How we pick our products
Essential oils are the perfect product to awaken your sense of smell and enjoy a world with many fantastic aromas that can promote so many emotions. It should also be noted that essential oils are products that contain certain therapeutic properties. Thanks to this attribute, essential oils are key elements in massages or treatments linked to aromatherapy.
Essential oils are most well known for their delicious fragrances, although this is not their only benefit. Depending on the origin of the ingredients, essential oils can provide you with many other positives. If you don’t know much about the world of essential oils, do not worry at all because below we have created a complete shopping guide so that you can learn about and choose the best essential oils.
Summary
- Essential oils should not be confused with common vegetable oils such as jojoba, argan, coconut or almond.
- Derived from different sections of plants, essential oils have many properties: moisturizing, antiseptic, soothing or anti-inflammatory, among others.
- When purchasing essential oils, you should take into account some purchase criteria such as the specific aroma, packaging or your intended use of the oils.
The Best Essential Oil: Our Picks
Most people think that essential oils are simply those liquids that are placed in special candle burners to aromatize a room. However, the reality is that these products have numerous uses: for humidifiers, massages, perfumes, relaxation, and aromatherapy. Below we’ve created a list of the best essential oils on the market based on value for money and customer reviews.
Shopping Guide: Everything You Should Know about Essential Oils
As there are so many different uses of essential oils, it is useful to know a bit about these products in order to take advantage of all the possible benefits. It is likely that at this point you have some doubts about these products, as they may be relatively new to you. In the following section, we will answer several questions about essential oils so that you learn everything there is to know about these products.
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What exactly are essential oils?
Essential oils are extracted from plants and/or their fruits. Technically they are not really oils, but substances obtained through a method of steam distillation of water of oily texture. When these oils are extracted from natural products, they have various therapeutic properties and provide an intense and pleasant aroma.
What are the benefits of essential oils?
Broadly speaking, essential oils are characterized by their calming, antifungal, stimulating, regenerating, antiseptic or relaxing properties. They are ointments that can be used directly on the body or by inhaling, to cure many illnesses and provide overall good health to a person. They also act as natural disinfectants, which is why they are perfect for burning gently in the house.
What are the uses of essential oils?
Essential oils also have a number of benefits when applied directly to the skin. For example, they can be used for massages and provide a relaxing sensation. They can also be applied to the hair or skin wounds, to utilize their healing properties. Finally, adding a few drops to a warm bath will be very beneficial for your skin.
Due to their antiseptic properties, essential oils are perfect for disinfecting and cleaning your home.
Are essential oils suitable for everyone?
As mentioned above, they are also suitable for animals, as they can be an exceptional product for treating problems such as wounds, itching or stress in animals. When it comes to children and babies, we recommend consulting the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure there are no adverse reactions. To use essential oils in a humidifier, it is usually best to dilute it with plenty of water.
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Are there any contraindications I should know about essential oils?
There is another group of people for which the use of essential oils is not recommended. This group of people is those who suffer from asthma. When diluted in water in the correct proportions, essential oils do not carry any risk, although it is recommended to consult your doctor if you suffer from asthma and are thinking about using essential oils.
How do I know if I am buying a quality essential oil?
It is also important to determine from which specific part of the plant that the oil has been extracted. An essential oil that is obtained from the roots, leaves or stem is not the same. Finally, look at the chemotype of the oil, which refers to the chemical group of the essential oil. The majority of the chemotypes in essential oils are thujanol (with anti-infective properties), linanol and thymol.
What are the most common essential oils and what are their qualities?
Bergamot oil is a favorite for combating bad odors, as well as for promoting sleep. Tea tree essential oil is an excellent anti-mosquito oil, as is eucalyptus. The eucalyptus essential oil is also ideal for refreshing the breath. The properties of lemon oil make it the perfect air freshener in the home.
| Essential oil | Properties |
|---|---|
| Lavender | Soothing and relaxing |
| Tea tree | Anti-inflammatory and antiseptic |
| Juniper | Soothing, anti-inflammatory and relaxing |
| Mint | Effective against ailments |
| Bergamot | Soothing and effective against insomnia |
| Lemon | Efficient in lifting spirits |
| Orange blossom | Relaxants and regenerators |
| Rosemary | Soothing and moisturizing agents |
How are essential oils used?
