50 uses of Essential Oils
1. For Scent-Sational smelling towels, sheets, clothes, etc., place a few drops of your favorite essential oil onto a small piece of terry cloth and toss into the clothes dryer while drying. Add 5 drops of essential oil to ¼ cup fabric softener or water and place in the center cup of the wash.
2. Potpourri which has lost its scent can be revived by adding a few drops of essential oil.
3. Add a few drops of essential oil to water in a spray bottle and use as an air freshener.
4. Another easy air freshener is to add a few drops of essential oil to a pan of water and simmer on a stove or in a potpourri pot.
5. To enjoy a scented candle, place a drop or two of oil into the hot melted wax as the candle burns.
6. To dispel household cooking odors, add a few drops of Clove oil to a simmering pan.
7. For tired, aching muscles or arthritis, mix 1 part Cajeput, Sage, and Basil oil to 4 parts Jojoba or other vegetable oil and use as a massage oil.
8. Ease headache pain by rubbing a drop of Rosemary/Lavender oil onto the back of your neck.
9. To blend your own massage oil, add 3 drops of your favorite essential oil to 1 oz. Jojoba or other skin-nourishing vegetable oil. Don’t make too much.
19. Add 10 drops of essential oil to a box of cornstarch or baking soda, mix very well, let set for a day or two and then sprinkle over the carpets in your home. Let act for an hour or more, then vacuum.
11. To make a natural flea collar, saturate a short piece of cord or soft rope with Pennyroyal or Tea Tree oil, roll up in a handkerchief and tie loosely around the animal’s neck. (Our warning: be very cautious about using any essential oil w/ pets, cats should not come into contact with essential oils at all, and tea tree can cause shock symptons if it gets on the skin of animals, I'm not sure about the pennyroyal, please research this for yourself.)
12. Smelly feet or shoes can be remedied by either dropping a few drops of Geranium essential oil directly into the shoes or by placing a cotton ball dabbed with a few drops of Lemon oil into the shoes. Athlete’s foot? Tea Tree oil is great.
13. Put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on a cotton ball and place in your vacuum cleaner bag. Lemon and Pine are nice. Rose Geranium helps with doggy odor.
14. To fragrance your kitchen cabinets and drawers, place a food scent dabbed on a cotton ball in an inconspicuous corner.
15. If mice are a problem, place several drops of Peppermint oil on cotton balls and place them in problem locations.
16. The bathroom is easily scented by placing oil-scented cotton balls in inconspicuous places or sprinkling oils directly onto silk or dried flower arrangements or wreaths.
17. Apply true Lavender oil and Tea Tree oil directly to cuts, scrapes or scratches. 1 or 2 drops will promote healing.
18. Homemade soaps are pleasant and offer therapeutic effects when scented with essential oils. Use Ida's Handcrafted Soaps which contain pure essential oils.
19. Homemade sachets are more fragrant when essential oils are blended with the flowers and herbs.
20. An essential oil dropped on a radiator, scent ring, or light bulb will not only fill the room with a wonderful fragrance, but will also set a mood such as calming or uplifting. Don’t put essential oil in the socket!
21. A few drops of your favorite oil or blend in the rinse water of your hand-washables makes for pleasant results.
22. Anise oil has been used by fishermen for years. Use a drop or two on the fingertips and hands before baiting up. Anise covers up the human scent that scares the fish away.
23. Essential oils or blends make wonderful perfumes. Create your own personal essence! 25 drops to 1 oz. perfume alcohol. Let age two weeks before using.
24. To dispel mosquitoes and other picnic or barbeque pests, drop a few drops of Citronella oil in the melted way of a candle or place a few drops on the barbeque hot coals.
25. 1 drop of Lemon essential oil applied directly to a wart is an effective means of elimination. Apply the essential oil daily until the wart is gone.
26. Rosemary promotes alertness and stimulates memory. Inhale occasionally during long car trips and while reading or studying.
27. Selling your home? Fragrance sells! Fill the kitchen area with the aroma of spices, such as Clove, Cinnamon and Vanilla. Simmer a few drops of essential oil s of Cinnamon, Nutmeg and other spices. Geranium oil sprinkled throughout the home creates a warm, cheerful and inviting mood. Add Cinnamon oil to furniture polish and wipe down the wood.
28. Add essential oils to paper mache for a lovely aromatic art piece.
29. Infuse bookmarks and stationery with essential oils. Place drops of oil on paper and put them in a plastic bag. Seal and leave overnight to infuse the aroma. Send only good news in a perfumed letter.
30. Neck pillows, padded and decorative hangers make more memorable gifts, simply by putting a couple of drops of essential oil on them before giving.
31. Overindulge last night? Essential oils of Juniper, Cedarwood, Grapefruit, Lavender, Carrot, Fennel, Rosemary and Lemon help soften the effects of a hangover. Make your own blend of these oils and use a total of 6 – 8 drops in a bath.
32. Essential oils of Vetivert, Cypress, Atlas Cedarwood, Frankincense and Myrrh all make wonderful firewood oils. Drop approximately 2 – 3 drops of oil of blend of your choice on a dried log and allow time for the oil to soak in before putting the log on the fire.
33. Flies and moths dislike Lavandin oil. Sprinkle it on the outside of your window frames.
34. Place 1 or 2 drops of sleep-enhancing oils, such as Chamomille, Lavender, Neroli, Marjoram or Hops on your pillow before retiring for a restful sleep.
35. When moving to a new home, first use a water spray containing your favorite essential oils and change the odorous environment to your own. Do this for several days until it begins to feel like your space. .
36. Ideal scents for the bedroom are Roman Chamomile, Geranium, Lavender or Lemon.
37. 1 drop of Lemon essential oil on a soft cloth will polish copper with gentle buffing.
38. When washing out the fridge, freezer or oven, add 1 drop Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Bergamot, Mandarin or Orange essential oil to the final rinse water.
39. For burns or scales, drop Tea Tree oil directly onto the affected area. (Our note: Lavender essential oil works wonders for burns, too!)
40. Place 1 drop of Peppermint oil in ½ glass of water, sip slowly to aid digestion and relieve upset stomach.
41. Use 1 drop Chamomile oil on a washcloth-wrapped ice cube to relieve teething pain in children.
42. 6 – 8 drops Eucalyptus oil in the bath cools the body in summer and protects it in winter.
43. Add 1 drop Geranium oil to your facial moisturizer to bring out a radiant glow in your skin.
44. Place 1 or 2 drops of Rosemary on your hair brush before brushing to promote growth and thickness.
45. When flu is going around add a few drops of Thyme to your diffuser or simmer in a pan on the stove.
46. To bring fever down, sponge the body with cool water to which 1 drop each Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Lavender oils have been added.
47. The blend of Lavender and Grapefruit oil is good for the office. Lavender creates a calm, tranquil atmosphere while Grapefruit stimulates the senses and clears up stale air.
48. A blend of Geranium, Lavender and Bergamot alleviates anxiety and depression. Use in a room diffuser or add 6 – 8 drops of this blend in the bath.
49. A wonderful massage blend for babies is 1 drop Roman Chamomile, 1 drop Lavender, 1 drop Geranium diluted in 2 tablespoons Sweet Almond Oil.
50. 1 drop Peppermint oil diluted in 1 teaspoon vegetable oil rubbed on the back of the neck helps to relieve headaches.
Source- From Scented Thymes newsletter, published by Janell Squires & Jeanne Rose.
