Getting started: A beginner’s guide to essential oils

Essential oils have become the trend of the times. After going through a phase of near-extinction in the late 19th centuries, they have come to rule the world of alternative medicine. They are found everywhere – in health stores, grocery shops, drug stores and in all pharmacies, both online and offline. With so many essential oils in vogue, a beginner is baffled when it comes to choice and use of essential oils. Forget about the choice, the beginner does not know where to start with regard to knowing about essential oils. This article will provide a brief guide on how to use and choose essential oils and also will detail on the nature of oils used in aromatherapy.

Essential oils – A clear definition: Essential oils are not vegetable oils or fatty oils or fragrance oils. They are plant oils that are extracted from plants, seeds, flowers, roots, bark, stems, fruits and various other plant parts through extraction methods like steam distillation, solvent extraction, cold-pressing and extraction with alcohol. High on nutritional and healing value, essential oils are more potent than the plant from which they are extracted. This is because often a whole plant is needed to create just a single drop of essential oil.


Essential oils are easily absorbed: Some link essential oils to filmy and greasy oils like olive oil, almond oil, peanut oil etc. Those are thick oils whereas essential oils are thin, clear and easily absorbed by the skin. Unlike base oils, essential oils evaporate quickly at room temperature. An oil’s chemicals are present in body cells within minutes of its application. This is why essential oils are used to treat illnesses in aromatherapy.

Therapeutic grade of essential oils: Essential oils work only if they are within the therapeutic grade. Some marketers and shops sell watered down essential oils which do not work effectively in treatment of ailments. Most of these are inexpensive and diluted versions of original oils. When you buy an essential oil, you need to check if it is within the therapeutic grade of usage.

Categories of essential oils: Essential oils are classified under major categories based on their extraction/production methods. This is because only the chemical composition of an oil determines its quality and effectiveness. An essential oil contains about 80-400 nutritional chemicals of the plant body. Since several things are common to plants as well as humans, essential oils are useful in treatment of many ailments and disorders.

Apart from the classification based on production methods, essential oils fall into three categories based on their levels of evaporation: Top Notes, Middle Notes and Base Notes. Oils under Top Notes evaporate very quickly and have a greenish, fresh aroma. Oils termed as Middle Notes help with body’s metabolism and functions. Base notes oils have a lovely, warm aroma and have relaxing and sedative properties.

Essential oils storage: Essential oils are generally sold in tinted glass bottles. This is because they are sensitive to light and should be stored in cool, dark places. Since essential oils evaporate quickly, the lids of their bottles should be screwed tightly to avoid evaporation and damage of oils.

Essential oils usage: Essential oils can be used in baths, for cleaning, can be inhaled and applied or massaged on the body. When massaged, essential oils are not used directly, but they are mixed with carrier oils to make massaging easier and effective. Sometimes essential oils can even be worn as perfumes or cologne by rubbing them directly onto the skin.

Skin care, the natural way: 6 skin care recipes using essential oils

Skin care, done the natural way, is always the best you can do to yourself. If you feel that you can get every other skin nourishment from the synthetic and cosmetic stuff sold in the market, you maybe wrong. You need what is called pure and natural replenishment to your skin, on a daily basis. Essential oils are a great way to rejuvenate damaged skin or maintain a glowing, healthy skin in a natural way. They are pure plant substances that contain no synthetics. They provoke no side effects and cause no harm to the skin if used as instructed. This article will offer you different skin care recipes that can be prepared using essential oils.

Essential oils skin care recipes: Most of the essential oil recipes have to be mixed with carrier oils to be used on skin. When you use a blend of oils, you need to look into the composition of the blend, the proportion of oils used (which is the dominant oil/aroma etc) to get a pleasing and appealing skin care product. Below are a few essential oil skin care recipes which can be used as bath oils, foaming cleansers, liquid soaps etc.

1. Foaming Cleanser: This essential oils blend of foaming cleanser is energizing and rejuvenating. It can be used for every kind of skin, from normal to oily skin and can be used in showers or while bathing. To prepare the cleanser, combine 4 tbsps of castile soap with 3 tbsps of Avocado oil, 4 drops of Bergamot, 4 drops of Lemon, 4 drops of Petitgrain etc. Blend the oils in a small sized bottle and use whenever required.

