essential oils 101
everything you've ever wanted to know about essential oils is here!
in the past few months i have been FLOODED with questions about essential oils and how to use them. everyone is truly grasping that essential oils are a BIG DEAL. they will be in half of all homes in the next 5 years. but so many people are going to buy the somewhere like bed, bath, and beyond and wonder why they don't work. so it's time for me to fill y'all in! i did a blog post a while back about how i used them daily but figured an in depth blog of FAQs.
**disclaimer: that i am NOT a doctor and can in no way tell you how to treat medical issues you may have. my personal experiences with oils can, in no way, replace scientific studies. i encourage you to do your research!**
WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?!
well they are the by product of plant metabolism if you want to get technical. you know when you cut a flower stem and juice drips out of it? THATS essential oil! i believe they're the tools God has given us (amongst many other natural things) for wellness. they are tiny molecules that are quickly absorbed into the skin. a little goes a LONG way!
while they might seem like a new trend, they date back about 6000 years...long before modern medicine. they're mentioned in the bible hundreds of times.
"Then Mary took a pint of pure spikenard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus's feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of perfume." John 12:3
HOW DO I USE THEM?
3 ways: aromatically, topically, and internally.
aromatically: this would be just my smelling them. you can literally just open the bottle and inhale it! if you think what you inhale doesn't go deep in your body, think of cigarette smoke. you can also use diffusers! 4-6 drops in a diffuser. sadly, all diffusers aren't created equally and you definitely want one with medical grade plastic because oils like lemon and orange can eat away at plastic. here's what they did to my tervis tumbler before i knew better:
topically: in some cases oils can be used directly on skin straight from the bottle (we use the term "neat") but in most cases, we dilute with a carrier oil such as coconut, grapeseed, or jojoba. i make rollers for all kinds of things so i have them prediluted and ready when i need them. one of my favorite places to use the rollers are on feet. there's over 7000 nerve endings there! you can also do wrists, back of neck, spine, and just about anywhere (although never in the ear or eyes!)
internally: young living now labels oils as "vitality" when they are able to be taken internally. almost any other brand of oil you find will say "not for consumption"...hmmm...makes you wonder whats actually in them if they can't be taken internally. i have some of the clear vegetable capsules from young living that i fill with oils but you can also place a drop under your tongue. you can add many to water (just make sure you have a stainless or glass cup so it doesn't eat the plastic away!) or even use them for cooking! i add oregano to my spaghetti, cardamom to my chicken curry, and dill to my chicken noodle soup just to name a few!
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUNG LIVING OVER OTHER BRANDS?
in a nutshell? their "seed to seal"....but really... let me explain. they're the only company with their own farms that are also directly in charge of the farms. all the seeds are non gmo seeds. aromatic plants need a lot of nitrogen to produce the most quality essential oils, so young living prepares the soil by growing alfalfa plants for five years, naturally increasing the nitrogen levels. they guarantee absolutely no herbicides or pesticides are used and they even pick their weeds BY HAND.... and use their own oils and leftover plant compost back on the plants as natural pesticide and fertilizer! they make sure the plants are farmed exactly where its optimal (i.e.: sacred frankincense in their farm in Oman) on land that hasn't been used with gmos or pesticides in over 50 years thats also far from pollution of urban centers. the big trees like balsam, idaho blue spruce, and pine are literally cut by hand and carried out by draft horses:
all plants are watered with pure mountain stream water from snow melt. the water is rich with minerals. then the fields are harvested at the correct time of year and day to optimize the oil quality.
they do 2 different types of distillation: cold pressed and steamed. young living only uses the first distillation of the plant rather than adding chemicals to get more out of it. MANY other companies will press and press and press to get every little drop out to make the most money..but thats NOT what you want. while they are distilling they have their own labs that are constantly testing the oil and making sure it meets their standards. they have as many as 9 different tests that the oils must pass. the oils are only ever in stainless steel or glass during the process. all members are welcome to come to the farms and even help with harvest (like how cool is that!?!)
i don't know about y'all..but that means something to me. it brings tears to my eyes to think a company would care enough to work this hard to make sure what we are getting for our family is THAT pure. prior to young living, there was no way to measure the therapeutic quality of essential oils.
young living is so devoted to quality that when a crop is jeopardized, young living won't use it. for instance, blue tansy was flooded a couple years ago and they weren't able to make one of my FAVORITE oil blends... valor. valor is a MASSIVE seller and they could've put the crappy flooded blue tansy oil in it and sold it all day long. BUT THEY DIDN'T. its not about money with them, its about quality.
