Category Archives: Uses of Essential Oils

Age cannot wither you: 6 anti-aging essential oils you can use

Stressful times and 24/7 routines make people age early and this brings a drastic shift in the psychology of individuals. In order to reduce wrinkles and reduce aging signs, many seek commercial anti-aging cosmetics and products. Though such products are a big hit in today’s world, they come with a load of other disasters – commercial products contain harsh chemicals such as mineral oils and skincare products which take their toll on skin health in the long run. What’s more, these skin products (like anti-aging or anti-wrinkle creams) clog skin pores, making it difficult to breathe freely and eliminate toxins through skin. This results in a lot of skin conditions like acne breakouts, allergies and inflamed or irritated skin due to accumulated toxins.


Essential oils for anti-aging: Aromatherapy offers remarkable anti-aging solutions. Many essential oils treat wrinkles in a natural and safe way, without skin disorders. The following oils are ideal for removing wrinkles and offering you a rejuvenated skin:

1. Olive oil: When it comes to skin nourishment, Olive oil has topped the preferred list of oils right from the ancient times. It can be remembered that Greeks and Romans used Olive oil to anoint their heads on a daily basis. Olive oil helps in removing wrinkles and treating skin problems. It is also a great skincare product which moisturizes and rejuvenates skin naturally. Its essential nutrients soften skin and help it glow.

2. Jojoba oil:
Though popular as a carrier oil, Jojoba oil is one of the best natural moisturizing oils. A powerful pore cleanser, it is used in many anti-aging skin products. It can be used along with Castor oil to give an extra cleansing effect and with Lavender oil to have a soothing effect on the skin. Jojoba also balances the production of sebum on the skin, thereby, reducing excessive oil production in oily skin. In brief, it acts based on your skin type to keep your skin replenished and healthy.

3. Grape seed oil: An antioxidant, Grape seed oil moisturizes the skin on a deep level, getting rid of wrinkles on the surface. It works by revitalizing the skin and preventing it from aging. It makes the skin  supple and young too.

4. Walnut oil: Walnut oil is great for regeneration of skin. It moisturizes damaged skin and helps prevent wrinkles at an early age. Applying Walnut oil with carrier oil will be of use for eliminating wrinkles.

5. Marula oil: This is a remarkable oil with antioxidant properties. It penetrates deep into the skin and works wonderfully on damaged or lifeless skin cells. Rich in nutrients, it coats the skin with a peerless glow and softness.

6. Other oils:
Lavender and Rose are two other oils which work well in treating skin problems. Other than these, fish oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, is     also effective in preventing wrinkles. Fish oil works by stimulating the growth of a vital collagen protein in the body, which, in turn, makes the skin wrinkle-free and youthful.

Skin can be damaged or wrinkled on account of several disorders too. If you want a blemish-free skin, you need to use essential oil blends that can cure skin disorders like psoriasis, acne and other skin conditions. Some essential oils are great moisturizers. Adding such oils to your bath water can make a huge step toward personal care.

No more ouchs or aches: Aromatherapy for arthritis and joint pain relief

Joint pain can be one of the most debilitating of illnesses that can affect any human being. This is more so if you are suffering from arthritis, gout or other syndromes. The first thing that comes to your mind while you are in pain is – “what can I do to get instant relief from this?” Since arthritis is a major illness that affects many Americans, you cannot go in for buying OTC drugs for it. You need to consult a physician and take only prescription drugs. This would normally take time and your pain will grow unbearable by that time. Aromatherapy essential oils can give instant relief from such excruciating pain. Though not all essential oils are good in treating joints, some are very good in alleviating the inflammation and sickness when massaged on to the affected areas. This article will focus on the essential oils which will offer instant relief from joint pain.


Why aromatherapy for joint pain? Arthritis is basically inflammation of the joints and occurs in several types in affected patients. The most common among them is osteoarthritis which affects the bones very badly. Natural remedies in the form of aromatherapy can help treat this condition. As an alternative treatment for arthritis, aromatherapy works with liniments. A liniment heats the skin and underlying muscles to relieve one of joint pain. Often the base of a liniment is rubbing or drinking alcohol. However, this has been changing since the advent of the benefits of essential oils. From rubbing alcohol, people have shifted to vegetable oils/essential oils as base. This is because oils heat up faster and stimulate the muscles (underlying the joints) to act well. Essential oils also stay on the skin for longer time, making it suitable for massaging.

