Some ideas for using Essential Oils

• For scented smelling towels, sheets, clothes, etc. place a few drops of your favourite essential oil onto a small piece of cloth and toss into the clothes dryer while drying.  Add 5 drops essential oil to fabric conditioner or water and place in the centre cup of the wash.

• Potpourri which has lost its scent can be revived by adding a few drops of essential oil.

• Add a few drops of oil to water in a spray bottle and use as an air freshener - do not spray near polished surfaces.

• Add a few drops essential oil to a pan of water and simmer on the hob.

• To enjoy a scented candle, place a drop or two of oil into the hot melted wax as the candle burns.

• To dispel cooking odours, add a few drops of Clove oil to a simmering pan.

• Ease headache pain by rubbing a drop of neat Lavender oil onto the back of your neck and sides of temples.

• To blend your own massage oil, add up to 6 drops of your favourite essential oil(s) to 30ml of a carrier oil such as almond or grapeseed.

• Add 10 drops of essential oil to a box of bicarbonate of soda, mix well and allow to set for a day or two and then sprinkle over your carpets in your home. Leave for an hour, then vacuum.   Or add your favourite essential oils to some kitchen towel and suck up into the vacuum cleaner, the scent of the oils will waft through the house as you hoover.

• To make a natural flea collar, saturate a short piece of cord or soft rope with Lemongrass or Tea Tree oil, roll up in a handkerchief and tie loosely around the animal's neck or add heat drops to the existing collar being careful not to get any neat oil the animal.

• Freshen shoes by  dropping a few drops of Geranium essential oil directly into the shoes or by placing a cotton ball dabbed with a few drops of Lemon oil and leave in the shoes when not wearing.

• Put a few drops of your favourite essential oil on a cotton ball and place it in your vacuum cleaner bag.  Lemon and Pine are clean and fresh smells.

• To fragrance your kitchen cupboards and drawers, place a cotton ball with a few drops of oil in an inconspicuous corner.

• To deter mice, place several drops of Peppermint oil on cotton balls and place them at problem locations.

• To deter ants - please several drops of Peppermint oil along the bottom of the door frame where they enter.

• Rooms can be  easily scented by placing oil-scented cotton balls in inconspicuous places, cotton wool balls can be dampened and left behind the radiator.

• Sprinkle oils directly onto silk or dried flower arrangements or wreaths.

• Apply Lavender oil and Tea tree oil directly to cuts, scrapes, or scratches.  1 or 2 drops will promote healing.  (These are the only oils which should be used neat on the skin).

• Homemade soaps smell wonderful and can and offer therapeutic effects when scented with essential oils.

• Home-made sachets can be enhanced by adding essential oils with the flowers and herbs.

• An essential oil dropped on a radiator, light bulb ring, or light bulb will not only fill the room with a wonderful fragrance and create a wonderful ambience, choose calming or uplifting oils depending on the mood required.  Don't put essential oil in the socket or on hot light bulb.

• Add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to the final rinse of your handwashing for wonderfully scented clothes.

• To repel mosquitoes and other insects, drop a few drops of Citronella oil in the melted wax of candle or place a few drops on the BBQ hot coals.

• 1 drop of Lemon essential oil applied directly to a wart - apply daily until the wart is gone.  Be careful not to touch the undamaged skin with the neat oil.

• Rosemary (for rememberance)  promotes alertness and stimulates memory.  Inhale directly from the bottle or from a few drops placed on a tissue or hankie during long car trips and while reading, studying and during exams.

• When selling your home fill the kitchen area with the aroma of spices such as Clove, Cinnamon, and Nutmeg.  Simmer a few drops of the essential oils in saucepan on the hob.

• Add essential oils to paper mache to create aromatic works of art.

• Bookmarks and stationary can be infused with essential oils.  Place drops of oil on paper and put in a plastic bag, seal and leave overnight to infuse the aroma.  

• Neck pillows, padded and decorative hangers make more memorable gifts simply by putting a couple of drops of essential oil on them before giving.

• Hungover? Essential oils of Juniper, Cedarwood, Grapefruit, Lavender, Carrot, Fennel, Rosemary, and Lemon help soften the effects of overindulging.  Make your own blend of these oils and use a total of 6-8 drops in a bath.

• Essential oils of Vetiver, Cypress, Cedarwood, Frankincense and Myrrh all make wonderful firewood oils. Drop approximately 2-3 drops of oil or blend of your choice on a dried log and allow time for the oil to soak in before putting the log on the fire.

• Place 1 or 2 drops of sleep enhancing oils such as Chamomile Roman, Lavender, Neroli, Petitgrain or Marjoram on your pillow before retiring to promote restful sleep.

• When moving into a new home, make up a water spray containing your favourite essential oils to clear out the previous owners aroma and change the environment to your own.  Do this daily until it begins to feel like your space. 

• Ideal scents for the bedroom are Bergamot, Lavender, Neroli, Petitgrain or Lemon.

• 1 drop of Lemon essential oil on a soft cloth will polish copper with gentle buffing.

• When washing out the fridge, freezer, or oven, add 1 drop of any citrus essential oil to the final rinse water.

• For burns or scalds, drop lavender oil directly onto the affected area.

• To relieve teething pain in children - use 1 drop Chamomile Roman oil on a soft cloth wrapped around an ice cube.

• 6-8 drops of Eucalyptus oil in the bath cools the body in summer and protects it in winter, dilute first in a tablespoon of full fat milk, vegetable oil or mild foam bath.

• Add 1 drop Geranium oil or Myrrh to your facial moisturiser to bring out a radiant glow in your skin.

• Place 1 or 2 drops of Rosemary on your hair brush before brushing to promote growth and thickness.

• When the ‘flu is going around add a few drops of Thyme and Lemon to your diffuser or simmer in a pan on the hob.

• The blend of lavender and grapefruit oil is good for the office.  Lavender is calming and  grapefruit stimulates the senses and clears up stale air.   Lemon oil can also be used for it’s refreshing qualities.

• A blend of Geranium, Lavender, and Bergamot alleviate anxiety and depression.  Use in a room diffuser or 6-8 drops of this blend in the bath, diluted in a tablespoon of whole milk.  Use FCF version if going out into the sun or on sun bed.

• A calming and soothing massage blend for babies is 1 drop  Chamomile Roman and  1 drop Lavender diluted in 2 Tablespoons (30ml) of Sweet Almond oil.  

• 1 drop Peppermint oil diluted in 1 teaspoon vegetable oil rubbed on the back of the neck helps to relieve headaches, particularly those that are food induced.

Hints supplied by The Essential Oil Company Ltd.