Aroma Diffusers: The Simplest and Best Form of Aromatherapy
Aroma diffusers are an easy way to use essential oils in everyday life. Pour the indicated amount of water into your diffuser and use approximately 10 drops of oil per half cup of water. However, some oils like rosemary are strong so fewer drops will be needed.
There are countless recipes for essential oil blends. Here we have put together what we consider the 6 best recipes for aroma diffusers.
To fall asleep and sleep better
Place the aroma diffuser in the bedroom and switch it on 30 minutes before going to bed. Be sure to put the phone and other devices away for the same period. If you meditate or read before going to sleep, it is ideal to do this in the bedroom. Make sure the diffuser is set to turn off automatically after 3-6 hours.
Oils that help with sound sleep that you can use in the diffuser are lavender, chamomile or bergamot. For maximum effect, we recommend Volant's Organic Sleep Blend
Get rid of anxiety and find balance in everyday life
We recommend using the aroma diffuser daily in the living room when you are at home. This regular ritual will enhance the effects of soothing essential oils. In the long run, the ritual can help you get rid of anxiety and stress.
We have written about the research behind essential oils and the effects on mental health here. Examples of oils you can use for this purpose are lemongrass, geranium, chamomile, spruce and orange. We also recommend two mixes that can help you – Cabin or Relax.
Flower garden essential oil mixture
This variety gives associations to a flower garden. The mixture contains:
6 drops of lavender essential oil
6 drops of Roman chamomile essential oil
3 drops of geranium essential oil
Get a mental boost at work
Place your diffuser in your home office or office. Make sure you establish a ritual around pouring in a cup of coffee, putting on the diffuser and figuring out what to do that day. This helps you relate energy and focus to the scent. The built-in properties of the oils will help you get in the zone, and when combined with a daily ritual you will experience additional effects.
Oils that help you perform at work are cinnamon, peppermint, grapefruit, bergamot, rosemary, clary sage and sandalwood. We have created a mixture that is designed to give you an energy boost in everyday life, we call it Energy.
Mood booster, feel better
Do you feel a little empty and want to feel better? Make yourself a cup of tea, relax and put on the diffuser with essential oil of geranium, grapefruit, lemongrass, eucalyptus or spruce. We have also made a mixture of essential oils we call Cabin which is inspired by untouched nature and the feeling of coming to a cabin in the woods after a long, busy week. Cabin is best suited for when you are longing for the open fields or just want a natural boost in your everyday life.
Freshen up Your House
One of the best aspects of using aromatherapy at home is that you can create a unique indoor climate. As we use to say in volant, home is not a place, it is a feeling. Smell helps you create the feeling of home, while refreshing and cleansing the home climate.
The oils we recommend using are lemon, tea tree, grapefruit and bergamot.
Meditation and Yoga
There are good reasons why yoga teachers love using essential oils. It does something with your state of mind. Essential oils help us relax and get into a meditative state when doing yoga or meditation. Try diffuse essential oils when doing yoga and meditation to feel the difference yourself.
Soothing essential oil blend
Here’s an oil mixture that can provide a calming effect:
6 drops of frankincense essential oil
6 drops of bergamot essential oil
For the Bathroom
A good scent in the bathroom is something everyone dreams of and there are a number of products that help to create the desired scent. Essential oils are a good alternative to fragrance products in baths. If you are familiar with essential oils, you know that they can be used for everything from fragrance in the house to promoting sleep. You can use essential oils in any room in the house and the bathroom is no exception. It can also be a good substitute for chemicals used in cleaning products or toilet sprays.
Strong citrus essential oil blend
This citrus essential oil blend is wonderful to use in the fall season:
2 drop clove essential oil
4 drops of cinnamon bark essential oil
6 drops of wild orange essential oil
Essential oil mixture to remove bad odours
This is a good combination to use in the bathroom or toilet:
3 drops of coriander essential oil
3 drops of lime essential oil
6 drops of lemon essential oil
Usage Tips and Ideas for Using Essential Oils Without a Diffuser
Although using a diffuser is the easiest way to get started with aromatherapy, there are other options. We have gathered some of the best ideas for how you can use essential oils in other ways in everyday life.
Essential oils can be added to base oils, lotions, gels, water, etc. This is how one can effectively and safely use essential oils and aromatherapy on the body and in other ways.
