Essential Oils 101

Quick facts

Why use essential oils, read my post on The Because Clean Should Not Hurt if you have not done so.


NEVER ever ingest essential oils. They are a pure and natural product made by concentrating the active components of pounds of plant material down into ounces of oil. A very small amount of some oils can kill if ingested. Likewise, essential oils are generally too strong to use undiluted on the skin, most must be first mixed into a carrier oil such as almond, grapeseed or olive oil in a ratio of drops of essential oil to ounces of carrier oil to be safe. If you are interested in using essential oils either internally or in direct application to the skin ALWAYS consult a knowledgeable source first to prevent possible serious harm.

Essential oils are volatile (as are many toxins) - that is they evaporate quickly and completely into the air. They are not friends with heat, which can quickly break them down and dilute their effect. Placing a few drops in a small dish of water will release some nice fragrance to the air. Use of an atomizing diffuser will reduce the molecules in to such small particles they will remain suspended in the air for hours. One of the fastest and most effective delivery methods of a substance is via inhalation and the lungs (another being through contact with the skin), so always carefully and completely check the historic use of any oil unless you like surprises. One example is Ylang-ylang, a wonderful scent with a reputation for being calming and a stress reducer. It is also reputed to be a fairly strong aphrodisiac, so scenting the air with this to calm yourself as you help you teen get ready for the prom is probably counterproductive.

Take a moment and think aboout the pthalates (and 150 other unregulated chemicals) in your laundry detergent, fabric softner, soap, shampoo etc., you are wearing them on your skin 24/7. Delivery of substances through the skin is one of the fastest ways to get a substance to the whole body ... Here is an experiment, slice a piece of garlic thin and place on the bottom of your foot, tape or a sock helps. Wait 5 - 10 minutes and smell your breath ... how is that for a fast delivery system, from your foot to your lungs in minutes! Back to oils. As an
Independent Shaklee Dealer I carry the original non-toxic way to clean and be clean.


Essential oils can give you sticker shock when your first begin to investigating their purchase, expect to pay $10 to thousands for an ounce (30 ml). Never fear, an ounce contains approximately 580 drops if using the standard of a burette or medicine dropper. Due to the concentration of essential oils you will rarely use more than 2 - 3 drops for any given purpose, after 232 uses of any one scent you will probably be tired of it anyway. Most oils are sold in 1/4 ounce or smaller containers for 1/4 of the price. We will also discuss a few easy methods to make your own oils and floral waters. The prices are set where they are because of the sheer volume of plant material needed to collect an ounce of oil, the closest I can come to a true and valid source estimates it takes 60,000 roses to make one ounce of rose oil - thus the $2,100/ounce price tag, quite the bargain compared to purchasing 5,000 dozen rose bunches at $10 - $30 per bunch and processing them yourself.

The cost of essential oils can bring out the worst in some people. You do have to check around for a reputable dealer, which will take a little leg work. The best bet is someplace local that you can hold accountable for quality. Some will “cut” oils, i.e. the inexpensive geranium can come pretty close to faking a rose, and only a chemist or a well-trained nose will sniff them out. A few will dilute oils in a carrier oil such as grape seed or jojoba, and this is easy to detect, and honest EO dealers will lable them as such. Again, essential oils are volatile (many are flammable as well), this means they will evaporate completely when exposed to air. Take a piece of paper and place a drop of oil on it. Wait a few minutes and check the paper - a pure oil will leave no mark at all, but the scent will remain. This quality makes essential oil a fantastic addition to home made laundry soaps and cleaning products. There is probably a fabric that I have yet to run across out there that can be stained by them, but I haven’t found it. It also makes essential oils wonderful additions to home made or purchased (nontoxic please! ) cleaners as they leave a scent behind, but no residue.

Please do note that many reputable sellers do dilute their oils in a carrier oil and label them as such - i.e. 10% Melissa (Lemon balm) is 10% pure Melissa officinalis oil in 90% jojoba or some other listed oil. These oils are much less expensive to buy, but you need to use significantly more for the same effect. I would also not recommend them for addition to cleaning products as the carrier oil is not volatile and will leave a stain and/or residue. The are wonderful for home made skin care products.

A naturally clean home will not harbor odors; scents are options for your enjoyment, not necessary. Do not replace with chemically-based “air fresheners” thinking you will save a dime (they cost the same, many oils are less due to the small amount needed) by putting toxic chemicals in the air of your home! If you really enjoy “on the spot” air fresheners, try mixing about 5 drops of pure essential oil in two ounces distilled water, put in a fine spray mister and have a party.