Essential oil safety is probably the most talked about subject in aromatherapy. And probably the most confusing too. Although essential oils have been used for hundreds of years, there’s not a lot of scientific evidence to refer to. Since essential oils cannot be trademarked, big companies don’t want to invest in it and small companies can’t afford it. Which leaves whatever information you can find online, in books, in classes or from suppliers. And it’s difficult to tell if the author is an expert or an amateur. Sometimes even the experts don’t agree, but it’s usually to do with the amount of caution they’re comfortable with. Now I’m certainly not claiming to be an expert, but here are some guidelines most experts will agree on:

1. Dilute essential oils before using them on your skin. Yes, there are some essential oils you can use neat (undiluted) but even so you can develop a reaction to them in strong doses, prolonged use or if they are old.
2. Research or talk to a certified aromatherapist before using essential oils on children, in cancer treatment and in pregnancy. Some essential oils should be avoided and sometimes a lower dilution is required.
3. Research or talk to a certified aromatherapist about safety information for each oil. Some oils can interact with medications (blood thinners, antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc.), some are potential carcinogens, some should be avoided in certain medical conditions (endometriosis, diabetes, allergies, asthma, epilepsy, high blood pressure, etc.) and some are phototoxic.
4. If diffusing oils, use in a well-ventilated room for limited amounts of time.
5. Never take essential oils orally. Not even a certified aromatherapist is permitted to prescribe this in North America.

 
It’s helpful to remember that essential oils are highly concentrated, and their properties need to be respected.
 
For more information see Robert Tisserand’s site (a highly respected expert) at https://tisserandinstitute.org/safety/safety-guidelines. 

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Here are some of the aromatherapy myths that I hear most often. 

1. You can ingest essential oils.
 
Oral use of essential oils has not been approved in North America. The only country that allows the administration of essential oils orally is France, and even then, you have to be under the close supervision of a licensed medical practitioner. Generally, it’s safe to add a couple of drops to food or to swish around a dilution in your mouth before spitting it out, but even then, some essential oils can irritate mucus membranes. Make sure to do your research before using any oil orally.
 
There is a company out there that will completely disregard this and advise you it’s safe to use essential oils orally. At a market I was at, a rep from this same company advised a customer to put a drop of peppermint oil in her eye. This should never be done because it burns!
 
2. You can apply them directly to your skin. 

Almost all essential oils should be diluted before applying them to your skin neat. Essential oils are extremely concentrated and can cause irritation, burns and rashes. Don’t take chances – dilute them in lotion, carrier oil, shower gel, bubble bath, liquid soap, massage oil, etc. If you’re going to use one neat, do a patch test and don’t use it for a prolonged period.
 
3. Essential oils labelled pure and therapeutic are of better quality. 

Essential oils, by their nature, are pure and therapeutic, whether it’s on the label or not. An essential oil labelled “pure” means only that it hasn’t been diluted. Using “therapeutic” on a label is only a marketing strategy. There is no such thing as a non-therapeutic version of an essential oil!
 
4. Essential oils are safe because they’re natural. 

While essential oils are indeed natural, they still need to be used with caution. Just think of poison ivy, some types of mushrooms, stinging nettle, poinsettia. You get the picture. Essential oils are extremely concentrated and many have contraindications (specific situations where they may be harmful), for example in pregnancy, with medications or in other medical conditions.  
 
5. Major brands sell superior quality essential oils. 

If you’re comparing apples to apples, this is simply not true. If an essential oil is pure, then an essential oil is an essential oil is an essential oil. An organic essential oil may be regarded as a better-quality oil but that’s because of the lack of pesticides and herbicides, the oil isn’t any different. And the essential oil’s chemical constituents (affected by country of origin, soil conditions, weather, time of harvest, etc.) may cause one oil to be safer, sweeter or better for a certain condition than another. But again, if you compare an organic lavender oil from Bulgaria from one company to another they would be the same. When you shop at a major brand you’re not paying for superior quality, you’re paying for their name. 
 
