What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are aromatic liquids that come from plant parts like leaves, roots, stems, petals, barks etc. Manufacturers and distillers use a process called steam distillation to extract these potent and therapeutic elixirs.

Sometimes these extracts are also made using solvent extraction and are called absolute oils.You will find wholesale and bulk essential oils being used for aromatherapy, skincare, self care, meditation, perfumes, diffusers and many more places. These usually come in packings of 2 lb and above.

If that’s too much for you, there are also retail essential oils that come in bottles of 10 ml. You can use them to inhale or apply on your skin, elevate your bath experience or to simply make your space smell like a million bucks.

Essential oils carry the bioactive compounds of the plant part they are obtained from and are believed to be therapeutic in nature.

There have also been studies that indicate they can be helpful if used properly. However, it is always important to read the labels and check with your doctor if you're unsure about using them.

What Are The Pros and Cons Of Essential Oils?

Pros of Essential Oils

• Naturally Healing and Therapeutic: The most significant advantage of using essential oils is that they offer healing and therapeutic benefits without any chemicals. Whether you want to get rid of fatigue or just want to improve sleep quality, essential oils can come in handy. Oils like lavender essential oil, jasmine essential oils and ylang ylang essential oil are particularly popular for better sleep. 

• Face and Body Care: Essential oils are all the rage in the beauty industry. Their numerous benefits help formulators craft natural yet effective products for concerns like pigmentation, dryness, dullness, acne, etc. Tea tree essential oil and chamomile essential oil are some of the most widely used ingredients in skincare products.Another advantage of using essential oils is that they often mimic the benefits of actives without the side effects of chemicals.

• Effective & Safer Alternative to Chemical Based Household Products: A major concern we face as a society today is the no. of harmful chemicals in our everyday household products. From detergents to insect repellents, we have stuffed our homes with nasty chemicals. Inhaling and being exposed to these chemicals might cause health concerns in some people. But all is not lost as hope comes in the form of essential oils. Multiple studies have looked into the efficiency of essential oils in cleaning and getting rid of insects, bacteria, virus etc. Peppermint essential oil, citronella essential oil, lemon essential oil and lemongrass essential oil are some of the most recommended oils for maintaining a clean and germ free atmosphere. 

• Improves Spiritual And Karmic Energies: Essential oils are often associated with improving spiritual wellbeing as well. They carry the potent energy of mother earth and can deepen your connection to your inner self. Using certain essential oils for everyday wellness can improve the blocked chakras and ensure correct flow of energy in the body. Experts recommend that using certain extracts like lotus essential oil work as reminders to radiate positivity and become your best self. Using essential oil for spiritual benefits can also help you ground, protect and achieve tranquility.  

Cons of Essential Oils

• Lack Of Quality Control: Not all essential oils are created equal. Today there are a wide range of products available that are often sold as essential oils. This creates a challenge in identifying pure and good quality oils. Many times formulators dilute essential oils with some synthetic bases. This reduces the effectiveness of oils and can also cause potential allergies. 

• Potential Allergies: Some people could be allergic to certain natural extracts and hence even the purest essential oils could cause them potential sensitivities. Identify if you are allergic to any plants or their extracts before using essential oils.Another reason for sensitivity is the potency of E.O.s. Highly concentrated oils should never be used directly on skin. Always do a patch test and dilute the oils.

• Unavailability Of Complete And Accurate Information: There is also a lack of information on how to use essential oils safely and accurately. While some advise consuming E.O.s orally, medical experts warn against it. In the absence of authentic source of information, many claims and beliefs often mislead people and result in serious health concerns. 

• Toxic For Pets: Some essential oils can cause serious toxicity in pets, especially cats. Cats lack certain enzymes in their liver to process essential oils and hence you should always if your essential oil is bad for cats. However, not all E.O.s are bad for pets. Check with your vet and do some research before using them. If you have a dog (or dogs) and want to use aromatic oils around them, you can read this extensive guide on best essential oils for dogs.

Are Essential Oils Safe?

Yes, essential oils are safe if used correctly. Interestingly, their safety depends on a variety of factors like the source, applications, usage patterns, individual sensitivities and pre-existing health conditions.

The purity and the quality of oils play a significant role in determining the safety and their effectiveness. You need to be careful of adulterated oils and make sure you buy from reputed suppliers only.

Terms like aroma oils, fragrance oils and essential oils are often used interchangeably which creates a lot of confusion amongst buyers.

Another important factor determining whether essential oils are safe is the method of usage. The best and the safest way to use essential oils is to diffuse them in a well ventilated space, away from children and pets.

FAQs

What essential oils should you not use?
You should avoid using essential oils like peppermint, wintergreen, clove, cinnamon on the skin as they can cause potential sensitivities.

What essential oils cannot be mixed together?
Following is a list of essential oils that should not be mixed together:

1. Bergamot and lemon
2. Wintergreen and birch
3. Camphor and peppermint
4. Rose and camphor
5. Clove and oregano

What is a caution when using essential oils?
You should not apply essential oils neat on the skin and check with a vet before using them around pets.

What is the negative of essential oils?
Lack of proper information and using the oils without diluting can cause allergies and do more harm than good. This is one the negatives of using essential oils.

Which is the best website to buy essential oil online?
aromachologyoils.com is the best website to buy essential oils online in bulk and wholesale quantities.