Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Oils

There are several frequently asked questions about essential oils that all new essential oil users need to know. Here we’ve compiled a list of all the questions our members have asked us when they first started their essential oil journey.

What is an essential oil?

The term “essential oil” refers to a liquid that is made from plant matter. It is basically lipids extracted from plant material with a variety of wellness, beauty, emotional, and spiritual benefits.

While the term “essential oil” has the word oil in it, an essential oil is not an oil, though it behaves similarly as oils with their inability to infuse with water.

Are all essential oils the same?

No. Not all essential oils are the same. Though many companies acquire their oils from a 3rd party broker, so their oils are similar, but not all companies acquire their essential oils in the same manner.

Quality essential oil companies partner with specific farms around the world with high standards for their essential oils, testing for maintaining integrity, and allowing their oils to go out of stock if necessary to prevent substandard oils from being sold.

See our question below about how essential oils are made for more info…

Are essential oils just a snake oil fad?

No. Essential oils have been around for centuries, mentioned in several ancient texts citing a variety of physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually beneficial properties.

See our Essential Oils vs Snake Oil article for more info.

How are essential oils made?

Different essential oil sources create their oils in different ways. Some distill with high heat and high pressure to shorten the amount of time needed to distill. Some distill their oils in low pressure and low heat for longer amounts of time (which is more beneficial). Some extract their oils with a variety of solvents. And there are also some companies who legally are synthetically creating their “pure essential oils” in their entirety. So, no, not all are the same.

I highly recommend checking out our post about the Dirty Little Secrets In The Essential Oil Industry for more info you won’t want to miss!

How should you store essential oils?

Essential oils should be kept in dark bottles, which is why they’re most often packaged in dark amber colored glass bottles.

When you store them, they should be in a cool dry location away from direct sunlight.

In this How To Care For and Store Essential Oils article, we share our favorite methods of storing essential oils.

How do you use essential oils?

There are 3 main ways of using essential oils:

– Topically: on your skin
– Aromatically: using a diffuser or diffusing jewelry
– Ingesting: through using essential oil infused supplements or as flavoring agents in a variety of recipes

The key is when you’re starting to use essential oils, to start slow. Essential oils are highly concentrated, and should be treated respectfully with care. Always think “less is more” when it comes to essential oils.

We have a few guides to help you with using essential oils safely:
Diffusing essential oils safely
Using essential oils safely
Ingesting essential oils safely

Can diffusing essential oils make you dizzy or light headed?

The short answer: Yes.

If your body has a high toxin load, is experiencing a resurgence of emotional trauma to heal, or is exposed to too much essential oil too fast, you could feel light headed or dizzy.

We do have a guide to help you navigate diffusing essential oils in a manner that won’t make you dizzy.

Is there anywhere I shouldn’t use essential oils?

Absolutely! You should never put essential oils up your nose, in your ears, or in your eyes.

See our 12 rules for using essential oil safely for more info.

How should I dilute my essential oils?

Be sure to use a carrier oil for applying essential oils topically. A carrier oil is a fatty oil made from cold-pressed seeds. Examples include: avocado oil, sweet almond oil, olive oil, coconut oil (including caprilic/capric triglycerides), jojoba oil, red raspberry seed oil, grape seed oil, wheat germ oil… etc…).

I recommend 1 drop essential oil per ml of carrier oil dilution ratio for adults (and kids over 12).

For children under 12, I recommend diluting essential oils 1 drop per 5 ml of carrier oil.

How long do essential oils last?

Essential oils are good for 1-6 years after being created, depending on how their stored, whether their exposed to air, whether their exposed to warmth or sunlight, and when they’re opened.

Can you be allergic to essential oils?

Some people have complained of developing a rash on their skin after using an essential oil. This can be for several reasons:
– an allergy to the carrier oil
– not diluting enough
– using a photosensitive essential oil topically in an area exposed to sunlight within 12 hours of application
– experiencing an emotional reaction, which may be caused by suppressed emotional trauma the oil is interacting with (yes, that can actually happen)

Being allergic to an essential oil by itself is extremely rare. See our article about essential oils an allergies for more info…

How much education do I need to teach others about essential oils?

