How to Use Essential Oils
The answer to the question How to Use Essential Oils is simple! There are three ways that we use essential oils: aromatically, topically and internally. Every oil can be used in at least one of these ways; some oils like Peppermint, Lemon, and Lavender can be used in all three ways. Essential oils can be used on their own or blended with other essential oils to uplift, soothe, calm, cleanse, or a combination of these.
There are oodles of ideas for ways to use essential oils on our Recipes page – from cooking to cleaning to home-made skincare products.
Aromatic Use of Essential Oils
In its simplest form, using essential oils aromatically means inhaling their aroma. This can be done in a variety of ways.
You can smell directly from the bottle, use a diffuser, place a drop in cupped hands, inhale from a pendant or bracelet, place a few drops on cotton wool balls, or use a pillow or room spray.
Essential oils can be diffused for a stimulating or calming aromatic experience and have the power to influence our mood or behaviour.
The chemical make-up of an essential oil can trigger powerful physiological responses which can bring about a change in our mental state.
When we reflect on happy times, we can often associate a positive emotion with a particular aroma; this is how powerful our sense of smell can be!
We can also use essential oils aromatically to purify the air of unwanted odours (like cat litter trays and sweaty trainers!).
Topical Application of Essential Oils
Applying essential oils to your skin is referred to as topical application and it’s a fast and effective way to experience the benefits of essential oils. As well as providing whole-body support, topical application of essential oils allows you to target specific areas of your body by applying it directly. To promote relaxation and a sense of concentration, you may want to apply essential oils to your temples, forehead and base of your skull. Want to relax? Try our Magnolia rollerbottle. Want to improve your focus? Try our InTune rollerbottle. To promote a sense of clear breathing, you may choose to massage an essential oil like Air into your chest.
Certain essential oils can be applied topically without the need for dilution (Lavender and Patchouli are good examples) whereas other oils may irritate your skin if you apply them without a carrier oil (essential oils like Lemongrass and Oregano). You will find information about how to safely apply essential oils on each product page. When using an essential oil topically for the first time, we would recommend diluting it with a carrier oil to see how the oil reacts to your skin. Start with one drop of essential oil and five drops of a carrier oil like Fractionated Coconut Oil.
We add essential oils to fragrance-free creams and carrier oils such as Fractionated Coconut Oil so that they are easily absorbed. You can purchase our pre-made rollerbottles (we love Console and Neroli) or you can have a go at making your own blends. We have also tried and tested various recipes using essential oils topically and we’d highly recommend giving our Body Butter and Facial Serum a try.
Internal Use of Essential Oils
We believe that dōTERRA essential oils can be taken internally and we do so every day. Taking essential oils internally can support a variety of health benefits and can also add flavour to food.
Not all essential oils can be taken internally.
As a general rule of thumb, the essential oils you can take internally are those that you recognise as being things you can eat or drink – herbs like Oregano and Marjoram, spices like Pink Pepper and Cardamom, fruit like Lemon and Lime.
An essential oil like Zengest can support occasional tummy discomfort and promote healthy digestion.
You can place a drop in a Veggie Capsule or add a drop to an empty glass and fill with water.
Using essential oils safely is paramount and every person is different in terms of which oils they like and how they use them. Please refer to our essential oil safety guidance below.
Essential Oil Safety
We only recommend using dōTERRA essential oils. We do this because we know that they are pure essential oils. Whether you are applying essential oils topically, consuming them internally or using them aromatically, dōTERRA essential oils are very potent and it’s important to remember that a little goes a long way. Always follow dōTERRA’s usage recommendations. You can find this information on every product page and by following this link.
Some essential oils are very powerful and should always be diluted with a carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil before applying them to your skin. These oils include Cassia, Cinnamon, Clove, Lemongrass, Oregano and Thyme. These are known as “hot” oils. When trying these for the first time, consider a dilution ratio of one drop of essential oil to 20 drops of carrier oil.
Some essential oils can cause photosensitivity which may cause you to sunburn more easily. Its best to stay out of UV light (sunlight or tanning beds) for at least 12 hours after applying them to your skin. These oils include Aromatouch, Bergamot, Air, Cheer, Citrus Bliss, Elevation, Forgive, Grapefruit, InTune, Lemon, Lime, Motivate, On Guard, Purify, Smart & Sassy, Wild Orange and Zendocrine.
Essential oils are generally safe to apply anywhere on your skin, but there are certain areas that should be avoided. Don’t apply oils on or near the inside of the nose, the inner ear, the eyes, broken skin, or other sensitive areas. If your skin begins to turn red, itch or burn after applying an oil, remove the oil from the skin by gently wiping the area with a soft cloth, then alternate between adding a carrier oil like Fractionated Coconut Oil and gently wiping the area.
