The 10 Best Essential Oils & How To Use Them in your Homemade Skincare, Beauty and Cleaning Regime

Essential Oils are prized for their therapeutic effects on the body, can also be used in home cleaning products and for general well-being in the context of emotional support and the scent themselves. See our Top 10 Essential Oils, listing the benefits of each for mind, skin, health and home, along with some ideas on how to use each one!

Don't forget, the general rule of thumb is to aim for a 1-5% dilution. Ideally 1-3% for skincare and 3-5% for home and air care. A 1% dilution is 6 drops per 30ml.

1. Lemon Essential Oil (Citrus Lemon)

Organic Lemon Essential Oil, 12ml, £6.80

• Massage Oil: 120ml carrier oil (sweet almond oil or apricot oil) and 20 drops lemon essential oil, or 10 drops lemon and 10 drops lavender essential oil. To reduce cellulite and stress.
• Bath Oil: 1tbsp carrier oil and up to 8 drops in total of essential oil. Either 8 drops of lemon essential oil or mix with others i.e. 4 drops lemon and 4 drops geranium for a calming bath oil.
• Hair Treatment for Hair Growth: 6tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, 5 drops lemon and 5 drops geranium. To hydrate and condition hair of all types. Warm up olive oil in pan, remove from heat and add essential oils. Stir to combine. Apply the oil to damp hair, combing it through from root to tip to ensure thorough coverage. Wrap the hair in a warm, damp towel for 1 hour. Shampoo the hair as usual to wash out.
• Rejuvenating Body Scrub: 1/4 cup carrier oil, 1 cup white sugar and 15 drops lemon essential oil.
• Surface Cleaner: 475ml water, 2tbsp liquid soap (see How To Make Your Own Liquid Castile Soap here), 10-20 drops lemon essential oil. To disinfect and refresh various surfaces.
• Disinfecting Room Spray: 120ml water, 10 drops lemon essential oil, 10 drops tea tree essential oil. To eliminate airborne bacteria and unpleasant odours.
• Sanitize your Toothbrush: Add a drop of lemon oil to your toothbrush about once a week. It will help sanitize and deodorize your toothbrush, plus help keep your mouth fresh and clean!
• Washing Up: Add a drop of lemon oil to your non-toxic natural dish soap or your dishwasher detergent each time you wash the dishes. Your dishes will come out sparkling clean and smelling fresh!

2. Tea Tree Essential Oil (Melaleuca Alternifolia)

Tea Tree Essential Oil, 12ml, £6.40

• Bacterial Diffuser Blend: 4 drops of each tea tree, lemon, peppermint & eucalyptus.
• Foot Massage: 60ml sweet almond oil, 12 drops tea tree and 12 drops peppermint oil. To soothe tired feet.
• Body Butter: 10tbsp shea butter, 1/8 cup jojoba oil, 8 drops tea tree and 8 drops rosemary essential oil. 
• Erase Permanent Marker: To remove permanent marker from skin when soap and water just won’t cut it, use tea tree oil! Dilute a drop of tea tree oil in a teaspoon of carrier oil and use it to remove the marks.
• Remove Mould & Mildew: Mix 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil into 2 cups water and spray on areas of mold and mildew around the house. Shake the spray well before each use, and don’t rinse afterward to give it time to work.
• Athletes Foot: Add a drop of it to your shoes, massage it onto your feet, or add a few drops to a foot bath with and handful of sea salt.
• Natural Mouthwash: Make a natural mouthwash that can help keep your mouth clean and healthy. Add 1 drop of peppermint oil and 1 drop of tea tree oil to 1 ounce of purified water, then swish and spit.
• Acne Relief: Just add a drop to your usual cleanser, or dab a very small amount on acne breakouts to help clear them up.