2. Facial Scrub: This refreshing, luxurious blend is ideal for use once or twice a week. To make the blend, mix 4 tbsps of Almond meal with 1 tsp of freshly grated Orange zest and some natural yogurt. Blend till the mixture attains a thick paste like consistency. Then, melt honey and add Almond mixture to it. To the mixture, add ½ tsp cinnamon powder, 2 drops of Cinnamon oil and 3 drops Orange. Combine everything together and bring to a massage-paste like consistency. When you are done, massage on to your face and neck, avoiding the eyes or nostrils area. The scrub should be rinsed off before applying toner or moisturizer.

3. Cleansing cream: If you need to remove a make-up quickly and completely, this cleansing cream made with essential oils is your best bet. To make the cream, combine 1 tbsp of beeswax, ½ cup of Sweet Almond oil, 1 tbsp of distilled water, 3 drops of Frankincense, 2 drops of Lavender and 3 drops of Neroli together. Ideal for both oily, dry and mature skins, this cream is perfect for removing any extraordinary or strong make up too.

4. Facial oil:
Mix 2 tbsps of avocado oil with 1 tbsp of Jojoba oil, 1 tbsp of rosehip oil, 3 drops of Jasmine, 2 drops of Sandalwood and 3 drops of Ylang Ylang. Use a dark bottle to blend all the ingredients, especially the essential oils. When the mixture is ready, cover tightly and store it in a cool dark place to for future use.

5. Moisturizer:
To create a moisturizer, especially of the rosebud kind, combine 1 tbsp of beeswax, ¼ cup of Jojoba oil, ¼ cup of Apricot Kernel oil, 1 tsp of Rosehip oil, 1 tbsp of Rosewater and 8 drops of Rose.

6. Freshening Toner:
This toner can be applied to all skin types and combines a mixture of water, oils and hydrosols. To prepare the blend, mix ½ cup of distilled water with ½ cup rosewater, 3 drops of Chamomile, 2 drops of Geranium and 3 drops of Lavender. This is a natural skin care recipe that can be used anytime on any skin, without any issues.

The scent of life: 10 generic uses of Essential Oils in aromatherapy

In this modern world of complexities, we rush to do things. We do everything in such a rapid pace that we forget even to take care of ourselves. Result: One fine day, our body revolts to keep up to our speed and breaks down, refusing to cooperate further. We become deceased and resort to medications. It is then that we realize that we have missed several things in life. We realize that we have failed to lead a holistic life and instead, concentrated on pursuing only goals, ambitions and dreams. But then, it maybe too late for us to start afresh. We may have to accept our condition and become a chronic victim of diseases.

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils: Aromatherapy is all about holistic living. A medicinal system that is as old as life on earth, aromatherapy cures people through essential oils. Essential Oils are basically plant extracts that are obtained from a wide assortment of plants. Everything including stem, bark, roots, flowers, fruits, or whole plants are cold-pressed or steam-distilled to prepare essential oils. These extracts are highly concentrated and help in physical, emotional and psychological well being of people. These extracts are often the life-blood of plants, protecting them from diseases, infectious attacks and enhancing their immune system. They do the same with humans.


Essential Oils and ailments: Aromatherapy uses essential oils in treatment of different types of ailments from treating pains, aches, injuries and discomforts to relieving depression, anxiety, stress and nervousness. Essential oils are extremely useful in causing a sedative and soothing effect on people, bringing in relaxation, happiness and peace to even the most restless mind.

Below are a few uses of essential oils in treating health-related ailments and conditions:

1. Topical antiseptics: Essential oils are topical antiseptics that treat cuts, wounds, insect bites, reptile attacks, bruises and gangrene. They were used for these purposes right from ancient times. The ancients applied essential oils in treating war bruises of soldiers.

2. Muscular problems: Healing oils or plant extracts can be used in treating muscle related disorders or ailments like muscular pain, stiffness, rheumatism and muscle spasms.

