Some essential oils smell like summer ( Bergamot, Geranium, Lavender Jasmine, Orange), but their refreshing, bright and fragrant scent not only adds some ambiance to a room but enhances the scents emitting from the skin. These essential oils have therapeutic benefits.
Essential Oils have been used for centuries for cleaning, wound management and healing the body and mind. Essential oils are best described as plant extracts made by steaming or pressing various parts of the plant to capture the compounds that produce a fragrance. , balance
Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils for therapeutic benefits. When an essential oil is inhaled, the scent molecules in the oils travel to the olfactory nerves in the nose directly to the brain and impact the “amygdala,” which is the emotional nerve centre for the brain. Essential oil can also be used on the skin, where it is absorbed via the bloodstream to the same brain centres and various nerve cells.
Did you know it can take several pounds of a plant to produce one bottle of essential oil? For instance, to get one single 15-millilitre bottle of rose essential oil, it takes 65 pounds of rose petals!
Essential for Your Health? Inhaling the aromas can stimulate the limbic system; it involves our emotions, behaviours, smell, breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and long-term memory. Have you ever associated a smell with a memory? This explains why certain smells can trigger memories.
- Carrot Seed Oil Is a big winner if you are outdoors because it's heavy on vitamin A, a carotenoid which boosts sun protection.
- Cedarwood Oil- Cedarwood is also a known natural insect repellent – its scent drives mosquitoes and other irritants away Citronella Oil
- Grapefruit Oil provides antiseptic, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, which makes for a powerful cleansing agent to ward off skin issues and even athletes' feet.
- Eucalyptus oil not only clears the sinus but also has cooling and refreshing properties, making them ideal for summer skincare, and mosquitos are not very fond of this scent!
- Lavender Oil is best known for promoting sleep and reducing stress and anxiety, but it also helps to soothe the itch of mosquito bites and sunburns.
- Clary Sage Oil promotes relaxation and balances estrogen but can also prevent the spread of harmful bacteria. Clary Sage is also addresses muscle aches and pains caused by use.
- Geranium Oil, often found in over-the-counter creams because of its anti diuretic effects, can reduce puffiness around the eyes. Geranium oil also helps to manage hot flashes. It can be uplifting for some people and help to cool and calm the mind and body!
- Bergamot Oil has a soothing effect and can reduce nervous tension. Not just for summer months, but can certainly bring a sense of calm to hectic travel plans or over anxious children!
- Orange Oil added to shampoo can help reduce dry scalps that result from pools and overexposure to the sun. Orange oil is often added to moisturizing lotions to soothe minor skin irritation, dry skin etc. Mosquitos, fleas and ticks are not a fan of the scent, and this oil is an excellent oil for around-the-cabin cleaning for a fresh, uplifting scent.
- Tea Tree Oil has many benefits, from healing wounds, dandruff, skin conditions and insect bites, making it a must for your medicine cabinet and travel essentials.
How to use Essential oils
There are several ways to enjoy essential oils:
- Add a few drops to a spray bottle filled with water and spritz on your pillow and sheets
- Apply a few drops to a cotton ball, then put the cotton ball in your car's air vents
- Put a few drops in your bathtub
- Rub oil on your pulse points
- Take a quick whiff from the bottle whenever needed
- Use an oil diffuser or vaporizer
- Wear jewelry specifically designed to diffuse essential oils
