Because essential oils are highly concentrated and costly, it is wise to learn to use them in ways that are both effective and practical. The following are a few of the most accessible and reliable methods of dispersion.

Massage Oil

Bath Therapy

Cosmetic Application

Vaporizing

Misting

Aromatherapy Lamps

Other Heat Sources

Topical Application

Direct Inhalation

Internal Use

Combining Flower Essences with Aromatherapy

Massage Oil

Many essential oils are ideal for therapeutic massage. Essential oils are most often extended into carrier substances, such as almond, peanut, avocado, or jojoba oils. Mix in several drops of essential oil to create your own custom blends for different clients. The exact amounts will vary, but the ratio of 4-10 drops of essential oil per ounce of vegetable oil is a good standard of measurement.

Many practitioners are reporting phenomenal results in using custom blends of essential oils with one or more of the Seasons of the Soul Skin Oils. These oils are already highly potent dynamic healers in their own right, and they provide foundational support for the more exotic essential oils.

Bath Therapy

The essential oils can either be put directly into bath water, or they can first be extended into carrier oils as described above. When using oils in your bath the oil must be properly dispersed, since oil and water do not naturally blend together.

Be sure the water is warm to moderately hot. Add the essential oils when the water is running at its fullest force. Then use several minutes of vigorous lemniscatory patterns (figure-8 motions) in the water to properly stir and activate the oil.

Cosmetic Application

Aromatherapy oils can be easily extended into cremes and lotions. They are a superlative form of nutrition for the skin, which is the single largest organ of the body. You will want to use a base which does not compete with the essential oils and which has no synthetic ingredients.

Many practitioners are using our highly versatile and adaptable Self-Heal Creme with its wide-mouth jar for custom blends of essential oils. Put three to six drops of essential oil into two ounces of creme, and stir clockwise and counter-clockwise with a wooden stick. for at least one minute. See the Self-Heal Creme page for recipes and blends.

Vaporizing

An ideal way to use the essential oils during the winter months is to add them to a boiling pot of water or a vaporizer. Oils like Angelica, Rose, or Frankincense can have a very spiritual, uplifting influence on your family environment. The essential oils of Lavender, Bergamot, or Clary Sage can soothe frayed nerves at the end of the day. Medicinal oils like Ginger, Eucalyptus, Myrrh, or Birch can have deeply therapeutic and purifying benefits for those afflicted with cold and flu symptoms. You can make your own homemade facial steams with cleansing oils like Lemon, Lemongrass, Ti Tree, and Yarrow, or rejuvenating oils such as Rosewood, Geranium, or Peppermint.

Misting

A pleasant and very easy way to use the aromatherapy oils is in water-based misters. Plastic spray bottles are obtainable from most drug stores, or you can also use more elegant perfume atomizers. We carry 10-ounce (30 ml) and 4-ounce (100 ml) cobalt blue misting bottles from France, which are ideal conduits for misting. Storing the oils in glass bottles rather than plastic helps retain their purity and potency.

Misting formulas are effective, easy to use, and extremely versatile. They can be applied directly to the face as facial toners and after-shave bracers. They can renew the luster and moisture content of the hair. Applied over the entire body, they refresh and revitalize, and add just the right light scent for skin and clothing. Furthermore, they provide an immediate environmental pick-up for any room of the house, helping to cleanse and refresh any stale environment.

You can combine and blend according to your own creative dictates. Be sure to give your mister bottle a good shake before using, since the essential oil will not stay dispersed in water. Make combinations for misting which you will use in a short period of time, as the essential oils will not stay potent in water for more than two or three months. You can label various formulas and store them in your refrigerator for added longevity.

Aromatherapy Lamps

A very gentle and effective method of dispersion is via aromatherapy lamps. Although electric models are available, we prefer the simple lamps which use the quiet purity of the natural flame. Candle-lit lamps have the ability to gently exude oil throughout a room in a way that is not overwhelming or overly intense. The aromatherapy lamps can be tasteful additions to any decor and can be used in almost any environment - the office, a therapy room, a bedroom, family room, or child's playroom. Even hospitals are beginning to recognize the antiseptic and calming influences of aromatherapy lamps for patients and staff alike!

To use the essential oils in an aromatherapy lamp, add 4-6 drops of oil with a small amount of water. One or more essential oils can be used at the same time in a balanced blend. As with any burning flame, the aromatherapy lamps should not be left unattended. Aromatherapy lamps are available from Flower Essence Services, with a small tea light candle.

Other Heat Sources

Essential oils can be applied to other heat sources, such as a light bulb. Again, the heat will help to disperse the oil throughout the room. Apply with the same considerations as listed above.

Topical Application

This can be an especially potent method when the oils are applied with great precision and intention. Those with a knowledge of subtle body points find that the oils can achieve dramatic results in opening blockages and transforming energetic patterns.

Essential oils are also used for anointing rituals and other sacramental purposes, and they can be applied directly to chakra points during meditation.

Never apply undiluted essential oils directly to the skin. Essential oils are highly concentrated, and must be diluted in a carrier oil before they are used on the skin. Please note that citrus oils, particularly Bergamot, may cause photosensitivity, and should not be used on the skin before significant exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet radiation.

Direct Inhalation

A very simple, meditative form of aromatherapy can include direct inhalation of one specific essential oil. This is a marvelous form of healing, which allows one to focus and attune to a single aroma. Such a practice can purify and hone the sensory experience, especially in our modern culture when so many smells, sights, and sounds compete for our attention.

A simple method which is quite effective is to put one or two drops of essential oil on a pure cotton ball. (Slightly dampening the cotton ball will help to extend the essential oil). Sit quietly with the cotton ball held close to you; allow yourself to become deeply immersed in its qualities. You can accompany this experience with music and creative visualization for a deeply soul-satisfying experience. This method is also an excellent way for aspiring aromatherapists to establish a one-on-one relationship with each of the healing oils in their repertory.

Internal Use

Pure essential oils can have highly therapeutic results when taken internally. With this method one uses only a minute quantity of very pure essential oil. However, some aromatherapeutic oils are toxic and are contraindicated in pregnancy or other conditions. Therefore, you should use essential oils internally only under the supervision of a qualified medical practitioner.

Using Essential Oils with Flower Essence Therapy

We are receiving numerous reports about the marvelous interplay of flower essence therapy with aromatherapy. Some practitioners report that they have good success in using the aromatherapeutic oils for subtle body healing only after the pathways for emotional healing have been opened and cleared by the flower essences. Others report that they begin with the essential oils, especially for more traditional clients who need the physical-sensorial experience activated, gradually leading to subtle mental-emotional healing with the flower essences.

Many practitioners use the essential oils directly in combination with the flower essences, especially in massage oil blends, while others use the essential oils as a background healing atmosphere during flower essence consultations.

Although more physically perceptible, the essential oils have definite psycho-therapeutic benefits. The flower essences are more directly employed in the emotional-mental bodies, and yet almost all practitioners will testify that such healing results in discernable physiological shifts. Both therapies take slightly different routes in their healing journey, but meet each other in a remarkably synergistic way.