Essential oils for arthritis and joint pain relief:
Some of the essential oils which are used for arthritis and joint pain relief: Rosemary, Marjoram, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Cedarwood, Nutmeg, Yarrow, Clove bud and Sage. These oils should not be applied directly to the skin and should be mixed with carrier oils (1% to 3%) before use. You can massage this mixture in 2 or more times daily. To make a dilution of 1% , mix 6 drops of essential oil to 1 oz of carrier oil.

Another way is to stimulate skin is through liniments. To do that, include Tiger Balm, White Flower oil and Peppermint/Camphor in the preparation. These stimulate both hot and cold reactions in the nerve endings of the skin which makes the liniment hotter than it is and that in turn stimulates healing. To be the most effective, liniments should contain Rosemary, Marjoram and Lavender. For arthritis and other joint pain relief, you can add the following oils in your massage recipe or hot water bath – Chamomile, Marjoram, Birch, Ginger etc. Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Clove and Peppermint make the best liniments.

How to make liniment?
This recipe will help you make a liniment that would cure your pain readily. Mix 8 drops of Eucalyptus oil with 8 drops of Peppermint, 8 drops of Rosemary, 4 drops of Cinnamon Leaf, 4 drops of Juniper Berry, 4 drops of Marjoram and 2 oz of alcohol. Stir the combination two or three times daily to disperse the oils in alcohol. Since the recipe is a bit stronger that the usual massage recipe, never use it over a large area of the body. You can also use this as a warm-up treatment before heavy exercising or physical work. This would prevent the bones from cramping or painful areas.

Kitchen aromatherapy: 3 essential oil food recipes you can try

From health kit to facial masks, aromatherapy has ventured into our kitchen tables too. Not many chefs know the benefits of using essential oils in your daily menus. If you have a holiday plan or want to take a time out for yourself, what can be the best treat for yourself than making recipes using aromatherapy oils? This article will focus on essential oil food recipes that you can try at your home.

Essential oil food recipes: The following recipes use essential oils in the form of highly concentrated preservatives, fragrant/flavorings or hydrosols. Whatever be the case, use essential oils that are within therapeutic grade/food grade quality and ensure that you use them in the appropriate quantity.


1. Rose water German cookies: You will need the following ingredients for this recipe: 1 cup sugar, ½  cup room temperature butter, egg yolk, 1 ½ tbsp vanilla, 1 ½ tsp lemon extract or ½ cup sour cream, ½ tsp baking soda, 1 ½ tsp rose water or Rose Hydrosol, some salt and 3 cups of flour. Add cream sugar with softened butter and beat egg yolk and flavorings to smooth consistency. Next, add baking soda and sour cream into the sugar mixture. Add rose hydrosol, flour, salt and water. Batter the mixture and roll out on floored surface. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutter and bake at a heat of about 325 degrees in the oven.

The cookies thus made will carry a subtle rose flavor. If you want the rose flavor to be more pronounced, use rose otto too.

2. Peppermint Hot Chocolate: This recipe uses Peppermint oil to make hot chocolate with cream and sugar. The ingredients you may require: 1 ½ cups of heavy cream, 1 ½ cups of milk, ¼ cup sugar, 6 oz of bittersweet chocolate, 3 drops of Peppermint, whipped cream for garnish and candy canes. Use a saucepan to combine the ingredients – cream, milk, sugar and chocolate – and cook until the mixture begins to steam. Add 3 drops of Peppermint and blend well. Once the blending is complete, divide the chocolate into mugs and top it with whipped cream. If you want, add candy to each cup. This is a yummy recipe which will be the favorite of kids and adults.

3. Orange oil recipe: This recipe uses a lot of orange in the form of orange juice, blood orange essential oil etc. The following ingredients will be required to prepare this item – 1 cup of soft butter, 2 cups sifted confectioners sugar, 1 ¼ cup of unsifted flour, ¾ cup of corn starch, 3 tablespoons of orange juice and 3 drops of sweet orange or blood orange essential oil. To prepare the recipe, cream butter with essential oil and add ½ cup of confectioners sugar and beat until you get a fluffy consistency. Add flour and corn starch and batter everything. Cover and chill the whole thing for at least two hours. Then, roll out the dough into balls (of your desired shape) and bake in the oven for 325 degrees. Mix the remaining cup of confectioners with sugar and 3 tbsp of Orange juice. Put wax paper under cookies and spoon the orange glaze over them.

