Essential Oils Guide

Contents

Every part of a plant or a tree could produce valuable oils that have a lot of health benefits. Essential oils are extracts taken from leaves, flowers, seeds, roots, and even the bark of a tree. They have many amazing uses for skin, hair, and health. They can lift up your mood and improve focus as well. Find out more about the wonderful uses or essential oils and their benefits with Shiny Leaf essential oils guide.

Essential oils are very versatile. There are various essential oils and each oil can have various uses. Essential oils have high levels of vitamins and minerals that provide health benefits for the body. Most oils work for skin, hair, and beauty care. Know how they work and it helps improve their effects.

Discover the benefits of the oils and how to bring out their full benefits. Learn about essential oils with the right information and get useful tips to try out.

Basic Guide to Essential Oils for Beginners

There’s a wide selection of essential oils you can buy on the market. Knowing about the uses and benefits of the oils help you pick the right product for your needs. You can use oils to make homemade recipes. Mix them with one another to achieve your preferences in terms of texture, scent, or color.

Many factors come into play when choosing an essential oil. If you want to relieve stress and soothe your mind, an aromatherapy oil is just what you need. If it’s for beauty care, cosmetic oils are the right choice. To improve hair texture and strength, try out nourishing hair oils. There are culinary oils and essential oils for household uses as well.

High amounts of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and nutrients are found in essential oils. The raw materials are often organic and have a healthy amount of nourishing substances for the body. The oils are similar to the natural moisture produced by the body, which is why it works great for skin and hair. There are various types of essential oils and some of them have therapeutic effects that help heal the body. Essential oils are commonly used in organic body care due to its various benefits. Visit the page below to find out more about their uses.

READ MORE: Organic Body Care

Guide to the Different Types of Essential Oils

There are various types of essential oils for aromatherapy, body care, and household uses. Each oil has properties that make it beneficial for health and personal care. These properties make the oil unique. The ingredients used and the process of extraction can affect the final product and the health benefits the oil offers.

With potent effects, essential oils can even replace commercial products. Explore the wonderful uses and benefits of various oils.

Oils by Ingredients

Essential oils are categorized depending on which raw material they are made from. Extracting the essence of organic ingredients produce oils that have high levels of nutrients and essential fatty acids. These oils bring a lot of vitamins and minerals that are good for the body. There are all types of oils for personal care. Know more about them here.

• Flower Essential Oils

Since flowers are often the parts of a tree or plant that retains a great fragrance, extracted flower essential oils are commonly used for aromatherapy. Flower essential oils are the most popular kind of aromatherapy oils. They have unique and soothing scents along with other health benefits for skin and hair.

• Leaves Essential Oils

As one of the three main parts of a plant, the leaves have an abundance of natural compounds like vitamins and minerals. Oils extracted from the leaves have healing effects that work for skin and scalp. Leave essential oils are volatile and may often have herbal scents that are suitable for aromatherapy.

• Seed Essential Oils

Seeds have a high concentration of essential fatty acids and nutrients. This is why most seed essential oils have wonderful effects on skin, hair, and body. It delivers therapeutic benefits that can treat damage and heal minor conditions of the skin and scalp. Most seed essential oils are great for moisturizing due to the abundance of essential fatty acids. Castor oil is a popular seed essential oil. It is rich in nourishing compounds that work for skin and hair. Learn about the many benefits of using castor oil here.

READ MORE: Castor Oil

• Root Essential Oils

Root essential oils are rich in minerals and often have earthy scents. Using this type of oil can help treat minor conditions of the body. Most root essential oils have therapeutic effects that improve the health of the skin.

• Wood Essential Oils

A wood essential oil has a musky scent that is great for aromatherapy. It helps induce relaxation and focus. With the right application, it is safe to use on skin or body.

• Bark Essential Oils

A bark essential oil has raw minerals that heal and soothe the body. Cinnamon oil is the most popular example of a bark essential oil. Its rich aroma is very potent and relaxing.

