The following are 4 simple ways to use essential oils listed in order of increasing difficulty starting with super simple. It doesn’t have to be complicated!

4 Simple Ways to Use Essential Oils

Sniff the Bottle

The simplest way to use essential oils is to simply uncap the bottle and take a whiff. This use of essential oils is extremely fast and really easy.

In fact, when I am pregnant this is one of the ways I deal with morning sickness. As soon as I feel a wave a nausea coming on I quickly uncap a bottle of lemon essential oil and breathe deeply. What a relief to smell that perfect scent of lemon. I am so grateful for the reprieve!

Use a Cotton Ball

A cotton ball is a great way to use essential oils. The full bottle of essential oils is put away ensuring there won’t be any accidental spills. Also, if a particular scent is unpleasant to a person, the cotton ball is easily discarded making the scent virtually disappear. I often use essential oils on cotton balls when I’m at a birth.

To use a cotton ball, simply put 2-5 drops (depending on the oil as some oils are stronger than others) of an essential oil on a cotton ball and keep the ball near wherever you would like the benefits of aromatherapy.

Buy a Diffuser

One of my favorite ways to use essential oils is with a diffuser.

1. Simply add water and your essential oil of choice to the diffuser.
2. The diffuser breaks up the water­ essential oil mixture into millions of microparticles and shoots them out in a stream of mist.
3. The mist is then absorbed both through your skin and through inhalation.
4. Additionally, the aromas of the essential oils give your space a pleasant smell.

This is the diffuser I use.

One of my favorite essential oils to diffuse is lavender. I will usually put about 3-5 drops in the diffuser above. Sometimes I will add in orange. It smells lovely!

Make a Simple Aromatic Spray

If you’re feeling crafty, a really neat way to use essential oils is to create aromatic sprays.

All you’ll need is a non-plastic spray bottle*, vodka**, water and essential oils.

*Plastic bottles should be avoided because the essential oils actually break down the plastic, therefore adding nasty chemicals to your remedies. Blech!

**The vodka acts as a preservative keeping your spray good for a long period of time.

Antimicrobial Aromatic Spray Recipe
(This spray is a natural hand sanitizer (antibacterial and antiviral) and can be used in lieu of conventional hand sanitizer.)
1 ounce water
1 ounce vodka
20 drops clove bud EO
25 drops sweet orange EO
25 drops lemon EO

Children’s Calming Spray
1 ounce water
1 ounce vodka
18 drops sweet orange EO
12 drops lavender EO
20 drops bergamot EO

Products to Buy

To get started, these are a few products you’ll want to buy.

• Basic essential oil starter set
• Cotton balls
• Diffuser
• 2 oz glass spray bottles

4 Simple Ways to Use Essential Oils

Just to recap, these are 4 simple ways to use essential oils

1. Sniff the bottle
2. Use a cotton ball
3. Buy a diffuser
4. Make an aromatic spray