Aromatherapy gift ideas: 4 toiletry gifts to surprise your loved ones

Aromatherapy gifts. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to gift someone an aromatic substance? Ever thought of the aromatherapy gift ideas? Contrary to the popular belief, aromatherapy gifts can be stunning and instantly lovable. Since they will be mostly soaps, scents, shampoos or other aromatic healing blends, they will be far from the usual, fancy or pop culture type gifts. Aromatherapy gifts are ideal for people who are special to you in life. Yes, special people should be given special treatment and aromatherapy is one of the best ways to treat your loved ones, friends or family members in a exciting, unusual way.

Aromatherapy gift ideas: The gift ideas given here can be executed at home and packaged with accessories available in your kitchen. No exceptional efforts or expensive ingredients or supplies are needed to make them. The basic things involve aromatic essential oils, mostly of the therapeutic grade efficiency.


1. Salt scrub: This is a recipe for a commercial salt scrub and requires the following ingredients to make: 1 cup of sea salt, ½ of mixture of carrier oils and essential oils (whichever suits your skin type). Essential oil blends should comprise of the following – 10 drops of Peppermint, 5 drops of Orange, 5 drops of Spearmint, and 3 drops of Rosemary. This blend would be great to use in morning shower or for any other bath. You can change/modify the quantity of oils if you want an aroma of your choice.

2. Perfume: Imagine how lovely it would be to gift that special someone a perfume handmade by you. Perfumes are not just about aromas, but are characteristic of the person who wears them. So, if you ever thought you could make a perfume on your own, here we go. An ideal and sensational perfume would comprise of 3 parts of Jojoba oil, 2 parts of Beeswax blends (of oils) and 1 part of essential oil blend. To prepare the perfume, warm the oil and then add beeswax beads. Let the mixture cool until it attains a thickening consistency. Then, stir in the essential oil or blend and pour into wee pots. You can also add different essential oil blends to the perfume and gift them as separate perfumes.

3. Foot soak blend: Refreshing a tired feet with a foot soak or foot massage can do wonders to improve blood circulation in your body. It can also rejuvenate yourself after a hard day. You can present this foot soak blend as a gift to someone you care for (your mother, sister or some other elder in the family). This is also a way of pampering your loved ones. To make the foot soak, combine 1 ¼ cups of Epsom salt with the same amount of Kosher salt in a jar. Blend into the mixture ¼ cup of baking soda, ¼ cup of cornstarch, ½ teaspoon of Lemon oil and  ¼ teaspoon of Spearmint oil. Close the jar with a  lid and shake well. Use it after a few weeks of preparation. Massaging feet with this blend after soaking will also benefit a lot.

4. Aftershave gel: An easy to make gel for all your male friends and family members. Mix ½ cup of Aloe Vera gel with 2 oz of Witch Hazel Extract, 1 tsp of Glycerin, 5 drops of Chamomile oil and 3 drops of Peppermint oil. First add the glycerin to the Witch Hazel and then, add the essential oils. Mix the blend with the Aloe Vera gel bottle and use if as an aftershave and also as a sunburn cream.

Steel yourself: Aromatherapy for a healthy immune system

In this modern world of chronic diseases, frequent ailments and epidemic health problems, it is important to keep your body fit and strong. Not many have good health conditions and not many can afford a disease-free environment. To speak the truth, only the FDA knows how many millions of Americans live on prescription drugs. Life has grown so complex that people find it difficult to even find time for health and well-being. We fail to listen to our bodies and stop to take care of them. We lack the wisdom of our ancestors (who were very considerate about maintaining day to day health and hygiene) though we know how important our health is to us. Owing to lack of personal health care, many succumb to a lot of chronic disorders like diabetes, cancer etc. today.

Every other ailment start with the immune system. Building a strong immune system is crucial to day to day personal health. Essential oils can help improve immune system and support the process of healing in many kinds of immunity-related disorders. This article will throw light on how the immune system can be revved up using powerful essential oils.


Essential oils for a healthy immune system: Essential oils can induce vigorous functioning of your immune system. They have the power to re-energize your weakened immunities and make you hale and healthy once again. Without disturbing any of your body’s chemical activities, essential oils help your immune system to recover on its own. They allow free, unobstructed flow of natural processes, which in turn motivate the immune system to function better.

