Essential oils are useful in the practice of aromatherapy and can deliver positive benefits to the mind, body and spirit. An essential oil is  not actually an “oil” in the traditional sense of the word. Essential oils are the volatile, aromatic oils obtained by steam or hydro distillation of botanicals. Different parts of the plants can be used to obtain essential oils, including the flowers, leaves, seeds, roots, stems, bark, wood, etc.   These oils are the ‘soul’ of the plant and contain all beneficial properties as found in nature. Most essential oils are primarily composed of terpenes and their oxygenated derivatives.  Certain cold-pressed oils, such as the oils from various citrus peels, are also considered to be essential oils but these are not to be confused with cold-pressed fixed or carrier oils such as olive, grape seed, apricot kernel, etc. which are non-volatile oils composed mainly of fatty acid triglycerides. Benefits of  essential oils include soothing, calming, grounding, refreshing, centering, and warming to the system.

• read descriptions of essential oils
• read descriptions of our essential oil blends

Essential Oil Uses

There are many uses for essential oils. Home fragrance with essential oils cleans the air naturally and gives pleasant scents which can be changed throughout the year and holidays. There are many other uses for essential oils beyond using essential oils as air fresheners. Essential oils can also be used as a personal perfume. Check out our blog for essential oil perfume recipes and essential oil beauty recipes.  Essential oils have been used throughout the ages to help comfort a variety of physical issues. Finally, essential oils are thought to re-pattern emotions, as essential oils stimulate the limbic system in the brain where emotional memory is stored.

Essential Oil Safety

1. Our position on the ingestion of essential oils is that all of our oils are undiluted, pure and natural and suitable for therapeutic purposes. We do NOT recommend the ingestion of essential oils as they are highly concentrated and can cause damage internally if administered without expertise. This is also the position of the International Federation of Aromatherapists.

2. Keep Essential Oils in a secure place away from children and pets.

3. The term ‘natural’ does not guarantee safety, read and follow instructions carefully.

4. Unless otherwise stated, never use essential oils on your skin without diluting the essential oil with carrier oil. A skin test is recommended prior to use. Place a small amount of the blended oil on the inside of your elbow, cover with a bandage and check in 24 hours. If you experience any soreness, redness or irritation do not use the blend. Consulting an Aromatherapist to obtain assistance to determine what essential oil you should use is recommended.

5. If an essential oil or essential oil blend gets into your eye, flush the eye immediately with clean water or cold milk. Seek medical attention if the stinging and/or irritation continues.

6. If allergic to certain foods, do not use essential oils or carrier oils that come from those foods.

7. Do not use essential oils if pregnant, nursing, diabetic if noted on the essential oil page or blend page.

8. The term ‘natural’ does not guarantee safety, read and follow instructions carefully.

9. Unless otherwise stated, never use essential oils on your skin without diluting the essential oil with carrier oil. A skin test is recommended prior to use. Place a small amount of the blended oil on the inside of your elbow, cover with a bandage and check in 24 hours. If you experience soreness, redness or irritation do not use the product. If an essential oil or essential oil blend gets into your eye, flush the eye immediately with clean water or cold milk. Seek medical attention if the stinging and/or irritation continues. The following essentials oils should never be used on the skin: Camphor (brown, yellow, unrectified), Cassia, Cinnamon bark, Wintergreen (Methyl salicylate).

10. If allergic to certain foods, do not use essential oils or carrier oils that come from those foods.

11. Many essential oils have not been tested on humans, thus always take precautions with using Aromatherapy.

12. Essential oils do not necessarily have the same healing properties of the plant it comes from. Herbal products sometimes contain different chemical constituents than the essential oil derived from the same plant. Therapeutic results may be experienced when using an herbal product from that of a blended essential oil.

13. Do not use more than 2 drops of the following essential oils when used in a bath: Black pepper, Juniper, Camphor (rectified), Peppermint, Citronella, Sage, Clove, Spearmint, Eucalyptus Globus, Thyme, Ginger.

14. The following essential oils should be avoided during pregnancy: Basil, Marjoram, Cedarwood, Myrrh, Clary Sage, Rose, Fennel, Rosemary, Jasmine, Lavender, and Thyme.

15. The following essential oils should be avoided if you have epilepsy: Cajeput, Fennel, Camphor, Hyssop, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Rosemary.

16. Use a variety of essential oils and make sure you take breaks from the essential oils you use often. This is to avoid sensitization and irritation. The norm would be to use a blend for 4 days, take a minimum of 4 days off and use a different blend which provides the same relief.

How Essential Oils Work

Emotions are stored via cellular memory in the body in its organs, glands, and systems. According to traditional Ayurvedic (Indian) and Chinese medicine, feelings are taken in through energy centers or chakras then fed into the meridian system which consists of energy channels that run over and through the body.  As each organ has a vibrational frequency, as do emotions, the emotions will settle in an area with a corresponding frequency. Essential oils used in aromatherapy have a high energy frequency which transfers and helps transform mind, body and spirit.

New York University studied the amygdala gland (the gland in the limbic system of the brain that stores and releases trauma in the body) and found it releases emotional trauma through the sense of smell.  As emotions release through the use of essential oils, the energy system of the body is free. Essential oils have been used throughout the ages for healing. The Bible references essential oils 188 times for anointing and healing the sick.

All Bio Source Naturals pure essential oils are suitable for aromatherapy therapeutic purposes. This is often dubbed “therapeutic grade.”  Our essential oils are sourced from all over the world and are in their purest state. They are from clean and/or organic, sustainable areas. Wild crafted oils are not sourced as increasing demand is destroying delicate ecological areas. As they are extremely potent, they should not be  used directly on the skin, as it may cause irritation. Use a carrier oil for dilution prior to skin contact.

References

When you are making essential oil combinations, a general essential oils guide is to use 20-30% Top Notes, 30-40% Base Notes, and the remainder Middle Notes.

Top Notes

The majority of essential oils are classified as top notes. Top notes evaporate fast. They are fresh and uplifting in nature. Top notes include: Anise, Basil, Bay Laurel, Bergamot, Bergamot Mint, Citronella, Eucalyptus, Galbanum, Grapefruit, Lavender, Lavendin, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Orange, Peppermint, Petitgrain, Spearmint, Tagetes, Tangerine.

Middle Notes

Middle notes normally give that extra punch to the blend and have a balancing effect. They are very soft in nature.Middle notes include: Bay Leaf, Cajeput, Carrot Seed, Chamomile, German, Chamomile, Roman, Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Clove Bud, Cypress, Fir Needle, Geranium, Hyssop, Jasmine, Juniper Berry, Marjoram, Neroli, Nutmeg, Palmarosa, Rose, Rose Geranium, Rosemary, Rosewood, Spruce, Tea Tree-Common, Thyme, Yarrow, Ylang Ylang, Black Pepper, Pine

Base Notes

Base notes are very heavy, the scent is very solid, and will linger for a long time. These fragrances are very intense, rich and relaxing in nature. Base notes include: Atlas Cedarwood, Virginian Cedarwood, Frankincense, Ginger, Immortelle Helichrysum, Myrrh, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Vetiver