WHY AREN'T YOUNG LIVING PRODUCTS LABELED ORGANIC IF THEY ARE?
basically because young living's standards are so far past the level of organic. also, the standards required to bear the USDA organic label were made for produce and agriculture, not essential oils. not to mention, many things are grown where they are best suited in other countries (where USDA isn't in charge.) also the FDA doesn't label essential oil as drugs... they are "dietary supplements." so if you go to the drugstore and pick up a bottle of vitamin c, it is NOT FDA regulated. another problem with essential oils is that there are no real standards on what is put on the label. the bottles can say "100% pure therapeutic" or "all natural" or "100% natural" or "certified pure pharmagrade"or really anything else they want to say...because the FDA states on it's website that there is no regulation of the definition of essential oils, the law treats ingredients from plants the same as ingredients from any other source. DOES THAT NOT BLOW YOUR MIND?! so that little bottle of lavender that you pick up at the store or the mall can be made of ingredients not from plants, aka man-made fragrance... like some scientist made something that smelled like lavender in a lab and stuck it in there! if you don't think fragrances are harmful, PLEASE read here.
WHATS YOUR FAVORITE OIL?
this is the hardest question EVER. its like picking a favorite kid, depends on the day! i think if i had to pick one it would be patchouli. i have to work pretty hard to look at the good side of things. for some reason patchouli always helps me do that...it keeps me in a great mood! it also smells AMAZING to me. i wear it everyday!
ARE THEY EXPENSIVE?
yes and no! they greatly range in price depending on the oil. to me its somewhere i want to put my money. my family's wellness is of upmost importance to me. but this is a personal preference for how our family chooses to spend money.
considering the quality that young living provides, i don't think they are overpriced. are there expensive oils? hell yes. rose is about $185 (wholesale!) but here's 32 under $20:
also, because such a small amount is needed, 1 drop goes a LONG way. carrier oils really help you get the most out of your oils. here's how some of the oils break down per drop:
i am also often asked how long they last. but that depends on how much you use them! i buy lavender every 3-4 months, but i've bought cedarwood only 3 times in the past 2 years.
DO THE OILS EVER EXPIRE?
no! well let me explain, true essential oils do not ever expire, making them even more affordable! improper storage may lead to them evaporating. prolonged exposure to heat can damage the chemical composition. but if you store them correctly? nope!
WHATS A CARRIER OIL?
a carrier oil is a vegetable oil like coconut, jojoba, grapeseed, almond, olive oil, etc. they are used to dilute oils. on each bottle it will say how many drops of carrier you need per drops of essential oil (it will almost always be more carrier oil than essential oil, unless the oil can be applied directly aka "neat") carrier oils are made from the fatty portions of nuts and seeds. unlike essential oils, they can go bad over time.
i choose the carrier oil based on what i am using it for and usually look for cold pressed. if i am making a diaper cream to go in a jar, i will usually use coconut oil. if i am making a roller, i use jojoba or grapeseed because they slide easily with the roller balls. if i am doing something for my face, i choose jojoba because its less greasy. its a lot of trial and error! always check your oil bottles for proper dilution.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE DIFFUSER RECIPES?
everyday: 2 drops of each- patchouli, lime, bergamot, jade lemon, and lavender
chill: 3 drops of each- lavender, bergamot, and stress away
morning uplift: 1 drop joy, 2 drops lemon, 2 drops peppermint
afternoon uplift: 2 drops of each- eucalyptus globules and lime
sweet dreams: 1 drop dream catcher, 2 drops lavender, 2 drops cedarwood
wind down the kiddos: 2 drops vetiver, 1 drop roman chamomile, 3 drops lavender
fall morning: 2 drops each- lemon myrtle and cinnamon bark
so fresh and so clean: 2 drops each- rosemary and lemon
hippie: 2 drops each- patchouli and lemongrass
california: 2 drops each- lemon, eucalyptus radiata, juniper, rosemary, and bergamot
DO YOU USE OTHER YOUNG LIVING PRODUCTS BESIDES OILS?
