Essential oils offer many benefits. Apart from smelling nice, essential oils can alleviate symptoms of certain conditions.
To extract essential oils from plants and herbs, the flora undergoes a process of distillation (using steam) and cold pressing. What you get is concentrated oil which is very fragrant.
There are many benefits associated with the fragrance of essential oils. For example, the smell is a home remedy to improve sleep, help you relax better, provide relief from pain and enhance your overall mood.
But before you take a whiff, you should know inhaling essential oils safely is important. This article will guide you on your personal aromatherapy journey.
Use eucalyptus essential oil to make a hot steam bowl with a towel
Traditionally, eucalyptus has acted as a respiratory healer for many conditions, like hay fever. Using its invigorating aroma, eucalyptus can relieve a stuffy nose and calm the sinuses.
To use eucalyptus for natural remedies understand how the mechanism works.
How to make eucalyptus steam bowl?
Preparation:
For a eucalyptus steam bowl, you will need a large bowl, a kettle and a towel. As for ingredients, you will need half a litre of boiling water and around 3 drops of eucalyptus oil.
Step-by-step Guide:
1. To make the steam bowl, boil the water in a pan or an electric kettle.
2. Once the water begins to simmer, pour it into the bowl.
3. Now add the eucalyptus oil to the boiling water. Use 2 to 3 drops only as essential oils are very potent.
4. Lower your head over the bowl and place a towel overhead so that the steam does not escape.
5. Keep inhaling the eucalyptus steam for at least 10 minutes or till your nasal passages begin to open.
Tips:
Take slow, deep breaths through your nose during the process. Also, keep your head a safe distance away from the bowl because hot steam can burn your face.
Eucalyptus oil hacks
You can use eucalyptus oil for purposes other than clearing up your sinuses. For example, by soaking a cleaning cloth in hot water mixed with eucalyptus oil, you can disinfect it.
You can use this essential oil as your home scent, too! With the help of a home fragrance diffuser, eucalyptus oil spreads around your home and absorbs bad smells.
Essential oils for sinus
The smell of eucalyptus is known to clear up congested sinuses. One of the best ways to enjoy this benefit is through steam inhalation.
If that is too much work for you, just twist the bottle cap open and take a small whiff of the essential oil for temporary relief.
You can also add a few drops to your handkerchief and take frequent whiffs throughout the day. Just ensure you do not make any skin contact with the too concentrated essential oil.
Diffuse aromatherapy essential oil in an oil burner
If you have an oil burner you can use the device to vaporize the essential oils. Some people feel that oil burners are not safe to use at home. But it all depends on how responsibly you use the device.
With proper care, you can safely use an oil burner to conduct your aromatherapy session at home.
Best essential oils for oil burner
You can use any essential oil with the oil burner. Go for the fragrance you like or need, it is entirely up to you.
Some great essential oil options include French lavender, sweet orange oil, citrus essential oil, orange essential oil, natural essential oil, citrus oil and lemongrass oil.
Whichever essential oil you decide to use, follow the proper instructions mentioned in the next section.
How to use essential oil burner?
1. Place the oil burner on a stable platform. Keep it away from any material that can catch fire quickly, like curtains and table covers.
2. Now pour some water into the bowl placed at the top of the burner.
3. Next, add a few drops of the essential oil that you like. Do not put more than 2 to 3 drops.
4. Look for the candle under the bowl, inside the burner. If there is no candle, place a small candle which can easily fit inside the burner. Light it.
5. Slowly, the heat from the candle will evaporate the oil and water mixture in the bowl. The vapours will spread to your surroundings, making the space fragrant.
Note: When you leave the room, blow out the candle. Never leave the candle burning as it can lead to fire hazards.
Drop your favorite scent essential oils on a handkerchief
By adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil to a handkerchief, you can carry the fragrance with you everywhere.
Whenever the need arises, bring out your handkerchief and take a whiff of sandalwood smell, cedarwood smell or citronella smell.
How do you use essential oils on fabric?
An easy way to add essential oils to fabric is while doing the laundry.
If you want your clothes to have a sandalwood scent or a lavender scent, the first thing you need to do is buy a fragrance-free detergent. Any detergent with a strong smell will overpower the aroma of the essential oil.
While doing the laundry, mix the detergent with a few drops of essential oil. Do not pour too much oil because you don’t want to wear greasy clothes.
When you wash your clothes with essential oils, they carry the fragrance for about 6 weeks or 6 washings. Even after that, a faint fragrance lingers on the fabric.
Can you put essential oils on your pillow?
Yes, you can add a few drops of essential oils to your pillow. But take some precautions. You must avoid any direct skin contact with the oil as it is concentrated and can cause irritation. To avoid this problem, dilute the essential oil before spraying it on your pillow.
Another tip is to spray the oil on the back of the pillow, not on the side you’ll be putting your face in.
Best essential oils to put on a handkerchief
Not all essential oils are created equally when it comes to providing a good night’s sleep.
