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Fifty Ways to Use Essential Oils
by Kellie Head
Essential oils smell wonderful and have many benefits. Below are several ways to use essential oils in your daily life.
1. For good smelling towels, sheets,
clothes, etc. place a few drops of your favorite essential oil onto a small
piece of terry cloth and toss into the clothes dryer while drying. Add 5
drops essential oil to 1/4 cup fabric softener or water and place in the
center cup of the washer.
2. Potpourri which has lost its scent can be revived by adding a few drops
of essential oil.
3. Add a few drops of oil to water in a spray bottle and use as an air
freshener.
4. Add a few drops essential oil to a pan of water and simmer on stove or
in a potpourri pot.
5. To enjoy a scented candle, place a drop or two into the hot melted wax
as the candle bums.
6. To dispel household cooking odors, add a few drops of Clove oil to a simmering
pan.
7. For tired aching muscles or arthritis aches, mix 3 drops eucalyptus, 2
drops rosemary and 3 drops lavender oil to one ounce Sweet Almond or other
vegetable oil and use as a massage oil.
8. Ease headache pain by rubbing a drop of Rosemary or Lavender oil onto
the back of your neck.
9. To blend your own massage oil, add 3-5 drops of your favorite essential
oil to 1 oz. Sweet Almond or other skin- nourishing vegetable oil.
10. Add 10 drops of essential oil to a box of cornstarch or baking soda,
mix very well, let set for a day or two and then sprinkle over the carpets
on your home. Let set for an hour or more, then vacuum.
11. To make a natural flea collar, saturate a short piece of cord or soft
rope with Pennyroyal or Tea Tree oil, roll up in a handkerchief and tie loosely
around the animal's neck.
12. Shoes can be freshened by either dropping a few drops of Geranium essential
oil directly into the shoes or by placing a cotton ball dabbed with a few
drops of Lemon oil into the shoes. Athlete's foot? Tea Tree is great!
13. Put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on a cotton ball and place
it in your vacuum cleaner bag. Lemon and Pine are nice. Rose Geranium helps
with pet odors.
14. To fragrance your kitchen cabinets
and drawers, place a good scent dabbed on a cotton ball into an inconspicuous
comer.
15. Are mice a problem? Place several drops of Peppermint oil on a cotton
ball and place at problem locations.
16. The bathroom is easily scented by placing oil-scented cotton balls in
inconspicuous places, or sprinkle oils directly onto silk or dried flower
arrangements or wreaths.
17. Apply true Lavender oil or Tea Tree oil directly to cuts, scrapes or
scratches. 1 or 2 drops will promote healing.
18. Homemade soaps are pleasant and offer therapeutic effects when scented
with essential oils. Use soaps which contain pure essential oils.
19. Homemade sachets are more fragrant when essential oils are blended with
the flowers and herbs.
20. An essential oil dropped onto a radiator scent ring or light bulb will
not only fill the room with a wonderful fragrance, but will also set a mood
such as calming or uplifting. (Don't put essential oil in the socket.)
21. A few drops of your favorite oil or blend in the rinse water of your
hand washables makes for pleasant results.
22. Anise oil has been used by fishermen for years. Use a drop or two on
the fingertips before baiting up. Anise covers up the human scent that scares
the fish away.
23. Essential oils or blends make wonderful perfumes. Create your own personal
essence! Add 25 drops to 1 oz of perfume alcohol and allow to age for two
weeks before using.
24. To dispel mosquitoes and other picnic pests, drop a few drops of Citronella
oil on the melted wax of a candle or place a few drops on the Bar-B-Q hot
coals.
25. 1 drop of Lemon essential oil applied directly to a wart is an effective
means of elimination. Apply the essential oil daily until the wart is gone.
26. Rosemary promotes alertness and stimulates memory. Inhale occasionally
during long car trips and while reading or studying.