Essential oils work on your immune system in three ways. Below is a gist of them:

1. Stimulation of WBCs: One of the primary functions of essential oils in fighting infection is to increase the count of white blood corpuscles in the body. Since these cells are part of the body’s core defense elements, increasing their count means improving immunity.

2. Faster cell growth: Another way in which they work is through faster cell growth. Essential oils induce cell growth at a phenomenal rate. This cures burns, wounds, cuts and other ailments or conditions which require cell regeneration. By the acceleration of cell growth, healing happens quickly and efficiently.

3. Improvement of overall condition: Essential oils are great levelers. They balance any imbalances  in the body in order to maintain health. They motivate skin growth and improve skin tone. All skin problems can be eliminated with the continuous use of therapeutic-grade essential oils. Added to this, they relax the body, inducing sleep and rest. This gives the immune system time to regroup and strengthen itself again.

Massaging, essential oils and immunity: If you want to rev up your immune system, the best way out is to do a relaxing lymphatic massage. By lymphatic massage, we mean massaging of all the lymph nodes in the body. Lymph nodes are nodes that remove the body’s metabolic toxins. They are present in several parts of the body like the armpits, groins, breasts, throat etc. A soothing massagein long strokes can invigorate the lymph nodes and make them function without any obstacles. Clearing up the toxins can, in turn, boost the functioning of the immune system. Lemon, Rosemary and Grapefruit are some essential oils which are good at stimulating movement in the lymph nodes.

Some other essential oils that help in improve a weakened immune system are Bergamot, Lavender, Lemon, Myrrh, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Thyme etc.

Essential oils Immune Tonic Blend: Rubbing this blend on to your body can revitalize your immune system and help with proper functioning of the body. To prepare the blend, add 6 drops of Lavender with 6 drops of Bergamot, 3 drops of Lemon, 3 drops of Tea Tree, 2 drops of Myrrh and 2 oz of vegetable oil. Massage this blend on to the affected part of the body to see best results. For instance, if you have cold and flu, rub it on to your chest. If you are working at curing a foot infection, add it to your bath water or foot bath preparation. You can even inhale the blend using an aromatherapy diffuser.

Ears ringing? 4 aromatherapy tips for earache and ear infections

Are your ears ringing always? Do you have earaches often? Is that ear infection paralyzing you and your day to day routine? Never worry, you can use aromatherapy for instant relief. Yes, essential oils can help in treating earaches, ear-related infections and other ear problems on account of their soothing and relaxing properties. This article will explore the possibilities of treating ear infections using essential oils.

Essential oils for earaches: Stinging pain in the ears or ear related infections are often caused by problems in the middle ear. If your middle-ear is infected, it is likely that your outer ear will also be affected, as a result of which, you will have aching pain in your ears. Other symptoms of such an earache will include shooting pains in the ears, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and noises or what is called ringing in the ears. Sometimes for less severe pains, an aromatherapy massage oil rubbed against the back of the ears is sufficient. An ideal oil for preparation of this rub is Lavender. Any other antiseptic will also work well. But ensure that the oil helps in reducing the inflammation and alleviating your symptoms. Gently rub diluted Lavender oil on to the back of your neck, around the outside of your ear lobes and along the lymph nodes. Do not put this into the ear. It can have serious consequences. If you want to treat the infection directly, make a warm compress and then, use it directly over the ear. Also, when you treat ears, apply your remedy on both the ears even if only one ear hurts. Continue your remedy for a couple days even if your infection is gone after one-dose of your essential oil cure.


1. Aromatherapy Ear Rub: An antiseptic aromatherapy ear rub can help cure any kind of ear infection. Add 3 drops of Lavender oil to 3 drops of Tea Tree oil and 1 tbsp of Vegetable oil. Combine  the ingredients well and rub around your ear lobes and along your lymph nodes. For children, you can use just half of this blend (that is, 3 drops of total essential oil to 1 tbsp of carrier oil). You can apply on both ears two to four times a day. Never fail to apply before bedtime.

2. Antiseptic Ear Rub: This is a slight variation from the previous recipe. You can use Lavender, Tea Tree  oils and blend them on to Olive oil and rub around your ears. Sometimes an ear problem can be caused by a throat infection. In that case, you can gargle a diluted antiseptic oil. You can also use compress to soothe the pain in your ears. To prepare an ear rub, add 3 drops of Lavender to 3 drops of Tea Tree oil, 6 drops of Roman Chamomile and 1 oz Carrier oil. Blend the ingredients and rub around the ear and down the side of the neck. You can apply to a piece of cotton, which you can place in the ears for therapeutic effect.