3. Peppermint Essential Oil (Mentha Pipireta)

Peppermint Essential Oil, 12ml, £7.20

• Banish Allergies: Both peppermint essential oil and lemon oil can help open up your airways during allergy season. Add a few drops of both oils to a diffuser and breathe deeply to help relieve allergy symptoms naturally.
• Combat Bin Odour: Put a few drops of peppermint oil in the bottom of your bin.
• Cool Tired Feet: Spending the day on your feet can leave them feeling hot and tired, but peppermint oil can help! Add a few drops to a foot bath or bucket of cold water, then soak your feet for cooling relief.
• Scalp Stimulation: Add a few drops of peppermint to your shampoo and conditioner when you wash your hair for scalp stimulation and a boost of natural energy.
• Surface Cleaner: 475ml water, 2tbsp liquid soap (see How To Make Your Own Liquid Castile Soap here), 10-20 drops lemon essential oil. To disinfect and refresh various surfaces.

4. Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula Officinalis)

5. Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Eucalyptus Globulus)

Organic Eucalyptus Essential Oil, 12ml, £7.00

• Massage Oil: 60ml Jojoba Oil, 8 drops eucalyptus, 5 drops peppermint and 5 drops rosemary essential oil. For sinus relief.
• Bath Salt Blend: 1 cup Epsom salt, 1/4 cup baking soda, 8 drops eucalpytus, 8 drops rosemary, 4 drops lavender essential oil. Relief from congestion, sore muscles, and inflammation. Mix all ingredients first and then add 1/4-1/2 of the mixture to one bath.
• Dandruff Blend: 1 cup water, 1/2-1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 6-8 drops eucalyptus essential oil. Massage hair and scalp with the blend, especially the ends of the hair. Let it sit for a couple of minutes and rinse your hair with water. 
• Acne Face Wash: 250ml liquid castile soap, 35-40 drops eucalyptus essential oil (or 20 drop eucalyptus and 20 drops tea tree essential oil). Combine ingredients and transfer into a small pump bottle. Use as you would any face wash.

6. Lemongrass Essential Oil (Cymbopogon Citratus)

• Blending into existing formulations: Blend Lemongrass Oil into shampoo and body washes and rub it into the scalp and body may strengthen hair, stimulate its growth, and relieve itchiness and irritation on the scalp and skin.
• Cleaner: Add to all purpose cleaning sprays or add a few drops to your laundry detergent for an extra cleaning boost. Use a fridge refresh spray.
• Shower Steam: Put a few drops of oil into the bottom of the shower and expect to feel uplifted, awakened, refreshed and ready to go. 
• Insect Repellent: Lemongrass essential oil naturally repels insects.

7. Rosemary Essential Oil (Rosmarinus Officinalis)

8. Geranium Essential Oil (pelargonium Graveolens)

9. Sweet Orange Essential Oil (Citrus x Sinensis)

Sweet Orange Essential Oil, 12ml, £5.60

• Diffuser Blend for Fatigue: To ease both physical and mental fatigue, mix 5 drops of Sweet Orange Essential Oil and 5 drops of Lavender Essential Oil in a diffuser.
• Night Tonic: Add 2-3 drops of Orange Essential Oil to 1 cup of water. This mixture can be used to wash the face before going to bed. 
• Improve digestion: Orange Essential Oil can be combined with Peppermint or Spearmint essential oils before it is diluted with a carrier oil and massaged into the belly. Orange Oil is known to have diuretic properties, thus massaging it into the belly also promotes the release of toxins, especially from the digestive tract, while stimulating the bladder and lymphatic system.
• Soothing Balm: Addresses the symptoms of arthritis, melt 1 Tbsp. of Coconut Oil over low heat, then mix in 10 drops of Orange Essential Oil. Apply this salve to affected areas until it is completely absorbed into the skin. 

10. Ylang Ylang Essential Oil (Cananga Odorata)

Safety Precautions when using Essential Oils

Although our essential oils are all natural and distilled from leaves, barks, seeds or flowers, they are very concentrated. As such, caution is in order before using them.

• For external use only
• Do not use undiluted
• Stop using if you experience a reaction
• Please consult your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or under medical supervision.
• Not suitable for young children
• Avoid the use of citrus oil (lemon, bergamot, mandarin) on your skin before an exposure to the sun.
• Close the safety cap after use and store in a cool environment

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