Unless you’re new to the blog, you know I’m a big enthusiast of aromatherapy! I’ve always been after a holistic approach in my life as a solution when seeking to improve my well-being. Not surprisingly, this has brought me closer to aromatherapy. And apart from spending a great deal of time researching about essential oils, I’ve experienced their benefits first-hand too.

That’s why I use them on a regular basis and implement them in the lives of my kids and husband. In fact, they’ve become an essential part of my lifestyle, so much so I reach out for aromatherapy even when I’m travelling somewhere because they come in small bottles that fit in anywhere, including my jeans pockets. Any time is aromatherapy time!

When my busy lifestyle of a wife and mum prevents me from enjoying a soothing bath with some drops of my favourite oils, I diffuse them as air fresheners. And then, when I want to make my home a well-scented one the minute you step inside, sometimes I add a drop or two in the cleaning products and a drop on the floor before scrubbing.

Along with this, I’m going to share another of my aromatherapy secrets; lately, I’ve turned to the range of blends of essential oils given that the more oils in the blend, the more positive effects you can reap altogether. The vast array of options can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re new to aromatherapy, so here’s how I choose my blends.

Look for Pure Natural Oils

Before deciding on the specific oils you want, be it lavender, chamomile, juniper, ylang ylang, sandalwood or all of them together, you have to know how to recognise quality. And when it comes to looking for quality, a great place to start is to make sure the oils are made from 100% natural ingredients. This is so because without the potnent natural ingredients you wouldn’t reap all of the benefits – quite on the contrary, you might even get side effects.

My advice is to read the ingredients list before you buy to ensure you choose oils that don’t contain any toxic chemicals such as additives and synthetics like fragrances full of phthalates known as endocrine disruptors, and parabens. I’m sure the last thing you want is to make way for toxins into your body through the skin (that is if you decide to use them topically) or your respiratory system.

Long story short, you may pay a bit more initially on quality pure organic essential oil blends than buying cheaper alternatives with chemicals, but it’s all worth it when you consider your health and well-being are taken care of. I recommend you read reviews online from customers along with paying attention to the oils so you’d find your trusted brand that offers certified, vegan and cruelty-free oils.

Decide on the Purpose

Prior to shopping, it’s important to ask yourself what you need the blend for. For instance, do you plan on using the blend for sleep, calmness, energy, concentration or immune support by protecting yourself from colds and flu? By answering this, you’d get to know which oils to focus on to get the wanted benefits.

My picks of blends of essential oils for sleep are of course those that contain lavender, ylang ylang, geranium, frankincense and Roman chamomile, all known for their encouragement of restful sleep. On the plus side, they’re also good for tension release which is why they work for calmness too.

Citrusy scents like that from orange are great for calmness as well, along with sandalwood and patchouli which help the body and mind unwind and relax so they make a nice option if you’re often dealing with anxiety.

If you want to uplift your energy, especially in the afternoon, then you’d make good use of oil blends made of peppermint, lemon, rosemary, juniper and black pepper. Besides feeling energetic, they’d help uplift your mood and motivation – exactly what you need in case you’ve got work to do and you could do with a little boost in concentration and productivity.

Daily stress, lack of sleep, poor nutrition and lack of exercise are enough to badly affect our immune system and open up the path to common colds and flu. If you’re in need of some immune boost, look for blends consisting of antibacterial and antiseptic oils in the example of eucalyptus, rosemary, cinnamon, red thyme, tea tree and bergamot.

Think of the Use

As I already mentioned, there are different ways you can incorporate essential oils in your life: topically, diffusing, in your bath or body wash. Depending on this choice you’d be able to pick from bottled oil blends that you can use with a diffuser or combine with carrier oils for safe use on the skin, and rollerballs consisting of essential oils that are already diluted for convenient use.

Since I don’t have a preference and it all comes down to my momentary mood, I have my collection of both rollerballs and regular bottles. I make aromatherapy a regular part of my life by applying the oils on my skin (diluted of course!), diffusing them when I want to create a lovely atmosphere, and adding them in my bath when I’m in need of an extra dose of relaxation.