There are many ways in which you can use essential oils, however, to use them effectively, you need to understand the properties of the oils, recommended dilution's and the various methods of application. You should also be familiar with the different carrier oils, their shelf lives and their effects on different skin types. Always keep good notes on blends that you make so that you can replicate something if needed. Your notes should include ingredients and proportions, the date you prepared the blend, comments, and improvements to be made next time. Label finished products with the date the product was made, ingredients and instructions for use. Because essential oils are concentrated, highly potent substances, you must know how to work with them safely. The potential hazards of an essential oil depend on the compounds in the oil, the dosage and frequency used, and the method of application. Some can cause skin irritations, some can raise or lower blood pressure and some can even cause abortions so become familiar with the oils you intend to use.

Here are a few guidelines to ensure safe and effective use of essential oils:

· Use only pure essential oils from plants and not Fragrance, or synthetically produced oils. Learn which plants produce essential oils. There is no such thing as strawberry essential oil this is a synthetically produced scent. Beware of anyone selling strawberry as an essential oil. Of course synthetically produced strawberry fragrance is available. There are many other fruit scents that I have seen marketed as essential oils over the years. Do your homework, the only fruits that can be made into essential oils are the citrus fruits.

· Most essential oils should not be used undiluted (neat) on the skin. They can cause burning, skin irritation and photosensitivity. Oils such as lavender, or tea tree and a few others are exceptions to this rule. These can be used neat on burns, insect bites, pimples and other skin eruptions - unless you have sensitive skin. You can test new oils by diluting them with a carrier oil and massaging it into the soles of your feet. Oils will usually not irritate the thicker skin. If you do have a reaction then it is probably an allergy to the oil and you should not try to use it on your skin. · Some of the citrus oils greatly increase photosensitivity. Bergamot contains bergaptene, a powerful photosensitize that will cause allergic reactions in some individuals. (Bergaptene-free oil is available.) Of the citrus oils, bergamot is the most photosensitizing. If you are using photosensitizing oils on your skin, use them at night, stay indoors, or wait at least four hours before going out during the day.

· Keep all essential oils away from the eyes. Some are irritating to mucous membranes and should be used with caution.

· Keep all essential oils out of the reach of young children. Older children can learn to use essential oils safely, but they should nevertheless be supervised. In general, when treating children with essential oils, use one-third to one-half the adult dosage and select only nontoxic oils. The oils generally used for children are lavender, roman chamomile, mandarin, tangerine, neroli, frankincense, petitgrain, yarrow, eucalyptus and tea tree.

· Vary the essential oils you use. While it is all right to use a small amount of a blend such as a facial oil blend for a long period of time, it is not recommended that you use an application of the same blend of oils over your entire body for more than two weeks at a time. Alternate with a blend of different oils containing different chemical constituents at least every two weeks. Give your body a chance to rid itself of the constituents of a particular oil or oils.

· Although some very experienced aromatherapists can safely prescribe the oral use of essential oils, I do not advise you to try this on your own. Again, keep essential oils away from the reach of children.

· Essential oils must be used cautiously with the elderly and those who have serious health problems such as asthma, epilepsy or heart disease. Be aware of how the oils you use can affect these conditions.

· Use extra caution when using essential oils during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. Stick to the very safe oils such as rose, neroli, lavender, Ylang-Ylang, chamomile, jasmine absolute, the citrus's, geranium, sandalwood, spearmint and frankincense.

· "Too much of anything is no good." Keep in mind that 1 ounce of essential oil is the equivalent of several pounds of the actual plant material. If you've been overexposed to an essential oil, either through the skin or through inhalation, you may experience nausea, headache, skin irritation and/or other symptoms. If this happens, get some fresh air. If you ever experience skin irritation or accidentally get essential oils in the eyes, dilute with straight vegetable oil, not water as water will cause further absorption.

