Daily Guide to Essential Oils: 101 Tips and Uses

QUICK SUMMARY

This daily guide to essential oils gives you 101 practical ways to use oils around your home and in your natural health routines. Whether you’re brand new to aromatherapy or you’ve been oiling for years, start with the basics: diffuse them, dilute them, use them in homemade body care and cleaning products, and learn safe culinary use before taking oils internally.

Lemon, lavender, and peppermint are three of the most affordable and versatile essential oils for beginners. They can help freshen rooms, upgrade non-toxic cleaning recipes, support simple body care, soothe everyday discomforts, and make your home smell wonderful without synthetic fragrance.

Essential oils are powerful, concentrated plant compounds, so quality and safety matter. Don’t use them undiluted, don’t drink them in water, and don’t fall for the idea that “there is an oil for everything.” Used wisely, essential oils are a beautiful tool in a Biblical health lifestyle that also includes nutrition, movement, sleep, stress relief, prayer, and reducing your family’s toxic burden.

Whether you’re a veteran looking for some new tips or a beginner who wants to start using oils but doesn’t know where to start, this essential oils daily guide will help you and your family start using them today the right way!

Using essential oils and other natural therapies is a life-changing experience for most people, and remember to enjoy the journey as you learn all about them in our books and masterclass.

There are a million ways to incorporate them into your life, and we’ve narrowed down an essential oil uses list of 101 ways to get you started with aromatherapy! These tips and DIY hacks can save you lots of money, help you reduce toxic fragrance in your home, and make everyday routines more fun. Happy oiling!

Essential Oils Do’s and Don’ts

Before I dive into my essential oils guide to help you use them as part of your daily natural health regimen, there are some “housekeeping” items we need to discuss. Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic plant compounds. That’s one reason they can be so effective, and it’s also why we use them with wisdom. (1)

Here are some do’s and don’ts to consider.

Daily Do’s:

1. Inhale essential oils in a diffuser, inhaler, spritzer, and other fun ways. See some of the most popular diffuser blend recipes to help you get started.
2. Add essential oils to your daily body care regimen.
3. Dilute them when applying topically (here’s how).
4. Be careful – and learn the basics (watch my free masterclass ).
5. Enjoy the good things in life and cook with them the right way!
6. Have fun, stay teachable, and be empowered!

Using essential oils and other natural therapies is a life-changing experience for most people, and remember to enjoy the journey as you learn all about them in our books and masterclass.

Daily Do Not’s:

• Don’t use them undiluted.
• Don’t drink them in water because water and oil don’t mix. Essential oils need proper dispersion when used internally. (1)
• Don’t consume essential oils for “prevention.”
• Don’t use essential oils as medicine before learning the basics (watch my free masterclass first).
• Don’t believe that “there is an oil for that.” They are not a cure all. They are tools that work best alongside food, movement, sleep, prayer, stress reduction, and wise lifestyle choices.

Here’s the thing: the goal is not to replace common sense with a little brown bottle. The goal is to steward your home and body well, reduce toxic burden where you can, and use God-given plant medicine with skill.

Ok, now that we’ve cleaned house, let’s get to work…

25 Essential Oil Uses For Freshening Up

Lemon, lavender, and peppermint are easily three of the most popular essential oils. They’re also some of the most cost-effective EOs! Lavender is especially loved for calming routines, and research continues to support lavender aromatherapy for sleep and anxiety in several human studies and reviews. (3, 4)

Aside from caution against using peppermint directly on small children, all three of these oils are simple, affordable, and practical for most families when used correctly. If you’re new to the world of aromatherapy, I recommend starting with these and trying a few ideas on the essential oil uses list!

1. Add 5-7 drops of lavender to an alcohol or vinegar spray to refresh linens and create a relaxing bedtime ambiance.

2. Put a couple of drops of lavender essential oil or lemon on a cloth in your closet to remove stale odors.

3. Make a lavender spritz for little ones to spray the “monsters” away at bedtime – they’ll be relaxed and ready to snooze!

4. Freshen up an old mattress with a lavender-peppermint or lemon spray. You can also add the oils to baking soda and sprinkle it on the bed before adding sheets.

