9 Tips for Aromatherapy Newbies
I remember when I first discovered aromatherapy many years ago. I signed up to study aromatherapy at college. It was the first in a long line of holistic courses I’ve taken over the years. I was fascinated by essential oils and each week I loved creating beautiful smelling and therapeutic blends to suit my client's needs. There’s a lot to know about essential oils so I’ve created my top 9 tips if you are new to essential oils that will help to start you off on this wonderful journey!
1. Buy One or Two Aromatherapy Books
Choose just one or two books to start your aromatherapy library. Select books that are general resources, which will give you some basic information and help you discover the areas in which you have the most interest. My absolute bible is the complete guide to aromatherapy by Salvatore Battaglia, it is jam-packed with information but there are many great aromatherapy books out there, have a look around.
2. Find other aromatherapists!
Facebook Groups, Instagram pages and accounts of other aromatherapists are great resources for aromatherapy newbies. Read past discussions, ask questions and learn from the experts! Or find an aromatherapy school and follow their tips & suggestions. Choose people to follow who are trained aromatherapists.
3. Choose Five or Ten Essential Oils to Start
Though you may be tempted to buy more, try to begin with just five or ten different essential oils. Some essential oils can be quite expensive, so you may want to experiment with a few at first and then invest in more if you decide to pursue aromatherapy further. My top 5 to invest in that are quite inexpensive are lavender, lemon, peppermint, tea tree & ylang ylang.
4. Make Sure to Buy 100%, Pure, Unadulterated Essential Oils
When you buy essential oils, choose a well-known and reputable manufacturer. Synthetic, fragrance, and perfume oils are not essential oils; they contain man-made chemicals and have no aromatherapeutic value. I always get mine from a company called Freshskin or Mystic moments both great companies with great quality essential oils.
5. Buy at Least One Carrier Oil
For nearly all topical aromatherapy applications, you will need to dilute essential oils into a carrier oil. Good all-purpose carrier oils include sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, and grapeseed oil. Buy cosmetic grade carrier oils, and use only a few drops of essential oil(s) per ounce of carrier oil. The dilution rate is 2% for the body and 1% for the face. The only essential oils that you can use directly on your skin are lavender & tea tree oil. All the others need to be diluted into a carrier oil.
6. Store Your Oils Properly
Essential oils should be stored only in dark glass containers. Since essential oils are volatile, keep the lids tightly closed. Essential oils and carrier oils should be stored away from heat and light. Carrier oils will go rancid eventually, so it's best to buy smaller quantities.
7. Learn How to Do a Patch Test
Essential oils can cause adverse reactions, due to allergy or due to sensitization over time. A patch test helps to determine whether you might react to a particular essential oil. Learn how to perform a skin patch test on yourself with each new oil you want to use topically.
8. Don't Use Aromatherapy with Children or Pets
Until you are thoroughly familiar with essential oils and associated safety issues, don't use them on children or pets, or while pregnant or breastfeeding. Cats, in particular, may be adversely affected by essential oils. Make sure essential oils are kept out of reach of children.
9. Don't Ingest Essential Oils
Though you will read conflicting information about taking essential oils internally, you should avoid doing this. Some essential oils that are fairly safe to use topically may be quite toxic if taken internally. In addition, some essential oils may interact with prescription or over the counter drugs. I was trained to never take essential oils internally so that’s my advice!
As you experiment with and learn more about aromatherapy, you will become more confident using essential oils. There is so much to explore, so be safe and have fun!
Have any questions about essential oils? Hit reply and ask away.