If you've ever found yourself in Homegoods and saw a pack of oils and wondered "what do essential oils do?" Then you are in the right place. 

Like crystals, essential oils are pretty trendy right now, but don't let that put you off to the benefits of incorporating them into your holistic design work. Essential oils are simply another tool to have in your arsenal when you'd like to help your clients with healing and spiritual growth. Yes. Spiritual growth. 

#1 Essential Oils Aren't Actually Oils

They are highly concentrated versions of the natural oils found in plants produced through a distillation process. An actual oil would technically need to contain fatty acids, and essential oils do not.

#2 Essential Oils Work Pretty Quickly

So just how long does it take for essential oils to work? When used via aromatherapy, it takes around 20 seconds for it to reach your brain. If applied topically (some oils must be diluted before you do this, so make sure to check first) it takes a few minutes to get into your bloodstream and then 20 minutes to affect all the cells in your body.

#3 You Need A Shit Ton Of Plants, Flowers & Trees To Make Essential Oils

To make one pound of lavender oil, you need 150 pounds of lavender flower. For a single ounce of Bulgarian Rose oil, you need 500 pounds of rose petals. That's why good essential oils aren't cheap and why some cost more than others. 

#4 Essential Oils + Fragrance Oils Aren't The Same Things

If you don't read the packaging you may get duped into buying a fragrance oil and not a real essential oil. If the packaging says "perfume" or "fragrance" it probably isn't a real oil, but a synthetically made chemical. 

While some may enjoy the scent of fragrance oils, these buggers do not have any of the natural healing properties found in essential oils since they are made with artificial substances and mimic real essential oils. So while some scientists can duplicate the scent, they cannot duplicate the healing benefits. 

#5 Essential Oils Have Their Own Vibrational Frequency

Just like crystals, essential oils help our bodies to entrain with them. Your body has many different frequencies within that can get out of whack. When you use essential oils (or crystals) your body can begin to heal and stay in a balanced state as the oils entrain the cells to get back to their healthy vibrational rate.

Now that you know some pretty cool facts about what do essential oils do, now let's get on to my top essential oils I think you should have in your arsenal. 

Few More Tidbits On Essential Oils

Essential oils have been used for eons. There is evidence that the ancients used them for incense (did you know incense was the original form of perfume?) and medicine. 

Certain oils were dedicated to deities and they would anoint their ceremonial statues with the corresponding oil so they could be at one with that diety.

Hypocrites, a Greek physician and considered the "Father of Medicine," documented the effects of many plants and wrote that a doctor's purpose is to "awaken the natural healing energies within the body."

When it comes to finding out what do essential oils do in terms of making a difference in your life, there's no doubt that there is credible medical research done on them.

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Top 5 Essential Oils For Home Aromatherapy

As I said earlier, as a holistic interior designer, as in essential oils into your design work should be something you consider with every project. There are so many ways that you can help your clients like helping them get a good night's sleep, alleviate stress and boost their mood. All the good things I think you should incorporate as a part of your work.

Tea Tree 

Tea Tree has been one of my go-to essential oils for years. Because of its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antifungal properties, I've been using it for treating acne that I get due to my Celiac disease. It's also an excellent natural hand sanitizer. You can use it as well to make an insect repellent during the summer months so you don't get eaten alive.

Lavender

Lavender calms and soothes the central nervous system. Wonderful for anxiety and stress. It's anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and heals skin tissue. If you've caught a cough or cold it can relieve congestion. And let's not forget having a good night's sleep by integrating lavender into the bedroom. 

Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint oil to help you focus and clear your mind. It is also wonderful for headaches. If you happen to have digestive issues, you could rub a couple of drops on your abdomen to calm your tummy down. And if you find yourself with a cold, a couple of drops rubbed onto the chest can help clear your sinuses.

Orange

Orange is uplifting and shifts your mood to happiness and helps your nervous systems. This one is perfect for after a long day at work to help you relax. 

Patchouli

I can say that when I was younger, Patchouli was one that I really didn't care for. Now, I'm kinda a big fan. Patchouli, while great as an insect repellent, it can uplift your mood, help strengthen your hair and you can even use it as a deodorant. Although I can't say that I've tried that last one.

I buy essential oils from Eden’s Garden - if you’re looking for reputable companies to purchase from.

Using Aromatherapy at home

The easiest way is to spec a diffuser and specific essential oils for their home. But not all diffusers are the same.

Nebulizer Diffusers

The nebulizer diffusers are considered the top kind of diffuser because they do not need water or heat to get the essential oil dispersed into the air. The mechanics of it is really beyond me, but it works using the Bernoulli principle and that has to do with the theorem of thermal dynamics. Suffice to say, I won't be digging into that topic anytime soon, but smart people have so you can research it if you're dying to get your science on.

Ultrasonic/ Humidifying Diffusers

This type is the main one that I use. You add some water a few drops of your essential oil and turn it on. It sprays out a mist so it doubles as a humidifier. These are less expensive than the nebulizing diffusers. There are many different designs to choose from so you're sure to find something to go with any style of home.

Heat Diffusers

As the name implies, you heat the water and essential oil drops so they disperse in the air. The heat can be from a candle flame or electric. I haven't found this type to be particularly effective and if you've got one that uses a candle flame, you can pretty much bank on burning yourself. 

Evaporative Diffusers

These work as the essential oil changes form from liquid to gas as it evaporates. Sometimes you'll see these in the store as the handful of sticks in a vase or even as a pendant necklace where you can drop some oil onto a lava rock or fabric pad. These are my least favorite options as the scent doesn't evaporate equally and seems to be the most ineffective in experiencing the true benefits of essential oils. 

Bottom Line? Essential Oils Are A Must For Your Holistic Interior Design Business

Aromatherapy may become just a part of your business, or you may choose to focus entirely on it as there is a wealth of information to dive into on what do essential oils do.

You'll find that you'll most want to place specific types of scents in different areas for instance what you use in the bedroom isn't going to be the same as what you use in the bathroom. 

Now it is time to do your own research to see what these what do essential oils do amazingly well.