Storing Your Essential Oils
Usually you can buy Essential Oils, Precious oils, Absolutes and CO2s sells oils in a variety of sizes from 5 ml. up to 1 liter.
Although essential oils do not become rancid, some oils deteriorate with age and may lose their therapeutic benefit over time. Oils such as the citrus oils will oxidize and begin to lose their aroma and therapeutic properties. Some oils such as patchouli and sandalwood can improve with age becoming more rounded and mellow.
To avoid deterioration and protect your oils properties, keep your oils in amber or cobalt blue bottles. Dark glass such as amber or cobalt helps to keep out sunlight, which can hasten deterioration. Do not keep your oils in clear glass bottles. Beware of sellers selling oils in plastic as many oils can dissolve plastic. Essential oils should also be stored in a cool, dark place.
The Next Article: What are Resins?
© 2004 Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Centre
What are Resins?
Have you ever come upon a pine tree and noticed a sticky substance on the trunk? This is a resin. During the production of resin, trees will be cut in many spots to encourage the tree to produce its resin. Natural resins are extremely thick and sticky. Most liquid resins are extracted by solvent or alcohol extraction.
The Next Article: Favorite Essential Oils
© 2004 Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Centre
Favorite Essential Oils
Here is a list of some of the most popular essential oils used. These oils should form the foundation of your journey into the world of Aromatherapy.
- Lavender
- Jasmine
- Rose
- Ylang Ylang
- Patchouli
- Sandalwood
- Neroli
- Bergamot
- Cinnamon
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Juniper berry
The Next Article: Essential Oil Safety Information
© 2004 Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Centre
Essential Oil Safety Information
Essential oils are highly concentrated liquids. Some oils may be harmful if not used carefully. That doesn’t mean that there should be unfounded worry about using essential oils, just treat essential oils as medicine and follow the steps outlined below.
These safety guidelines are not a complete safety reference for the use of essential oils, but offer important guidelines. Please consult your physician or a qualified Aromatherapy practitioner if you have any questions regarding your personal use of essential oils.
- Don’t use Essential oils undiluted on your skin. There are few exceptions to this rule such as with lavender and tea tree oils, but only once significant essential oil knowledge is gained should you ever attempt to apply undiluted oil on the skin. However, the safest rule of thumb is to never use any essential oil undiluted.
- Some oils can cause sensitization or allergic reactions in some individuals. Always do a skin patch test before using an oil for the first time. The skin patch test is done by placing a small amount of the diluted essential oil on the inside of your elbow, wait 24 hours to see if there is any form of reaction. Even if an oil does not irritate you, it still can irritate someone else. It is important that you always keep that in mind.
- If you are pregnant you should consult your doctor before using any essential oil in spite of what is stated in literature. This is also true for other conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, and other health conditions.
- When using essential oils, use the smallest amount of essential oils that will get the job done. If one drop will get the job done, for example, why use more?
- Not all essential oils are suitable for use in aromatherapy. Wormwood, pennyroyal, onion, camphor, horseradish, wintergreen, rue, bitter almond and sassafras are some of the essential oils that should only be used by qualified Aromatherapy practitioners, if ever at all.
- Like all medicines, oils should be kept out of reach of children. Don’t let the seduction of the scent distract you from the fact that oils can be hazardous in the hands of young children. Keep your essential oils away from children. Treat the oils like medicines that are poison in unknowing hands.
- Play it safe, essential oils should not be taken internally. Essential oils should only be taken internally after receiving a detailed consultation and prescription from a trained and qualified Aromatherapy practitioner.
- Essential oils are flammable. Please keep them out of the way of fire hazards.
The Next Article: Using Your Essential Oils
© 2004 Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Centre