Are you interested in natural cosmetics or would you like to give a room a good scent? Then you are in the right place. We tell you how essential oils show effect and when they can help you.
Fragrances can do so much more than just smell good. They can help us feel better - physically and also psychologically.
We can mix them into homemade creams, put them in the fragrance lamp or stir up our own perfume.
Headaches can also simply disappear with plant extracts.
Table of contents
However, in order for essential oils to have an effect, you need to consider a few things. It is also important that you know which oil is used for what.
What are essential oils
But what is it - an essential oil? These oils are formed by plants. That is why they are also called plant extracts.
How to mix a cold balm from essential oils!
Essential oils are biochemical compounds that smell very strong. They are found in leaves, flowers and barks of plants. A single oil can consist of up to 300 individual compounds.
Until you benefit from the effect of essential oils, the fragrances have a complex production behind them. For one gram of essential oil you need between 150 and 5000 grams of plants.
The most expensive vegetable oil is Rose oil*. You need vast quantities Rose petals* to extract it. Plant water is a by-product of the production process. How Organic rose water*, Organic orange blossom water* etc.
Never again impure skin thanks to lavender and tea tree oil in DIY Make up Remover!
Very many oils are produced synthetically today and are thus cheaper. The only catch is that they do not contain all the plant substances. So they smell, but essential oils effect you will look in vain here.
How essential oils have an effect
Plant extracts can help with any number of ailments. The plants produce essential oils to repel pests, protect themselves or attract insects.
The oils enter our body through the skin, mucous membrane or gastrointestinal tract.
However, the effect of essential oils unfolds particularly through the scent. We absorb the scent molecules via the nasal mucosa and send them directly to our brain - more precisely to the limbic system.
In the brain, messenger substances such as endorphins are then released, which can relieve pain or make us feel great.
These essential oils need to be in your cold bath!
Table: Essential oils, fragrances and their effects
Let's start right away with the scents. To give you an overview, the table shows which oil has what effect when we sniff it.
| Effect | Essential oil |
|---|---|
| activating | Spruce needle Orange Rosemary Thyme Lemon |
| aphrodisiac | Jasmine Patchouli Rose Sandalwood Ylang Ylang |
| soothing | Citronella Lavender Rosemary Thyme |
| good mood booster | Bergamot Geranium Tangerine Neroli Rose Lemongrass |
| concentration enhancing | Eucalyptus Rosemary Lemongrass |
Table: Essential oils effect
However, you can also apply the oils to the skin, mix them into creams or use them for other natural cosmetic products. It is important that they are always diluted with a vegetable carrier oil.
| Effect | Essential oil |
|---|---|
| anitviral & antibacterial | Eucalyptus Ginger Chamomile Pine Lavender Marjoram Carnation Rosemary Sage Tea tree oil* Thyme Lemongrass Lemon |
| cold-relieving | Eucalyptus Spruce Mint |
| cough suppressant | Peppermint Thyme Lemon |
| antispasmodic | Lavender Melissa Ylang Ylang |
| analgesic | Bergamot Geranium Chamomile Peppermint |
| stress relieving | Bergamot Spruce Geranium Lavender |
The main essential oils and their effects
There are a few oils that you should always have at home. They can help in making cosmetics, in the household and your health.
Wow! It's so easy to make your own rose water!
If you want to read further into this topic, I can give you the book "My fragrant year recommend. You will find tips on oils and their use. Instructions for creating body oils, body spray, room spray and much more. In total there are 240 recipes and instructions.
The book is divided into the twelve months of the year. You will find information about the millennia-old history of fragrances as well as new scientific findings. It is very interesting for both beginners and advanced users. If you are interested in it, you can order the book "My fragrant year" at Amazon.
Eucalyptus
The strong and fresh scent of the eucalyptus tree acts antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. He is therefore in many Cold baths to find. But is also perfectly suitable for oral hygiene.
The essential oil can also have an effect in the sauna when used as an infusion. If you have a cold, you can add the scent to the diffuser. Eucalyptus disinfects the air, cleanses your airways and supports concentration.
