Essential oils are becoming more and more popular, although the practice of using these natural substances dates back thousands of years in several ancient societies. The therapeutic benefits of these oils are numerous and there are many different ways of using them to bring about both physiological and psychological well being.

What Are Essential Oils?

The very first thing to keep in mind when learning about essential oils is that they are not the same thing as fragrance or perfume oils as the latter are artificially created while the former are derived naturally from the plants themselves. To create these liquids, a distilling process using steam or water will be needed to extract the oils from plant life, including leaves, stems, flower, and even the bark and roots.

All essential oils are categorized as being a top, middle, or base note dependent upon their qualities such as how quickly they evaporate or how long the scent from the oil will last. The majority of essential oils, which don't actually have an oily feeling at all, are clear, but some such as amber, orange, and patchouli will have a yellowish cast to them. Oils can be purchased separately or in blends of several types designed to work together for various purposes, and the price for essential oils may vary widely depending upon factors such as concentration, the rarity of the plants used, and where and how the oil was produced. Essential oils are flammable, so caution should be exercised when handling and storing them.

Common Uses and Benefits

Because essential oils are so highly concentrated, a little goes a long way and many types can be used diluted with what are known as carrier oils. Some common carrier oils, which are derived from the fatty parts of the plant, include apricot kernel oil, grapeseed oil, and sweet almond oil.

Essential oils can even be used as a bug repellant for areas where you don't want to use harsh chemicals, like the backyard where children and pets play. Insects do not like the smells of citronella, lavender, or peppermint and a few drops of any of these sprinkled on cotton balls left near the windows and doorways (or anywhere you notice a proliferation of pests) may do the trick. If you want to freshen a room without using any harsh chemicals or aerosol sprays, a few drops of oils added to the bottom of the trash can, vacuum cleaner filter or bag, or inside the garbage disposal or sink drain can help rid your home of unpleasant odors.

Beyond the bevy of household uses, these oils are highly beneficial when it comes to things like relaxation, stress relief, dealing with depression and ailments like arthritis, and even easing the discomfort caused by the common cold or flu. Plant oils can also be used for creating your own body lotions and creams, facial toners, shampoos and hair conditioners, soaps, and perfumes or fragrant body sprays.

Inhaling essential oils is said to stimulate certain portions of the brain and when used topically or diluted and applied to the skin, effects may be more localized to a specific part of the body. A good example of this is using essential oils to deal with the pain of arthritis in the joints. Some people can have allergic reactions to essential oils, so follow all safety guidelines and learn as much as you can about each one and their uses before adding aromatherapy to your life.