5. Sprinkle 1-2 drops of lemon essential oil in your washer before adding towels. No more stale smell!

6. Add lemon or peppermint to baking soda and sprinkle in stinky shoes.

7. Wash sporting gear or sprinkle it with baking soda and a lemon peppermint mix to kick that sweaty athlete smell to the curb.

8. Remove cigarette smoke odors with a diluted alcohol or vinegar-based spray enhanced with lemon and peppermint.

9. Clean pet stains with organic unscented liquid soap and lemon essential oil. Add water to create a spray that freshens up pet beds!

10. Put 1-2 drops of lavender and lemon in a simmering pot on the stove after dinner to cut the heavy cooking smell. Perfect after cooking something with a lot of spice!

11. Pour a few drops into the bag of your vacuum cleaner for a fresh scent throughout the house.

12. Add essential oils to baking soda and sprinkle on the carpet before vacuuming.

13. Add a few drops to no-additive unscented laundry soap. This creates a custom scent with no synthetic fragrances!

14. Use a drop of lemon as a spot treatment to cut grease and lift stains – especially effective with peroxide!

15. Put a few drops of lemon in ¼ cup vinegar, then place in the washer with clothes you forgot to switch. Mildew, be gone!

16. Add a couple of drops of peppermint or lemon to a gallon of paint to help with the odor. Reality check: oils do not remove VOCs, so keep windows open, use fans, and choose low-VOC paint whenever possible.

17. Drop some lemon or peppermint onto sponges or washcloths and run them through the dishwasher for refreshment. Use the sanitize cycle when true sanitizing is needed.

18. Put a drop in the inside of the toilet paper roll for a boost of scent every time the roll turns!

19. Brighten potpourri by sprinkling a few drops of your favorite oils onto it to avoid artificial air fresheners.

20. Coat unscented incense sticks in several drops of essential oils and dry for a full day before using.

21. Create a diluted vinegar, witch hazel, or alcohol-based spray with your favorite scented essential oils, then spritz into the potty before use for direct odor control!

22. Combine 10-15 drops of lavender and lemon essential oil with baking soda and sprinkle into the bottom of the diaper pail.

23. Lemon and peppermint combined with baking soda sprinkled into the trash can before the bag goes in will keep trash odors at bay.

24. Freshen the car even if you don’t have a car diffuser – just add a drop or two to a central air vent for a circulated aroma! This is a wonderful hack to calm kids, but keep aromas gentle and take breaks.

25. For more specific car use, choose lavender and bergamot to calm traffic anxiety or peppermint and ginger essential oils to minimize queasiness.

25 Essential Oil Uses for Cleaning

When it comes to an essential oil uses list of top uses, household cleaners are top of the must-tries. It’s so easy to put together a non-toxic cleaner to transform your home, there’s no reason not to give it a try.

Lemon, lavender, tea tree, peppermint, and other essential oils have been studied for antimicrobial activity in lab settings, and lemon essential oil research continues to explore antibacterial and antifungal potential. (5, 7) This is encouraging, but use the right tool for the job: everyday DIY cleaners are wonderful for reducing grime and synthetic fragrance, while EPA-registered disinfectants are the correct choice when you need verified disinfection after illness, raw meat contamination, or high-risk messes. (6)

26. Add lemon essential oil to a combination of baking soda, 1-2 teaspoons of dish soap, and a dash of vinegar for grout cleaning.

27. Lemon, lavender, and peppermint blend well with tea tree for a fresh household spray or air-cleaning diffusion.

28. Mix all-natural unscented dish or organic unscented liquid castile soap with water and lemon into a squeeze-top bottle; squeeze into the inner rim of toilets and scrub.

29. Add lemon and peppermint to your baking soda, soap, and vinegar grout cleaning solution for a non-toxic shower scrub.

30. Skip the scrub altogether with a daily shower spray! Add vinegar, a squirt of organic unscented liquid castile soap, and your favorite essential oils to a spray bottle. Use daily after showering.

31. Combine a gallon of hot water with ¼ cup castile soap and a total of 40-60 drops of any combination of essential oils – lemon and lavender work well here – to clean the floors.

