Are you new to using essential oils for health purposes? Learn how long do essential oils last and how to use them correctly in this article.
The essential oil industry is worth over 3.4 billion.
But what’s all the fuss about? Do essential oils really work?
If you know what you’re doing and use the right ones, the answer to that question is a definite yes. We’ve put together this guide to help you learn more about essential oils and to answer other important questions, like “How long do essential oils last?”.
So let’s get started!
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oil is made from compounds extracted from different types of plants. These compounds are then added to carrier oils, which creates the products so many people use today.
But what does this oil actually do?
That depends on how you use it.
When you take a deep breath of essential oil, it interacts with your limbic system. This is the part of your brain that influences behaviors, emotions, sense of smell, etc.
Because of this, the scent of essential oils can lift your mood, relax you, give you more energy, and more.
The Many Benefits of Essential Oil
Essential oils have a number of benefits that affect both mental and physical health. For example, breathing this oil can do the following things:
- Reduce stress
- Relieve anxiety
- Treat headaches and migraines
- Improve the quality of sleep
- Help sleep insomnia
- Fight inflammation
- Lift your mood
- Reduce depression
- Give your focus
- Provide antibiotic properties
- Relieve pain
- Reduce depression
- And more
The list of essential oil benefits goes on and on. You can use essential oils for autism and other serious health conditions as well. Some types of essential oil even act as a natural insect repellant and house cleaning.
You can also use essential oil for much simpler purposes—there’s nothing wrong with wanting your house to smell nice!
Does Essential Oil Have Any Side Effects?
Essential oil doesn’t usually have any negative side effects. However, there are a few things you should know before you start using it.
If you are sensitive to strong smells, essential oils might give you small headaches. Essential oils can also produce rashes or allergic reactions if you are allergic to any of the ingredients.
But most people don’t have any issue with these oils. If you are worried about possible side effects, you can talk to your doctor first.
How to Pick the Right One
Different types of essential oils do different things. So how do you know you’ve picked the right one for your needs?
It all starts with a few simple Google searches.
Do Your Research
A Google search will be able to tell you what essential oils work best for things like anxiety, inflammation, headaches, etc. We’ve put together a quick guide for a few of the most popular types.
- Peppermint: relieves inflammation/pain and boosts energy
- Lavender: relieves stress
- Tea Tree: fights infections
- Jasmine: helps relieves depression
- Rose: reduces anxiety
- Sandalwood: improves focus
- Lemon: relieves headaches, improves mood, helps digestion, etc.
Remember, there are over 200 types of essential oils. So spend some time doing your own research about what they are and what they do.
Educating yourself will ensure you find the right type for you.
Check the Purity
Pure essential oil shouldn’t contain any synthetic oils, chemicals, or other additives. Read the ingredients before you buy anything and make sure they only list the plant’s botanical name.
Make Sure It’s High-Quality
To ensure the essential oil you buy is high-quality, only buy it from reputable places.
This doesn’t mean you can’t buy essential oils from online stores. It does mean, however, that you should read reviews and do some research before you buy anything.
How to Use Essential Oils
You should never swallow essential oil. Instead, you should use one of these methods.
Breathe It In
Open your essential oil bottle, hold it under your nose, and take several deep breathes. You can also put a drop or two of the oil on a cloth and hold it against your nose.
Rub It on Your Skin
Pour a few drops of essential oil of your hands and rub it over your skin.
Don’t use too much. You can dilute your essential oil in another carrier oil to get more out of each drop.
Put It in a Bath
The next time you take a bath, put a few drops of your essential oil into the water. This will turn your bath into a relaxing and enjoyable experience—even more than normal!
Use a Diffuser
One of the best ways to experience the benefits of essential oil is to use a diffuser. Even a small diffuser can disperse a fine mist of oil throughout the entire room.
And all it takes is a few drops. After that, you can turn on the diffuser, sit down, and relax.
How Long Do Essential Oils Last?
Essential oils can last anywhere from three to 20 years. It depends on the type of oil you get. You should be able to find the expiration date on the bottle.
But storing it in the right place can make it last longer.
Always keep your essential oil in a cool location away from the sun. Keep the lids screwed on tight and don’t transfer the oil into anything other than glass.
A Beginner’s Guide to Essential Oils
Using essential oils can benefit your mental and physical health in a number of ways, but only if you use it correctly.
Make sure you know the answer to basic essential oil questions before you start using it, such as “How long do essential oils last?” and “What type of essential oil is best for me?”.
Want to learn some other helpful health tips?
Make sure you keep exploring the rest of our blog!
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.