3. Hair fall:
Plant extracts are useful in controlling hair loss in people. There are plenty of oils which help in nourishment of thick and healthy hair.

4. Blood circulation: Essential oils used in massages treat poor circulation problems and regulate blood circulation throughout the body. Through this, they stimulate and energize the body.

5. Dental hygiene:
Gangrene or other such conditions in teeth can be treated with oils. Some plant oils also act as good mouth fresheners, fighting bad breath and bacterial conditions.

6. Fungal infections: Skin care or topical problems can be eliminated by use of essential oils. Aromatherapy can reduce common skin allergies through application of certain plant oils.

7. Digestion and Nausea: Problems related to digestion like flatulence, nausea, heartburn, indigestion, vomiting or diarrhea can be treated through aromatherapy.

8. Impotence or sexual dysfunction: Problems related to sexual dysfunction in men or women can be cured with essential oils. Vaginal Candida can also be treated with such plant extracts.

9. Fatigue: Over-tiredness, chronic fatigue or constant dehydration or drop in energy levels can be reduced with use of essential oils.

10. Depression:
Oils are a great cure for treating depression, anxiety and other related problems. With their soothing and calming effects, they relax the mind and eliminate stress from the human system.

How to keep your weight-meter down: Aromatherapy for weight loss

Weight loss and aromatherapy, are they connected? Of course, they are. But you need to know the basics of which oil works well for you, before you enter into aromatherapy for weight loss program. Another fact to remember is, weight loss is in no way associated with essential oils except that some oils help you forget your appetite or improve your fat-burning activities. The first step toward a weight loss program with essential oils is to check whether your body is acclimatized to aromatherapy and how you can use oils in the right proportion to help with your weight loss. This is because one individual is different from the other and not all individuals can work with the same weight loss principles.

Aromatherapy for weight loss – first steps: The first step, as mentioned above, is to consult your regular medical practitioner on how to control weight gain and which program is suitable for you in aromatherapy. You can also discuss with a  licensed aromatherapist on this. Work with both your doctor and aromatherapist to design a safe plan that will suit your needs. This plan has to be framed after you analyze the reason for your food cravings or whether you eat more. If yes, why do you crave for food? The reason could be – physical or medical, you may have a poor quotient of nutrition supplements in your food, you may consider eating as a form of comfort or an activity in an otherwise boring routine, or you maybe suffering from grief, depression or other emotional problems. Once your freeze on the reason for your food cravings, base your weight loss program on that.

Why essential oils for weight loss? There is no particular reason except the scientific. Aromatherapy is the only kind of alternative medicine which has a huge impact on the limbic node of the brain. This limbic system activates the hypothalamus immediately and releases hormones or chemical messengers into the body. By controlling the hypothalamus, one can control everything from sex drive to appetite. Called the Master Gland, hypothalamus helps stimulate your hormones and reduce your cravings for food. To be exact, oils stimulate the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus and that can cause fullness in the stomach. This kind of satiety can reduce your appetite to a phenomenal extent, make you food-proof and a regular eater.

Dr. Hirsch in his book, ‘Guide to Scentsational Weight Loss’ talks of how he experimented with 3000 people and how most of them where able to reduce more than 30 pounds within a short period of time.

Weight loss tips with essential oils: Once you have identified your cravings, choose your essential oils. Yes, choose oils of your choice. Oils that can please you and make you feel full always. Once this is done, eliminate oils that may cause problems for you. For instance, some oils like Ajawon, Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, Juniper, Garlic and Nutmeg etc. can burn the nose if you are not prepared. So, avoid them. Also avoid oils that can induce migraines in you.

Weight loss essential oils: The best oils for weight loss are – Peppermint, Grapefruit, Bergamot, Tangerine, Orange, Ylang Ylang and Patchouli. Most of the oils are either sedatives which relax you and give you adequate rest or energizers which uplift you and make you feel full.