Bonus myth: There’s a company out there who claims that you can only use their essential oils in their diffusers. Great marketing ploy! I went in to one of these stores to “shop” for a diffuser. As soon as I questioned this, the employee quickly backed down.

All essential oils have multiple beneficial properties but geranium, German chamomile, lavender, lemon and peppermint are five of the most versatile must-have oils. Remember that all oils should be diluted for topical use and can be diluted in lotion, body wash, liquid soap, carrier oils, etc. They can be used for inhalation with a diffuser, lava bead bracelet or a couple of drops on a tissue.

Geranium
Geranium is a strong but lovely floral scent. 

• Once diluted, geranium can be used for:
  • wounds, broken capillaries, reducing redness, varicose veins, boils, balancing sebum production, inflammation, psoriasis, acne, warts, scars, anti-aging, large pores, rosacea, cellulite, eczema, bruising, burns, stretch marks
  • arthritis, rheumatism, shingles, athlete’s foot
  • diarrhea
  • balancing hormones, menopause, PMS
  • antiviral, disinfectant, anti-infectious, antibacterial, anti-fungal, immune stimulant
• By inhalation, it can be used to treat:
  • anxiety, depression, headaches, stress, worry
• It blends well with lavender, eucalyptus, clary sage, frankincense, ylang ylang, grapefruit, orange and tangerine.
• Use caution with sensitive skin or if on diabetes medication.

 
German Chamomile
German Chamomile is a sweet, expensive and very strong essential oil. It is often available diluted in jojoba oil at 3% or 10%, which is still enough to give it a good scent and retain its beneficial properties.

• Diluted, it can be used for:
  • Migraine, headache, arthritis, rheumatism 
  • Hives, abscesses, boils, acne, rosacea, dermatitis, psoriasis, cuts, rashes, burns and sunburn, itchiness, anti-inflammatory, broken capillaries 
  • Balancing hormones, PMS, menstrual cramps, menopause
  • Shingles
  • Disinfectant
• By inhalation it can be used for:
  • stress, worry, anxiety, depression, insomnia, exhaustion, soothing the respiratory tract
• It blends well with bergamot, clary sage, geranium, lavender, lemon, neroli, rose and ylang ylang.
• It is safe for sensitive skin. It may have a possible drug interaction with antidepressants and anti-psychotic drugs.

 
Lavender 
Lavender has a fresh floral scent.

• Diluted, it can be used for:
  • Dermatitis, shingles, athlete’s foot, psoriasis
  • Varicose veins, broken capillaries, rosacea, reducing redness and scars, warts, cellulite, hives, abscesses, boils, stretch marks, acne, wrinkles, wounds, burns, itching
  • Disinfectant, antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiviral 
  • Headache, migraine, insomnia, arthritis, rheumatism, muscle aches
  • Bronchitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, nausea
  • PMS, balancing hormones
  • Bug repellant, insect bites and stings, lice
• By inhalation, it can be used for:
  • Mental exhaustion, depression, stress, panic attacks, shock, burnout, jetlag, vertigo, asthma
• It blends well with other florals, citrus, cedarwood, clary sage, geranium and patchouli.

 
Lemon 
Lemon has a fresh and sharp citrus scent.

• Diluted, it can be used for:
  • Antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, disinfectant
  • Acne, rosacea, boils, warts, cellulite, large pores, herpes, reducing redness, varicose veins
  • Constipation, indigestion
  • Asthma, bronchitis, sore throats, colds, flu, boosting the immune system
  • Soothing insect bites and stings
  • Arthritis, rheumatism, shingles, headaches, migraines
• By inhalation, it can be used for:
  • Improving memory, anxiety, burnout, depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder, fatigue, stress, concentration
• It blends well with other citrus oils, Chamomile Roman, frankincense, juniper berry, lavender, sandalwood and ylang ylang.
• When using topically, use at night or avoid sun exposure for 12 hours.

 
Peppermint 
Peppermint has a sharp but minty sweetness.

