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There are so many great aromatherapy oils to choose from. But which are the best essential oils for beginners? And why should we be adding essential oils to our lives?
Essential oils promote relaxation, fill our spaces with incredible scents, and support our bodies and minds in a holistic way. For the Aroma Guides, essential oils play a vital role in our quest to improve our health and wellbeing. They also have the added benefit of being one of the least expensive and more accessible wellness tools.
With a little guidance, you can successfully create your own blends and mixes – made especially for you, by you! Given time you will also be guided by your own response to scents and to the individual oils.
Why Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy has an incredible amount of uses to support health and wellbeing. Each essential oil has different chemical properties that offer a subtle, organic, and less invasive approach to health and wellbeing. When learning how to get started with essential oils, some of the main challenges can be: Where can I find information that is easy to understand and follow? Where do I look for simple recipes and how do I make these? Is it safe?
Let’s face it, most of us don’t have time to read multiple books dedicated to one topic. Yes, we may need to apply more self-care, but to successfully implement aromatherapy into our lives, we also need our routines to be simple and easily accessible.
This is where Aroma Guides can help. We have been down the same road and have done the heavy lifting and investigating for you!
You can begin with just a small number of versatile oils that have multiple benefits. Here, Nicola has put together a guide to her top five best essential starter oils. Let’s get started!
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Nicola’s Top 5: Best Essential Oils for Beginners
1. Lavender
Lavender is probably the most widely known of all essential oils – and for good reason. If I had to choose one oil I couldn’t live without, it would be this one! This oil is great for promoting relaxation and restful sleep. It also has soothing and healing properties, with the added benefit of being safe for kids. (Note: Always remember to check dilution guidelines when using any essential oil for children).
Bedtime Relaxation Roller
Sometimes it’s the simple things that we fall in love with. This handy little roller is something I never leave home without! Use just before bedtime to promote a healthy night’s sleep, or keep it in your bag to apply when you need to inject a little bit of calm into your day. I rub the roller over my temples and back of the neck at bedtime.
Ingredients (makes 10 ml)
- Glass roller bottle (10 ml)
- 8 ml almond oil
- 5 drops lavender oil
- 2 drops frankincense oil
Method:
Pour the almond oil into a clean mixing bowl and add the essential oils. Mix together well then use a pipette to transfer the mixture into the roller bottle. Close the bottle with the roller head, seal and shake well before use.
2. Tea tree
Famed for antiseptic properties, tea tree oil is another great all-rounder for your essential oil starter kit. With studies showing its effectiveness against bacteria, it is a sound addition to your first aid kit and homemade cleaning products. With its naturally deodorizing and anti-fungal properties (to name just two), tea tree oil has a wide range of possibilities for personal care as well, making it one of the best essential oils for beginners.
Refreshing Foot Bath
This foot bath is a great way to show your feet a little TLC. The blend will help to deodorize foot odor and treat any fungus infections. It’s also a great way to take some ‘me time’ and relax!
Ingredients (makes 2 liters)
- 35 grams Epsom salts
- 1 tsp almond oil
- 10 drops tea tree oil
- 2 liters of warm-to-hot water
- Foot bath (this can be as simple as a plastic bowl big enough for your feet, or alternatively spoil yourself with a specially designed footbath)
Method
Add the almond oil to a clean glass bowl, add the tea tree oil and mix well. Then add the Epsom salts and mix them together thoroughly so the salts soak up the mixture. Next, pour approximately 2 liters of warm water into your foot bath, add the Epsom salt mixture and stir well. Place your feet into the mix and relax for 15 minutes, or until the water cools.
3. Rosemary
Rosemary oil with its aromatic scent has been used for hundreds of years in food, religious practices, and medicine. Its chemical compounds point towards having anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. It is also said to be a great aid for detoxing, by stimulating both circulation and the lymphatic systems. We can also add focus to rosemary’s list of supportive benefits.
Rosemary Anti-Tension Massage Oil
This massage oil is great for reducing tension, easing back and neck pain, and promoting general wellbeing.
Ingredients (Makes 30 ml)
- 2 tbsps almond oil
- 8 drops rosemary oil
- 4 drops lavender oil
Method
Add all the ingredients into a clean mixing bowl and stir thoroughly. Use a pipette to transfer the mixture into a sterilized dark glass bottle and seal. Apply to your skin by massaging the oil into your neck and shoulders, or ideally, get a massage therapist to use it on you during your next massage.
4. Orange
Have you ever caught a whiff of tangy citrus aroma and felt instantly uplifted? The unmistakable zing from orange essential oil is both familiar and cheering. It’s a versatile oil that can help to boost immunity, calm the nerves and revitalize the skin – and much more! It is the multitude of applications of orange oil that make it a must-have for your essential oil starter kit.
Uplifting Diffuser Blend
This blend is great to use in the morning, giving you an uplifting boost and helping you focus on the day ahead. Use in the bedroom as you get ready in the morning, or if possible in your workspace for the first hour.
Ingredients (150ml diffuser)
- 150ml water
- 6 drops orange oil
- 2 drops rosemary oil
Method
Pour 150 ml of water into your diffuser, then add the essential oils. Place the diffuser in the room you will be spending the most time in and set it for around an hour’s use. Remember to clean your diffuser after each use.
5. Frankincense
This is an oil with firm roots in history and ancient fables. It is famed for its calming effects, helping to lift the mood, ease anxiety and promote focus. It’s a great oil for when you are feeling a little overwhelmed and is a favorite at Aroma Guides for use during meditation. Frankincense is also suggested for its anti-inflammatory support and to help soothe mucous membranes when facing the common cold.
Soothing Cold Blend
This easy blend can be used topically on the throat and chest to help support and ease coughs, sore throats, and aid in calmer breathing. Rub the mixture onto your throat and chest when you are suffering from a cold or viral infection. In this recipe, we use almond oil as it is easily absorbed into the skin.
Ingredients (makes 45ml)
- 3 tbsps almond oil
- 10 drops frankincense oil
- 5 drops lavender oil
Method
Add all the ingredients to a clean mixing bowl and stir thoroughly. Use a pipette to transfer the mixture into a sterilized dark glass bottle and seal. Rub the mixture onto your chest, throat, and upper back. Let the oil absorb for a few minutes or more before getting dressed.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this compilation of the best essential oils for beginners and that these recipes inspire you on your essential oil journey!
Leave us a comment to let us know how you get on.
