthier body, home, and planet. 