This question really depends on your desired level of teaching.

Using an essential oil is a personal experience. You do not need to have experience or take classes about using essential oils to learn how to use them. Same goes with sharing about them. You can share your experiences and the benefits of using essential oils without having submerged yourself in with courses and certification programs.

What I recommend you know before teaching an oils class:
– How to use essential oils in a safe manner
– The basic info about each essential oil you’re going to share
– Have personal experience using the oils you’re talking about – or team up with someone who has personal experience to help you teach

You don’t need to know all the science to share what you know. It is perfectly ok to learn as you go, and share what you’re learning with other people in the process.

The most important thing to know if you’re sharing info about essential oils is where to find correct information as you go. Keeping resource guides and having a mentor helps exponentially.

How often should I use essential oils?

This is a very personal question. There really is no right or wrong generic answer because each day your body has different needs.

Some days you may want to use them every few hours.
Some days you may feel the need to run the diffuser all day.
Some days you may want to use them hourly.
And some days you may just need a break and not use them at all.

None of those answers are wrong. What is right for you depends on what you need right now. Start using them when it feels right, and stop when you feel the need to stop. Just follow your intuition and listen to your body.

Can I use essential oils while pregnant

Yes. However, there are a few essential oils that should be avoided while pregnant:

– Basil
– Cassia
– Cinnamon bark
– Clary Sage
– Lemongrass
– Rosemary
– Thyme
– Vetiver
– Wintergreen
– White Fir

Can I use essential oils while breastfeeding?

Yes. Essential oils may be very beneficial to you while breastfeeding. However, there are a few essential oils you should avoid or use cautiously while breastfeeding:

– Bergamot
– Clary Sage
– Grapefruit
– Geranium
– Lavender
– Lemon
– Tea Tree (Melaleuca)
– Patchouli
– Roman Chamomile
– Sandalwood
– Wild Orange
– Ylang Ylang

Also keep in mind that peppermint may reduce your milk supply if you use it while breastfeeding, especially if your supply isn’t established yet.

Are essential oils and fragrance oils the same thing?

No. Most essential oils are derived from plants. Fragrance oils are almost always derived from synthetic chemicals. Because fragrance oils are not natural, they will not have any of the same wellness promoting constituents as a true essential oil would.

What is FAQ?

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What is FAQ?

** PLEASE NOTE ** Don’t be fooled by clever marketing. Not all essential oils are created equally. Don’t miss my complete guide on how to find quality pure essential oils to ensure you’re not wasting your money on brands that legally conduct misleading, unethical, and deceitful marketing practices.

Don’t see an answer to the question you have about lemon essential oil?

Have a question you don’t see? You’re welcome to ask in the comments or fill out this form to ask anonymously.

Our Favorite Carrier Oils:

Carrier oils are a must have when you’re using essential oils topically on your skin. These are our favorites:

A carrier oil can be any cold-pressed, seed-based oil (ideally organic and unrefined). This includes most cooking oil, like coconut oil, avocado oil, and olive oils. Personally, we LOVE using fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and grapeseed oil. This is the best way to dilute your essential oils for topical use.

Need empty bottles? You can order them from any bottle supply shop that offers essential oil bottles, or even from Amazon. Personally, we save our old essential oil bottles, remove the labels, and reuse the bottles. To reuse your bottles, ensure they are clean by soaking the empty bottle disassembled in boiling water for at least 15 minutes. Then let dry. Need a fun roller bottle? This is my favorite place to get 5ml and 15ml empty bottles.
Here are some of our favorite essential oil roller bottles on Amazon.

References if you decide to use essential oils with or around animals:

If you’re using essential oils around your family pets, be sure to allow them access out of the room and into a room where you’re not diffusing. This way they’re able to escape when they feel they’ve had enough. Please also consider picking up a reference guide specific to using essential oils with animals.

A Note From Nicole

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Nicole

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Looking for more info about adopting a healthier lifestyle? Check out our online courses or my home business opportunity centered around maximizing your physical and mental health.

Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Oils

Don’t see an answer to the question you have about lemon essential oil?

Our Favorite Carrier Oils:

References if you decide to use essential oils with or around animals:

A Note From Nicole

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