When consuming essential oils internally, a drop or two is all you need at one time. you can add oil directly to water or another liquid or place oil in a Veggie Capsule and swallow. We do not recommend consuming more than 20 drops in a 24-hour period.
Children are generally more sensitive to essential oils than adults. It’s best to dilute an essential oil before applying it topically on a child and to start with the feet for application. For babies under two years of age, aromatic application through a diffuser is a good place to start. We have a wonderful range of rollerbottles that have been created with children in mind, although they can of course be used by adults as well!
Because dōTERRA oils are so powerful, ensure that they are only used under adult supervision. dōTERRA recommends that you keep your oils in a high, out-of-reach place. Store oils with the included orifice reducer in the bottle and the lid tightly closed.
Suggested Dilution Ratios for Essential Oils
Pure essential oils like dōTERRA oils are very potent and should be used with care. A carrier oil suspends (carries) the essential oil to the area of application, improves absorption, prevents evaporation before application to the skin, and aids in spreading the oil. Fractionated Coconut Oil is a good choice as it has no odour, is light on the skin and doesn’t stain clothing.
The information below should assist you in making judgements on how best to use your essential oils safely.
Dilution Guidelines
Birth-12 months: 0.50% dilution. This is the equivalent of 1 drop in a 10ml rollerbottle
1 to 5 years: 1-2% dilution. This is the equivalent of 2-4 drops in a 10ml rollerbottle
6 to 11 years: 1-5% dilution. This is the equivalent of 2-10 drops in a 10ml rollerbottle
12 to 17 years: 1-20% dilution. This is the equivalent of 2-40 drop in a 10ml rollerbottle
18 or older: 1% dilution – neat. This is upwards of 2 drops in a 10 ml roller bottle
Elderly: 1% dilution. This is the equivalent of 2 drops in a 10ml rollerbottle
Pregnant: 1% dilution. This is the equivalent of 2 drops in a 10ml rollerbottle
Sensitive Skin: 1% dilution. This is the equivalent of 2 drop in a 10ml rollerbottle
When we make rollerbottles for ourselves, we usually use 20-40 drops per 10ml, depending on which oils we use and how potent we want the rollerbottle to be. Get in touch if you’d like some further guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you diffuse without a diffuser?
Purchasing a diffuser is a great place to start with using essential oils aromatically. We always recommend starting with a diffuser because it is such an effective way of getting the tiny molecules of essential oil into the air. We even have diffusers in our car! If you don’t have a diffuser, you can follow our suggestions above - You can smell directly from the bottle, place a drop in cupped hands, inhale from a pendant or bracelet, place a few drops on cotton wool balls, or use a pillow or room spray.
Can I dilute essential oils with water?
Essential oils are not water soluble, and so for example, if you put them directly into bath water, they will sit on the top of the water. In order to disperse the essential oil, you can add Epsom salts or bubble bath.
Can you drink essential oils in water?
We add a drop of essential oil to our drinking water every day (Smart & Sassy and Wild Orange are favourites). Although the oil and water don’t mix automatically, we place whichever essential oil we are using into the glass first. The essential oil coats the glass as we top it up with water and hey presto – we have a wonderfully refreshing flavoured water! It’s perhaps worth repeating that we only advocate taking dōTERRA essential oils internally.
Can you consume Bergamot essential oil?
Yes, you can! Bergamot is a fruit, after all. Bergamot can be used aromatically, topically and internally.
Can you put Lemon essential oil in your water?
You certainly can put Lemon essential oil in your water. We would advise starting with one drop – put a drop into your glass first and then top it up with water.
Can essential oils burn your throat?
There are certain essential oils that are considered “hot” oils like Oregano, Lemongrass and Cinnamon. We would recommend taking these in a Veggie Capsule if you wish to take them internally or alternatively add just a drop to a recipe you are following (one drop of Oregano is plenty for a Bolognese sauce).
Can you put essential oils in plastic bottles?
We would recommend using glass bottles to store your essential oils. If you are going to use plastic, we would advise only using PET plastic. Follow this link to read more.
How many drops of essential oil in a 10ml bottle?
This will depend on what oils you are using and who it is intended will use the 10ml bottle (a child or an adult, for example). Refer to our dilution guidelines above.
How much essential oil do you use in a diffuser?
How much essential oil you use in a diffuser is a matter of personal preference but it will also depend on the size of your room. We usually start with 4-6 drops of essential oil in the Petal Diffuser. You can then modify the amount as you like.