Stressed? Low energy? Can’t sleep? There’s an essential oil for that.

If you aren’t using aromatherapy as part of your healthy lifestyle, there’s no better time to start than right now. And what could be better for the season than floral essential oils?

Essential oils may have been thought of as hippy potions in the past, but we are seeing a definite boom in popularity for these natural ingredients. Before you run to the health food store to stock up or attend an aromatherapy party, there are a few things to know about these potent oils.

Essential oils (or EOs) are volatile compounds extracted from plants. Each oil carries the distinct characteristics of the plant from which it was obtained. EOs have powerful aromatherapeutic benefits, but they are super concentrated and highly potent, and care should be taken when using the oils. In order to avoid issues like irritation, burns, and hormonal disturbance, learn how to properly handle EOs.

Before we go further into the benefits of floral essential oils, you may be wondering … what is aromatherapy and does it really work?

In aromatherapy, essential oils are used to treat physical and psychological symptoms, and bring about a state of balance. Floral EOs offer the bouquet of delicate fragrance from your favorite blooms. But these beauties are certainly no shrinking violets. They come with a host of powerful feel good benefits.

Danièle Ryman, one of the world’s leading aromatherapists, even uses essential oils to alleviate hormonal disruption due to menopause. Ryman says essential oils “can influence a sluggish system and assist during hard times”, including florals like chamomile, geranium, and rose.

13 Floral Essential Oils for Aromatherapy

Always begin with high quality essential oils, like Source Vital or Aura Cacia. You can make your own reed diffuser, use in a home diffuser or car diffuser, or make a sachet. Each essential oil listed below can be used on its own or blended with other EOs to create your own blend.

1. Bergamot: A spicy, citrus floral, this blossoming essential oil improves feelings of depression and anxiety, gives a calming feel to the mind, and is said to boost the immune system and inspire a feeling of confidence. Blends well with cypress, orange, and vetiver.

2. Blue Tansy: This freshly scented essential oil has an almost apple-like fragrance and a rich blue hue. It is calming and soothing, eases tension, settles the nerves, and creates a relaxed feeling. Blends well with bergamot, geranium, and lemon.

3. Chamomile: You know this flower as the super calming tea, but it is also good for soothing the mind, toning down irritability, reducing discomfort, and easing an upset stomach. The sweetly scented oil blends well with lavender, lemon, and ylang ylang.

4. Geranium: With a scent similar to rose, this essential oil is soothing and uplifting. Good for relieving stress and anxiety, it diminishes feelings of hormonal imbalance. Blends well with basil, clary sage, and orange.

5. Helichrysum: Also known as Immortelle, this essential oil has a rich, sweet fragrance. It is used to banish fatigue, soothe stress, and balance emotions. Helichrysum is also a pain reliever and blends well with bergamot, chamomile, and lavender.

6. Jasmine: The warm, intoxicating, and exotic scent is reason enough to use jasmine essential oil, but it is also used as an aphrodisiac, antidepressant, and to instill an optimistic outlook, boost energy, and inspire confidence. Blends well with bergamot, rose, and citrus oils.

7. Lavender: A fresh floral, this well-loved essential oil is commonly used to promote a sense of balance and calm. Good for inducing sleep, relieving tension, easing depression, calming nerves, and diminishing the symptoms of headaches and migraines, lavender is an aromatherapy kit staple. Blends well with cedarwood, geranium, and nutmeg.

8. Lotus: The exotic lotus has a soft, earthy floral scent. This essential oil is soothing, calming, stimulates a poor appetite, alleviates anger, and brings about a sense of clarity and peace. Blends well with spicy scents, like cinnamon and sandalwood.

9. Neroli: A sweet floral, neroli provides a relaxing sensation, and is used to relieve depression and anxiety. May also help to calm an upset stomach associated with nervousness. Blends well with jasmine, lavender, and rosemary.

10. Rhododendron: With a fresh, clean aroma, this essential oil is perfect for those who prefer a lighter scent. It offers an uplifting sensation and blends well with lavender, orange, and geranium.

11. Rose: A potent stress reducer, this familiar scent brings about a feeling of harmony, eases depression, quells anger, and helps in dealing with feelings of grief, fear, and nervousness. May also be used to boost self-esteem. Blends well with geranium and jasmine.

12. Yarrow: Fruity and herbaceous, this essential oil soothes, relaxes, and eases anxiety and restlessness. It helps to improve sleep quality and blends well with cedarwood, clary sage, and black pepper.