• Peel Essential Oils

Peels contain essential oils that have distinct scents. The most common peel essential oils are orange, lime, and bergamot. They are used to create perfumes and added to other products to give them a citrusy or fruity fragrance.

Buy the best essential oils you can use for skin and hair care. Here is a collection of high-quality oils made from fresh ingredients. Try these nourishing natural oils that give you radiant skin and softer hair with just a few drops.

READ MORE: Natural Essential Oils

Oils by Extraction Methods

The methods or process of extraction can vary depending on the ingredient used. As an example, to extract oils from nuts or seeds, the best method is cold-pressing. It ensures that all the natural compounds and the essential fatty acids are present in the final product. Here are the common extraction methods used.

• Solvent Extracted Oils

This method uses solvents to separate the essential oil from other substances. It is best used on ingredients that have compounds easily damaged by heat. The final product is often very fragrant. It is the common method used in extracting flower essential oils. The petals of a flower are easy to damage. By using solvent extraction, you can keep the freshness and the quality of the petals. 

• Distillation Extracted Oils

For this method, the raw materials are exposed to high heat and steam. There is a special instrument used in distillation. It lets the steam travel through a tube where it turns into vapor. When the vapor condenses, it collects into another vessel. The oil is separated from the other by-products.

• Expressed Oils

There are two processes of the expression method. The mechanical process makes use of instruments that have unique designs to extract oils from certain ingredients. The other process is cold-pressing. Cold-pressed oils are raw and do not contain any chemicals or fillers. They are highly nourishing for the body due to the preserved nutrients.

Oils vary in their purity. It depends on the extraction method used. If an oil undergoes a process where there are added or removed elements such as color, taste, or smell, it means that it is refined. This process can dilute the purity of the oil and remove compounds that make it effective and nourishing. Unrefined oils, on the other hand, have a lot of natural compounds and essential fatty acids. For more information about essential oil products, visit the page below.

READ MORE: Essential Oil Products

Essential Oils Benefits

Essential oils are versatile enough to have various uses. They are also highly nourishing and will improve the health of your skin and hair. Organic oils are effective and safe when used properly. Here are the benefits of using essential oils.

For Health

Essential oils are known for having high levels of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Most oils have therapeutic properties that help improve a person’s health, skin, and hair. Oils that are safe to ingest have positive effects on the body. On the other hand, topical oils are more useful for treating skin and hair conditions. Oils are rich sources of nutrients that are nourishing for the body.

For Aromatherapy

Aromatic oils have soothing or appealing scents that are good for your mind and spirit. They have positive effects that can ease stress and anxiety. Aromatherapy helps trigger parts of the brain linked to memories and emotion. It can lift your spirit or help you improve your focus. An oil can be used in different ways for aromatherapy. There are devices used that can help spread the fragrance of the oil. A diffuser is the most popular instrument for essential oils.

To ease a headache or soothe your nerves, you can apply an aromatherapy oil to your temples. Put aromatherapy oils on your chest or at the base of your neck to make you feel relaxed or to help with treating symptoms. To use essential oils for better sleep, you can diffuse it or apply it to the soles of your feet. Putting a few drops of oil on linens and pillows helps as well. 

For Beauty

Essential oils are common ingredients in beauty products but you can use them as pure oils for personal care. They restore the radiance of the skin and the hair’s softness and shine. While cosmetics are good for achieving a flawless look, it’s still best to have natural beauty. Essential oils make it possible. The right oil can nourish and protect skin and hair from damage. In a market full of chemical-laden products, essential oils are sought-after. Imagine having a glowing skin and shiny hair you can be proud of.

For Culinary Purposes

Food-grade oils enhance the flavor of foods. Coconut oil, Olive oil, and almond oil are the most common culinary oils. They also have health benefits for the body. They contain omega fatty acids good for the heart and minerals that improve your body functions. You can use food-grade oils for cooking or for natural remedies. Make sure to use pure organic essential oils to avoid allergic reactions. Check out the page below to find out the benefits of using organic essential oils for culinary purposes.

