Beginner's Guide to Making DIY Essential Oil Blends and Skincare Products
Truth be told, I have always wanted to get creative with my collection of essential oils and make new blends and infused skincare products. But I honestly felt very intimidated by it and didn’t know how to get started. In the past I had always stuck to the basics of lavender, peppermint and cinnamon because they were familiar scents I could recognize. But I knew there’s a whole world of scents I had to discover.
This month we are partnering with Simply Earth Essential Oils to try out their easy to follow recipes and kits. I got all the fall feels with the combination of essential oil scents from my August Simply Earth Box. It put me in such a mood that at this point I’m pretty much done with summer and ready for autumn to begin.
Last week I dropped my daughter off at daycare and spent a much needed child-free afternoon making my essential oil recipes. Just the process alone of blending all the ingredients together with all the aromas felt so relaxing. Keep reading to see my guide and tips to experimenting with essential oils.
Pro Tips to Getting Started with Essential Oils
Essential Oil Diffuser
The simplest and fastest way to experience a new essential oil scent is to add it to your diffuser. For those who are unfamiliar, a diffuser is a little machine that disperses essential oils into the air in a light mist, making it easy to get fill your home with the aroma.
I have a ritual where I put the diffuser on in my office and close the door. I leave it on for about 20 minutes while I run around the house getting ready for the day. That way when I enter my office to get started on work, I instantly smell the fresh aroma the second I open the door. It’s like a “HELLO! & BAM!” way to start your day!
Carrier Oils
You should never apply essential oils directly to your skin. They are highly concentrated and can cause rashes and other unwelcome reactions. Carrier oils dilute the effect of essential oils so you can reap the benefits without suffering from unwanted skin conditions.
My Bonus Box from Simply Earth came with 3 full-sized containers of popular carrier oils. While these are ingredients for recipes, they also can be used on their own. For an afternoon pick-me-up, I like to rub essential oil infused coconut oil on my hands and arms (almond oil works well too). I cup my hands over my mouth and nose and take deeps breaths to inhale the oils.
The rule of thumb to blend essential oils with carrier oils is to mix one drop of essential oil per one teaspoon of carrier oil. I know it seems like one little drop of essential oil won’t do much, but trust me when I say that these oils are very powerful. Give it a test and if you feel it’s too light then you can possibly add one more drop… but that’t it!
Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipes
The first recipe I tried was the Hydrosol Facial Toner. I normally use witch hazel toner but because I was running low, it was the perfect time to try an essential oil based toner. It’s optional to add apple cider vinegar in your recipe. Since I had it stocked in my fridge I went ahead and added one tablespoon to work as a pH balancer for my skin to prevent breakouts. I will admit that the apple cider vinegar smell is a tad strong when you first put it on, but the smell evaporates away fairly quickly.
Pre-Mixed Oil Blends
While I do like the idea of mixing my own essential oil blends, sometimes there’s benefit to purchasing a pre-mixed blend from the experts. All of the Simply Earth Blends have a theme and can be used for particular moments such as bedtime, meditation, when illness occurs and even to elevate your mood.
Traffic Jam Relaxation
We often feel helpless and frustrated when stuck in a bad traffic situation, but the reality is that we can control our reactions. You can actually purchase an essential oil diffuser made for your car to use aromatherapy as a way to enhance your ride. If you’ve got a longer morning commute to work, pop in the Energy Essential Oil Blend to start your morning ready to conquer the day.
Travel Mist Spray
One of the best ways to combat jet lag and fatigue during traveling is to use an essential oil mist spray. This little spray bottle is lightweight and carry-on size. I personally find that citrus blends give me a burst of energy when I’m feeling fatigued from life on the road.
Nighttime Routine with Essential Oils
You can also use that same spray bottle as a sheet and pillow spray to start a nightly routine for better sleep. A nightly ritual of unwinding with essential oils can help you calm your mind and body for improved sleep quality. You can use either the Tranquility Essential Oil Blend or try the Sleepy Essential Oil Blend.
Bath Time with Essentials Oils
Another element to incorporate into your nightly routine is a hot steamy bath with drops of lavender essential oil. Lavender is especially known for relaxation and stress stress relief which makes it the perfect pair for nighttime bath. Add between 6 - 8 drops into a filled bathtub and make sure to disperse it throughout the water so it is not concentrated in one area.
Focus Essential Oil Blend
I’ve been making a living for the past few years as a full-time writer and content creator… and sometimes I go through bouts of writers block. When my creative spark is burning bright I can write for hours. And then I have others days when I just can’t seem to get any words written on the page.
A great way to jumpstart the mind is to begin some aromatherapy sessions with a Focus Essential Oil Blend. To get started, remove all the possible distractions and find a quiet place to give your brain the surroundings it needs to thrive. You can put this blend into a diffuser in your workspace to cultivate a productive environment.
Holiday-Themed Essential Oils
Every essential oil connoisseur must have a special collection reserved just for the holiday season. Our sense of smell is closely linked to memory, which makes certain scents immediately makes us feel nostalgic.
Below you’ll find the best selection of holiday themed oils and blends:
In Conclusion:
This blog post could easily become insanely long because there’s just so many awesome benefits to using essential oils. If you’re just beginning to dive into this world (or even if you’re already a pro), start with these beginner essential oils.