Spruce
Forest scent calms us. If you don't have a forest at hand or simply don't have time for a walk in the woods, you can help out with spruce needle scent.
The scent of spruce helps you when you are just stressed are. It has a balancing effect and brings you back into balance. At the same time you benefit from the invigorating and activating effect.
So you can easily make a deodorant yourself
Jasmine
As an ingredient in bath oils or creams, jasmine scent does well. Jasmine oil* dispels indifference and Stimulates the senses.
On icy cold winter days it will help you lift your mood. For this, drip a few drops into the diffuser.
Lavender
The probably best known fragrance oil at all is made from Lavender flowers* won. Because lavender disinfecting it very often ends up in homemade deodorants or in detergents.
But lavender scent also helps against headache and helps us relax. Soothing, antispasmodic, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory -. Lavender oil* is a real all-rounder!
Tangerine
Tangerine is also perfect for cold and dark days. The oil provides good mood and is one of the best room scents ever.
But Mandarin scent can do even more. It soothes hyperactivity and calms you down when you're inwardly restless are.
Tangerine oil is also used in products against stretch marks.
In these DIY massage oils essential oil can not be missing!
Rosemary
You would like to use your Fatigue behind you and stimulate the blood circulation? Then Rosemary oil* wonderfully suitable for you.
Also promotes it the Concentration. Studies show that the scent of rosemary can greatly improve our thinking performance.
If you are tired because your blood pressure is in the basement, you should sniff rosemary. It helps to raise your blood pressure.
Rosemary oil* is also used in creams and shampoos. It is antibacterial and regulates sebum production. Wonderful if you want to get rid of dandruff.
Tea tree oil
The biggest allrounder at all is Tea tree oil*. It is antibacterial, antiviral and antifugal. It is therefore used to combat spots, skin irritations, sweaty feet, athlete's foot, gingivitis and much more.
Do you have a mosquito bite right now? Then you should prevent it next time. Tea tree oil* in combination with lavender, insects cannot smell it at all.
Here's how you can make rose water yourself!
What to look for when using essential oils
Very important: The oils must always be diluted. In natural cosmetics, for example, one milliliter of essential oil per 100 ml of vegetable oil.
If you apply it undiluted to the skin, it can cause severe irritation. Especially if you have an allergic reaction. And that is not so rare.
Therefore, you must always test the effect of the essential oil before applying it on the whole body.
Here's how
- Dilute the essential oil with vegetable oil.
- Apply it on the inside of the forearm.
- If you notice itching, redness or burning within 10 minutes, then you should not use this essential oil.
Be sure to avoid contact with mucous membranes and never use products with essential oils internally.
Pregnant women, young children, babies, epileptics or people with high blood pressure should not use essential oils.
Where essential oils have an effect
There are three possible applications for the fragrant oils.
1. as a room fragrance
A few drops of orange oil in the fragrance lamp and we feel better on cold winter days. Treating rooms with fragrances is a very old tradition.
Whether in the form of incense sticks with the fragrance lamp or an aroma diffuser is a matter of taste. Essential oils are also used in the sauna.
Tip: Do you already know this aroma diffuser from Amazon? We have it in the office because of the dry air and fill it every day with concentration-enhancing scents. It's really good for you and even prevents headaches!
2. in natural cosmetics
This is my favorite area of application. Already 2-3 drops give creams, homemade soaps, face masks or oils a very special aroma.
On the one hand, it is about the fragrance and on the other hand, the healing effect of the essential oils. Thus, many oils have an anti-inflammatory or antibacterial effect and improve the complexion.
3. in the household
Since some oils have a disinfecting effect, you can also use them in the household. So you can put a few drops of oil in the dryer and let the laundry smell on the one hand and disinfect well on the other.
Our conclusion
For essential oils to have an effect, you must use them correctly. The easiest way is in a diffuser or fragrance lamp.
But you can also use the oils for natural cosmetics. Like Tea tree oil* in face masks and benefit from the disinfecting anti-pimple effect. No matter what you choose: Never apply the oil undiluted to the skin and never get it in your eyes.
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