Energy and essential oils: 3 energizing blends to jump start your day

Essential oils can be energizing in times of fatigue or life’s lackluster moments. If you are having a tough time with your life and are not able to focus or concentrate on your tasks on account of depressed states of mind, you can try aromatherapy for uplifting your spirits. Aromatherapists say essential oil aromas stimulate your brain in a unique way, which in turn, allows you to uplift your moods or spur your creativity within a short span of time. If you are down in the dumps or suffering through a blues period, essential oils should be your refuge to get yourself out of the muck. But how to use oils to boost your mood? This article will tell you what to do.

Instant energy with essential oils: You can use the below blends to stimulate you or energize you when you are fatigued. Be sure to follow the precautions mentioned in your oil labels and see to it that you don’t overuse your oils.


1. Blend 1: For an uplifting morning, combine 2 drops of Basil with 1 drop of Cypress and 2 drops of Grapefruit. This is ideal as a kick off blend in the morning as it has both therapeutic and energizing properties. The aroma is also sweet and pleasant.

2. Blend 2: Grapefruit is a great oil for everything from weight loss to mood upliftment. If you are not ok with yourself or in your interpersonal relationships, you maybe feeling lost or depressed. To counter that feeling, make this blend and use it in a diffuser. Combine 3 drops of Grapefruit with 2 drops of Ginger  and use it in a diffuser or air-freshener.

3. Blend 3: Lemon and Peppermint are always nourishing. To create an energizing blend, combine 2 drops of Peppermint, 1 drop of Frankincense and 2 drops of Lemon. Shake well to blend and use in a diffuser.

How to use energizing blends: You can use essential oils in subtle ways. Apart from using the blends as  diffuser oils, bath oils, bath salts, massage oils and air fresheners, you can use them at what are called ‘pulse points’ in your home. The pulse points of your home can be light bulbs, radiators, refrigerators, television states, computer terminals, window sills and wood stoves. In all these points, apply oil blend when the instrument is not hot. As the machine or instrument heats up, it will emit the fragrance of the blends into the air.

Another way to use oils is to mix the blend of your choice in water and spray them on to bedsheets. You can also use a few drops in your bath tub and spray across the bathroom. The scent of the blends will linger for a long time. You can rub blends on to terracotta flowerpots, wooden furniture and other semi-porous surfaces. This will make the scent stay in your home for a longer time. Unusual ways of application include anointing candles with blends or using them in a ceramic diffuser. You can even simmer the blend in a stove of hot water to spread the aromas around your kitchen.

Don’t push your panic button: 5 essential oils for treating panic attacks

Panic attacks can be debilitating. Those who have gone through it know what it means to survive a panic attack. It is not the attack as such, but the aftermath of the attack that is dangerous. You are left in a sudden state of intensity and you do not know what to do. You experience intense feelings like nervousness, anxiety and fear, with your body secreting bouts of adrenaline to cope with the situation. So much happens at such a short period of time that you do not know how to control the situation or manage yourself. You often end up pushing the panic button, making the situation more awful. Panic attacks can cause havoc out of nowhere. Though there are medications and psychotherapy sessions to treat panic attacks, essential oils can be good remedies to handle situations of such kind. This article will elaborate on what it means to treat panic attacks with aromatherapy oils.

Essential oils for panic attacks: When you are under a panic attack, you may not be able to function properly. You are anxious, nervous and helpless. Your endocrine system functions inappropriately, and you may face problems like breathlessness, high pulse rate and hyper-anxiety. Panic attacks are triggered by many factors and some of them are stress, bad foods, emotional ill-health, drugs, traumas, emergency situations etc. Essential oils can help with alleviating the symptoms of panic attacks. Some of the below blends which can help with treating the attacks:

1. Blend 1: Combine 2 drops of Helichrysum and 3 drops of Frankincense and shake well to prepare the blend. You can diffuse the oil for use in rooms or your living space.

2. Blend 2: Combine 1 drop of Rose oil with 4 drops of Lavender oil to prepare a blend that can help with panic attacks. Inhale the blend to relax your mind and relieve yourself of anxiety.

3. Blend 3: Prepare a blend with 1 drop of Rose oil and 4 drops of Frankincense. This is an exotic blend that can help in treating your symptoms of panic attack. You can reduce your stress levels and look at the world in a relaxed manner. Diffusing this blend is better as Frankincense is good for     aromating your living space.

