Essential Oils are one of the most beautiful ways to fragrance your home. But these natural extracts, derived from various plants, flowers, botanicals and herbs, offer a myriad of benefits that go beyond just their pleasant scents.
For instance, Petitgrain oil is used for its calming properties, making it perfect for unwinding after a long day. Rosemary oil, on the other hand, can invigorate and energize, providing a refreshing boost of mental clarity. But before we get in to the detail of which oils impart which effects on mood and energy levels let's take a little look at how you can get the oils into your home.
To use essential oils effectively, you can employ a number of methods:
1. Diffusers or Oil Burners are a popular choice, dispersing the aromatic molecules throughout the air in your domestic space. At Bloom we love plug in diffusers that use water to create a vapor. Some essential oils - particularly the woody ones e.g Sandalwood - disperse better using heat and an oil burner that uses a candle will give off a better fragrance throw. In general 4-8 drops are required, depending on the strength of the oil being used.
2. Create a room mist. Add a few drops of essential oil to a high proof alcohol in order to allow the essential oil molecules to disperse in water. Add the mix to a spray bottle to create a natural room spray. Add approximately 20 drops of oil to a teaspoon of alcohol and add to 100ml of water.
3. Create your own candles. Use an old jam jar or a container of choice and add approximately 7-10g of essential oils for every 90g of wax. Wicks need to be chosen based on the diameter of your jar, and you can find guidance on this from your candle supplies store.
Which oils? Below are a shortlist of my favourite oils to use for different end results.
For relaxation and sleep:
Cedarwood, Vetiver, Lavender, Geranium, Ylang Ylang, Neroli, Clary Sage, Sandalwood.
For focus and mental clarity:
Rosemary, Peppermint, Petitgrain, Eucalyptus, Basil, Fennel, Juniper, Grapefruit
For depression and low mood:
Mandarin, Bergamot, Lime, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Ginger, Geranium
For anxiety and stress:
Geranium, Lavender, Neroli, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Bergamot, Cardamom
For smelly boots and pets!
Lemon, Grapefruit, Fennel, Thyme, Lavender, Marjoram, Lime
Let me know your favourite home smells, and if you love to use any essential oils in the home in a different way to the methods above I'd love to hear more!
Thanks for reading,
With love,
Marie x