Essential oils
Essential oils come from the distillation or other form of extraction of essential oils from plants. Not every plant though, has essential oils. As much as I would LOVE to give instructions on how to make your own essential oils, I can't. The process includes very pricey equipment and an enormous amount of plants.
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If you have ever searched out and purchased essential oils, then I'm sure you've noticed the price point as well as the quantity. Normally, the oils come in 5 or 10 ml bottles and the prices, depending on the plant, can range anywhere from $8 to over a hundred. Some would argue the sustainability of the plants because of the amount necessary to make a small bottle of essential oil. Which brings me to my next topic...where to buy essential oils.
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There are many resources online that talk about essential oils and I recommend you do some research. I'm not going to bash multi-level marketing essential oil companies, I sell Norwex for goodness sake, but regardless of the company, use common sense and a little research.
So what should you look for before buying? Start with ingredients. You already know that it's not going to be cheap, but are you getting true essential oil or are you getting a blend? By blend, I mean, is the blend made of essential oil AND a carrier oil? You WANT 100% essential oil, no carrier oils. Now, some companies create their own blends for particular reasons. Those reasons can be remedy/health blends or scent blends to name a couple. Regardless, they are a blend of 100% essential oils, no carriers. Read the ingredients, it should only contain that particular plant (may even have scientific plant name), but should be authentic and unadulterated...no fillers or other ingredients.
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Does organic matter? I personally will always buy organic if given a choice. Distillation is a process of removing impurities, but I get peace of mind knowing that the growers of said plant have taken the extra step to keep a plant as healthy as possible with no chemicals/pesticides/insecticides. But again, sometimes it's hard to find a specific organic essential oil especially at a specific price point. It's also best to see how it was grown. Organic isn't the only factor. Is it wildcrafted, grown on a farm, etc.?
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Are the bottles packaged in dark colored bottles? The brown or dark blue bottles protect the oil from UV rays. So definitely make sure the oil is in a dark bottle.
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Are they tested for quality? Look for third party testing! We all know in-house testing is always going to look good.
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Does Therapeutic Grade make it better than Aromatherapy Grade? Let's be honest, we've all seen marketing ploys. Well, this is one. All essential oil can be used therapeutically as well as for aroma. There is no standard grade, just real or fake.
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After knowing what you are looking for, shop around and check out companies. Read reviews. Some companies may not have lavender straight from France, but have something similar. Depending on what you're doing with the oil, will that work for you? For instance, are you just wanting a scent? Why spend the money on organic French Lavender essential oil from the hills of France instead of an organic French Lavender from Colorado when you just want to put it in your diffuser to make your bathroom smell like a spa?
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How do I use essential oil? The uses are numerous! To list a few, you can cook with them, use them in making lotions, creams, lip balm, soap, etc., add them to your tinctures or oil infusions, and of course my favorite-diffuse them. Diffusing allows me to scent my home/room/car, treat illnesses, or add calm and peace to the area. With all the uses essential oils provide, it is IMPERATIVE that you remember two things. One, essential oils are powerful. In a society of 'more is better', this is NOT what you want to use more of. With that being said, animals are sensitive to essential oils. Their sense of smell is so much stronger than ours and what could be 1-2 drops of oil could be an equivalent of 1 tablespoon for a dog. There are several essential oils that ARE NOT recommended if you have dogs and/or cats. I recommend you talking to your vet. I've seen mixed reviews while researching and in the end, who would best know what's not good for your pet than the doctor who has seen first hand what isn't good or what is safe? Also, children are another factor. Other than lavender, it is recommended that babies/infants not be treated with essential oils. Unless you know firsthand (via grew up being treated with essential oils because that's what my grandma used...) then please use caution and refer to a certified specialist or primary physician.
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I've linked a bunch of products that I use and trust HERE. But again, I encourage you to do some research if you have concerns or questions. I also have a list of some resources I follow HERE.
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