Together with this article, we recommend checking out the article we have written about choosing carrier oils, to choose the carrier oils that suit you and your needs.
Massage: Calm Down, Get Rid of Stress
Did you know that a simple massage done with essential oils can reduce stress, soothe tired muscles and lift the mood? According to the Mayo Clinic, stress can damage your health over time, and Harvard researchers have found that regular massages can relieve chronic stress-related pain. Adding massage to your self-care regimen will reduce stress and improve overall health. Use a massage oil or a carrier oil you like. Mix in 10-15 drops per 50 ml of one or more essential oils. Warm the oil in your hands before massaging it into the skin.
Fight Acne: A Natural but Potent Alternative
Essential oils have shown promising results against acne. This especially applies to tea tree oil. However, not enough research has been done in this area. We recommend that if you want to use essential oils for acne, you should test first by hand, then on the jaw line. The best carrier oil to use is jojoba oil, start with as little essential oil as possible and increase the dose to see what your skin can tolerate. Consult your doctor before trying this.
For Hair Growth and Thicker, Healthier Hair
There is evidence that essential oils can help your hair grow healthier, faster and become stronger. One study found that bergamot oil contributes to wound healing and reduces inflammation. This can help promote hair growth and a healthy scalp. Another study found that bergamot shows antimicrobial activity when applied to the scalp.
Some studies also found that peppermint oil created hair growth and it is often used as a medicine to treat hair loss. The researchers also found that peppermint essential oil increased hair thickness and the number of hair follicles. It is believed that peppermint oil can help promote faster hair growth. Peppermint oil contains menthol, which causes the blood vessels just under the skin to dilate. This extra blood supply can help promote further hair growth.
Other essential oils that can help promote hair growth include jojoba oil, chamomile, rosemary and sage oil.
To use essential oils in the hair, one can:
1. Add 15-20 drops of oil per 100 ml to your shampoo.
2. Make a hair treatment by mixing essential oils with a carrier oil. If you have dry hair and scalp, we recommend coconut or avocado oil. If your hair is oily, lighter oils, such as grape seed, apricot kernel or almond oil may be preferable. Mix 2 to 3 drops of essential oil in a tablespoon of carrier oil. Dip your fingertips into the mixture and massage the mixture with a little force in circular motions into the scalp. Do this for 2 to 3 minutes. This stimulates blood flow to the scalp. You can leave the mixture in the hair for up to 10 hours, or rinse it out immediately.
Inhaling Directly
The easiest method to inhale is to open a bottle of pure essential oil and inhale deeply a few times. Do not let the pure oil touch your skin.
An alternative is dry evaporation which requires only a piece of dry material, such as a cotton swab, fabric square, handkerchief or tissue. Add a few drops of essential oil to the material. Hold this against your nose and inhale or let the scent spread naturally. For example, you can do this on a casual shirt collar or pillowcase.
In the Bath: Perfect End to the Day
Essential oils can make your bath stress-relieving, relaxing and muscle relaxing, but they must be used with care. You risk irritating your skin and losing the desired effect.
You do not want the essential oils to settle on top of the water; you want them mixed into the water. The best way to do this is to mix them into a carrier oil first, such as coconut, olive, or jojoba oil. For a bath, 3-10 drops of essential oil in a tablespoon (15 ml) of carrier oil is sufficient to make a very aromatic, therapeutic bath. Make sure the bath is filled before adding the carrier oil with the essential oil mixed in. Stir well. We recommend using lavender, chamomile or geranium.
In the Sauna: Increased Cleansing Effect
Taking a sauna has many health-promoting effects. Together with essential oils, you can cleanse the body, while getting the benefits of the chosen essential oil. Pure essential oil must never be poured directly onto the hot stones on the stove. Instead, add 5-10 drops of pure essential oil to 1 litre of water, then you can pour this water onto the sauna stove.
We recommend eucalyptus, the smell of a spa!
