Do you know what pure lavender oil can do for your overall wellness? What about frankincense or lemon? The popularity of essential oils is on the rise and the possibilities are endless. Whether you’re looking to add fragrance to your home or support your health, there seems to be a vast selection of oils to choose from among many different distributors.

You may be wondering how essential oils can work for your wellness and whether or not they’re safe to use. Everyone is different and, as a result, every essential oil could work differently for you than on someone else. The solution is to become well-informed about the companies that make and distribute essential oils to find out your best match.

Of all the diverse essential oils available to us, it’s difficult to know which ones are the “right” ones. Karen Collins has been an essential oils independent consultant for nearly two years, and she stresses the importance of knowing that “not all essential oils are created equal.” Collins said, “Not every oil is the same. The ones in the store, you don’t know where they came from.”

Many companies buy their oils from intermediaries, who purchase them from distilleries. According to Collins, it’s important that you choose a company that owns farms where they grow the plants to make essential oils and completes the entire process of creating the oils there at the company’s location. Companies like this will then distribute directly to consumers rather than using an agent to act as a middleman.  

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Another way to determine whether or not an essential oil is made correctly is by scent and packaging. Collins said, “One thing that’s important, too, with essential oils is that you want to make sure your oil smells like the plant and not like a candy bar.” She goes further into detail by saying “peppermint [oil] should smell like peppermint plants, not a candy cane.”

This artificial smell is evidence of fillers and dilution, which makes the oil cheaper and not pure, even though the bottle may say it’s 100 percent pure.

Another important point Collins made is to watch for expiration dates on bottles of essential oils. This indicates additives and means they may not be pure. “Essential oils won’t expire if they’re pure,” she said. “They won’t freeze in the freezer if they’re pure.”

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Regarding health and wellness, essential oils are supportive to your body systems. They work within your cells to keep them functioning properly. There are many instances where you can use essential oils to promote healthy living. For example, if you’ve spent too much time in the sun, lavender oil can help soothe the skin.

In the event of seasonal changes, there are also special blends that can help support easier breathing and proper nasal function. During the winter, essential oils can likewise aid your immune system.

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There are many combinations of essential oils that can help promote wellness in different ways.

For seasonal changes:

Lavender, lemon, peppermint

For head tension:

Peppermint

For winter illness:

Frankincense and lemon

As cleaning products:

Lemon (used as a degreaser)

**Citrus oils break down plastic and styrofoam

For overall wellness:

Clove, rosemary, eucalyptus radiata, cinnamon bark, lemon, oregano, frankincense

It’s important to know that many essential oils in their pure, concentrated form can be hazardous to pets.

According to the ASPCA, pets who have come in direct contact with oils can experience dangerous side effects. Some of these include depression, vomiting and low body temperature. In small amounts, they may not be affected by a home diffuser, but be sure to store oils away from the reach of your pets and take care when handling your oils around them.

When it comes to choosing the right essential oils for you, it takes copious amounts of research to ensure they’re properly made and won’t cause a reaction.

Essential oils are not FDA regulated so it’s always best to consult a doctor with any questions you might have. Once you find the right fit, however, essential oils can help promote healthy living for you and your family.