13. Ylang Ylang: A sweet, fruity floral, this essential oil is uplifting, anxiety quelling, and used as an aphrodisiac. Blends well with bergamot, citrus oils, and sandalwood.

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Essential oils can be a fantastic addition to your beauty and cleaning regimens, but there are a few habits that can turn a relaxing, healthful practice into a recipe for disaster. Like anything, there are always risks and even side effects to keep an eye out for. And remember, just because something is sold over-the-counter or marketed as natural doesn’t mean there aren’t contraindications or real risks.

Check out our expert tips for enjoying essential oils safely and effectively.

1. Don’t swallow.

As much as oils with names like thyme or orange might seem safe to ingest, it’s important to always check with a professional aromatherapist or naturopath first.

“Because the oils are so concentrated, they are likely to irritate mucous membranes and the stomach lining if taken internally,” explains Susan Smith Jones of Penn Herb Co.

Of course, some oils are safe to ingest or cook with – it’s just a good idea to check with an expert first, not only about whether it’s safe for your chosen oils but also about the correct way to do it.

“Simply dropping essential oils in a glass of water and drinking it can be damaging to your stomach,” explains Jessica Morelli, founder of Palermo Body. “If you’re going to ingest essential oils, they need to be properly dispersed in an oil-soluble ingredient before ingesting.”

She suggests flax oil, honey, or specially designed capsules.

2. Don’t skimp on your essential oil quality.

“Know your supplier, where they source, and what values they have,” says Kristi Head, creator and owner of LITE+CYCLE.

This research can help you ensure that you are actually getting botanical extracts, and not synthetical or chemical reproductions.

“Chemical reproductions are not effective because they do not evoke the same biochemical response as natural, pure essential oils,” says Smith Jones.

Doing your research is essential to ensuring that your oils are safe to use, especially on the skin or internally.

“The purer the oil, the better it is for you and the more diverse things you can use an oil for,” says Jaya Jaya Myra, author of Vibrational Healing: Attain Balance & Wholeness. Understand Your Energetic Type. “High quality oils can be taken internally and used on the skin, whereas low quality ones cannot.”

Kac Young, PhD, author of “The Healing Art of Essential Oils,” recommends only choosing organic oils to be absolutely certain of their quality.

“You never know how they have been grown, harvested and processed unless you see the organic label,” she says. “Pesticides can be concentrated and intensified in the distillation process just like the essential oils.”

3. Don’t sunbathe with essential oil.

Sun is a no-no with essential oil for two reasons.

The first is that sun and heat can make essential oil turn or lose potency, meaning that it’s best to store your bottles somewhere dark and cool. But it’s also important for you to stay out of the sun after you’ve used them.

“Some essential oils are phototoxic (also known as photosensitive), which means they become toxic in direct sunlight and can cause harmful effects if left on this skin in direct sunlight,” explains Christina Daigneault, certified aromatherapist, founder of Orchard Aromatherapy, and the co-author of the forthcoming book, Plant-Powered Beauty.

Photosensitive oils include citrus-based oils, rue, and angelica; you’ll want to allow 12 hours after applying before going into direct sunlight after using these oils to avoid blistering or burning.

4. Don’t use oils on their own.

Most essential oils need to be combined with a carrier oil before applying them to the skin, otherwise they’ll cause your skin to burn or blister.

KJ Landis, author and creator of the Superior Self Series suggests mild, unscented grape seed oil as a carrier, which is not only inexpensive, it’s also easily absorbed by the skin.

“Other carrier oils that are safe to use are jojoba oil or almond oil,” says Landis. “You may use coconut or shea butter, but know that these oils will turn solid at room temperature. They are great for making body butters. Personally, I use coconut and shea butters on my face every day.”

5. Be wary of using essential oil if you’re pregnant.

While some essential oils may be safe to use when pregnant or nursing, certain oils can cause complications and problems, according to dermatologist Dr. Kathy Taghipour of Savana Urban Spa.

“If you are pregnant there are lots of essentials oil you mustn’t use, because they can either cause a disturbance in hormone levels, malformation of the fetus, or worse case scenario, abortion,” she notes. “Some of the oils are angelica root, aniseed, basil, birch, bitter almond, cinnamon, and many others.”

To keep you and your baby safe, always check with a doctor before using these or any other essential oils while pregnant or nursing.