Facial Oil: Cleaner Skin That Glows
Combine essential oils with a base oil that suits your skin. We recommend that you be careful with the dosage and use the oil on your hand before applying it on your face. Here is a suggestion for a blend you can make yourself. Each mixture makes about 50ml:
- 20 drops of frankincense oil
- 20 drops of lavender oil
- 10-20 drops of tea tree oil (use more if you have acne)
- 25 ml base oil (jojoba for normal skin, argan oil for dry skin with breakouts, hemp oil for oily skin)
Essential oils have shown promising results against acne. This especially applies to tea tree oil. However, not enough research has been done in this area. We recommend that if you want to use essential oils for acne, you should test first on the hand, then on the jawline. The best carrier oil to use is jojoba oil, start with as little essential oil as possible and increase the dose to see what your skin can tolerate. Consult your doctor before trying this.
Carpet Refresher: Remove Odor and Replace it With Your Favorite Fragrance
A carpet freshener is something you spray on a carpet to cover or remove odours in the carpet fibres. Carpet fresheners do not clean the carpet but neutralize the odour trapped in the fibres and replace it. This is especially useful for those with pets in the home.
8 steps to make a carpet freshener:
1. Find a used glass jar. Make several holes in the lid with a nail and hammer.
2. Pour 250 g baking soda into a glass bowl
3. Add 10-20 drops of essential oil (We love to use 10 drops of lemon and 10 drops of eucalyptus)
4. Mix well and make sure there are no lumps.
5. Pour the mixture of baking soda and essential oil into the glass jar and screw on the lid.
6. Sprinkle the mixture over your rugs. Brush into the fibres with a firm brush.
7. Leave the mixture on the rugs for at least 20 minutes
8. Vacuum the rug slowly so that your vacuum cleaner has time to suck up all of the carpet freshener.
A Natural and Potent Insect Spray
Ordinary insect sprays are toxic and studies have found that rats that were exposed to a regular dose, we are exposed to during use, had poorer strength and motor skills.
Here is a simple recipe for a homemade, natural and effective insect spray. We do not recommend using this directly on the skin, but rather wear it on e.g. Clothes.
Recipe for insect spray with essential oils:
30 drops of geranium essential oil
30 drops of essential oil eucalyptus
20 drops of lemon essential oil
20 drops of lavender essential oil
10 drops of essential oil rosemary
1 tablespoon vodka or rubbing alcohol
100 ml natural Witch Hazel
100 ml cup of water (or vinegar)
This is what you do:
1. Pour essential oils into a glass spray bottle. Add vodka or alcohol and shake well to mix.
2. Pour in Witch Hazel and rice well to mix it in.
3. Add water and shake again.
Shake before use, as the oils and water will separate over time.
Foot Bath: Give Your Feet Some Pampering
Life can be busy and sometimes your feet are the first to remind you to calm down. Are your feet aching or sore? Give exhausted feet a long-awaited treat with an essential oil foot bath! Put your feet into this wonderful mixture of Epsom salt and a few drops of essential oils. Add hot water and let the worries go away!
Recipe for a foot bath with essential oils:
70 g Epsom salt
Small glass container with lid
20 drops of Cabin Organic Pure Essential Oil Blend
5 drops of essential oil of lemongrass
This is what you do:
1. Pour Epsom salt into a glass jar.
2. Add the essential oils and stir to mix the ingredients.
3. Pour the mixture into the tub or foot spa. Be sure to add enough warm water to cover your feet.
4. Stir in the mixture until the salt is dissolved in the water. You can do this with your feet or a spoon.
5. Soak your feet for 20-30 minutes. When you are done, gently wipe your feet dry with a towel, put on a pair of socks and go to bed.
Face Sauna: Relax + Better skin
Steaming your face can impart a healthy glow as well as give whatever benefits the oil of your choice bestows. Use a bowl that’s big enough to hold about five cups of water. You’ll also need a large towel and an essential oil to suit your needs. If you have acne, tea tree oil is good. For older skin, we recommend rose or jasmine oil Sensitive skin would benefit from lavender oil.
Boil the water and pour it into the bowl. Add a teabag if you like – we suggest rooibos, green tea or chamomile. Add the oils and lower your face over the bowl, draping your head with the towel. Sit under the “tent” for about 7 minutes, relaxing and inhaling the steam. Be careful not to go too close to the water and burn yourself.
Once done, splash your face with cool water and apply a moisturizer.
Body Oil: The Ultimate Gift
A therapeutic body oil with essential oils takes only minutes to make. The oil is natural and makes us feel wonderful. I can not think of a better gift for yourself or others.