32. Wash windows with vinegar and water boosted with peppermint and lemon. (See our favorite essential oil-powered glass cleaner.)

33. Dishes get an extra boost with a drop of lemon in the dishwater or dishwasher soap compartment.

34. Use a few drops of lemon oil on a rag for polishing silverware.

35. Take dusting to the next level with a drop of essential oil on the rag.

36. Refresh old wooden surfaces with lemon oil.

37. Wipe down sinks and surfaces with a diluted vinegar or alcohol-based spray brightened with lemon and lavender.

38. Clean the fridge with a few drops of lemon and lavender added to some vinegar, water, and a dash of all-natural dish soap.

39. You can mix all-purpose cleaners so they’re ready to go – try combining all three oils with a bit of dish soap, vinegar or alcohol, and water as an all-purpose disinfectant cleaner for everyday cleaning.

40. Cut grease by adding lemon oil to your unscented dish soap.

41. Burned pan? Add some lemon oil to a bit of water and boil to loosen the burnt residue.

42. Bugs don’t like peppermint – spritz a peppermint cleaning spray around entry points or add it to baking soda and sprinkle it around bug entrances. Keep strong peppermint sprays away from pets and little ones.

43. Clean cutting boards with hot water and soap first, then freshen with lemon and lavender. When raw meat, bodily fluids, or illness is involved, follow proper food-safety sanitizing or disinfecting guidance.

44. Sticky surface? Soak a rag in water and add a bit of soap and lemon oil – lay it over the sticky spot, then wipe it up a few minutes later.

45. Put some baking soda and a combination of lemon, lavender, and peppermint into a mason jar with holes in the lid. Set it in the bathroom and shake periodically to reboot its air-freshening power.

46. Polish scuffed surfaces with a rag and a bit of lemon oil.

47. Make your hand soap extra fancy with a few drops of lemon and lavender mixed in. To really elevate your solution, use a foaming pump!

48. Spritz cut produce with a properly dispersed culinary lemon oil spray only if you know how to use oils in food safely. Otherwise, use fresh lemon juice for produce and save lemon essential oil for cleaning and diffuser blends.

49. The best cleaning tool is good old-fashioned motivation – diffuse peppermint for a stimulating energy boost to get you going.

50. Clean stainless steel with lemon or peppermint and a dash of soap mixed into the water.

25 Essential Oil Uses for Pampering

When it comes to an essential oils uses list, don’t forget to give yourself a little TLC with body care products. This is one of our favorite ways to reduce toxic burden because fragrance, preservatives, and harsh ingredients can sneak into daily routines fast.

Remember: topical use means dilution. Diluting essential oils helps reduce the risk of irritation, sensitization, phototoxicity, and other adverse reactions. (2)

51. Add a drop of peppermint to all-natural toothpaste.

52. Make your own mouthwash with a diluted alcohol base and oils like peppermint, clove, and myrrh. Spit it out; don’t swallow it.

53. Shampoo is transformed with just a few drops of peppermint or lavender shaken into the whole bottle.

54. Make DIY deodorant with baking soda, cornstarch, coconut oil, and your favorite combination of oils.

55. The most basic, frugal lotion is simply coconut oil scented with a bit of lavender oil.

56. Blemish-prone skin can benefit from properly diluted lavender or tea tree oil. Apply with a cotton ball or swab and avoid the eyes.

57. You can’t beat sugar scrubs made with lemon, lavender, or peppermint. They also make great gifts! Use caution with cold-pressed citrus oils on sun-exposed skin because some can increase photosensitivity.

58. Make a soothing facial mask with honey and lavender oil.

59. Rebalance the skin’s pH with a witch hazel, lavender, and peppermint toner.

60. Soothe tired feet by diluting peppermint and lemon into an evening foot soak.

61. Dilute lavender into a proper bath dispersant, such as unscented castile soap or a carrier oil, before adding it to Epsom salts for a calming bath.

62. When showering, put a few drops of peppermint on a rag in the bottom of the shower. The steam will create an energizing aromatherapy experience. Use less for children and avoid direct steam inhalation for long periods.