• Diluted, it can be used for:
  • Gas, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, travel sickness, indigestion,
  • Broken capillaries, acne, rosacea, reducing redness, hives, sunburn, boils, itching, large pores, anti-inflammatory, bruises, eczema, insect bites, astringent
  • Sinusitis, bronchitis, colds and flu, sore throat, fever
  • Sore muscles, arthritis, headaches, migraines
  • Athlete’s foot, tired aching feet
  • Antimicrobial, antiviral, antiseptic
• By inhalation, it can be used for:
  • Memory health, asthma, faintness, dizziness, shock, energizing, mental fatigue, depression, anger, concentration
• It blends well with eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, rosemary.
• Avoid on or near the face of children under 3 years old, in cardiac fibrillation, or with a G6PD deficiency. May irritate mucus membranes.

There seems to be a number of stories out there about how essential oils are toxic for pets. And it’s no surprise really, as there’s very little scientific research readily available on how they affect pets. Because of this lack of information, people are quick to believe opinions. I can’t say I blame anyone, as it's better to be safe than sorry and digging for the truth is time consuming and difficult. 
 
These often unscientific opinions conclude that an essential oil was responsible for an effect on their pet. Most likely it was their misuse of the essential oil rather than the essential oil itself. 
 
Anytime I need to research something, I start by googling it, reviewing the results and the frequency of the information. Skeptically, of course. I think about what sources would be trustworthy. In this case, aromatherapists, veterinarians and reliable scientific studies.
 
My search turns up no results from aromatherapists, probably because few of them specialize in pets. I found a few vet clinics that were happy to publish some information that sounded scientific and reliable. These veterinarians want to help protect pets, even though they are not essential oil experts, which is great, but none of them seemed to reference any scientific studies.
 
Then I hit the jackpot! An Alternative Care Veterinarian. There’s so much scientific reference here it even made MY eyes gloss over! Melissa Shelton has been working with essential oils and pets since 2008 and has dedicated her practice to it since 2011. In her article she dispels all the myths and bad science that is sometimes referenced. Here’s an overview, but you should really read it here: https://londonalternativevet.com/2018/01/12/essential-oils-with-pets-dr-melissa-shelton/:

• Cats do not have trouble metabolizing essential oils, they just do it differently. 
• Cats would be dropping dead all over the world if essential oils were as toxic as some claim.
• Bad or old science includes studies that use only a component of the essential oil in question, or use a synthetic version, or use it in a product with other ingredients, or is in fact a study of the effect on fleas and not the cat!
• Clearly, essential oils are not benign substances.  They must be respected and used with care. 

Most issues with pets occur because of misuse. It’s like making prescription medicine available to everyone without any dosage or instructions. A leading expert in aromatherapy, Robert Tisserand, cautions that it’s not that we need to avoid certain essential oils but that we need to use essential oils responsibly. See https://roberttisserand.com/2011/06/cats-essential-oil-safety.
 
So how do we use them responsibly? Treat them more like medicine and less like an air freshener, being conscious of how much and how long you use them. Don’t trap your pet in a room with a diffuser running all day; they need to escape if they're impacted negatively.  And do not use essential oils topically, unless advised by your veterinarian.
 
See the attachment below for some rules that you can print or share. Happy and safe diffusing!
 
More reading: https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/cats-and-essential-oils.

You’re running low on essential oils and start shopping for more, but what’s the deal with the range of prices? How do you know what you’re really getting? 
 
Start by reading the label: 