Recipe for body oil with essential oils:
30 ml of carrier oil, for example almond or coconut oil
10-15 drops of lavender or other essential oil
Pour the carrier oil into a glass jar and stir in essential oil (s) to the desired strength, approx. 10-15 drops per 30 ml. Store out of sunlight and use on body.
Body Spray: Feel Better
Many of the same benefits can be achieved with a body spray. Combine 5 to 10 drops of essential oil and 100ml of water in a spray bottle and shake. If you choose citrus oil, be careful when using it near your face. Some citrus oils can be phototoxic or photosensitizing, making your skin more prone to sunburn. We recommend that you use lavender.
Laundry: Give a Natural Smell to Your Clothes
If you prefer to use natural detergent instead of synthetic detergents and fabric softeners, your detergents may have no aroma. To get a fresh scent on your clothes without artificial scents, you can use essential oils. Lavender oil is a refreshing choice, but any of the essential oils mentioned here will do the trick. Lemon oil can help remove foul-smelling fats and is ideal for those whose work involves cooking or serving food.
Put a few drops of essential oil in a bottle of odourless detergent to add a fresh, natural scent to the laundry. The amount of oil you add will depend on the size of the bottle and your personal preference. Shake the detergent and smell it between every second or third drop, to find the right mixing ratio for you.
Teddy Bears: A Trick to Get Children to Sleep
You can also have a few drops on stuffed animals, to help children sleep. We especially recommend lavender. Be careful not to use too much. Drip 1 drop on the stuffed animal a couple of times a week. You will find that it will be much easier for the baby to sleep.
NB! Do this carefully, consult your doctor and be sure to ensure the quality of your oils before doing so.
Firewood: Spread a Natural and Wonderful Scent From the Fireplace
Pour 3-5 drops of essential oil per log of wood half a day in advance of when they are to be lit. This allows the oil to absorb properly into the wood before using them. We recommend citrus oils such as grapefruit or lemongrass. You can also use tea tree or spruce. You will be amazed at the wonderful scent released into the room as the logs burn.
Vacuum Cleaner: One of the Best Ways to Spread Aroma Throughout the Home
Turn your vacuum cleaner into a diffuser! Depending on the type of vacuum cleaner you have, there are a couple of ways to do it. Some people like to soak a cotton swab with their favourite essential oil and drop it inside the vacuum cleaner bag before using it. Others drip a few drops of oil onto the vacuum cleaner filter or vacuum cleaner bag. No matter how you do it, you will notice an immediate effect. When you vacuum, the engine heats up and diffuses the oil as you move from room to room. This will freshen up your home while you vacuum and make your home smell heavenly.
Air conditioning in the car: Stay awake and improve the climate in the car
One way to freshen your car is by simply spraying the interior with a mixture of your favourite oil and water. In addition, you can take a piece of cotton wool, soak it in essential oils and then attach it to where the air comes out. Alternatively, you can do it carefully and follow this guide:
1. Buy a new air conditioner filter from your local hardware store. We do not recommend applying oil to the used, dirty filter. When choosing a filter, make sure you choose the right size. If you are unsure, take a look at the existing filter, the size should be printed on one side of the filter.
2. Choose an essential oil. The next step is to pick the desired scent. Citrus scents are something everyone likes, but you can also use cinnamon, lavender or any other combination of scents you prefer. If you combine two or more oils together, drip a drop of each fragrance on one piece. let the scents mix on the paper for a few minutes, then smell it to make sure you like the smell of the mixture.
3. Drip the selected oils onto your filter. Once you have chosen your scent, drip 15 to 20 drops of oil onto the air filter. Be sure to distribute the drops evenly over the filter. Do not use more than 20 drops of essential oil on your filter.
4. Install your filter as you normally do. Now your car will smell wonderful and you’ll also get the benefits of aromatherapy.
Real-smelling plastic Christmas tree
We agreed that our family wanted a plastic Christmas tree. (If you have a real tree, this recipe will work well for you, too.) When we got the tree, the only thing I missed was the smell. The smell is one of the best things about taking the trouble to pick out, chop down and set up a real tree. There is just nothing like the natural smell of a freshly felled Christmas tree.
To get the smell back you can do the following. Use 20-30 drops of essential oils of spruce, tea tree or peppermint (or mix them.) Drizzle them onto the felt Christmas decorations that are to be on the tree and the wonderful smell of Christmas will be back in your home.
