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The essential oil wall in our shop can be a lot to take in. There are dozens of single oils, a row of blends with names like Stress Less and Deep Sleep, roller bottles, carrier oils and diffusers. When someone new to all of it stands there looking a bit overwhelmed, I usually tell them the same thing. You do not need thirty bottles. You need four or five good ones, something to dilute them in, and a few rules about using them safely. Here they are.
An essential oil is the concentrated aromatic compounds of a plant, usually steam distilled from the leaves, flowers or wood, or cold pressed from citrus peel. It can take a surprising amount of plant to make a small bottle, which is why real oils vary so much in price. Rose and sandalwood are expensive for a reason. It also means they are strong, far stronger than the plant itself, and should be treated with a bit of respect.
When you are shopping, look for the botanical name on the label, like Lavandula angustifolia for true lavender, the country of origin, and ideally whether it is certified organic. If a bottle just says "lavender fragrance" or is suspiciously cheap, it is probably a synthetic fragrance oil, which is fine in a candle but is not the same thing.
Lavender. If you only buy one, make it this. Soft, floral, calming, and the gentlest of the lot. A few drops in a diffuser before bed or on a tissue tucked in your pillowcase is where most people start, and it pairs with almost everything else.
Tea tree. An Australian native and the first aid kit oil. It is the one people reach for on the odd pimple, diluted, and it earns its keep in homemade cleaning sprays too. It smells medicinal, so it is not the one for your diffuser on a date night.
Peppermint. Sharp, cool and clearing. A drop on a tissue during a long afternoon at the desk, or diluted and rubbed into tight shoulders. A little goes a very long way, and it is one to keep away from small children entirely.
Eucalyptus. The smell of a Sydney bushwalk. Brilliant in a diffuser or a steaming bowl of water when your head is blocked, and a lovely addition to the laundry. Eucalyptus radiata, sold as Australiana, is the softer, more pleasant one of the family.
A citrus. Sweet orange, lemon or lime. Cheerful, cheap, and the one that makes a room smell like somebody has just cleaned it. Citrus oils can make skin more sensitive to the sun, so keep them for the diffuser rather than your skin before a beach day.
Diffusing is the easiest and safest way to begin. An ultrasonic diffuser with water needs around five to eight drops, and a waterless one runs straight from the bottle. Diffuse in bursts of thirty to sixty minutes rather than all day, and keep the room ventilated.
On skin, always dilute. Neat oils can irritate and, over time, sensitise your skin so you react to them for good. A carrier oil like jojoba, sweet almond or fractionated coconut is what you dilute into. For adults a simple rule of thumb is about 2 percent, which works out to roughly twelve drops of essential oil in 30ml of carrier. For the face, or for older children, go down to 1 percent or less. Patch test on your inner arm and wait a day before using a new blend more widely.
In the bath, mix your drops into a spoon of carrier oil, or into a handful of magnesium flakes, first. Oil and water do not mix, and a few drops of neat peppermint floating on the bathwater is not a nice surprise.
Around the house, a few drops of tea tree, eucalyptus or lemon in a spray bottle of vinegar and water is one of the easiest low tox swaps you can make. We covered the rest in low tox cleaning, and the five swaps worth making first. And if sleep is the reason you are here, lavender works best as part of a routine, which is what our guide to waking up at 3am is all about.
The safety bits, because they matter. Do not swallow essential oils. Keep the bottles out of reach of children, as even a small amount can be dangerous if swallowed. Peppermint and eucalyptus should not be used on or near the face of babies and young children. Cats are particularly sensitive, so do not diffuse in a closed room with a cat, and check with your vet before diffusing around any pet. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have asthma or epilepsy, talk to a qualified aromatherapist or your GP first.
Absolute Essential is a family run Australian brand, all certified organic, and every bottle lists the botanical name and origin, which is why it is our go to recommendation for beginners. Once you know what you like, their blends are a nice next step. The full range is under Essential Oils and Aromatherapy. Come and smell a few at 936 Anzac Parade, Maroubra, open seven days. It is the best way to choose, because the one you love is the one you will actually use.
