Essential Oils

If one were to go by the standard definition of essential oils - A natural oil typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic fragrance of the plant or other source from which it is obtained .Rose, Jasmine,Lavender, Ylang ylang , Chrisanthamum, Rosemary, Sandal wood - Flowers and aromatic leaves and barks dont just make for a pretty picture but make for a pretty you too.

Nowadays Essential oils are extensively used in aromatherapy, massage therapy and in other alternative therapies that have become popular all over the world. They're available in most cosmetic shops health food stores and one can also order them online. Essential oils are gaining popularity all round and can also be found in products such as soaps, lotions, bath salts and candles.

Aroma oils help brighten our mood and also replenish our skin and hair and they are particularly good to fight winter harshness .However one has to take care while using aroma oils and later in this article I have given some must know tips that need to be taken into consideration before one begins experimenting with them.

What are they ?

As I already explained earlier Aromatic oils are compounds of various flowers,herbs,plants extracted through the process of cold press ,distillation and extraction.These are not oils in the strictest sense - however , like oils they are insoluble in water. Such 'oils' are divided into categories based on their aromas.

The more popular floral aromas include Ylang Ylang, Rose, Jasmine and Sandal wood and Juniper are the more popular  woody scents. One can add a few drops of essential oils to your average coconut or mustard oil to ward off their strong smell and get an aromatic and effective winter protection by rubbing this oil on your face and hand before bath or after depending on what suits you the best.

Must keep in mind ..

1. Essential oils cannot be used directly on the skin since they are far too strong. They need to be diluted with some carrier oils like Coconut oil , Mustard oil , Almond oil ,Aloe vera or Olive oil.
2. Essential oils are expensive and they tend to evaporate far too quickly so make sure that you close the cap tightly each time after using it.
3. The best oils that can be mixed with Aroma oils are Almond oil and Aloe vera wich have no strong fragrance so they don’t overpower the fragrance of the essential oils. However, when you mix essential oils with other oils like Olive oil or Coconut oil they sometimes create a new fragrance depending on the quality of the oil.
4. Aroma oils are best applied at night since they tend to attract a lot of dirt during the day which could lead to the pores clogging up.
5. Essential oils applied during the day can be kept on for 20-30 minutes after which you can wash off with luke warm water before applying a day cream.
6. You can mix a couple of drops of essential oil to your night cream and apply it on your skin and hands .This is one of the most effective way of using it and has the best possible result on your skin.
7. According to many Doctors and Beauty consultants Essential oils should not be used by pregnant women , lactating mothers ,on babies and small children.
8. Aromatic oil should never be ingested and should not come in contact with your eyes. In case it so happens , blot the eyes with a clean cloth dipped in olive oil or any oil available and rinse well with water. Similarly, Never let Essential oils come in contact with wounds,cuts and bruises. If this happens by accident immediately wash with cold water and clean the wound.
9. If you have sensitive skin and applying facial oils is not an option, then you can use essential oils for its therapeutic effect and burn them in the oil diffuser or make a potpourri with dried flowers and keep it at strategic places in your home like bathroom counter and bed side table or in your sitting room.
10. Before using any essential oil it is advisable to go in for a skin patch test just to make sure that you are not allergic to them.Mix a few drops of the essential oil with a teaspoonful of olive oil and apply it on the insides of your arm. Leave it on for at least 10 hours. If there is no reaction like puffiness,rashes or discolorations you are good to use it.

At home treatments with Essential oils

When you are choosing the scent for your home experiment and choose the one that you like and not one that your friend or realtive uses.Most people tend to do this and later regret having spent so much on buyng something that they dint like .

Rose is very helpful in tackling wrinkles and dark spots.Mix it with your night cream and apply it every night before bed time. Lavender and Chamomile are good for dry and flaky skin and stimultes skin cell growth.

Tea tress essentail oil can be mixed with shampoo and used to wash oily hair.You can also mix a few drops of Lemon and Lavender essentail oils into a cup of apple cider vinegar and shake well until well blended.Store this in air tight container.You can use a capful of this mixture blended with a mug of warm water to rinse your hair right after shampooing to add sheen and luster.

Mustard oil is very good for our skin but the strong smell is a put off  many people and they hesiate to use it. Adding a few drops of essential oils like Sandalwood,Juniper or even Lavender helps ward off the strong overowering smell .

Chamomile has healing and antiseptic qualities and is known to be very good for skin allergies like rashes and patchy skin.Mixed with almond oil it works well on most skin types .

Make sure that you use essential oils sparingly otherwise the fragrance may be overwhelming. Always dilute it before using , either with oil or water.

Finally , if you have any ailments and have an extr sensitive skin it is advisable to consult an aromatherapist before you try out any essential oil.