Essential oils have been a passion of mine since about 2015. A friend introduced me to them to help boost Danny’s immune system after learning he had a rare genetic disorder called Cohen Syndrome. I was willing to give anything that couldn’t hurt a try, and never suspected to love essential oils as much as I do. It is fair to say i was skeptical, and it’s also fair to say I have become convinced that essential oils not only work, but have improved the quality of our lives in many ways.
Originally, I was simply intending to try essential oils for Danny’s physical health, and if that worked, try them for Jake’s emotional well-being. However, we now use them in many aspects of our life from cleaning products, personal care products, cooking, physical and emotional well-being and even for our Havanese, Ivy.
DIY Personal Care
I make my own perfume using essential oils and organic vodka. My favorite combo is 15 drops of Whisper Essential Oil, 5 drops Passion Essential Oil and fill to the top with organic vodka. Vodka is a great carrier oil, because it will take on the scent it is combined with. I feel adding Vodka also prolongs the scent on my skin. I purchased this cute spray bottle off AromaTools, and keep this in my purse. It also makes a great gift. I love the scent, love how inexpensive it is to make, and most importantly, love that it contains no toxic fragrance synthetics or fillers!
Another of my homemade favorites is my Detoxifying Facial Toner. I add 5 drops each of Frankincense, Blue Tansy, Copaiba and Geranium to an empty 15 mL essential oil bottle and top with Witch Hazel. I purchase spray tops that fit on old EO bottles, and it is a great way to upcycle empty essential oil bottles. I use this spray on my face after my morning shower and after watching my face at night and before applying moisturizer.
DIY Cleaning Products
Green cleaning is a popular phrase right now in large part because people are becoming much more aware of the harmful effects harsh chemicals in commercial cleaning products can have on their family. I started “Green Cleaning” about 5 years ago, and now clean with only these simple, safe and inexpensive ingredients: Organic Dish Soap, OnGuard Cleaner Concentrate, Baking Soda, Vinegar, Castille Soap, Water and a handful of doTERRA essential oils. I also love Norwex microfiber cloths, and it is safe to use essential oils with their cloths.
DIY All Purpose Cleaner With Essential Oils
I never run out of cleaning products, because I always have the ingredients on hand to make more. The ingredients are very inexpensive, so I save tons of money (plus I walk into Target less often, which is really the reason I save money). My homemade cleaners have been proven effective, and I love the results. The best part is that they don’t contain any toxins, and are safe for my family.
My basic, all-purpose cleaner can be used for almost ANY cleaning job. I combine about 1 tsp OnGuard Cleaner Concentrate, 10 drops each of Peppermint and OnGuard Essential oils, a dash of organic dish soap and fill to the top with water. It is best to use glass for your cleaning products, because EO’s are potent and can break down plastic. I like to reuse glass bottles, and old Windex Sprayers. This saves me money, and also helps the environment by repurposing.
I also use Lemon Essential Oil for many of my cleaning needs. To was produce, I add 4-5 drops of Lemon to a sink full of water, and let product soak for 1/2 hour. Lemon is also a great stain-remover, and will get rid of sticky residue from price tags, etc. I also make glass/stainless steel cleaner out of lemon. Combine 1/2 cup Vinegar, 10-20 drops of Lemon essential oil to a glass spray bottle and fill with water. Spray and wipe on windows, mirrors or stainless steel, and buff with a Norwex polishing cloth.
DIY Cooking
Fresh herbs are delicious and nutritious, but hard to come by in Wisconsin in the winter. They also spoil quickly, so I often find I don’t have what I want/need when cooking. The dried spices simply don’t add the same flavor or nutritive value. Essential oils to the rescue! I use Cilantro, Lime, Lemon, Wild Orange, Cumin, Basil, Oregano, Ginger, Peppermint, Spearmint, Cassia, Cinnamon Bark, Lemongrass and Thyme essential oils often in my cooking.
Water With Lemon or Lime Essential Oil
I like to use the “toothpick” method to get the desired flavor. Essential oils are much stronger than herbs, and a little goes a long way. For example, if making spaghetti I will dip a toothpick in Oregano oil, dip it in the sauce, stir and taste. I keep doing this until I get the desired outcome. One drop of Oregano essential oil is strong enough to overpower an entire batch of spaghetti sauce.
I use Lime essential oil in many of my salad dressings, guacamole, salsa, dips, soups and cocktails/mocktails. Wild orange is delightful in tea. I flavor my homemade kombucha with many of the different citrus oils. Peppermint is wonderful in hot chocolate or a cup of coffee. Lime and spearmint combined help make a flavorful mojito. I add lemongrass to many of my soups (I make up my own soup recipes — soup is definitely one of my favorite foods).
As you can see, the uses for your essential oils are many. In fact, the sky is the limit if you use your imagination (and Google Search or Pinterest). It can be overwhelming to begin using essential oils, but with some education and support (hopefully, from me) you will quickly find you have replaced many purchased items in your home with easy, DIY recipes that save you money, help the environment and contain all safe ingredients for your body and home.
If you have a DIY recipe you love with essential oils, I would love if you could share it in the comments.
Hugs & Health – Michelle