I love that there is so much information available today about essential oils! It makes me so happy to know that people have access to such good information on how to use them and how each oil can be used.
If you google “essential oil benefits” You’ll probably find that the results are all pretty much the same. Usually you’ll find a list of 10 – 20 oils and their medicinal and sometimes emotional properties. You might also find a few DIY recipes for skin care or various health ailments. I love this. I love seeing what other people do with oils, it’s such a source an inspiration to me. It’s my goal to be a source of inspiration to you and help you incorporate essential oils into your daily life.
So today I’ve decided to give you a sneak peak into the Soulful Essence Philosophy of essential oils. You may have noticed that I only sell essential oil bends (with one exception). There’s a reason for that. It’s because not everyone knows how to combine essential oils in an effective way and not everyone has access to a variety of essential oils. It can get quite expensive to buy a bottle of essential oil and only use a few drops of it in a blend.
At this point you may be wondering if I ever use single essential oils and the answer is yes. There is one oil that is so amazing and powerful that it can stand on it’s own. The oil is lavender. However, I think this is a great time to remind you that not all essential oils are created equal. Just like anything else, quality can vary greatly. Ensuring the oils you use are high quality is not rocket science, but it does dive deep into chemistry. I’m not going to bore you with details on the chemical analysis (GC/MS) that must be completed on every oil I use, but I will tell you that these chemical tests are used to determine a couple of things:
- Purity – has the oil been adulterated and does it contain anything it’s not supposed to (like artificial chemicals, other plant material or other not-so-nice stuff).
- Potency – does the oil contain the desired, naturally occurring, chemical components in the quantity I want? If I want to ensure my lavender oil is calming, when I review the chemical analysis, I want to see high concentrations of both Linalool and Linalyl acetate and I must do this with every single batch I buy because factors like rainfall, altitude and distillation process can affect the delicate balance of components in the lavender.
OK, I think that’s enough geeking out on essential oil science, but the moral of the story is, be sure you’re essential oils are tested to ensure maximum effectiveness. Otherwise you could just be wasting your money.
Blending:
To me, blending is more of an art, rather than a science. Determining what oils go together is very similar to cooking a nice dinner. Once you spend a little bit of time with the ingredients you are able to understand how to best put them together and you are always looking for new and interesting ways to do it.
I also have a few secret tricks up my sleeve that I use when blending that ensures maximum potency. Depending on the blend, I’ll use plants with similar and complimentary properties. I know that sounds contradictory but because I’m using the whole plant, and not chemical isolates, I’m able to take advantage of not only the predominate benefits each plant has to offer, but I also consider the lesser occurring components and use them to round out the blend and provide depth. This translates into more versatile blends and allows for a much deeper and more powerful experience for you.
This may sound a bit complicated, but once you spend enough time with the oils and get to know them, it really just boils down to understanding the properties of each oil and letting your intuition guide you.
I hope I’ve been able to give you a little insight into my world of essential oils and I invite you to share in the experience and give them a try. I would also love to hear any questions you may have. Please leave them in the comments below.
XO
JMB