Dilute Essential Oils
How And Why You Need To Dilute Some Essential Oils
If you use essential oils on a frequent basis, you may find it necessary to sometimes dilute essential oils now and again. This is typically because you’ve experienced some kind of adverse reaction or it is a super strong oil.
Believe it or not, it’s possible to have a reaction after you’ve used a particular oil several times. This is referred to as sensitization.
Sensitization varies from person to person. It can run the gambit to slight itching and irritation to respiratory issues or the worst-case scenario anaphylactic shock.
Unfortunately, once you become sensitized to a certain essential oil, it’s probably always going to be that way. Very rarely does the situation reverse itself.
A quick word of precaution. Even after you dilute essential oils, it’s imperative to test it on a small patch of skin.
Why Dilute Essential Oils?
Besides the issue of sensitive skin, there are two other reasons to thin down your oil. The first one has to do with cost. Some essential oils are quite expensive. Depending on your budget and the frequency in which you use them, purchases may eat into your finances.
The second reason is this. If you simply apply essential oil to your skin, it will evaporate quite quickly. Since carrier oils (mentioned below) are “fatty,” they do the job of weighing down the oils. This means that the oils have a much better chance to provide the therapeutic benefits you’re looking for.
Diluting Essential Oils
Keep this in mind when using essential oil. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the more you use, the better. Generally, less is more.
Carrier Oils
Diluting essential oil is easy. It involves mixing it with carrier oils such as fractionated coconut, sweet almond oil or jojoba just to name a few. Out of those three, coconut oil is generally preferred. Here’s why. It never leaves a greasy residue and is absorbed by the skin quickly. In addition, coconut oil is odorless.
If you don’t have access to fractionated coconut oil, which always stays in a liquid state, regular coconut is a suitable alternative. Just remember, it solidifies in lower temperatures.
When applying essential oils topically, a two percent solution is considered safe. If you’re going to be using the finished product on children, cut the dilution by 50 percent. Generally, the two percent dilution is comprised of 12 drops of essential oil for every ounce of carrier oil.
Water
Although some people make the decision to dilute their oil with water, it isn’t always recommended. An exception to this is making room spray or when you need to distribute the oil over a large area. For best results, since oil and water don’t mix, shake the bottle continuously while applying. Or you could dilute the oil with alcohol.
If you’ve never used essential oils before, there’s really no better time to start. Compared to many other home remedies, it’s an affordable way to improve both your physical and mental health. You can start slowly with one or two oils and branch out from there. It’s as simple as that!
Here are just a few great essential oils to check out.
Please note that I am not a medical professional and this post is not meant to replace your medications. As with any health treatment, be sure to consult your doctor before trying anything new.
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