4 Mistakes Most People Make When Using Essential Oils
It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out with essential oils or you’ve been using them for decades - If you’re guilty of committing any of these all-too-common mistakes, you may be doing more harm than good.
Even though essential oils may help alleviate numerous ailments, using them the wrong way or using too much can lead to negative reactions.
This article will help you avoid the same mistakes many people make, so you can take full advantage of the health benefits high-quality essential oils provide.
We’ll start out with the most common and easily avoidable mistake on our list…
The #1 Biggest Mistake: Using a Low Quality Essential Oil
Don’t let the marketing jargon fool you.
You want to choose essential oils made from real plant matter, distilled in the
most effective way, and properly stored for freshness. The quality of your essential oils is of the utmost importance!
First, unlike high-quality oils, low-grade oils are often packed with artificial fragrances and chemical fillers. These oils may be cheaply made or stretched thin, and usually are meant to attract buyers with their low price.
What’s more, the synthetic substances sometimes found in these low-quality oils are a cocktail of ingredients that can actually make you more sick. Certain chemical additives can pollute the air if diffused, irritate the skin if applied topically, and cause other possible side effects.
Wondering how you can spot a fake?
It’s simple.
See if you can answer the following questions when browsing the website information and labels of the essential oils you’re looking to purchase:
- Is the Latin name of the plant on the bottle? Only including the common name, such as lavender is not going to cut it. Look for the real Latin or scientific plant name on each bottle, such as Lavandula angustifolia, and don’t settle for anything less.
- Is the country of origin listed? If not, you could be dealing with imposter, hybrid plants. This can reduce or change the oil’s therapeutic benefits.
- Is there a purity standard in place? An oil’s purity should be tested by an unbiased third party, and there should be purity GC-MS test reports accessible before purchase –– No exceptions.
Don’t be afraid to walk away from oils that lack checks in each of these boxes and find ones the brands that care about providing proper labeling and product information.
Spending the few extra minutes assessing the quality of any essential oils you’re looking to buy is worth the effort!
The next mistake on our list is also one that can produce harmful reactions if you’re not careful.
#2: Forgoing a Carrier Oil for Topical Use
Many essential oils are too potent and volatile to be applied directly to your skin without being diluted first. For example, if you add a drop of eucalyptus essential oil to your skin, you unknowingly run the risk of causing severe irritation, or worse In addition, carrier oils help reduce the rapid evaporation rate in aid in increased absorption.
Always use a high-quality carrier oil any time you plan to apply essential oils topically. This type of oil dilutes the potency of the essential oil, making it a safer option to use on your skin. As an added bonus, carrier oils also bring their own skin nourishing properties to the party.
While carrier oils create aid in protecting your skin from the essential oil, they also deposit a moisturizing layer that may help soothe various skin conditions.
Fractionated coconut and sweet almond oil are our favorite carrier oils to use with essential oils.
One of the most serious mistakes you can make is using a phototoxic essential oil topically, especially without a carrier oil, and then going out in the sun.
#3: Not Being Careful in the Sun
Applying essential oils directly to your skin is not as good idea. But applying a phototoxic oil, and then going out in the sun is a mistake your body cannot afford to make.
You may have recently read in the news that one woman got sick with second and third degree burns after using essential oils. Her mistake: She had applied a photosensitive oil that couldn’t handle strong UV rays.
Because of this, the woman experienced severe burns and also upped her skin cancer risk without even realizing it.
While a trip to the beach may sound even better with a few drops of an energizing citrus essential oil, these essential oils should not be applied topically with sun exposure.
According to NAHA.org, these essential oils should be on your stay-out-of-the-sun list:
- Bergamot
- Rue
- Angelic Root
- Lemon
- Lime
- Grapefruit
- Bitter Orange
- Cumin
Another mistake that people make when using essential oils is perhaps the most common: going overboard.
#4: Using Too Much of an Essential Oil
There’s truth to the phrase “too much of a good thing” — and it certainly applies to essential oil use. See, a good, high-quality essential oil is highly concentrated. That means a little can go a long way.
If you get a little too generous with your oil application, the high concentration may cause unwanted side effects.
So how can you tell how much is enough?
First, always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil with topical use. Experts agree, about 10 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil is a good general guideline to follow. Avoid with small children, pets, and certain medical conditions. Discontinue use if any irritation occurs.
As it related to diffusing, be sure to enjoy the aroma in large rooms and away from pets and small children. Further, diffuse essential oils in 20-minute intervals.
Finally, avoid internal use of essential oils unless advised by your Doctor.
Now that you know the most common mistakes people make when it comes to using essential oils, you’re ready to begin enjoying their benefits responsibly.
Enjoy Essential Oils Without Committing These Mistakes
Ok, so be honest.
How many of today’s mistakes have you been guilty of committing? Fortunately, you don’t have to tell us.
Instead, we hope you’ll simply use the information in today’s guide to keep you and your family safe while taking advantage of all the benefits that come with adding essential oils to your wellness routine.
Don’t forget to share this article with your friends and family members who also use essential oils; they should also know how to enjoy essential oils safely without making these all-too-common mistakes.
And remember that good essential oil use, whether you are diffusing or applying topically, starts with high-quality, 100% pure oil. Browse our extensive collection of high-quality essential oils to find the right one for you and trust that you are receiving 100% pure, therapeutic-quality oil that can help you attain your optimal health.