27. Selling your home? Fragrance sells! Fill the kitchen area with the aroma
of spices such as Clove, Cinnamon and Vanilla. Simmer a few drops of the
essential oil of Cinnamon, Nutmeg and other spices. Geranium oil sprinkled
throughout the home creates a warm, cheerful and inviting mood. Add Cinnamon
oil to furniture polish and wipe down the wood.
28. Add essential oils to paper mache. The result is the creation of a lovely
aromatic piece of art.
29. Infuse bookmarks and stationery with essential oils. Place drops of oil
on paper and put them in a plastic bag. Seal it and leave overnight to infuse
the aroma. Send only good news in perfumed letters.
30. Neck pillows, padded and decorative hangers make more memorable gifts
simply by putting a couple of drops of essential oil on them before giving.
31. Overindulge last night? Essential oils of Juniper, Cedarwood, Grapefruit,
Lavender, Carrot, Fennel, Rosemary and Lemon help soften the effects of a
hangover. Make your own blend of these oils and use a total of 6-8 drops
in a bath.
32. Essential oils of Vetivert, Cypress, Cedarwood, Frankincense and Myrrh
all make wonderful firewood oil. Drop approximately 2-3 drops of oil or blend
of your choice on a dried log and allow time for the oil to soak in before
putting the log on the fire.
33. Flies and moths dislike Lavender oil. Sprinkle it on the outside of your
window frames.
34. Place 1 or 2 drops of sleep enhancing oils such as Chamomile, Lavender
or Neroli on your pillow before retiring for restful sleep.
35. When moving into a new home, first use a water spray containing your
favorite essential oils and change the odorous environment to your own. Do
this for several days until it begins to feel like your space.
36. Ideal scents for the bedroom are Roman Chamomile, Geranium, Lavender
or Lemon.
37. One drop of Lemon essential oil on a soft cloth will polish copper with
a gentle buffing.
38. When washing out the fridge, freezer or oven, add 1 drop of Lemon, Lime,
Grapefruit, Bergamot, Tangerine or Orange essential oil to the final rinse
water.
39. For bums or scalds, drop Tea Tree oil directly on the effected area.
40. Place 1 drop of Peppermint oil in 1/2 glass of water, sip slowly to aid
digestion and relieve upset stomach.
41. Use 1 drop of Chamomile oil on a washcloth wrapped ice cube to relieve
teething pain in children.
42. Six to eight drops of Eucalyptus oil in the bath cools the body in summer
and protects in winter.
43. Add 1 drop Geranium oil to your facial moisturizer to bring out a radiant
glow in your skin.
44. Place 1 or 2 drops of Rosemary on your hair brush before brushing to
promote growth and thickness.
45. When the flu is going around add a few drops of Thyme to your diffuser
or simmer in a pan on the stove.
46. To bring fever down, sponge the body with cool water to which 1 drop
each of Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Lavender oils have been added.
47. The blend of Lavender and Grapefruit oil is good for the office. Lavender
creates a calm tranquil atmosphere while Grapefruit stimulates the senses
and clears up stale air.
48. A blend of Geranium, Lavender and Bergamot alleviates anxiety and depression.
Use in a room diffuser or 6-8 drops of this blend in the bath.
49. A wonderful massage blend for babies is 1 drop Roman Chamomile, 1 drop
Lavender, 1 drop Geranium diluted in 2 Tablespoons Sweet Almond oil.
50. 1 drop Peppermint oil diluted in 1 teaspoon vegetable oil rubbed on the
back of the neck helps to relieve headaches.
An excellent place to purchase essential
oils is from
E-Scent-ials.com.
What's Related:
Your Recovery Kit for Holiday Eating
Holidays & Exercise - They Can Go Together!
Don't Make Time, Make Changes
Get Fit on a Shoestring Budget
About the Author:
In addition to rearing six children (five of which now own a Garfield Trapper Keeper), Kellie Head is a freelance humorist and former owner/editor of ParentingHumor.com
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