3. Herbal Ear oil: Add ½ oz of Garlic-infused oil, Calendula-infused oil and mullein blossom-infused oil and blend the ingredients well. Use Olive oil as a carrier oil for this recipe. Warm the oil before dropping into the ear. But first drop the oil onto a completely dried spoon. Now, use a dropper to draw the drops and place one or two in the ears.

4. Garlic for swimmer’s ears: Garlic is a great antibacterial oil which can reduce pain and inflammation of swimmer’s ears syndrome. The remedy is choice for the fungal infection and can alleviate itching in the ears.

Essential oils in cooking: 3 delicious recipes with essential oil flavorings

Many do not realize the true value of essential oils. They think that essential oils serve best only as aromatic substances that can be used in diffusers at home or used along with bath water, as bath salts or in massaging. The uses of essential oils do not end with these. They can be used in the preparation of many delicacies too. Believe it or not, many food manufacturers use essential oils as a unique and cheap way to add flavors to the foods they process. Essential oils also replace the distinct flavor or taste which is lost in processing or refinement of food. You can also use essential oils if there is a lack of ingredients in your kitchen cupboards. For instance, if you there is no ginger in your house, you can add a drop of Ginger oil to get the same flavor. This article will provide you some fun-to-make common recipes wherein you can use essential oils as special ingredients.

Essential oils in food: Essential oils, as you know, are highly concentrated substances. You have to be very careful in using them. This means, you have to measure all the drops that go into your food. Excess use of oils can upset your stomach or spoil your food. If you want to add oils only for the sake of flavor, better to use only a drop or so. Below are a few recipes which use essential oils as flavorings:


1. Appetizers – Russian Eggs: If you plan to make your eggs in this method, you would need the following ingredients: 6 hard boiled eggs, 1 teaspoon of chopped green olives, 3 tablespoons of Mayonnaise, chopped onion, Tabasco, black pepper, chopped parsley, Lemon oil and Grapefruit essential oil. Cut the eggs, remove the yolks and put everything in a bowl except the parsley.  Mix the ingredients to form a paste. When you get the paste consistency, spoon into the white of the egg. Then, add the parsley on a bed of lettuce and serve the dish.

2. Prawns dish: This is a real prawn delicacy. You would need the following to make this: 1 pound uncooked prawns, soy sauce, sherry, vegetable oil, clove garlic, orange (squeezed), 2 drop of Ginger oil, 2 drops of Orange essential oil. Marinade the prawns for sometime before you start cooking. Mix all the marinade ingredients and pour over the uncooked prawns. Leave for about 1-2 hours. Remove the prawns after the time and stir-fry until cooked. Add in the marinade in parts. Once the first part is cooked, add the remaining. Do this for 5 minutes and then serve.

3. Red Meat Marinade: If you look at the recipes, you will notice that essential oils are excellent for any kind of meat or sea food recipes. This Red Meat Marinade recipe is yet another recipe involved with meat. To cook, you need the following: 1 cup of red wine, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 chopped onion, salt, Black Peppercorns etc. You will also need these essential oils: 1 drop of Thyme oil, 1 drop of Marjoram oil, 1 drop of Clove oil and 2 tablespoons of Olive oil. Blend Thyme, Marjoram and Clove into Olive oil. Add red wine to the meat and add garlic, onion, Orange oil. Rub the meat with 1 tbsp of the Olive oil blend and place the meat in red wine. Leave the meat for about eight hours and then, cook it as you please.

7 all-time-useful aromatherapy blends for self and family

Aromatherapy is not an one-time remedy for ailments. It is an ongoing therapy wherein we use essential oils to alleviate symptoms or treat disorders and thereby, reduce our pain or suffering or health related problems. Aromatherapy blends are used in  skin care, personal care, as cure for major diseases, as aromatic air fresheners, bath salts and for massaging purposes. It is a diverse field comprising of oils made from plant substances like extracts, herbs, barks, resins, roots and other plant parts.  It takes a lot of time to analyze and use such a multifarious science and hence, a novice may need guidance on which oils are important and which cure the common ailments. This article will throw light on the most commonly used essential oil blends for emotional, physical and family well being.

