The Power of Scent
How to safely add essential oils into your everyday products
Fragranced consumer products such as personal care products, air fresheners, and home cleaning supplies emit air pollutants that affect indoor air quality as well as personal health and wellbeing. Studies have proven that fragranced products have been associated with a number of health effects including asthma attacks, migraine headaches, neurological problems, and contact dermatitis. This is because the term “fragrance” listed on a product ingredient list can hide a complex mixture of chemicals that brands do not have to disclose.
For this reason, we suggest buying fragrance free products and adding in your favorite organic essential oils and blends so you know that they are completely safe and non-toxic for you and your family. When adding essential oils to your home and personal care products it is important to always follow the rules of dilution. Adding in too many drops of any essential oil can lead to skin irritation when applying topically. That’s why diluting essential oils is always a must. The best part is you can still experience the therapeutic benefits even if you cannot perceive a strong aroma. In fact, studies have proven that adding carrier oils can even reduce essential oil cytotoxicity and in some cases enhance antimicrobial activity.
So don’t give into the temptation to ignore safe diluting practices! Instead, give your nose time to adapt to the clean scent of essential oils. Making the switch from synthetic fragrances to organic essential oils will take some time to get used to and early on the scent of essential oils may seem weak. That's because our day to day lives are surrounded by a variety of heavily fragranced commercial products. These products overwhelm our olfactory systems, affecting our sense of smell. Over time your sense of smell will adapt and you will prefer the scent of essential oils over the scent of chemical laden fragrances.
Here are some of the products we love to buy unscented and add in our favorite essential oil blends. We’ve also included a list of our essential oil blends that are great options. Not only will you get to enjoy their lovely scents, but you will also benefit from their many aromatherapy properties.
Everyday Products
- SOAPS - 10 drops for every 3 Tbs liquid hand soap
- BODY WASH - 6 drops for every 1 oz of body wash
-
MOISTURIZERS - 10 drops for every 2 ounces
- HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS - 5 drops for every 2-3 cups of cleaning solution
- LAUNDRY - 3 drops on a damp rag and add into load in wash
- DISHWASHING SOAP - 20 drops for every 2 cups of dish soap
- SHAMPOO - 20 drops for every 8 ounces of shampoo
- CONDITIONER - 20 drops for every 8 ounces of conditioner
Essential Oil Blends
Organic Breathe Calm™ Essential Oil
minty, cooling and invigorating
Organic Citrus Glow™ Essential Oil
citrusy, fresh and a hint of vanilla
Organic Protector™ Essential Oil
mulling spices
Organic Real Love™ Essential Oil
sweet floral with a hint of wood & citrus
Organic Restful Ease™ Essential Oil
layered woods and florals
Organic Wellness™ Essential Oil
earthy pine with a hint of citrus and spice
SCHOLARLY ARTICLES
- Orchard, Ané et al. “The Influence of Carrier Oils on the Antimicrobial Activity and Cytotoxicity of Essential Oils.” Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM vol. 2019 6981305. 14 Jan. 2019, https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6981305
- Steinemann, Anne. “Fragranced consumer products: exposures and effects from emissions.” Air quality, atmosphere, & health vol. 9,8 (2016): 861-866. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007%2Fs11869-016-0442-z
Also in Blog
Ingredient Spotlight: Cypress Essential Oil
With flu season around the corner, it’s important to start prioritizing your health and wellness and make sure you have the tools you need for a strong defense. One of our favorite essential oils for this time of year is Cypress essential oil, also known as Cupressus sempervirens.
Cypress comes from an ornamental tree and is a member of the Cupressaceae family. Native to many regions including northern America, Africa, southeastern Europe and western Asia, cypress essential oil is a widely used medicinal plant. Research has shown that cypress essential oil has antimicrobial, antiviral and antioxidant benefits making it a great essential oil for overall wellness. Here are some of the ways cypress essential oil can support your wellness daily:
Boost Your Workout: Natural Ways to Enhance Your Fitness Routine
Give Your Skin Some Real Love™
Essential Oil Blend for Skincare & Skincare Recipes
Essential oils in ancient beauty rituals date back centuries. However, they continue to become increasingly popular as people seek out safe, non-toxic and natural skincare options. The popularity of these powerful healers stems from their ability to calm irritated skin, reduce signs of aging, improve acneic or scarred skin, and promote hydration for a clear and radiant complexion.
