WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Precautions and information.
Essential oils are not really oils in the proverbial sense of what we know as oils. For starters, they don't contain fatty acids, they contain very concentrated plant ingredients that are high in antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties and because of this they have potent medicinal qualities. It could be said that they contain the life force of the plant.
Enormous amounts (literally pounds) of plants are needed to produce an essential oil. It can take anywhere between hundreds to thousands of plants to produce just one pound of essential oil. Their strength makes them very powerful and as a result they should never be used undiluted on the skin. Use a carrier oil such as jojoba, olive, almond or vegetable oil; or a butter, wax or other diluting agent ... and never use an undiluted essential oil on a baby or a child. A child's skin is much more delicate and thinner than an adult's skin and therefore more sensitive to the concentrated oils.
There are a limited number of essential oils that are safe to use on children and from what I understand it is better to use just half of the amount of the essential oil recipe's ingredients. In reality, half the dose is all they will really need. As a safety precaution keep all essential oils out of the reach of children and keep them away from pregnant and nursing mothers. Pets can also be harmed by many of the oil scents, or if ingested, so be sure to keep them away from oils as well and never leave them in highly oil fragranted areas.
Because essential oils are of such tiny molecular size they are easily aborbed into the skin. They pass harmlessly through our bodies yet leave their beneficial properties behind, much like Vit C which gives us many benefits from having consumed it but then it passes harmlessly out.
Essential oil costs can really add up but don't expect all oils to be created equally. If you see wide price differences in different name brands it is likely that the cheaper one isn't pure. Small price fluctuations likely mean they are of the same quality but there is no need to pay the higher price. Most essential oils come from the same distilleries so there is little difference in quality between the higher end priced oils. If the recipe you are using the oil for is for personal care then I suggest using the more pure oil but if you are using it for something like cleaning, then by all means use the cheaper version. You do have to pay for quality and the higher priced ones are often grown without toxic fertilizers or pesticides but the cheaper versions also have their place.
If you want to test your oil to see how pure it is just place a single drop of it on a piece of construction paper. An oil that evaporates quickly and leaves no noticeable ring is pure. If the oil leaves a ring it has likely been diluted with another oil. This test will not work with patchouli, myrrh and absolutes.
Before using an oil you may want to see if you are sensitive to it. Combine 1 drop with 1/2 tsp carrier oil and rub the solution on the upper, inner portion of your arm. In a few hours check to see if there is any redness and if no itching has developed either then you are likely not sensitive to it.
Avoid contact with your eyes and do not ingest essential oils internally. There is no need to take them internally yet some may be safely used when well diluted in something like toothpaste.
The oils will last for five to ten years if stored properly. To help preserve their potency, store your essential oils and formulas in dark glass bottles, out of direct sunlight in a cool area. The oils tend to last a very, very long time because they are so concentrated and because only a tiny amount is needed for formulas. I have found that citrus oils do not retain the same potency after a couple of years but then I use them up a lot faster so there really is no waste.
If you are allergic to, or react to, any foods you will likely be allergic or react to the corresponding essential oil. For example if you are allergic to grapefruit when you eat it or cloves give you a rash then you will also be allergic to grapefruit essential oil and get a rash from clove essential oil. Best to avoid those oils.
You will never see an essential oil in a pharmaceutical drug because it cannot be patented due to the fact that it is natural. Because of this, the majority of health care professionals will not recommend them as an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs ... and because they cannot be patented, drug companies won't study them so our scientific knowledge of essential oils is limited. The majority of what we know about essential oils today has been passed down from generation to generation over many centuries by those in the past who used them through experimentation and personal use.
Essential oils and fragrance oils are not the same thing, even if it says natural fragrance on it, it isn't. If you see the words perfume, fragrance or fragrance oil you can assume the product is not natural but a synthetic blend.
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