It’s no secret that there’s an essential oils craze going on right now. Everywhere you look, people seem to be talking about them.They’re at WholeFoods, they’re at Bed, Bath and Beyond, your neighbor sells them. Celebrities like Kelly Clarkson and Kristin Cavallari talk about them.

So what’s all the fuss about and how do you know which oils and brand to choose? Are they used just for aromatherapy or can you also use them in other ways? These (and more) are all the questions I had when I first decided to dive into essential oils (EO’s).

As a mom of 2 toddlers, I am always looking for natural ways to feed/clean/heal my children. So when a friend invited me to an EO party, I thought, “Sure, why not? I’ve always been intrigued but never knew how to use them. Why not start now?” I went. My interest was sparked even more. I didn’t know you could use them in so many different ways and how versatile they were. I purchased a starter kit that day and when my oils arrived in the mail, I was like one of my daughters when we pass by a candy store. Giddy AF. I’ve been using them for about 6 months now and I still am! So here’s a mini intro to essential oils for those of you who are where I was 6 months ago.

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are often described as the “essence” or “life force” of a plant. EO’s are the volatile fluids of plants that protect plants from threats from their environment. They are what help plants heal or repair themselves when damaged. If they can heal plants, why can’t they heal us, right? These fluids are extracted from the plants through methods like distillation and bottled for human and animal use. When extracted, EO’s are VERY potent, so a little goes a long ways. For example, it takes 75 lemons to make one 15mL bottle of lemon essential oil!

How Do I Use Them?

EO’s can be used in 3 different ways- aromatically, topically, and internally.

Aromatically: Molecules of the EO’s are dispersed into the air through a diffuser OR can be inhaled directly from the bottle.
Topically: EO’s can be applied directly onto the skin, although some oils may need dilution- mixing a couple of drops of EO with a carrier oil, such as almond or fractionated coconut oil.
Internally: When the quality of the EO is high enough, they can be ingested. I love putting a couple of drops of grapefruit oil in my water. Not only does it taste amazing, it helps detox my body!

Why Do I Need Them?
In my family, oils have integrated themselves into our daily lives. Every morning, I put something in my diffuser to get my day going BEFORE I have my coffee. Yes, it’s come to this. Oils before coffee. When my kids sound like they are about to get sick, I roll their immunity roller a few times a day to help lessen their amount of sick days, and so far, it’s been working. When my husband comes home snappy, I douse him in my “happy” blend to take the edge off and make him nice again. Sleep, stress, muscle aches, sickness, indigestion, congestion, eczema, there’s an oil for that!! And the best part is, there are NO chemicals.

Which Brand Do I Choose?

When deciding which brand of EO to choose, always look for oils that are “100% pure and natural.” Other oils can contain synthetic oils that are not of top quality and should never be ingested. Personally, even the bottles that state they are “organic” and “pure” and “natural” are still not enough for my standards. It still doesn’t tell me where the plants are from and what distilling practices were used before the oils are bottled. This is why I use and LOVE Young Living oils. Young Living is the only company that I know that has their own farms. They have a “seed to seal” process, which means they do everything from planting to distilling to bottling. What does this mean? TOP NOTCH QUALITY. Don’t worry, they also have third party testers that test for purity and potency. In order to purchase Young Living oils, you do need to know a YL distributor. If you know one and are curious, ask them! Pick their brains. Ask what remedies they know for whatever issue you are curious about. If not, leave a comment below and I’d be more than happy to help you out.

So there you have it. Essential oils in a nutshell. Believe me, I could go on and on about this stuff and how they’ve changed our family’s lives. If you’d like to know more about EO’s and some DIY recipes, leave a comment below. I’d love to chat oils with you! Or check out my instagram @kaylee_321 to see some of the things I’ve done with EO’s!