Oh-so into boho? Gazing at the gorgeous photos from our recent photo shoot in Joshua Tree National Park, we can’t help but embrace our nature-lovin’, free-spirited side. Enter our latest obsession: essential oils. If you want to get your aromatherapy on, scroll on for a handy guide to our fave essential oils, plus a bonus DIY!
What are essential oils anyway?
These little potions are created by distilling (a fancy process of evaporating and condensing) or expressing (basically, pressing) an herb, flower, fruit, or other natural material to produce its “essence”. It’s similar to distilling grain to get whiskey. And the result? Potently fragrant, all-natural oils with a myriad of uses.
How can I use them?
Since ancient times, essential oils have been used to promote health and happiness. While there are some physical benefits to essential oils (applying lavender oil to irritated skin, for instance), their greatest power is in their healing, sense-awakening scents. There are lots of clever ways to incorporate these enchanting aromas into your life — we’ll show you one in just a sec! Our recommendation is to start with the simplest, most common method: simply inhale the scent directly from its bottle. It can’t get much easier than that!
First, choose what you’d like some aromatic assistance with. Then, just breathe deeply, and let these soothing scents carry you away…
Relaxation: Chamomile, lavender, frankincense, and citrus (lemon, orange, bergamot).
Pain Relief: Chamomile and lavender.
Energy and Alertness: Peppermint, eucalyptus, and spearmint. (These are also a great help for sinus congestion!)
Memory Aids: Rosemary and bay.
Bonus DIY: Scented Sachet
- 1/4 cup uncooked rice
- Your favorite essential oil
- 3″ x 6″ piece of cotton or muslin fabric
- Needle and thread
- 5″-6″ of ribbon
Mix the rice and 10-12 drops of your chosen essential oil together (add more if you prefer a stronger scent). Let the rice sit overnight to absorb the oil. Next, fold your fabric in half, and stitch the two long sides together. Flip this pouch inside out, fill it with rice, and tie the top tightly with ribbon.
Boom. You just made a lovely li’l scented sachet. Tuck it into your pillow case to help you sleep, keep it in your purse for a quick pick-me-up, or toss it in a drawer to give socks and scarves a sweet smell! And, once the essential oil fades, you can easily repeat the process, and refill your sachet with a new aroma.
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