Getting ready for HEAL Buffalo (this weekend at Hotel Henry) gave me time to think about the Explore Essential Oils workshop and information I love to share with others. I can’t help but notice my inner child light up when coworkers, friends, family members, and even my college students approach me with essential oil questions. One of the most common questions I get is, “what is your favorite essential oil?” This is always hard to answer! I have so many oils and blends that I use for different purposes–it would take me much longer than people are willing to wait for a complete answer! As I prepare for this weekend (practice makes perfect), I want to share my Top 5 Essential Oils with you!
Explore Essential Oils: Top 5 Essential Oils
1. Tea Tree
#1 on my Top 5 Essential Oils list is tea tree oil. When I first started my essential oil journey, I was hesitant to explore anything beyond lavender and premade blends. I soon found out that there are a million ways to use tea tree oil! With powerful antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, tea tree oil is my go-to oil for skin and home care- I always have this oil near me! It’s strong yet refreshing smell instantly wakes me up! Whether my sink drains or face pores are clogged, tea tree quickly clears the issue up!
2. Lemon
Lemon is another newbie to my Top 5 Essential Oils list. Although I was comfortable diffusing lemon, I was initially scared to use this oil on my skin due to its possible phototoxic effect (don’t use if you plan on exposing skin to the sun within the next 10 hours). I quickly learned that when diluted properly, and used with caution, Lemon is AMAZING. In addition to its clean fresh smell, lemon promotes clear thinking, an invigorated feeling all while boosting your immune system. If that wasn’t enough, lemon has done wonders for my skin! I use a non-toxic DIY lemon body scrub daily, which gently exfoliates, moisturizes and brightens my skin, leaving a fresh clean scent.
3. Lavender
Next on my Top 5 Essential Oils list is Lavender. Lavender oil is the first oil I recommend to new users. It is extremely versatile, gentle and safe to use around children, pregnant women and animals. It is another oil I always have near me. Most people have heard that Lavender is a fantastic sleep aid, which is true, but it can also provide balance for physical, mental and emotional health. I use Lavender every day in a DIY face wash, a bedtime pillow mist, and throughout the day to help relax when I’m feeling a bit edgy.
4. Orange
Orange is another new addition to my Top 5 Essential Oil list. Data has shown that the Orange essential oil has the unique ability to both uplift and relax. I typically blend orange with other citrus oils and sage for a refreshing body mist, in a deep sleep blend used before bedtime and also in a brown sugar body scrub. It’s fresh clean scent also supports happiness and personally reminds me of sunshine and summer, especially during the long Buffalo winters.
5. Frankincense
I almost regret listing Frankincense last on my Top 5 Essential Oil list. It is another safe and well-known oil I recommend to beginners. Frankincense is commonly used for meditation or spiritual awareness and is safe to use around humans and animals of all ages. I use Frankincense as a single oil, in a variety of blends, and as part of my face care routine. Frankincense is also great for skin care, including wrinkles, stretch marks, healing and general rejuvenation.
Although my Top 5 Essential Oils list was hard to complete, I am so excited to share this information (and much more) at HEAL Buffalo and our next Explore Essential Oils workshop. Do you have any ideas, topics, or questions you want covered? If so, I would love to hear from you!
Written By!
Colleen Adams, PsyD
Children, Adolescents, Young Adults, Assessment, Personal and Life Coaching
Colleen specializes in the evaluation and treatment of children as young as five years old, adolescents and families. She works with various conditions and life circumstances, including learning disabilities, executive functioning deficits, anxiety, depression, interpersonal problems, adjustment issues and loss Colleen also provides personal and life coaching services for adults questioning career decisions, education goals, finances, and relationships. She will guide you through honest and empowering conversations, as you develop goals and carry out plans for achieving your aspirations.
Warm and emphatic, Colleen uses a flexible, creative and collaborative approach to empower and inspire clients to maximize potential and improve their lives. Contact Colleen for more information about how she can help you experience success!
716.864.4938 | colleen@explorewhatsnext.com
Dr. Colleen says she “lights up” when people go to her to ask for essential oil advice. I’m so glad because I’m one of those people! She is so generous with her expertise and always helpful.
I’m new to using essential oils, and I wasn’t expecting a couple of these to be on the list. I like using lavender, it’s what I’m most comfortable with right now, and it definitely seems to help me sleep. I still have more to learn! It seems like you use them in a lot of different ways, with sprays and scrubs. As a beginner, what’s the best way to make essential oils a habit in my routine?
Hi Christine! I would recommend picking one oil and finding a few different ways to use it throughout the day. Since you are comfortable using lavender (I am guessing by diffusing it), I would suggest branching out to a pillow mist. You can get a small to medium size spray bottle (or recycle an old body spray bottle), add about 10-20 drops of lavender (you can adjust to your personal preference and bottle size), then fill with filtered water. I mist my pillows with this spray before going to sleep every night! You can also bring this bottle with you throughout the day and mist your face/body when you’re feeling stressed. Another way to use lavender is topically. I would suggest a blend of lavender (about 10%) and almond oil (about 90%) for use as a body oil. It is so relaxing, smells great, and moisturizes your skin! After you are comfortable using one oil in multiple ways throughout the day, slowly add on more! I find gradually adding in oils is best to help incorporate them into your daily routine without making it stressful/more work!
Frankincense oil is what I prefer from your list! It can be helpful for any skin malady, soothes burns and rashes and stops the skin from prematurely aging right in its tracks.
I love using frankincense with coconut oil or almond oil on my face and neck-so soothing and restorative!