63. Melt a bit of beeswax into your coconut oil and lavender mix for an all-purpose soothing balm.

64. Massage your aches and pains away; dilute peppermint or lavender into the carrier oil of your choice.

65. Add a bowl of water and essential oils to a sauna to maximize their respective benefits, as long as the sauna manufacturer allows aromatherapy use.

66. A vinegar rinse is excellent for conditioning your hair but smells like a pickle jar. Add some lemon and lavender to freshen it up.

67. Fix cracked feet with an overnight application of lavender and coconut oil.

68. Settle into a refreshing night of sleep with lavender diffused at your bedside.

69. Create a simple perfume with your favorite oils diluted into a carrier and poured into a rollerball.

70. Beat dandruff with a few drops of lavender and a couple of drops of tea tree added to unscented organic shampoo. In one randomized study, a 5% tea tree oil shampoo significantly improved mild to moderate dandruff compared with placebo. (13)

71. Whiten teeth periodically with the odd but effective combination of lemon and fresh, mashed strawberries mixed with coconut oil. Rub onto teeth, let sit briefly, then rinse off well. Don’t overdo acidic tooth treatments.

72. Add your favorite essential oils to a small amount of alcohol or witch hazel in a spritz bottle, topped off with water for a custom body spray. Shake before each use.

73. A small spritz bottle of peppermint essential oil in alcohol and water makes a quick and easy breath spray.

74. Peppermint and lavender in coconut oil can help relieve tension, especially when massaged onto the temples for headaches. Controlled research has found topical peppermint oil preparations can ease tension-type headache discomfort. (10)

75. Diffuse peppermint and lemon before and during exercise routines for energy and endurance.

26 Essential Oil Uses List for Health

This essential oil uses list focuses on non-toxic health and healing remedies for everyday family life. Put simply, essential oils shine when they’re part of a bigger lifestyle: anti-inflammatory foods, restorative sleep, movement, hydration, prayer, and a home that is less burdened by toxic chemicals.

76. Soothe mild burns with lavender and coconut oil once the burn has cooled. Lavender oil has a meaningful body of wound-healing research, including reviews and experimental studies, though serious burns need medical care. (12)

77. Anti-inflammatory lavender and cooling peppermint are necessary for any balm made for soothing sore muscles.

78. A drop of properly diluted lavender on bug bites can soothe itching.

79. Inhale or massage diluted peppermint oil for headache relief.

80. Include lavender in massage oil blends to help relieve body aches.

81. Breathe clear with peppermint added to aromatic chest rub formulas.

82. Or, simply place a drop each of lavender, lemon, and peppermint into a bowl of steaming water. Lean near it and breathe gently for a short time. Don’t use steam inhalation for long sessions or with small children.

83. Improve digestion with peppermint used the right way. Clinical research most strongly supports enteric-coated peppermint oil for IBS symptoms, so don’t casually add drops to drinks unless you’ve learned safe internal use. (11)

84. Inhale peppermint to relieve acute bouts of nausea. Recent reviews and clinical trials continue to support peppermint aromatherapy as a promising complementary tool for postoperative nausea and vomiting. (8, 9)

85. Soothe psoriasis, eczema, and other inflammatory skin conditions with gentle, properly diluted lavender preparations.

86. Calm inflamed sunburns with an aloe vera, lavender, and peppermint spray. Go light on peppermint because too much can feel intense on irritated skin.

87. Diffuse or inhale lavender to lessen the severity of anxiety. Research reviews suggest lavender oil inhalation can be a safe and feasible anxiolytic intervention in several anxiety-related settings. (4)

88. Find a boost of energy with stimulating lemon and peppermint diffusions.

89. Melt the stress away with diluted lavender rubbed onto temples and neck.

90. Freshen the air with lemon and lavender diffused.

91. Help curb cravings and appetite with peppermint diffused between meals.

92. Improve focus and calm anxious minds by diffusing lavender during study times.

93. Dilute peppermint onto a rag soaked in cool water and sponge onto the neck and back of someone feverish. Head to the doctor if it gets too high or if symptoms are concerning.

94. Keep lemon, peppermint, or ginger on hand to inhale when morning sickness takes over. If you’re pregnant, use oils gently and talk with your practitioner about therapeutic use.