• Does it say organic? Some organic essential oils cost just a little bit more to quite a bit more than regular essential oils. I’ve found organic Tea Tree and Eucalyptus oils to be quite reasonable.
• Does it say diluted? Diluted oils are cheaper and aren’t necessarily a bad thing, depending on what its diluted with, what you’re using it for and that its clearly marked. Look at sandalwood for instance. You can pay $55-105 for 5ml (or $138 for organic), however, if its diluted in a carrier oil (usually jojoba oil), 5ml becomes as cheap as $11-40. And the amount of dilution varies as well. I’ve seen 3%, 10% and 50% (the higher the percentage, the more essential oil it contains).
• What size is the bottle? Make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. The norm is 5ml or 10ml, but I’ve seen some for 3 or 4ml.
• What species is it? Rosa centifolia (Rose de Mai) may cost $30 but Rosa damascena (Rose Otto) will set you back $63.
• Is it a blend? It may contain other essential oils. Any essential oil labelled “pure” should be that essential oil only, no other ingredients. Sometimes you need to read the ingredients to be sure.
• Are you paying for a brand name? Some of the big brand essential oil companies, that I won’t name here, are charging you extra just for buying from them. As long as everything on the label is equal, there’s no difference between their oil and another brand’s oil.
• What format is it? We’re most familiar with essential oils (which are a result of the process of distillation or expression), but there are some other formats out there that are legit and sometimes even superior. Some oils are costlier to obtain one way over another. Using rose again, the true essential oil can cost $315 for 5ml, however a rose absolute (or absolute essential oil) can cost $63. An absolute goes through more steps but it’s the most concentrated format and is closest to resembling the scent of the flower.

 
If you think something is shady, there is a test you can perform:

• Place a drop of essential oil on a paper towel or piece of paper. It should evaporate completely within a day or two. Note that this doesn’t work for coloured essential oils or those that tend to be thicker.

 
Now that you’re armed with knowledge, enjoy your shopping!

Essential oils have amazing properties and unlimited uses. Today I'm going to talk about seven ways you can use them - some might just surprise you!

1. In a diffuser, for aromatherapy or just to make the room smell extra pleasant. 
2. On a tissue. For aromatherapy purposes a couple drops on a tissue is a convenient way to take your oils with you. Or stick it in your pillowcase at night to help with issues like insomnia. You can put the tissue in a drawer or between towels or sheets to keep them smelling fresh.
3. In your car. There are all sorts of car diffusers available, some clip on to your vent and others you can hang from your mirror. 
4. In your laundry. A couple drops on some laundry balls gives you a natural scent  when you use perfume free laundry products.
5. On a lava bead bracelet. Functional and stylish! One drop on one bead is all you need!
6. Cleaning. Ohhh the possibilities! Put a couple drops in your unscented liquid soaps, laundry soap or in a spray bottle with water. Shake and spray to deodorize or spray and wipe to clean. All essential oils are antibacterial and some are antiviral, antifungal or disinfectants.
7. To remove sticky residue. This works better than anything else I've ever tried! Just put a couple drops on a rag or paper towel and wipe the offending residue off easily. A great way to use expired oils or ones you don't like! 

​Cause life should smell good!

Do you have another use for them? Tell us about your essential oil hacks!

Thinking about a diffuser? There are so many options that it can be overwhelming. Which kind should you get? Which options do you need? How much should you spend?

You can spend $15 on a mini diffuser and $150+ on high end models, but I’ve found most of them fall in the $50-$90 range. Styles are endless too as they come in a variety of materials, colours and shapes.

You can get a basic one or you can get one with all the bells and whistles. Options can include different modes and light settings, timers, auto shut off, alarm clock and relaxing sounds. They can be powered by USB, electrical cords or rechargeable batteries. Most will hold 60-100ml of water and some even come with a remote control.

In order to decide which one is right for you, think about when and how you’re going to use it. Do you want it for your bedroom with some lavender to help you sleep? You might want relaxing sounds and maybe even an alarm clock. Will you run it during the day to energize you or lift your mood? Lights may or may not be necessary.

The optimum time to run a diffuser for therapeutic benefits is 30-45 minutes. If you have pets, be careful what oils you use; cats have adverse reactions to more essential oils than dogs. Run it in a secluded space or make sure there is plenty of air flow. 
 
Once you purchase one, don’t be surprised to find yourself wanting another one or two! My husband and I enjoy having one in many of our rooms so that we can use different oils depending on what we’re doing or the mood we're in. 

And if you don't want to look any further, I have two models available, both at $59.99, or build your own aromatherapy kit (see website for details).