As you can tell by my posts I love essential oils and use at least one every day.
My list of essential oil uses has grown substantially over the years and I keep learning new ways to replace toxic products with them.
In this post, I've answered over 25 questions that I've been asked about oils this year plus included discount codes and sales I found this week.
Note: All information on Alesstoxiclife.com is meant for educational and informational purposes only. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and/or information are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. Readers are advised to do their own research and make decisions in partnership with their health care provider. If you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are taking any medication, please consult your doctor.
Q: What oils do you always have in your purse?
A: Right now I've got Peppermint and Lavender in my purse.
I carry Peppermint to freshen my breath.
Just a drop works great because I don't like to chew gum or eat mints.
Peppermint also helps my daughter deal with motion sickness in the car. All she needs is a few whiffs to feel better.
I have Lavender for minor cuts or scraps along with a few band-aids.
Q: How do I get your Free Ebook to learn which essential oils help with cravings?
A: Enter your email below to get it sent to you.
Q: What essential oil blends do you recommend?
A: I wrote a blog post that contains some really great oil blends that you can pin to Pinterest for later when you need them.
Q: Can I get information on Pinterest about Essential Oils?
A: Pinterest is a great place to get ideas on how to use Essential Oils.
Start with my Essential Oils Pinterest Board.
Q: What is your favorite diffuser?
Since then I've gotten 3 others on Amazon. They work great and my favorite is usually on sale.
If you still need a diffuser then buy this one if you see it under $20.
Q: What are some good oil blends and uses for personal care products?
A: I wrote a post with some great ideas HERE.
Q: I can't afford organic essential oils. Are "regular" (non-organic essential oils) harmful?
A: In all cases, chemical-free is best.
However, you don't have to buy organic oils to get the powerful effects of using essential oils.
Reputable oil companies take great care to ensure their oils are pure and toxic free.
Q: Do you sell essential oils?
A: I use and recommend several different brands of oils but I don't sell or make a commission from all of them.
Currently, I'm an affiliate for Isagenix Essential Oils and Simply Earth Essential Oils because I personally use them.
I also have oils in My Amazon Shop.
I receive a small commission from sales made through my links but the price is the same for you.
As alesstoxiclife.com has grown, so have costs associated with running and maintaining it, and affiliate links are a way I help offset the costs.
I've written several Simply Earth reviews that you can read here.
Use STACYRUSSELLFREE at Simply Earth for a $40 rebate after you order the first subscription box.
Q. Are you in a network marketing company?
A: Network marketing is a great industry and a large part of my income comes from Isagenix .
Recently, they added a line of 10 essential oils which I am proud to use and recommend.
Their peppermint oil is the best smelling peppermint I've ever used!
Q: Is it safe to take essential oils internally?
A: This is a question to which there is not a simple yes or no answer.
If I were to simply answer yes to this question some individuals might drink Tea Tree Oil which might make them sick.
In addition, something that is safe for one person may not be safe for another due to things like allergies, sensitivities, or contraindicated health issues.
I'm not a doctor and cannot tell you what is safe for you.
All I can do is tell you to be very clear about the quality, purity, and testing of the oils you decide to use.
Isagenix essential oils are the only brand I will ingest at this point and only peppermint as a breath freshener.
When in doubt, do not ingest essential oils.
Q: Can I use essential oils to ward off cold and flu germs?
A: Yes, essential oils have powerful antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties.
While some oils might have more of a reputation for germ-killing than others, nearly all essential oils contain powerful antioxidant ingredients that will help ward off nasty things like mold, bacteria, and viruses.
The most well-known oils for warding off nasty germs include lemon oil, clove oil, rosemary oil, cinnamon leaf oil, and eucalyptus oil.
However, thyme oil and oregano oil are also cited as being able to destroy viruses and bacteria on contact. They just may not be as popular due to their rather pungent aroma.
Check out this natural Lysol recipe to get rid of germs in the house.
Q: What is the Thieves Oil Blend and where can I get it?
A: Young Living sells Thieves Oil.
The Thieves oil recipe consists of lemon oil, clove oil, rosemary oil, cinnamon leaf oil, and eucalyptus oil.
You can mix up a blend and spray it around your home or add to an essential oil diffuser to cleanse the air of possible pathogens while leaving behind a wonderful, fresh and clean scent.
If you don't want to mix up your own combination you can try Simply Earth's Defender or the Isagenix DefenseShield.
I have both of them and recommend them to my friends who don't have a Young Living account.
