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How to Use Essential Oils: Aromatically, Topically, Internally & Safely

We’ve all wondered how to use essential oils, quizzing friends for advice or scouring the web for the latest tips. There’s no trick to using essential oils, though. You don’t need training or a degree. With a little practice and the suggestions you’ll find here, you’ll become the go-to expert on using essential oils in no time!

There are three primary ways to use essential oils. First there’s aromatically, when you inhale the oil’s aroma either from the bottle or via steam or a diffuser. You can also apply them topically—just be sure to dilute it with a carrier oil like olive oil before application. With most oils you can dispense a few diluted drops on your skin. With others you’ll want to add them to your favourite lotion, cream or bath gel. Finally, you can even ingest small amounts of a few select essential oils to enjoy their flavors as well as their benefits.

However you use your oils, we recommend you always check the label on how to best apply them. Essential oils are highly concentrated natural extracts located in a plant’s seeds, leaves, bark, flowers, roots, stems, rinds and other parts. Distillers of essential oils use various methods to extract these oils that render them even more potent than they were in their respective plants. In such a concentrated form, it’s important to know how to use oils safely and what precautions to take.

We’ll explore how to use essential oils and what steps you can to enjoy their natural benefits while also handling them safely.

How to Apply Essential Oils - Three Main Methods

Stumped on how to apply your essential oils? How you apply an oil depends on what benefit you want to get out of it. Different oils offer different benefits, depending on how and where you apply them. So, before using any new essential oil, be sure to check that oil’s uses and benefits and read any labels and instructions that come with it. If you have questions or concerns, check with your healthcare provider.

Using Essential Oils Aromatically

Let’s start with the hallmark way to use essential oils: aromatically. All essential oils feature a signature aroma you can smell and inhale for various effects. One oil’s crisp scent can invigorate you when you need a midday pick-me-up. Another’s soothing aroma can help you unwind after a tough day. You can use essential oils aromatically by simply opening the bottle and inhaling its aroma. They can also be applied topically as a personal fragrance, but always dilute them with a carrier oil, which is a plant-derived oil like coconut or almond oil. Dilute a few drops of essential oil with your carrier oil and then rub it into your palms and inhale or dab some behind your ear or on your neck. You can also use a diffuser to disperse the essential oil into the air.

Using Essential Oils Topically

Another favourite way to apply essential oils is topically, where you allow the oil to absorb into your skin. As mentioned before, always dilute oils with a carrier oil before you apply them topically. Topical oils can become part of a massage or added to your preferred lotion, moisturizer or other personal care product. Some oils, particularly those from the citrus family, can cause photosensitivity. A carrier oil is a plant-derived oil like coconut and almond oil that can be used to dilute an essential oil’s concentration.

Using Essential Oils Internally

If you think an oil smells terrific, wait until you taste it! You can season your favourite dish or flavor a drink with certain grades of essential oils. Ingesting oils lets you savor all their savory, herbaceous, spicy, fruity potential. The simplest ways to take essential oils internally is to add them to a glass of water, take them in a capsule or use them as seasoning. Start off with a small amount. A little goes a long way, and even a single drop might overpower your recipe. One recommendation is to dip a toothpick in the oil and stir that little bit in as a starting point. Of course, before you use any oils internally, make sure the oil is safe to ingest. Unless it specifically says on the label that it’s safe for ingestion, assume it’s safe for external use only.