I got my first diffuser for Christmas 2016 (shout out to the in-laws 🙌🏼) and made my first Young Living purchase in Spring of 2017. From that moment I haven’t looked back! Collecting one or two oils a month and learning as I go. Essential oils are so versatile and beneficial so I decided to start a new category here at Handrafted.com. 🎉 A category where we talk about overall wellness and learn together about essential oils!

What are essential oils?

əˈsen(t)SHəl oil/

noun

plural noun: essential oils

a natural oil typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic fragrance of the plant or other source from which it is extracted.

 

In other words, an oil derived from a natural substance, usually either for its healing properties or aroma.

How are essential oils extracted?

Essential oils are extracted through distillation. Distillation is the process of purifying a liquid by heating and cooling. This process takes raw materials, under pressure and heats them up using steam. Inside the tank water vapor containing the essential oil condenses as it makes contact with cold surfaces within the tank. The condensation is then drained into a holding tank where the water and oil naturally separate. The water is removed leaving the pure essential oil that we love so much.   

The amount of raw materials it takes to create these pure essential oils is shocking! For example, to extract one 15 mL bottle of YL Lemon oil it takes the rine of 75 lemons. 😳

🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋
🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋
🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋
🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋
🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋

That’s right, 75 lemons! Crazy to think what all goes into each and every bottle!

Common Uses for Essential Oils

There are three ways to use essential oils: Topically, Aromatically and Internally. Over the next couple months we will delve into each one, but for today I just wanted to touch on each on briefly (As those blog posts are added, I will link them here for quick navigation.)

• Topically: Essential oils are easily absorbed through the skin. Using essential oils by applying to the skin is a great way to see fast results. Once the oil is applied to the skin it is absorbed and enters the bloodstream almost immediately.
  • 🚨Essential oils should almost always be diluted before being used topically – we’ll talk more about dilution soon!
• Aromatically: Essential oils are great for use in your diffuser, in a hot shower or perfume. Essential oils in an aromatic form affect the human body by activating the Olfactory Nerve which in turns activates the Limbic System. The Limbic System is a complex system that controls mood and instinct. By activating this system through essential oils you can experience changes in emotion. 
• Internally: There are some essential oils like the Young Living Vitality line that are diluted for safe consumption right out of the bottle. These are great to add to hot tea, dessert or dinner. In addition to their health benefits, essential oils can provide wonderful flavor due to their purity. 
  • 🚨Some pure essential oils can be used internally if researched properly.  Ingestion of essential oils can be a powerful treatment but can also cause irritation if done incorrectly.

Below are common uses for five of my favorite oils!

Do you use essential oils in your home? Do you have specific questions about essential oils?

Let me know if the comments below!

xo,

Carolyn