Q: What do you use instead of Febreeze?
A: I learned a long time ago that Febreeze and fabric sprays typically contain chemical toxins so I know make my own.
Click here to get that recipe and others.
Q: What is a carrier oil?
A: A carrier oil acts as a base for your essential oil mixes. Without it, many essential oils will evaporate rather quickly and carrier oils also dilute the potency of the oils so that you can safely apply them to your skin.
To test this in action, dab a bit of essential oil on your pulse points and see how long it lasts. Next, mix your essential oil blend with a carrier oil and test the oil for its "cling" again.
Carrier oils can work as a base for massage oils, body oils, and bath oils.
My favorite carrier oil is coconut oil but there are many other carrier oils to choose from. I reviewed 6 plant oils in this blog post that make great carrier oils.
Q: Can I put essential oils directly on my body?
A. Yes, essential oils offer a natural immune boost, as well as heal and balance the body. You can apply them to the skin in a variety of ways.
There are some oils that should be used with carrier oils so be careful before applying oils directly to your skin until you know which ones are too harsh for you.
I have a high tolerance for the oils and apply almost all of them directly to my skin but I don't recommend it for most people especially children.
You should NOT use essential oils in your eyes, ears, or nose.
Q: Can essential oils harm or burn my skin?
A: Skin sensitivity varies from person to person, and from body part to body part as well.
You may end up with a literal burn on your skin if, for example, you apply lemon oil to a sensitive area.
Use a carrier oil with any oils you aren't familiar with especially on children.
Q: What if I use an oil and it stings or burns. How do I make it stop!
A: When you deal with essential oils, it's extremely important to remember to rinse the problem area FIRST with a carrier oil or whole fat milk or cream; NOT WATER.
If you rinse the area first with a fat like coconut oil or milk, it helps to quickly carry away any of the excess essential oil.
If rinsing your eyes, milk is the best choice, as it will quickly stop any burning that you might be experiencing, you can then proceed to flush your eyes with water for 15 minutes.
Q: I've heard that some people drink water infused with lemon oil, for its health benefits. Is this true?
A: Yes, some people do ingest lemon and other essential oils, but you should be very careful about which oils you take into your body as some may be toxic when ingested.
Do not consume essential oils unless the oil that you buy has been specifically advertised as safe for internal use.
Isagenix essential oils are the only brand I will ingest at this point.
When in doubt, do not ingest essential oils.
Q: I want to make my own essential oils at home using garden herbs. How do I do that?
A: You can make essential oils to bottle at home. All you need is either fresh or dried herbs, olive oil, water, and a little pot.
Here's a recipe for homemade thyme oil:
- 1/2 cup fresh thyme
- 1 cup olive oil
- Combine the thyme and oil in a small saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Cook for about five minutes, until the mixture bubbles.
- Let cool.
- Pour into small, dark-colored glass bottles.
Q: What is a good blend to get rid of bugs?
A: These oils are some of the best oils for repelling bugs. Try them alone or in one of the recipes for DIY Bug Spray found here.
Glass Roller Bottles
Essential Oils Opener20 EO TowelettesCoconut Oil
Q: What are some good shortcuts for mixing my own essential oil blends on the cheap?
A: There are a number of money-saving tricks to creating essential oil mixes at home:
Buy Your Carrier Oil In Bulk
If you know that you plan to make a lot of essential oil blends at home, then stock up on carrier oil such as coconut, olive, or jojoba oil.
A few drops of essential oil goes a long way, but a carrier oil, because it acts as a product base, depletes much faster.
Save Dark Glass Bottles
Save the bottles that your purchased essential oils arrive in. The little plastic stoppers are easily removable, so you can clean out and refill the dark-colored glass bottles.
Save Plastic Spray Pump Bottles
If you buy essential oil-based colognes, then each time you finish a bottle, you have a handy reusable cologne dispenser to fill up with your own, homemade cologne blend.
Save Aluminum Oil Bottles
You can also save the aluminum bottles that hold body and massage oils, to be used again and again when you mix up your own essential oil blends.
Stash Extra Supplies
Keep labels and a permanent marker on hand. Each time you mix up a new blend, you can label the bottle so later you'll know what's in it.
Watch For Sales
Check at the end of this post for the sales and discount codes I found this week.
Try An Oils Subscription Box
Simply Earth has a cool subscription box that includes 4 oils, accessories, and recipes. I've found some new favorite oils this way.
Read my subscription box reviews here and use "STACYRUSSELLFREE" for a $40 rebate to use on your second order.