YES YES YES YES! in the slow journey to get our home to be chemical free, i am constantly replacing products like toothpaste, laundry detergent, spices, vitamins, shampoo/conditioner, supplements, face wash, lotion, etc. now that i finally found a company i completely trust, i buy as much as i can from them. their essential rewards system has made it possible (more on that below!) i probably use 30+ products in any given day from them. its a healthy addiction if you ask me ;)
HOW CAN I GET STARTED?
if you want the most bang for your buck, i would get the premium starter kit (see above) it's the best $160 i've spent in a long time. there is absolutely no obligation to sell or buy any certain amount if you order the starter kit…. but buying the starter kit gets you a wholesale member pricing (24% off!!!) and the ability to sell (only if you choose to!) for a year. your membership will stay active as long as you spend at least $50 in a calendar year. any time i have someone sign up using my member number, i make a commission! while i had ZERO interest in "selling" oils when i first got started, i began having people ask me about them, then those people wanted to buy so OF COURSE i gave them my number! i am so grateful i am able to do that now, even if it was never my intention.
if you are ready to get started, go here and my use my number as sponsor and enroller (2352616) make sure you check "wholesale member" because it's the only way to access the premium starter kits. it will ask for your tax id/ social security number and this is simply for legal purposes so that you have the ability to bring in a paycheck IF you choose to do so. if you never sign anyone up, it will never be used.
WHAT OILS ARE IN THE STARTER KIT AND WHAT DO THEY SUPPORT?
ARE THERE OTHER STARTER KITS THAT GET ME A MEMBERSHIP?
theres a bunch of different ones with oils. they vary in price based on which diffuser you choose in it and then there's also a thieves starter kit!
I'VE GOT MY STARTER KIT OILS, NOW WHICH OILS SHOULD I GET?
so some of the oils i use ALL the time that aren't in the starter kit are: lemongrass($11.25 15ml), cedarwood ($11.25 15ml), patchouli ($33.75 15ml), rosemary ($15.50 15ml), gentle baby ($21.25 5ml), peace & calming ($34.75 5ml), oregano ($27.75 15ml), lemon myrtle ($22.50 5ml), envision ($18.75 5ml), bergamot ($27 15ml), dream catcher ($72 15ml), tranquil ($28.75 10ml), orange ($10.75 15ml), grapefruit ($16.75 15ml), and lime ($12.25 15ml).
I'VE GOT MY STARTER KIT, WHAT ACCESSORIES DO I NEED?
1. ROLLERS! i keep these scattered everywhere with prediluted oils for different things like mood lifters, head health, seasonal support, and sleep.
2. SPRAYERS! i use these for my thieves cleaner (a cupful of thieves cleaner in one bottle, fill the rest with water) and also a febreeze replacement with purification! I also use them for my homemade bug spray.
3.MISTERS! i put my homemade perfume (10 drops patchouli, 8 drops lavender, and 5 drops lemongrass filled the rest of the way up with alcohol or witch hazel) in these. also they're great for linen spray!
4. MINIS! i use these when i don't want to travel with all the big bottles of oil. i also use them to give samples to friends.
5. JARS! i use these when i make any type of cream with a coconut oil or shea butter base (another cuter option here)
6. LABELS! young living sells labels to go on the lids of the bottles. they're $3. getchu some.
7. CARRIER OILS! for diluting oils: fractionated coconut oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, and many more!