4. Blend 4: Combine 1 drop of Neroli with 4 drops of Lavender and shake well to blend both oils together. Lavender is an ever-relaxing oil. It can be used in massaging, as bath oil or in bath salts, for a soothing effect.

5. Blend 5: Panic attacks can be triggered by a sense of fear. You can use fear-reducing oils to reduce the intensity of attacks. Add 2 drops of Clary Sage, 2 drops of Roman Chamomile and 1 drop of Vetiver for a relaxed and calm effect.

Bathing as a ritual: How to use aromatherapy for an exotic bathing experience

Bathing is an ancient ritual that has a relaxing and luxurious effect on the body. Right from the ancient Egyptians like Cleopatra to Greeks and Romans, enjoyed the stimulating and soothing effect of bathing. This is especially true if you go in for an aromatic bath that includes essential oils as bath oils, bath salts and bath fizzies/bombs. Bathing, when adhered to as a ritual, can eliminate toxins from your body and cleanse the inner you in a more spiritual and aromatic way. This is article will discuss on how to use bathing as an exotic way to get rid of toxins, fevers etc from your body.

Bathing as a ritual: Aromatherapy baths can be extremely therapeutic, thanks to the use of essential oils to soothe and calm the body on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. Therapeutic action of aromatherapy essential oils is two-fold. Essential oils are absorbed into the skin and enter the circulatory system; the aromas enter the limbic system through the brain and stir an impact on the major systems of the body. Soaking your body in an aromatic bath can play an important role in relaxing muscles, reducing joint stiffness, increasing suppleness and alleviating aches/pains. An aromatic bath can tone down your skin, stimulate your body and detoxify you from anxiety, tension and ill-feelings.


How to create an exotic bathing experience? Bathing can be exotic when used in the right way. Basically, the effect of bathing depends on the temperature of bath water and the kind of essential oils used. Below are a few pros and cons of having a hot, warm and cold water bath.

Hot Bath: You can have baths at about 100 – 104 degrees F or 38 to 40 degrees C. A bath hotter than this can damage your delicate blood vessels and sebaceous glands. So, ensure that you use a hot bath that can suffice your body temperature and does not incur any harm to you, whatsoever. This kind of bath can treat fevers and eliminate toxins from your body. If you feel the water maybe too hot for you to bear, use warm water initially and then add hot water to it. After your hot bath, wear warm cotton pajamas or night gown and slip into bed ensuring that you promote sweating to eliminate your body toxins. You can use the below recipe to enhance such a bathing experience. Add evergreen bath salts that can stimulate an aggressive response from your body – 1 cup of baths salt, 10 drops of Eucalyptus, 10 drops of Pine oil and 15 drops of Tea Tree oil.

Warm Bath:
A warm bath is always soothing and relaxing to the body. A warm bath can be 80 to 90 degrees F or 27 to 34 degrees C. It is a general encouragement to stimulate the natural functions of the body. Gentle on the skin and calming to the body, a warm bath can be preferred after a long, hard day at work.

Cold Bath: A cold bath can tone your skin and activate your body functions. Generally, a temperature of the bath should be 70 to 80 degrees F or 21 to 27 degrees C. Cold baths help with respiration and improve the elasticity of your muscles. Best time to engage in a cold bath is the morning as it reduces fatigue and inspires you with refreshing energy.

Banish the negative: How to cultivate positivity with essential oils

Negativity is all around us. Believe it or not, even a smirk or a harsh word thrown at us has a tremendous negative influence over our life. This negativity breeds more negativity, resulting in annihilation of an environment  that is devoid of anything lively or inspiring. We get into monotonous routines, complaining of things and monologuing about our present state of affairs. Above all, we lose interest in life and drag ourselves to do things that we should be accomplishing with a sense of feat. To combat negativity often does not require just a change of mind, but a change in the environment too. This does not mean we need to holiday in an exotic island to get a treat of the positives of our life. It is enough if we recognize and enjoy what is positive about things and situations around us. Essential oils can help us do this with some strong, spiritual and silence-inducing aromatherapy treatments.