6. Use sparingly.

Essential oils come in small bottles for a good reason – make that two.

Firstly, the oxygen in partially filled bottles deteriorates the oil, according to Smith Jones, so buying smaller bottles ensures that your oils will stay fresher longer.

But those little bottles are also a suggestion at how much of each essential oil you should really be using.

“Less is more,” says Taghipour. “A good rule of thumb for diluting essential oils is to use a two percent solution. This roughly equates to 12 drops per fluid ounce of carrier oil.”

7. Don’t apply essential oil to infants.

Because young children have more sensitive skin than adults, it’s important not to apply essential oil directly to them, especially without a carrier oil.

Victoria Sexton, certified aromatherapist, notes that she prefers using an electric diffuser around her kids or infants to allow them to reap the benefits of essential oils – like keeping their rooms smelling fresh – without applying them directly to their skin; check with your pediatrician to see if this is a good option for your kids.

8. Don’t get impatient.

Using essential oils on the skin is one of the most common ways to reap their benefits, but it’s not a magic Band-Aid – feeling the positive effects of essential oils can take some time, according to Landis.

“It may take some time before the full benefits are realized because it takes a while to get circulated throughout the whole body,” she says.

Use essential oil as part of your regular routine; you’ll be feeling their amazing benefits in due time for sure.

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Natural, sustainable, fair-trade, and wildcrafted

Many people burn incense for a variety of reasons from use in religious ceremonies and communing with nature to the simple act of ridding your home of funky odors. Making and burning incense is one of the oldest human crafts.

Incense can be broken down into two categories: indirect-burning and direct-burning. Dried sage leaves are a form of indirect-burning incense or non-combustible incense. They will not burn without the continued application of flame. Direct-burning, or combustible, incense is blended with oils or other mediums that allow the incense to stay lit for a smoldering effect that releases scent until the incense burns out. Incense sticks or cones fit this category.

The latest trend in incense is wildcrafted incense, which loosely refers to incense makers who gather, collect, or trade raw materials through a variety of sustainable means to make incense from all-natural ingredients. The focus is on using resources in a sustainable way and to produce a superior product. It’s certainly a trend that we can get behind and one that anyone who enjoys incense should as well.

Discover the best of wildcrafted incense with these three totally sustainable and delightful brands.

Wildcrafted Incense

Sacred Wood Essence

For more than six years, the makers of Sacred Wood Essence have been working with the same family in Ecuador who source the best quality wood from the Palo Santo tree. They employ many workers in the area and provide a fair wage above the average of other local jobs. There is no harvesting or cutting down of trees which make it fully sustainable–the wood is only harvested from trees that have fallen. Palo Santo incense is similar to sage and cedar.

Sword+fern

Sword+Fern botanical incense is ethically harvested, whole plant, loose incense. The company produces three varieties of natural, wildcrafted, chemical-free, and clean-burning incense for everyday aromatherapy, magical, or spiritual use. These are hand-blended collection of the whole resin and plant incenses. The scents offered are: Your Light, which is made with lavender, desert sage, and mugwort; Speak of Me, made from frankincense, black copal, and Douglas fir; and Time Garden, made with patchouli leaf, copal, and western red cedar needles. Truly heady stuff.

Juniper Ridge

Juniper Ridge is the master of wildcrafted incense. The company offers up seven varieties of stick incense that are made with gathered and collected materials from the wilds of California. From Sweetgrass Campfire Incense, which smells like vanilla, fresh-cut grass, and cinnamon bread baking in the oven, to Douglas Fir Campfire Incense, which smells just like a mountain lodge fireplace and is perfect for the holiday season, Juniper Ridge uses only sustainably-sourced wildcrafted plants, tree sap, wood.

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Wildcrafted Incense Image via Juniper Ridge

The post Discover the Scent-Sational Benefits of Sustainable and Wildcrafted Incense appeared first on EcoSalon.

Aromatherapy, sometimes referred to as essential oil therapy, is beneficial in so many ways. Not only can it make you feel better, but your house will smell wonderful too, which is why we’ve rounded up some of our favorite DIY aromatherapy projects using the revitalizing tinctures.

The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) says aromatherapy can be defined more specifically as “the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize, and promote the health of body, mind, and spirit.” The article goes further to say “It seeks to unify physiological, psychological, and spiritual processes to enhance an individual’s innate healing process.”