According to strong evidence, the lavender essential oil is beneficial to get a peaceful sleep. People who sleep under the influence of this oil report having more energy in the morning.
Sage is another essential oil which can aid in relaxation, which in turn promotes a night of healthier sleep.
Essential oils that help anxiety
Anxiety is a stress-related problem where people find it difficult to cope with even the basic demands of life.
Inhaling the fragrance of essential oils can improve your mood which may lower your anxiety.
However, please note that essential oils are not an alternative to therapy and medicine. Always seek professional help for your condition.
Having said that, some essential oils can help you relax and focus better. Oils like lavender, lemon, chamomile, sage, rose, neroli and ylang-ylang can help with anxiety.
DIY essential oil room spray to scent your room
Stores and supermarkets are flooded with room fresheners that come in canned spray bottles. But many people find their smell overwhelming and artificial.
A room spray made from essential oils smells more natural and pleasant.
There are many ways to spread the fragrance of essential oils into your surroundings. You could use a reed diffuser or create your oil room spray at home.
What do you mix with essential oils to make a spray?
To make your DIY room spray with essential oils you will need a couple of things. You will require a spray bottle (200ml), filtered water (6 tablespoons) and essential oils.
In addition to that, you will also add a secret ingredient – vodka. Yes, you heard it right. Add around 2 tablespoons of vodka.
Pour the alcohol, water and essential oils into the spray bottle. Shake well and let the bottle sit for at least 5 minutes. This ensures all the ingredients mix up well.
Whenever you want to spray the mixture, shake the bottle. Then spray in your surroundings.
What essential oils are good for room sprays?
This majorly depends on your personal preferences and mood. For example, if you want to feel fresh and energized go for something like jasmine or orange essential oil.
If you want to feel comfort and warmth, the fragrance of bergamot and rosemary will serve you well.
For a romantic or intimate setting, the fragrance of rose and lavender will get you in the mood.
Traditional way to fragrance your home - making a Pot Pourri
If you are looking for a natural way to fill your home with a sweet fragrance, try making a potpourri.
A potpourri is made from a mixture of dried plant materials which are fragrant in nature. The mixture is kept in a bowl and placed in a location where it can spread its aroma easily.
What is natural potpourri?
A natural potpourri does not use any artificial scents or chemicals. It relies solely on the aroma of actual plant materials like petals and stems.
However, it is worth noting that natural potpourri is not as potent as artificial ones. The fragrance from a natural potpourri also spreads slower than an artificial potpourri.
But when you get used to the subtle elegance of a natural potpourri, you will never switch back to the strong artificial ones.
What can you use to make potpourri?
You can mix up many natural ingredients to prepare your potpourri.
Use materials like flower petals, orange peels, cloves and cinnamon sticks. These aromas will complement each other well.
How to easily DIY natural potpourri?
To make a potpourri, you must ensure that all the ingredients are dried properly.
Leave the ingredients in a cardboard box for around 2 weeks to allow the materials to dehydrate. If you are pressed for time, you can even bake the ingredients in the oven.
You’ll know your ingredients are ready when they crumble on touching.
Then simply assemble the ingredients in a bowl and place it wherever you want.
Inhale from dry evaporation using a cotton ball or fabric
A simple way to inhale the fragrance of essential oils is by dabbing a fabric or cotton ball with the oil. Use a very little amount of oil for this. In fact, it is best to dilute the oil first so that it does not irritate your skin. To be safer, conduct a patch test on your arm to check if you are allergic to the oil before proceeding.
Ways to use essential oils without a diffuser
Without a diffuser, you can still enjoy the fragrance of essential oils.
You can directly inhale the oil from the bottle. If you want to use the oil as a room freshener, you can spray it around the room or create a cotton ball diffuser.
How to use a cotton ball diffuser? Where to put it?
Simply add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to the cotton ball to make it fragrant.
Now you can place the cotton ball in an area where it won’t be disturbed. Place it on the floorboard in your car or near the washbasin to cover the smell of the washroom.
Infuse your sleep masks with skinsafe lavender essential oil
You can make essential oils a part of your self-care routine as well. For best practices, do a patch test before applying the oil to your face.
How to make a face mask with essential oils?
Whether you make a clay facemask or a honey facemask, always dilute the essential oil properly.
For example, to make an anti-ageing mask mix ground oatmeal, clay, carrier oil, water and 1 drop of essential oil. Apply it on your face and leave it for 10 minutes before rinsing off.
DIY homemade sleep masks and homemade eye masks
Always add the essential oil on the outer side of the mask, not the inner side which will come in contact with your face.
Dilute the essential oil and apply only 1 or 2 drops on the sleep mask. Anything more could irritate your skin.
Conclusion
For more information regarding the use of essential oils visit Shiora blog pages. You can find many pure essential oils, home fragrances and scent diffusers at Shiora website which will fill your surroundings with scintillating aromas.
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