8. GOOD LITERATURE!
9. CAPSULES! for all those good oils you want to ingest!
10. STORAGE! because lets face it, you're going to get addicted. personally i love these: this, this, and this.
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW TO FIX _______ (INSERT THE BLANK WITH ILLNESS OR DISEASE) WITH OILS?
no. i'm not a doctor. what i've learned about using oils it that my life before this was FULL of chemicals. i literally woke up and would drink a mountain dew for breakfast. i'd wipe our counters down with lysol, then cut fruit on the same counters, and then eat the fruit... poisoning myself! i'd clean the bathroom with scrubbing bubbles and can always remember coughing and having to open a window because of the fumes. then i would spray air fresheners, perfume, burn yankee candles (gag! i literally almost throw up when i pass the store now) and use soaps, lotion, shampoos, and toothpaste without paying any attention to whats in them...because i trusted that they were "safe." and i had chronic migraines. chronic. i spent years on an anti seizure meds to help control my migraines. i was treating my issues with more meds, rather than with looking into ways the i could be poisoning myself. i now use young living products to stay ABOVE the line of wellness. i am happy to report that i have had 2 migraines since i started to change our home into a more chemical free home. i truly feel like i was poisoning myself in so many ways.
one of my friends that hiked the AT told me that when he got back into the real world all the scents of everything really bothered him and made him sick...like perfumes, candles, etc. i remember thinking he was crazy at the time. seriously crazy. but now that i have removed almost all chemicals and synthetic fragrances...I AM THE EXACT SAME. when i get in an uber with an air freshener, i literally hang my head out the window like a dog. stores with candles give me headaches almost immediately. sprays like febreeze make me nauseous. it blows my mind how my body had gotten used to so many horrible and toxic things.
ARE OILS SAFE DURING PREGNANCY?
with any medical condition, i would always consult a doctor who is experienced in essential oil usage. its generally said to avoid excessive use of: clary sage, sage, tansy, hyssop, fennel, and wintergreen..as well as the blends that contain these oils
ARE OILS SAFE FOR CHILDREN?
most oils are safe for use with children when diluted properly. YL does carry some oils prediluted for children to take the guess work out.
IS THERE A MONTHLY MINIMUM?
nope! the "obligation," if you even want to call it that, comes when you sign up for essential rewards.
WHAT IS ESSENTIAL REWARDS?
its a monthly autoship program where you purchase 50 pv (pv stands for personal volume). usually the pv is dollar for dollar in price (50 pv usually equals $50), but not always. look at the pv for each product you purchase to make sure you are spending 50 pv a month. in order to receive a check from young living you need to spend $50-$100 a month, so it made the most sense for me to sign up so i could earn commission! plus its reduced shipping and great promos for free oils every month!
i didn't sign up for it at first because you have to spend at least $50 a month. i thought "theres no way in hell i will spend $50 a month on oils." well. that ended up only being partially true. because their products have become such a huge part of our lifestyle, i easily spend that...i actually spend more like $125 a month. i don't always spend it all ON OILS, but i am always buying products. i don't feel bad about it because its things i would buy at target every month, like shampoo, conditioner, thieves household cleaner, lotion, toothpaste, etc. the great thing about essential rewards is that you get points back (like a credit card) and can cash them in for free stuff.
if you want more info on essential rewards, go here (i don't want to overload y'all)
i just cashed in my points for the year and got ALL OF THIS FOR FREEEEEEE ($350 value):
I HAVE NO DESIRE TO SELL. IS THAT OK?
absolutely! theres no obligation to sell as a wholesale member.
ARE THERE ADVANTAGES TO BUYING FROM SOME PEOPLE OVER OTHERS?
ok so this was never something i considered when i first ordered my starter kit. i just wanted to give the credit to my friend (barb!) who had introduced me. but what i soon realized is that barb's upline has the most unbelievable leader. she pours her heart and soul into our team. we now have our own classroom and host weekly classes! y'all. other people don't have these resources for help. we also have a member's only facebook group. everything i know, i learned from these women! so while i am always willing to help anyone out, there's only so much i can do for those not in our group. if you are already on a team and feeling left uneducated, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE reach out to your upline (you can find them in the virtual office on your YL profile) and let them know you are looking for help. i can promise they are ready to help you!
if you are new to essential oils, we would love for you to join us! please let me know any other questions you may have. i am here to help!
xoxo-hannah