In other words, if you need a lift or a boost, then sometimes the best medicine is simply taking in the fragrant scents from a candle or a warm tub full of bath salts. The only thing better might be in actually making them yourself, especially if you find simple homemade projects to be good for the soul. We do suggest, though, that you get started on these before your stress levels get out of hand, that way you’ll be ready to treat yourself to some much-needed R&R anytime the need arises.

1. Relaxing Bath Salts

Slipping into a warm tub filled with yummy aromatherapy bath salts can be the perfect way to end a hectic day. The Queen of Crafting, Martha Stewart, has made the process super simple with her no-fail, three-step, five-ingredient recipe for homemade bath salts found here.

The secret to the beautiful appearance of homemade bath salts, aside from the simplicity of their ingredients which is just coarse sea salt, Epsom salt, baking soda, and essential oils, is the use of food coloring. We’ve all heard about how bad those artificial dyes can be for us, so why not try a brand with fewer chemicals like India Tree. Once you’re done honing your essential oil combinations, store these in a beautiful glass jar, and if you’re feeling really ambitious, make some pretty labels by tying tags around the bottles’ necks that distinguish the different scents.

2. Aromatherapy Candle

This type of project may sound overly complicated, but it’s actually quite simple as long as you’ve gathered everything you need to complete this DIY successfully. With some soy wax flakes, a fresh new wick, and a few other items, you’ll be on your way to making beautiful homemade candles at home in no time.

The tutorial found here is very thorough and provides some useful tips for candle making, including how to add some actual dried herbs into your candles to compliment the fragrance, such as lavender bits mixed into a lavender scented votive. And, if you feel like your candles are lacking a little oomph, have some fun with the containers and with color.

You can choose from almost anything that’s not plastic, as long as it’s safe for very hot liquids, including vintage jars and glasses, metal containers, or even cute little dip bowls like these. For some color, round up a few crayons and cut off bits when boiling the wax flakes then add them directly into the mixture. A little bit goes a long way – use approximately 1/8 inch of a red crayon per 16 fluid ounces of wax to get a pastel pink color.

3. Household Spray

We have two versions available to this project. The first is a mood altering spray that emits a light scent into the air to calm, uplift, invigorate, or help with whatever is bothering you. The second is a stronger room deodorizing spray that can be used in the bathroom to cover up those, um, well, you know what we’re talking about.

For the first one, you simply need to fill a mini spray bottle with 4 ounces of water and your favorite mixture of essential oils. The recipe can be found here and she has some suggestions for combinations depending on your mood. For the second one, the concept is very similar, aside from the fact that it’s much more concentrated and therefore calls for many more drops of essential oils. Find the stronger recipe here.

4. Scented Oil Sachets

These no-sew scented sachets are a great way to infuse a suitcase, sock drawer, closet, or car with your favorite essential oil fragrance. These are super simple to make and require zero sewing skills – fabric, fusible bonding tape, and the scented filler is all you need to complete this project – the bow tying ribbon is completely optional.

The tutorial can be found here, and there are many variations of this that you can make simply by using rice and essential oils as your sachet filler, rather than just dried herbs or potpourri. You can also have fun changing up the fabrics, they used burlap, although something substantial is all you really need.

For ideas on how to combine essential oils, check out Aroma Web’s emotional wellbeing column with more than fifteen recipes that are categorized for your convenience by emotional need.

Now that you’ve seen a few of our favorite aromatherapy projects using essential oils, you should be well on your way to getting some much-needed rest, relaxation, reinvigoration, or a remedy for whatever ails you. Let us know your thoughts on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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Image of Oil, Soap, and Lavender via Shutterstock

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Does winter tend to get you down? For many it is more than a little cabin fever. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very real problem. Luckily, there is a treatment that is all natural and makes a lot of scents–literally.

Have you ever thought seasonal depression and light therapy was a made up ailment? Not so much. SAD is a form of clinical depression that affects many people each year, mostly those living in the Midwest where winters tend to run long. Symptoms include anxiety, depression, lethargy, mood changes, food cravings, and sleep disruption.

Reduced light exposure is thought to be the main cause of SAD. Natural light affects everything from how we feel to our appetite and sleep habits. Those longer, darker days of winter can lead to chemical imbalance in the brain, resulting in SAD.

Light therapy is the traditional treatment for SAD and antidepressants are often prescribed. Other remedies are taking advantage of sunlight when you can, getting outside, and making sure to exercise regularly.