How to banish the negative: Cut the crap of negativity that surrounds you. It can be people, things, relationships, jobs, financial agreements or tiresome physical habits. If you have a repulsion toward something, understand that there is basically something wrong about the thing or the person. Analyze your situation and make decisions. Try cultivating a positive approach to your life. If you are able to bring in positivity, go deep into the situation and dig out the negatives. This can mean going into a meditative or mental cleansing state. Essential oils can help you do this through their aromas. They can uplift your spirit and infuse positives into your life.

Essential oils are generally aromatic. They work because they connect directly to the limbic system of the brain, unlike the other medicines or drugs which need to be dissolved into the blood stream to produce a reaction/response. Since the limbic system is one of the most effective and most ancient systems in the body, it has direct control over all the most important systems, including the heart, the digestive systems and other body parts. Essential oils work by uplifting the spirit, purifying your immediate environment and thereby combating negativity in our life.

Essential oils for combating negativity: Several civilizations have used essential oils for banishing negativity in life. One of the primary reasons for using aromatic oils in Christianity, Native American and Hindu or Persian tradition is to abolish sabotaging influences. The below list of oils have helped remove negativity from ancient times and can do the same with you too: Atlas Cedarwood, Cypress, Common Sage, Hyssop, Lemon, Juniper Berry, Lime, Myrrh, Peppermint, Spearmint and Virginian Cedarwood. You can use these oils in air fresheners or diffusers or even use them as bath oils in your daily routine. Adding them to your daily routine helps immediatley fight any kind of negative influence in your life.

Aromatherapy by astrology: 12 signature oils for 12 astrology signs

Astrology and aromatherapy. Is there a connection? There is, say the experts. Yes, human beings can be treated with aromatherapy based on their zodiac or Sun signs. People belonging to different astrology signs have different characteristics and those that belong the same sign have similar personality traits. Aromatherapists say based on people’s signs and  the same characteristics that are associated with the signs, we can use essential oils as preventative treatment and for healing purposes. However, this has to be done after understanding the positive traits and the negative physical/emotional issues specific to the sign the person belongs to. This kind of aromatherapy will be useful to individuals who cannot afford to find themselves a personal aromatherapist. If you find yourself with a dominant trait that is associated with your sign, make use of these oils to treat yourself/loved ones.

Aromatherapy by astrology signs: This is not something new in the realm of aromatherapy. Many expert aromatherapists have suggested treatment by astrology signs and some of them are: Patricia Davis and Stephanie Gailing.     Davis details about the connection between oils and sun signs in her book, ‘Astrological Aromatics’ and Stephanie does the same in the book, ‘Planetary Apothecary’.


The first step in aromatherapy by astrology is to identify the personality traits of each and every sign and then, adopt to a treatment based on that. There are people who are often cusps of signs (who have traits of two signs). For such people, treatment should be given after identifying which sign is dominant in them. Below are a list of traits of particular signs and the suggested oil to combat such traits. Other than this, you can also use oils that are helpful in combating traits dominant in you.

Aquarius:
An Aquarian is a person with the following traits: altruistic, egalitarian, friendly, eccentric, philanthropic, detached, innovative, rebellious and independent. The oil suitable for this type of individual is Neroli.

Pisces: Born between February 19th and March 20th, Pisceans are mostly dreamers, romantics, imaginative and creative people. They are empathetic, psychic, idealistic and selfless. An ideal oil for their spiritual and forgiving nature is Melissa.

Aries: With the swiftness of Mars, Aries individuals act in a willful, enterprising and assertive way. They pioneer whatever they do and are impulsive and brave always. A suitable oil for them is Rosemary.

Taurus: Born between April 20 and May 20, Taureans are best when it comes to hard work. They are sensual, grounded, steadfast, stubborn, predictable and practical. They long for security and often seek serenity.  A suitable oil for them is Rose.

Gemini: Geminis have the gift of Mercury and are extremely talkative by nature. They are curious, adaptable to any situation, quick-witted, youthful and spontaneous in all that they do. Ideal oil for them is Basil.