95. Add lavender to compresses for an added calming effect.

96. Make a gentle spray of lavender and water to ease kids’ minds that you can take care of boo-boos when they’re too old for magic kisses but too young to shake it off. Do shake the bottle, however!

97. Add some diluted peppermint to your clove-based toothache remedy and apply with a cotton ball or swab. Call the dentist because tooth pain often means something needs attention.

98. A drop of peppermint and lemon mixed into a spoon of Manuka honey can soothe a painful sore throat for adults who understand safe internal use. For children, pregnancy, reflux, liver disease, medications, or chronic illness, use extra caution and learn the basics first.

99. Massage diluted lavender oil around lymph glands and ears to help ease discomfort and promote drainage for ear infections. Never put essential oils into the ear canal.

100. Put a drop or two of lavender into your humidifier per the manufacturer’s instructions for a quick, multi-purpose diffuser.

101. Cold sores are soothed with a drop of diluted lavender applied with a cotton ball or swab.

Remember, Quality, NOT Quantity is Key!

One thing to remember is that not all essential oils are created equal. In fact, many on the market are veritably worthless to your health because they are over-processed, include synthetic ingredients, and are not organic. When buying essential oils, make sure they are pure and that you aren’t purchasing fragrance or adulterated oils.

Also, take note of those oils that are “food grade” compared to cosmetic grade. Personally, if I wouldn’t swallow it, I wouldn’t put it on my skin. So, keep a lookout for that as well!

Here’s the thing: “therapeutic grade” by itself is not enough. Look for transparency, botanical name, sourcing, extraction method, batch testing, purity, and a company that teaches safe use instead of encouraging you to put oils everywhere, all the time, for everything.

I have outlined all the steps you need to take when choosing an essential oils brand, so don’t worry about making a wrong decision. I’ve got ya covered!

What do you think? Ready to use oils now?!?

Essential Oils Daily Guide FAQs

What are the best essential oils for beginners?

Lemon, lavender, and peppermint are three of the best essential oils for beginners because they are affordable, versatile, and easy to use in diffuser blends, cleaning recipes, body care, and simple home remedies. Lavender is calming, lemon is bright and fresh, and peppermint is energizing and cooling.

Can I use essential oils every day?

Yes, many people use essential oils daily through diffusion, diluted topical blends, homemade cleaning products, and natural body care. Rotate your oils, use low amounts, take breaks from constant diffusion, and listen to your body.

Do essential oils need to be diluted?

Yes. Essential oils should be diluted before topical use. Dilution helps reduce the risk of skin irritation, sensitization, phototoxicity, and other reactions. This is especially important for children, sensitive skin, damaged skin, pregnancy, and repeated use. (2)

Can I put essential oils in drinking water?

No, not as a casual daily habit. Oil and water do not mix, so drops of essential oil can float on top and irritate the mouth, throat, and stomach lining. Learn safe internal use before consuming essential oils, and don’t take them internally for “prevention.” (1)

Are essential oils safe for cleaning?

Essential oils can be excellent ingredients in everyday homemade cleaners because they smell wonderful and many have been studied for antimicrobial activity. However, DIY essential oil cleaners should not be treated as registered disinfectants. When someone is sick, when handling raw meat, or when you need verified disinfection, use an EPA-registered disinfectant according to label directions. (6)

Can I diffuse essential oils around children?

Yes, but use less oil, diffuse intermittently, keep the diffuser in a well-ventilated room, and avoid strong oils around babies and small children. Peppermint should be used cautiously around young children because the menthol content can be too intense for little airways.

Can I use essential oils around pets?

Use extra caution around pets, especially cats, birds, and small animals. Diffuse lightly in a ventilated room, let pets leave the area, and don’t apply oils to animals unless guided by someone trained in animal aromatherapy.

What is the safest way to start using essential oils?

Start with one or two oils, use simple diffuser blends, dilute topical applications, and learn the basics before cooking with oils or using them therapeutically. Focus on simple wins: better sleep routines, fresher laundry, non-toxic cleaners, and a calmer home atmosphere.

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