At The Natural Patch Co., we like to do all things wellness the all-natural way. That’s why we only use the best essential oils in our products. The use of essential oils has been a staple for generations to treat various ailments and issues.
They’re reliable and effective; essential oils can be a part of your personal line of defense against occurrences like acne, anxiety, insomnia, and even insects.
If you’re ready to take the next step and start making essential oils, you’re in luck. Today we are going to talk about what essential oils are, how they’re made, and what they can do for you. Finally, we want to teach you the breakdown of how to dilute essential oils so that they’re safe to use.
After this read, you’ll be confident and ready to create your own essential oils and start creating the perfect blends.
What Are Essential Oils?
Let’s start by breaking down the basics. Essential oils are compounds that are extracted from various plants, fruits, herbs, and spices. Some of the most common include tea tree, lemongrass, and lavender oil.
These extracts are strong and are considered concentrated compounds. So strong that it can be very harmful to your health to use them as is. This is why the dilution process is so crucial. Many people would assume that dilution means you’re thinning out the helpful qualities of the compounds, but instead, you’re just reducing the oil's potency so that it’s safe for human use.
How Are Essential Oils Made?
There are two main processes by which you can create essential oil compounds: The first is mechanical extraction, and the second is distillation.
Mechanical extraction uses machines to extract oils from plants. These usually include machinery like presses or rollers that physically press the plants to pull out the required oils.
Distillation involves utilizing cold and hot liquid to pull the oils out of plants and herbs. This process will purify the extracts and make them potent.
Why Do People Love Essential Oils So Much?
Essential oils can soothe a multitude of issues. However, while many manufactured chemical creams, sprays, and medications on the market can also be effective, not all of them are as safe.
Many chemical bug sprays, for instance, are full of harmful side effects and can lead to health and environmental issues. For instance, DEET is one of the ingredients typically on the list of worries that run through parents’ (and environmentalists’) minds.
To alleviate the risk of some of these concerns, we prefer to do things naturally:
Essential oils are made from plants with no chemical additives. They can fill gaps in a medication regime that exists, and they can also replace chemical solvents that carry harmful side effects. When a product is safe to use (in conjunction with other remedies), that’s a product we’re definitely interested in.
Essential Oils: A Range of Possibilities
A few ways to utilize essential oils benefit your mind, body, and home.
Lemon oil and orange oil, in particular, have fantastic antimicrobial and antiviral qualities, so these are beneficial in all-natural cleaners, creams, and hand soaps. If you suffer from cystic acne, creating cleansers that utilize jojoba oil may help clear up your skin.
Oils like lavender, grapefruit, and chamomile are incredibly healing for the mind. Whether it’s in a diffuser or applied topically, aromatherapy can contribute to a calmer headspace.
Have a cold? Oils like eucalyptus and peppermint can help clear up congestion. Use them in rubs on the chest or soak cotton balls in the oil blend to inhale from time to time.
If you’re an athlete, recently suffered an injury, or have pain in your joints from issues like arthritis, add frankincense to massage oil or lotions to help alleviate pain and swelling in joints and limbs.
Oils like citronella are effective at repelling mosquitoes. The qualities of this variety of oil can mask your breath when you exhale, masking you from bug bites. You can use them in sprays or rub them directly on the skin to camouflage you from insects.
Another Take
These are all great ways to use essential oils for their all-natural benefits, but we have a different take.
Our fun and very kid-friendly stickers are packed full of eight hours of all-natural essential oils blends created to target various issues. You can use our different patch sets to help treat anxiety, insomnia, or food cravings. And we definitely have a sticker to ward off mosquitoes — the world-famous BuzzPatch.
Diluting Essential Oils
If you want to DIY your own essential oils at home, we’re ready to help. Diluted essential oils are easy to make and safe to use. Using the right dilution ratios is a key part of essential oil safety and preventing adverse reactions.
If you’re planning topical use or in a skincare routine, do a small sample to check for possible skin irritation. Those with sensitive skin types can have an allergic reaction to essential oil products. (This is just one of the many reasons that our patches go on clothes — not skin.)
If this happens to you or your kids, cease this type of use immediately. You may still be able to benefit from essential oils through the olfactory senses (i.e., aromatherapy), but topical application is out of the question.
Why Do You Dilute Essential Oils?
As we said before, pure essential oils are overpowering and potentially harmful.
Diluting these compounds with a carrier oil is the safest way to effectively use essential oils.
Selecting Carrier Oils
There are many oils that can be used as a carrier oil, and that can depend on preference. Some of the more popular options are:
- Grapeseed oil
- Avocado oil
- Coconut oil
- Olive Oil
How To Dilute Essential Oils for Safe Use
You’ll need to follow a specific percentage of dilution to create a safe and effective essential oil. The ratios are as follows:
- 2% dilution: safe for kids above two and everyday use
- 3% dilution: a specialized, localized area for treatment
- 5% dilution: can be used to treat an ailment for no longer than two weeks at a time
- 10% dilution: only to be used for acute situations, and minimal use
How do you know you’re getting the right number of drops?
A good ratio to follow is one drop of essential oil extract to one tablespoon of carrier oil. So, pull out your carrier of choice (like argan oil or sweet almond oil).
For child-safe oils, up the ratio of carrier oil to two tablespoons. To be as specific as possible, ask your healthcare provider to provide you with an essential oil dilution chart. Keep in mind that not all dilution rates will be the same; it’s always best to check with your pediatrician before proceeding.
How To Keep Your Essential Oils
The best way to store your nourishing essential oils is in amber glass containers and in a dry, cool place. This will keep sunlight exposure from depleting the strength of your oils. Carrier oils are full of fatty acids. Exposing them to sunlight and heat from the sun will cause the oils to go rancid.
You can also keep them in the refrigerator if you are more comfortable with the preservation effects of the cold. This can be especially helpful for those that only use essential oils a few times a year.
What Is the Shelf Life of Essential Oils?
Most essential oils that are stored properly will last up to two years. If you expose your diluted oils to sunlight, your oils will not only lose strength but can expire more quickly.
Generally, the most stable carrier oil is apricot kernel oil. Using this oil could create a longer shelf life, but a good rule of thumb is only to keep oils for two years. Inspect them regularly and before use to make sure they are in peak condition.
Enjoying Your Oils
With the information you have here, you are more than ready to start blending essential oils at home.
We know that you have a lot on your plate, so we’re here to combine Earth-friendly and user-friendly. With patches from The Natural Patch Co., it’s as easy as peel and stick.
Whether you need a little help sleeping, some help focusing, or simply want mosquitoes to bug off; we have your back.
Sources:
Home Remedies: What are the benefits of aromatherapy? | Mayo Clinic