Methods of Application -

Dilution's
The most effective way to dilute essential oils is in a carrier oil. A carrier can be any high-quality vegetable oil such as almond, apricot, hazelnut, olive, macadamia, kukui, wheatgerm, grapeseed or sesame. Carrier oils should be stored away from heat and light to ensure their freshness. The addition of jojoba oil as 10% of your carrier oil will help extend the shelf life of your blend as will Vitamin E oil which is an excellent antioxidant; adding it to any aromatherapy blend will help extend the life of most vegetable oils. One or two capsules (200-400 IU) per two-ounce bottle of carrier oil is enough. Make blends in small amounts and use within a few months. They can be stored in the refrigerator for extended shelf life. A safe and effective dilution for most aromatherapy applications is 2% (2 drops of essential oil per 100 drops of carrier oil). There is no need to go beyond a 3% dilution for any purpose. Using more of an oil will not get you better results; in fact, it may cause adverse effects. Some oils, such as lavender, are sedating in low dilution's and stimulating in high dilution's

A 1% dilution should be used on children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with health concerns. When making blends for the first time, start with no more than two or three oils at a time.

The more complicated blends require a bit more knowledge because the oils have synergistic effects (meaning that the combination of oils have properties greater than the um of the individual oils).

· 1% dilution: 5-6 drops essential oil per ounce of carrier oil
· 2% dilution: 7-14 drops essential oil per ounce of carrier oil
· 3% dilution: 15-18 drops essential oil per ounce of carrier oil
10 drops=1/10 tsp. =1/96 oz. 1/8 dram about 1 ml
12.5 drops =1/8 tsp. =1/48 oz. =1/6 dram =5/8 ml
25 drops 1/4 tsp. 1/24 oz. 1/3 dram 1 1/4 ml
50 drops 1/2 tsp. 1/12 oz. 2/3 dram 2 1/2 ml
100 drops 1 tsp. 1/6 oz. 1 1/3 dram about 5 ml
150 drops 1 1/2 tsp. 1/4 oz. 2 drams 13.5 ml
300 drops 3 tsp. 1/2 oz. 4 drams about 15 ml
600 drops 6 tsp. 1 oz. 8 drams about 30 ml
24 tsp. 8 Tbs. 4 oz. 1/2 cup 1/4 pint
48 tsp. 16 Tbs. 8 oz. 1 cup 1/2 pint
96 tsp. 32 Tbs. 16 oz.2 cups 1 pint

The size of a drop however varies depending on the viscosity of the oil, the temperature and the opening of the dropper of course. Use an ordinary dropper that you purchase from a pharmacy. When making large portions, use teaspoon measurements.

Storage and Shelf Life
Essential oils need to be stored away from heat and light to preserve their freshness and potency. When stored properly, they have a shelf life of several years. The citrus oils have the shortest shelf life of all essential oils and should be used within one year. The longest-lasting oils, which improve as they age, tend to be the thick resins such as frankincense and myrrh, woods such as sandalwood, roots like vetiver, as well as other oils, including spikenard and patchouli.

Various Methods of Application
·Massage/Body Oil - use a 2-3% dilution (10-12 drops per ounce of vegetable oil) or 1% (5 drops per ounce of carrier oil) for pregnant women, people with health concerns and children.

· Tub Bath - 3-15 drops diluted in a carrier depending on the oil. Adjust amounts for baby baths and use only the safe oils.

· Hand/Foot Bath - this is a great way to obtain the therapeutic effects of aromatherapy when a bath is not possible. Use 3-4 drops in a little 1 quart tub of warm water and soak for 10 minutes. This is a good way to treat fungal problems of the foot.

·Compress - 5 drops per cup of warm or cold water.

· Inhalation - 3-8 drops in a bowl of hot water will help relieve congestion, coughing and chest infections. Cover your head with a towel and inhale the vapors. Caution: never do an inhalation during an asthma attack or with epileptic people. You can also put 3 drops of an oil on a handkerchief, pillow or cotton ball in a zip lock baggie. Sitz Bath - 5-10 drops per sitz bath

· Fragrant Body Water - 5-10 drops per 4 ounces of water in a spray bottle.

· Room Spray - 20 drops per 4 ounces of water in a spray bottle