READ MORE: Organic Essential Oils

Guide to Using Essential Oils

There are proper ways of using essential oils. You must consider the right dosage or the correct method of application to get great results. You can even bring out the full effects of essential oils when you learn how they affect the body. One oil can work for both household uses and personal care. Learn about their properties to know how to use essential oils.

Here are the various ways to use essential oils and some tips that can yield great results.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy improves your mood and your spirit. Aromatic oils have soothing scents have positive effects on your mental and emotional health. They can provide relief from stress and anxiety. Oils have distinct aromas and most of them blend well with other scents. An essential oils blend is made up of various oils that create a delicate fragrance used for aromatherapy.

Using essential oils for aromatherapy helps ease the mind and body into a relaxed, focus, or peaceful state. Each oil has different effects for the user. There are oils that help improve your focus and alertness. Some oils boost the mood and lull the user into relaxation. There are still studies about the positive effects of essential oils on stress, anxiety, and depression. Experience the benefits of using aromatherapy oils yourself. Buy the best essential oils for your needs and follow these tips to get high-quality products.

READ MORE: Buy Essential Oils

Ways to Use Essential Oils in Aromatherapy

Essential oils are very versatile. Mix them with other oils and it can produce a great scent that appeals to the senses or use them alone to get a solid fragrance. There are a lot of ways to use aromatherapy oils. Try these tips on how to use essential oils in aromatherapy.

1. Use a diffuser to let its fragrance spread around the room. Create a blend of essential oils with scents that suit each other. A diffuser is an instrument that evaporates the oil to let its scent fill the atmosphere.
2. A few drops of essential oil on pillows or linens do the trick. It helps you sleep better. By using this method, you can ensure that the scent lasts longer.
3. Direct inhalation is an effective way of using aromatherapy oils. Smelling essential oils can awaken the senses and improve your focus. A handy tip is to dab a few drops of oil in a handkerchief. The scent fades gradually but it lasts for a day.
4. Essential oils are commonly used for making scented candles. Lighting or melting the candles diffuses the scent into the air.
5. Apply it to the temples to relieve headaches. Most oils work perfectly as massage oils. To help you fall asleep, rub some essential oils on your feet. Rub a few drops of aromatherapy oil on your chest to help alleviate symptoms of a cold as well.

Essential Oils Blend

A blend of essential oils creates a delicate fragrance affects your mind and body positively. A common recipe for essential oils blend has three notes that make up the body of the fragrance. The 30-50-20 rule is a popular blend for essential oil users. The ratio is 30% of the top note, 50% of the middle note, and 20% of the base note. Here are the notes and their characteristics.

• Top Note – It often has a light scent and the first impression of every blend. Its scent fades fast and does not last long. Most oils used as a top note are flower or leaf essential oils. They have mild aromas that fade into the well-rounded fragrance of the middle note. The top note can last up to two hours at most.
• Middle Note – The middle note helps mask the unpleasant first impression of the base note. Its rounded scent lasts longer than the top note. The fragrance of a middle note can last up to four hours.
• Base Note – The deep scent of a base note is perfect for a lingering fragrance in the air. The oils often used as a base note are very thick and has earthy scents. The rich scent of a base note is very relaxing for the body and mind.

Visit the guide below to find out more about aromatherapy oils.

READ MORE: Aromatherapy Oils

Topical Application

Essential oils carry a lot of nourishing benefits for skin, hair, and nails. These oils are rich in minerals and nutrients that the body needs. They repair skin and hair concerns effectively. Learn the proper way of applying essential oils to skin and hair. Know some tips that can help bring out the full benefits of the oils.

Essential Oils for Skin

Essential oils have healing effects on the skin. They are rich in essential fatty acids that can moisturize the skin well. An advantage of using essential oils instead of a normal moisturizer is that it hydrates the deeper layers of the skin. It keeps the skin plump and soft to the touch.