If you want to take an aromatic bath, all you have to do is prepare a bath as normal and pour 6 to 10 drops of your favorite oil into it. When using essential oils for massages, you will have to consider the manufacturer’s indications as they may or may not be suitable to be applied directly to the skin. In many cases, essential oils should be mixed with vegetable oils for performing massages.
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Shopping Criteria
When selecting one essential oil or another, a number of aspects should be considered. For example, you should take into account factors such as the aroma, as well as the benefits you want to obtain. In order for you to purchase the product that is just right, we have created a list of the most important shopping criteria to consider.
Therapeutic Properties
The first aspect to consider when choosing an essential oil is its therapeutic properties. It may be that you are looking for a product that is tailored towards a specific situation or you are hoping to achieve a certain benefit. It is therefore important that you make sure that the oil you buy meets this requirement.
Essential oils have a number of different therapeutic properties. They generally provide a calming effect, as well as being antiseptic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and relaxing. Depending on the specific plant from which the oil has been extracted, they will have more or fewer benefits for the skin, the hair, the home or the state of mind.
Aroma
Each person has different tastes and smells when it comes to the aroma of essential oils. The aroma is one of the purchase criteria that is particularly important if you want essential oils to aromatize your home. If this is the case, it is important that you choose the aroma carefully.
There are more intense aromas that need to be diluted with more water and there are softer ones that require less water or no water at all. The essential oil of lavender provides a fantastic aroma and is commonly used in massages. Tea tree oil is also popular for its mild aroma, as is orange blossom. If you are looking for a strong aroma, take a look at mint or juniper.
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Quality Assurance
Essential oils are, as you have seen throughout this guide, indispensable products of aromatherapy. As these products will often come into contact with your skin, it is vital that a certain level of quality is met. To begin with, it is recommended to only purchase an essential oil that is 100% natural, as indicated on the packaging.
In order not to suffer irritations or allergies, it is critical that you make sure that any product you buy is free of chemicals and additives. Remember that a quality essential oil comes from organic or wild crops. Organic essential oils will include a clearly visible label on the packaging.
Packaging
One aspect that you cannot overlook is the packaging in which the essential oils are presented. A general rule is to ensure that the glass of the bottle is tinted, as this will ensure that light does not compromise the product properties. The container should also be made of glass, as this material keeps the oil in optimum conditions.
The lid or seal on the bottle is also an important aspect to consider. The lid ensures that the bottle is kept tightly closed. External elements such as oxygen, light or humidity can deteriorate the essential oil and cause it to lose its beneficial properties. As a result, a well-secured lid ensures that the oils remain isolated from these elements. When you are not using the oil, store it in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.
Use
Finally, how you will use the essential oil is an important factor to assess. The good thing is that these products can be used in numerous different ways. Essential oils are suitable for skin, hair or lip care, as well as being fantastic for massages. It is vital that if you are going to use the oil for aromatherapy, you confirm that the product is 100% organic and natural product.
If you purchasing an essential oil to tackle a health problem, it is essential that you consult a doctor or therapist. Using essential oils without the required knowledge could result in further damage. When using essential oil in a humidifier, simply follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding proportions.
Summary
The world of essential oils is aromatic and sensual. The reality is that they are products with which most people have had at least some contact throughout their lives. However, were you aware of all the amazing benefits and everything they can do for you? Behind their fantastic aroma hides a series of properties for health and well-being.
These are products that cannot be selected quickly or randomly. It is recommended that you first assess what your needs are and then make a decision based on the information we have provided.
Did you enjoy our guide to buying essential oils? If the answer is yes, we encourage you to leave us a comment and share this guide on your social networks.
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