Before you go pitching a “for sale” sign in your front yard and heading permanently to warmer climates, get this: Research has found that scents may play a role in seasonal depression. Studies show that those who suffer from SAD have a more acute sense of smell than those who are not as negatively affected. Furthermore, natural plant oils may stimulate parts of the brain that control hormonal, immune, and emotional functions.

If what we smell affects our moods and other functions, aromatherapy must be the answer, right? Many people who deal with an annual bout of SAD have seen benefits from using essential oil aromatherapy. Certain oils are uplifting and energizing, while others are calming and help to induce a peaceful night’s sleep.

Ways to use essential oils for aromatherapy are through steam inhalation, massage, mists, and bath. When using essential oils it is important to remember that these oils are very potent and should not be applied directly to skin. If using on the skin combine a few drops with a tablespoon of carrier oil (like sweet almond or jojoba) prior to application.

Wondering which essential oils are best for you? Citrus and mint oils are best for reviving and energizing a lagging spirit. Try sweet orange, grapefruit, bergamot, rosemary, or peppermint. Need help getting to sleep? Lavender and chamomile should do the trick.

If you aren’t so much the DIY type, there are essential oil blends that you can purchase to use right away. Here are some of the best:

Aromatherapy for Energy and Refreshment:

Skinnyskinny Bergamot and Coriander Aromatherapeutic Organic Room Spray

“Bergamot is an excellent choice to use because it is great for helping to alleviate symptoms of depression. On its own, it is an uplifting citrus scent that can cut through the heavy, sometimes suffocating scents at this time of year (like cinnamon, clove, pine, and all those baked goods). Coriander is a fantastic complement to Bergamot and helps to instill some confidence and motivation, which is extremely important when seasonal affective disorder is making you feel down in the dumps.” ~ Clara of Skinnyskinny

Amala Aroma Apothecary Refresh Peppermint Room & Linen Mist

Lotus Wei Radiant Energy Energy Mist

Ila Concentrated Room Spray for an Essence of Joy

Aromatherapy for Relaxation and Sleep:

Amala Aroma Apothecary Relax Lavender Room & Linen Mist

Tata Harper Aromatic Bed Time Treatment

Lotus Wei Inner Peace Balancing Serum

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Image of woman using aromatherapy via Shutterstock

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Using a simple DIY linen spray can help you sleep better. 

Most of us instinctively know how good a regular amount of sleep can be, and science backs us up on that. Studies have shown how important sleep is to memory, overall health, longevity, emotional health, and more. For some of us though, sleep is an elusive mistress. I have discovered that regularly using a linen spray can help me fall asleep. It’s not foolproof, but it’s my first defense and it has made a big difference in my life. As someone who has chronic sleep issues, anything that helps me get more sleep, no matter how simple it may be, is life-changing!

You can purchase any number of linen sprays on the market, or, you can make your own, which is what I do. If you are going to purchase a spray, do make sure to choose carefully. Not all linen sprays are created equal. Some commercial sprays have gross chemicals in them that I personally wouldn’t want to spray on my bedding. Indigo Wild makes Zum Mist, which is one commercial brand that I recommend. It is made with only purified water, pure essential oils, and vegetable glycerin.

DIY Linen Spray

Recipe:

Making your own room or linen spray is super easy. Simply use a funnel to combine distilled water, leaving some room at the top for the other ingredients; 2 tablespoons of vodka; and 8-10 drops of the essential oils of your choice in a glass or metal spray bottle. The vodka helps the spray last longer and makes the smell linger. Shake prior to each use.

Tips:

• You can use homemade linen spray as a refreshing room spray as well. In addition to keeping a bottle by the bed, make up a bottle to use it in the bathroom and the kitchen too.
• Use metal or glass bottles as they are nonreactive. You can find bottles at Abundant Health, Aroma Tools, Rail 19, and the Container Store. I prefer the blue glass ones because I like the look of them on my nightstand.
• A few online sources for essential oils are Mountain Rose Herbs, Rocky Mountain Oils, Aura Cacia and Bulk Apothecary. You can also find essential oils at Whole Foods and many natural food stores.
• Don’t be afraid to mix essential oils to create the ideal calming scent for you. I am a fan of patchouli and orange–I find it very relaxing and it helps me fall asleep. If you aren’t so about what scents to mix together, just look at commercial linen sprays for inspiration. That’s what I did.

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Image: Bottle and Flowers from Shutterstock

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