Here are some things to keep in mind when using essential oils for skin:

1. When the oil is too strong, make sure to dilute in carrier oils before applying to skin.
2. Choose essential oils that only work well for your skin type. Do a patch test on a small area on the back of your hands. Check if there are any side effects.
3. Use the right amount of essential oils. Applying too little will not bring results but using too much will only make the oils build up on the surface of the skin.
4. Use pure organic oils. Avoid refined essential oils since they may contain fillers that reduce the effects of the oils.

When treating skin conditions, apply essential oils to the affected area regularly. Other than using topical oils as treatment products, you can also use them as a moisturizer or as a deep-conditioning oil. Oils also work as cleansers that can dissolve impurities on the skin and give it a smooth and soft texture. Topical oils make your skin healthier and look younger. 

READ MORE: Topical Oils

Essential Oils for Hair

Dry and frizzy hair results from lack of moisture. Normal conditioners can’t hold much moisture and lock it into the strands. Since essential oils are just like the natural oil produced by the scalp, it can absorb through the strands better and moisturize it deeply.

Handle and style hair easily with an essential oil that moisturizes and nourishes the locks from roots to tips. Here are some ideas for hassle-free application of hair oils.

1. Keep the scalp safe from any irritation by diluting oils before using them on hair.
2. Leave moisturizing oils on hair overnight to get soft and silky locks.
3. For hair concerns that often start with the scalp, apply the essential oil to the roots of the hair. It will help stimulate the scalp to prevent the problem from getting worse.
4. There are certain oils that work best for straight, curly, kinky, or wavy hair type.
5. Use a comb to distribute the oil evenly from roots to tips.

Natural essential oils will keep your hair soft and smooth. You can use them as treatment oils for the scalp or as a hair mask that nourishes and protects hair from damage. See more natural essential oils you can use for your hair type.

READ MORE: Natural Essential Oils

Ingestion

Essential oils are packed with vitamins and minerals that are healthy for the body. With the right dosage and usage, it is safe to ingest oils. Following the directions of using an internal oil is important.

These mineral rich-oils are home remedies for minor conditions. Essential oils have therapeutic effects that improve the health of the body and its functions. Practice precautionary measures before ingesting or using oils for cooking. Here are some tips for ingesting oils.

1. Oils are better used as condiments in food for ingestion. While most culinary oils are safe to consume, drinking oils alone may prove to be hard because of the thickness of the liquid.
2. Culinary oils are different from cosmetic oils. There are oils that are safe to ingest and apply to skin or hair, but some oils do not have the same nourishing effects. Always look for food-grade oils.
3. Read labels and make sure to do the exact steps or directions as asked.

Internal oils have a distinct scent and flavor. Their health benefits are wide-ranging. Use them to boost your metabolism and other functions of the body. There are internal oils to help you lose weight, improve blood flow, and maintain the mobility of your joints as well. Internal oils are good as natural supplements for your diet. Find out how you can use internal oils for supplement or cooking with this guide.

READ MORE: Internal Oils

Guide to Avoiding Essential Oils Risks

Using these oils brings amazing results not only for health but also for personal care. A drop of an essential oil can contain as many nutrients as a bottle of personal care product. With this essential oils guide, learn how to use essential oils effectively without the risks.

Irritation

It is important to dilute the oil before applying to skin or hair. This is due to the high concentration of minerals and vitamins in the extracts. They are too strong for the skin or scalp to handle. Using undiluted oils can cause irritation. Another way to avoid this risk is to check for the components of an oil and see if there are any substances that may trigger irritation. Make sure to only use pure essential oils that do not contain chemical fillers. To learn more about the benefits of using pure essential oils, visit the page below.

READ MORE: Pure Essential Oils

Allergic Reaction

Some people are allergic to the compounds found in essential oils. To avoid this risk, consult an expert before using an oil. There are professional patch tests to find out if you are allergic. It is important to do a patch test first on the skin as well. See if there are any skin reactions before using the oil.

Skin Conditions

Skin conditions may range from dryness to issues like dermatitis. Essential oils can treat these skin conditions and serve as home remedies. For issues such as dryness or oiliness, use oils that moisturize and soothe the skin.