All-time-useful essential oil blends: All these blends are formulated by Dr. Carolyn Selby. These are essential oils blends which help with common conditions like emotional downs, physical stress or body pain, disruptions in family relationships or infected home environment etc.


1. Stress Buster blend: This blend is ideal for improving your emotional well being and is best used as a massage oil. Add 2 drops of Clary Sage to 2 drops of Frankincense and 1 drop of Sandalwood. Blend with 1 tbsp of Almond or Grapeseed oil and mix the ingredients well. Apply the prepared blend on the back, neck and shoulders for a relaxing and soothing effect.

2. Relaxing Bath blend: If you are down with the blues, nothing can cheer you up as a well-prepared aromatic bath. For a stress-buster bath, mix 4 drops of Bergamot with 4 drops of Geranium and 2 drops of Vetiver and disperse the oils well in a warm bath water. For unscented bubble bath, blend the oils with 1 tbsp of Grapeseed. Soak for about 15-20 minutes in the bath water and inhale the vapors that emanate. You will feel extraordinarily refreshed and stress-free after the bath. Do not let the water get into your eyes as it may sometimes cause irritation.

3. Concentration Tonic: The power of focus is a gift not found in many. To improve your power of concentration and clear your head of worries and fears before exams or interviews, put 1 or 2 drops of Basil or Rosemary in a tissue and sniff before the event/exam/interview.  You will feel confident and focused on the job at hand.

4. Nasal Congestion clearance: For clearing nasal congestion (a common condition with many), use 4 drops of Niaouli with 2 drops of Rosemary and 2 drops of Tea Tree oil and disperse into warm bath water. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes and inhale the vapors. Your nostrils will be cleared and you will feel relieved after this.

5. Headache Relief Massage Blend: Headache is one of the most common ailments with everyone in the family. Aromatherapy can help treat headaches with essential oils. Add 2 drops of Lavender with 2 drops of Marjoram and 1 drop of Peppermint. Blend the mixture with 1 tbsp of Almond or Grapeseed oil and massage on to the upper back, neck and shoulders. Apply to temples and other painful areas. You can alternatively put these on a tissue and also inhale.

6. For Insomnia Relief: Many people are afflicted with the insomnia bug. To cure sleeplessness, add 4 drops of Roman Chamomile to 4 drops of Clary Sage and 2 drops of Neroli and disperse in warm bath water. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes, inhaling the vapors. You will feel sleepy after this treatment.

7. Anti-aging Cure: Aging is a chief skin care issue these  days. This aromatherapy blend can help in reducing wrinkles and act as a base cream for nourishing skin. To prepare the cream, add 4 drops of Frankincense with 4 drops of Petitgrain and 3 drops of Rose Otto. Mix the oils with 5 ml of Evening Primrose oil, 5 ml of Wheatgram oil and 25 ml of plain base cream. When the blend is done, store in an airtight glass jar and apply to the face and neck daily in the morning and night.

Aromatherapy for Mr. Fit: 6 workout blends for fitness gurus

To be fit is to be healthy, they say. Fitness is often achieved by workouts, stringent diet plans and other relaxing techniques. But a new way to achieve fitness or boost your workout schedule is through aromatherapy. You can use essential oils to gain a positive attitude about fitness and workouts and thereby, use them to get into perfect shape. Essential oils can aid in boosting your confidence and increasing your sense of commitment to a workout. Some oils are activating, while others are soothing or odor-fighting.

Essential oil workout blends: You can use the following workout blends to improve your exercise regime or inspire you to perform a thorough workout.

1. Inspiring blends: These essential oil blends can inspire and invigorate you to perform a thorough workout. You can use any of the following oils to prepare a blend – Basil, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Fir Needle, Ginger, Grapefruit, Juniper Berry, Petitgrain, Orange, Lime, Rosemary, Thyme, Lemongrass, Lemon, Lavender and others.


2. Relaxing blends: After a workout, you are left with sore or tender muscles which need relaxation. To soothe your muscles after relaxation, use the following oils – Cedarwood, Chamomile, Jasmine, Frankincense, Lavender, Neroli, Rose, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang and Patchouli.

3. Anti-odor and Refreshing blends: When it comes to anti-odor oils or refreshing oils, Citrus oils stand out of the crowd. You can use Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Fir needle, Juniper Berry, Lavender, Orange, Tangerine etc. Essential oils like Coriander, Fir needle, Juniper Berry, and Lavender annihilate odors and refresh yourself.

