Holistic healing

10 Essential Oils You Need to Know About

In celebration of Aromatherapy Week

To celebrate Aromatherapy Week (6-12 June), we asked Amphora Aromatics to choose its top ten essential oils.

Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in every part of a plant from its roots to its petals. These compounds are often wonderfully fragrant. If you’ve ever enjoyed the aroma of walking through lavender fields or crushed fresh mint, you will have experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils.

Essential oils have been used throughout history in many cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Today, as modern scientific thinking leans towards a more holistic approach to wellness, essential oils are once again being recognised for the multitude of benefits they can offer.

Lavender

Calming, relaxing and antiseptic, this essential oil is the number one choice for first aid kits – treating a host of conditions, from acne and eczema to stings and sunburn, as well as helping to reduce stress and treat mild bouts of insomnia.
Top Tip: to promote a feeling of wellbeing, diffuse in a burner, add a few drops to bath water or on your pillow.

Bergamot

Uplifting and refreshing this oil is widely used to treat feelings of depression. Bergamot’s fruity aroma with balsamic undertones helps alleviate stress and anxiety. A great oil to use during colder months to help beat the winter blues.
Top Tip: to maintain a balanced mood, blend 4 drops Bergamot, 2 Clary Sage, 1 Lavender to lift the spirits.

Lemongrass

It doesn’t get more refreshing than this citrus-based oil. With a lemony, earthy fragrance, it’s definitely one of the most stimulating of the bunch. It’s brilliant oil to put in a diffuser during the summer as a natural insect repellent. It’s also a great skin toner and anti-cellulite massage oil.
Top tip: post-workout, dilute a few drops with a carrier oil and massage into aching muscles.

Peppermint

Great for reviving, cooling and boosting concentration. Peppermint oil is also a wonderful natural remedy for reducing bloating, indigestion and feelings of nausea. It’s a powerful oil, so a little goes a long way.
Top tip: Try blending 2-3 drops with 5ml of carrier oil and massaging over the abdomen to assist digestion of food and calm the stomach.

Rosemary

A total pick-me-up if ever we saw one! This fresh, minty-herbaceous scent stimulates the senses, revitalises the body and invigorates the soul. Tiredness is just no match for its heady scent. It’s great for exams, studying or in the office. It also works as a muscle ease after sport and has many beneficial properties for hair and skin.
Top tip: try adding a few drops to your shampoo to promote growth and add volume.

Juniperberry

Detoxing and purifying Juniperberry can help relieve hangovers by boosting mental clarity and reducing aches and pains. It also has a calming effect on emotions. Top tip: If you’ve overindulged the night before, treat yourself to a detoxing ‘hangover cure’ bath. Add 1 cup of Epsom Salts, 5 drops of Grapefruit, 3 Juniperberry & 1 Cedarwood.

Mandarin

With its bright and fruity aroma, this essential oil is known as a ‘happy oil’. Mandarin can help the body detox and blends beautifully with other oils, helping with everything from improving circulation and relieving aches and pains to soothing stress and boosting the immune system.
Top Tip: For an anti-cellulite massage, dilute in a carrier oil to help reduce the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks.

Chamomile Roman

This soothing oil is wonderful for sensitive skins as it is incredibly gentle. A natural anti-inflammatory, it can help protect against dry skin and reduce redness associated with eczema and psoriasis. It’s also a great addition to your first aid kit as it can be used to treat insect bites and sunburn.
Top tip: blend with a base cream and apply to affected areas.

Ylang Ylang

Known for its floral, balsamic scent, this sensual oil is a natural aphrodisiac.
Both sensual and balancing, its a gorgeous massage oil to use when trying to alleviate stress. Ylang Ylang’s powerful aroma is thought to help relieve tension by slowing down heart rate and breath.
Top tip: try blending with Lime for a cheerful and uplifting combination or with Jasmin for a romantic blend.

Tea Tree

A true all-rounder, this cure-all oil is known for its fungicidal, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits. Tea Tree can help treat acne and oily skin, as well as alleviate itchy scalps and greasy hair. Deeply cleansing, it can be used to create natural, household cleaners, too.
Top Tip: Try mixing 15 drops of Tea Tree, 5 drops of Lemon to 1 cup of water in a spray bottle for an all-purpose, household cleaner.

To find out more about essential oils and aromatherapy visit amphora-aromatics.com