Cancer: Cancer is a caring sign and everything about the sign is nurturing, sensitive, hospitable and sympathetic. Cancerians tend to get moody at times and hence, need to be tempered with Blue Chamomile oil.

Leo: Leos are the kings and queens of the zodiac. They are self-expressive, generous, faithful, dominant, charismatic, courageous and dignified. Dramatic in all they do, they can be haughty sometimes. The best oil for Leos is Jasmine.

Virgo: Analytical, productive and perfectionist, Virgos are rational and insightful in things they accomplish or intend to accomplish. They are the most methodical of signs and hence need relaxation with Lavender oil.

Libra: Libras are poised well in a tough situation. They are diplomatic, sociable, stylish and charming to associate with. Geranium is best suited for their gracious yet often frivolous nature.

Scorpio: Scorpio is passionate and emotional many a times. To combat their secretive, forceful and brooding nature, they need Patchouli oil.

Sagittarius: Adventurous and optimistic, Sagittarians are the adventurers of the zodiac. They are versatile, zealous and exuberant in all that they do. The best oil for Sagittarius individuals is Black Pepper.

Capricorn: Capricorns are the loyal, hard working and pragmatic individuals of the zodiac. However, they can hold grudges, be over-ambitious and frugal sometimes. To combat their negative traits, the best oil is Vetiver.

A call to your Higher Self: 6 kinds of essential oils for spirituality

New Age living incorporates both the material and the spiritual in our lives. People of the post-modern era do not just surf or sky-dive or travel continents, but also meditate and relish in their own spirituality or godliness. Though there maybe several contradictions regarding the practice of spirituality, people who engage in it say that they have found solace and peace of mind in such practices. This article is to those few who find respite in spirituality and ruminate about a  spiritual approach to life.

Essential oils for spirituality: This has happened from existence. Yes, essential oils have played a phenomenal role in the daily spiritual life of people in various religions, communities and races. Right from the ancient Indians to the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans and the Persians, many civilizations have used essential oils for different kinds of religious and daily worship rituals. Incorporating essential oils in your daily prayer or spiritual schedule can be a remarkable way to attain spiritual bliss and peace. Though there are a list of essential oils for spiritual practices, none is particularly designated for spirituality. In general, it is the oil of your choice. If a particular essential oil appeals to you personally, you can try using it in your spiritual practices. Who knows, it may help you connect with your higher self instantly. For instance, if Manuka or Bergamot appeal to you, you can use them in your daily worship even if they are not listed as spirituality oils.


Below are a list of few essential oils that can enhance your spiritual fervor:

1. Oils for grounding/self assertiveness: If you are low on self esteem and require oils to boost your confidence and find a way to connect to your spiritual self, these are the best: Altas Cedarwood, Frankincense, Galbanum, Myrrh, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Spikenard, Vetiver and Virginian Cedarwood. Make blends using any of the oils and use it in the diffuser in your worship or meditation room.

2. For mental cleansing: Spirituality requires patience, mental clarity and purity. If you are too much absorbed in worldly things, you may not be able to engage in good spiritual practices. To get rid of the material from your mind, use Cypress, Common Sage, Hyssop, Lemon, Lime, Juniper Berry, Myrrh, Peppermint, Spearmint and Atlas and Virginian Cedarwood.

3. For cultivating a sense of gratitude:
Spirituality is all about giving thanks to the world and God. Essential oils can even enhance your sense of gratitude to others. Use Bergamot, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Lemon, Lime, Neroli, Orange and Ylang Ylang to achieve this.

4. To cope with grief: Pain or grief or acute suffering can be obstacles to your faith. To free yourself from grief and trust in God or a Higher Self, use Frankincense, Helichrysum, Neroli, Rose and Sandalwood.

5. Essential oils for enlightenment: Yes, there are oils to heighten your desire for enlightenment and they are Cypress, Frankincense, Rosemary, Spikenard, Sandalwood, Helichrysum etc.

6. Other oils: Some oils in this list are hazardous to the skin, yet they help aid your sense of spiritual well being. They are Bay Laurel, Cassia, Cinnamon, Fir Needle, Ginger, Lavender, Myrtle, Scotch Pine and Spruce.