Application of essential oils:
You need to be careful before applying essential oils on to your skin. This is because, though healers, essential oils are concentrated plant substances that should not be applied to skin directly. In order to be safe with essential oils, you need to add essential oils with carrier oils. This would avoid the aromas from distracting you from work outs and from fellow gym users. Even a light dose of the essential oils can become stronger as you work out. Body heat can react vigorously with your oil dose and produce an overwhelming effect.

To include essential oils in your workout regimes, add 1% of the chosen oil to carrier oils like vegetable oils, mineral salts, pure water, unscented bath products (like shampoos, conditioners, gels etc). You can also use a water spray mister to enjoy workout blends. You can spray the blends on to your workout towel for inhalation and other purposes.

4. Workout Blend: If you are not inspired to go for your regular workout, use this blend of energizing oils – Lemon, Lavender, Petitgrain, Rosemary and Eucalyptus.

5. After Workout Blend: When you are out of a workout, you will be tired and will have sore muscles. This After-Workout Blend will have a soothing and therapeutic effect of your body. You can use Cedarwood, Chamomile, Jasmine, Lavender and Rose to prepare this blend and then, massage it on to your body.

6. After Workout Shower Blend: This is ideal for use during an after workout shower. You can wash away the grime and sweat you have accumulated after your workout with this aromatic blend. Use refreshing oils like Lavender, Coriander, Grapefruit and Tangerine to prepare a blend and apply while showering.

Pursuing the elusive: 4 essential oil blends for peace and happiness

Happiness is the will-o-the-wisp of our lives. The more we pursue it, the less we attain it. At one time, we feel like we have it in us, at another time, there is a complete blackout and life looks grim and sober. Happiness and peacefulness are indeed two important factors that mark our well-being. Success itself is often a measure of happiness and even the most successful find it difficult to stay happy. Essential oils can bring in happiness and joy to the restless minds. Citrus oils are often boosters of the mind and they create a pleasant, happy environment free of worries and problems.

How essential oils can bring joy: Essential oils can be used to make you happy in the most versatile ways. Whether you use them as diffusers, as bath salts, in massage or for inhalation, a few essential oils can pep up your mood and escalate you from a state of sobriety to instant joy and amusement. Some of the few essential oils that can be used to increase your joy:


1. Orange: A perfect anti-gloom oil that can induce a sense of joy and playfulness in you. It is ideal even for couples who want to share a romantic evening.

2. Mandarin: This oil is all about simple fun. It brings with it laughter, humor, child-like energy and playfulness. Inhale the oil and you are in the midst of fun.

3. Grapefruit: You see more fun and happiness in everyday life when you use Grapefruit oil. It enhances your energy, amusement levels and excitement quotient.

4. Lemon: Lemon is all about humor. Add the oil in your bath water for a refreshing bath or enhance your energy, mood and happiness with a whiff of lemon.

5. Lime: If you are all negative or dumped in blues, Lime should be the oil of your choice. Bring humor to yourself and vivify your life by using this oil in a diffuser or bath salt.

Essential oil blends for happiness:
Many essential oil blends can help you gain stability and happiness in lives. You can use the below blends in a diffuser, as a massage oil, as a bath salt or in bath water.

Essential oil blends for bliss: Add 2 drops of Bergamot with 1 drop of Jasmine, 1 drop of Rose and 2 drop of Sandalwood. Mix the blend and inhale it or use it in a diffuser at your home. All the people in your home can benefit from this.

Essential oils for joyfulness: To be happy requires skill and confidence. But you can make you mood light with the following blend of essential oils – 2 drops of Basil, 1 drop of Geranium, 3 drops of Melissa and 2 drops of Sandalwood. Mix the ingredients for an aromatic blend.

Essential oils for warmth: Experience a sense of warmth with this essential oil blend. Add 2 drops of Black Pepper to 3 drops of Patchouli, 4 drops of Rosewood and 3 drops of Ylang Ylang. Mix the ingredients well to create a fragrant blend and use in it your diffuser or bath water.

How to use: For diffusing blends, you need to add 20 drops of the chosen blend in your diffuser. For bathing, you need include 15 drops of the blend in your bath oil recipe or 5 drops of the same in lukewarm bath water. For massaging, use 10 drops of the chosen blend in your massage oil recipe. If you wanted to freshen your atmosphere, use 30 drops of the chosen blend in your air freshener recipe.