Q: What supplies should I stock up on if I want to start using essential oils around my home?
A: There are a few things I always have on hand for when I need them.
Carrier Oils
Jojoba oil, coconut oil, or olive oil, in bulk. The size container that you buy will, of course, depend on how often you mix and use your own essential oil blends.
Glass bottles
I keep extras for when I make up my own blends
Essential Oils
I've built up a large collection of oils over the last few years. Once you start using them, you probably will too.
TIP: Get the Simply Earth Subscription Box because the first month you get a huge blue box full of all sorts of accessories, carrier oils, and bottles along with 4 essential oils and recipes.
Essential Oil BagDiffuser BraceletCar Diffuser
Q: What's a great essential-oil based recipe for a cleaning spray?
A: Here's a recipe for a cleaning spray that you can use to wipe down surfaces, as well as spritz into the air to get rid of cooking, pet, and other unpleasant odors.
20 drops lemon oil
20 drops peppermint oil
10 drops tea tree oil
1/4 cup witch hazel
3 cups water (or enough to fill an 18-oz spray bottle 3/4 of the way).
Get more recipes for using oils to clean your house here.
Q: Which essential oils help with insomnia?
A: The most well-known essential oil for imparting a sense of calm is lavender.
However, its effects are best utilized when blended with other oils, such as geranium for balancing the body systems, and clary sage for fixing hormone fluctuations.
Don't underestimate the power of oils to help you relax and meditate so you sleep more soundly.
Q: Should I add peppermint oil to my bath water for a sunburn?
A: Peppermint oil is extremely cooling. If you want a real sense of this, add just a few drops to your bathwater and you'll feel cooled like you've never been before.
In fact, you may actually find peppermint quite uncomfortable in the bath, no matter, how hot the day has been or how sunburned you are.
While peppermint seems perfect in the form of a toothpaste, mouth rinse, or as a chewing gum flavor, it does not lend itself well to an all-over body soak in the tub.
You can put it on your temples to help relieve headaches but be very careful not to get it in your eyes.
I typically use Lavender mixed with coconut oil for sunburns.
Q: Should I put essential oils on the bottoms of my feet, and if so, why?
A: The skin on the feet is said to readily absorb the oils.
Many people who use essential oil to ward off colds, flu, and other germs swear by the "rub on the feet before going to bed" routine.
You can also apply essential oils, mixed with a carrier oil, to the neck, chest, belly, inner arms, hands, and face.
Remember: Some oils such as cinnamon and lemon, may cause a burning sensation or leave an actual burn if they make contact with a sensitive area.
Avoid using these oils on your face, underarms, and other sensitive spots.
Q: What kind of bottles should I store my essential oils in?
A: Storing essential oils in dark, glass bottles will help them last as long as possible.
Simply putting them in the dark will not suffice.
Do not use plastic bottles or clear glass bottles for storing essential oils unless you plan to use the oils up quite quickly and you are sure you will be finishing your supply in a relatively short amount of time.
It is always a good idea to have a few spare bottles on hand especially if you plan on custom blending aromatherapy essential oils.
The best glass bottles to choose from are those that are tinted jade green, dark brown, black or indigo.
Q: Where should I store my essential oils?
A: Putting your precious oils in dark glass bottles does not provide a magic force field to protect them, it simply keeps damaging light from the product.
The big enemy is heat. It is important to keep oils stored away from both direct heat and light.
Ideally, the best place to store your aromatherapy oils is in a dry, dark room with a temperature slightly below 68F.
When correctly stored, your oils can stay in good condition for up to 2 or 3 years.
There are some oils that are known to successfully last up to 5 years.
If you are not expecting to use much of a particular oil, only buy what you think you will use in the near future, and buy more as needed.
Q: Where can I learn more about essential oils?
A: I'm constantly reading blogs and books because there is a lot of information about essential oils.
Always cross-check what you read and go with your gut because what may be right for one person may not be right for you.
Ultimately you are responsible for your family and their health.
Here are some books you may find helpful:
Simply Earth has several videos about oils you can learn from and they also offer an essential oils class you can take (learn more here).
Did You Find This Helpful?
I hope these answers have helped you. I'm learning more about essential oils every day and will add to this list as I get answers.
If you have a question about essential oils that I didn't answer then leave me a comment and I will find the answer for you.
Keep Reading:
Over 100 Practical Uses For Your Essential Oils
Top 10 Benefits and Uses Of Lavender Oil
Top 5 Essential Oils For Anxiety
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