The Common Essential Oils

Basic Principles of Aromatherapy Synthetic oils vs Natural oils Aromatherapy vs "normal" medicine Aromatherapy explained Methods for use Contraindications Aromatherapy for pets Essential Oils in Magick Practical Usage of Essential Oils

Essential oils are obtained by 2 main methods:

1). Expression (also called pressing) ie.  cold pressed lemon oil.
2). Distillation, either steam, water or dry.

For oils such as Camphor it is processed three times to produce the three types of oil.  The first produces Brown Camphor, the second Yellow Camphor and the third White Camphor.

The other methods for extraction are:

1). Solvent.  This produces a 'Concrete', a 'Resinoid' and an 'Absolute'.
2). Enfleurage or Pomade.  This method for producing Essential oils is not used much any more, as it is an expensive and time consuming process.

A Concrete is obtained through the use of a hydrocarbon solvent to extract the Essential oil from the plant matter.  This is used for the Essential oils such as Rose, Jasmine and Ylang Ylang.  The Ylang Ylang concrete is approx 80% Essential oil and 20% wax.  Jasmine is approx 50% Essential oil and 50% wax.  A second extraction may also be performed to the plant matter using alcohol which produces an Absolute such as Neroli.

A  Resinoid is obtained by the same method, but it is produced from resin based plants such as Amber and Frankincense.

A Pomade was obtained by the use of layers of fat onto which the petals of plants such as Tuberose and Jasmine were laid out and left to dry.  The fat collected the Essential oils which were later extracted.  This process has now been replaced by solvent extraction.

Essential oils are found in very small quantities in many plants. For example:     for every 100 kg of plant matter the following plants produce these amounts of oil:

Eucalyptus   -  3kg
Lavender      -   1.9kg
Ylang Ylang -  1.6-2kg
Juniper         -   1/2-1.2kg
Rose            -    0.05kg

As you can see it takes a lot of plants to make a small amount of Essential oil.

Plants from different areas/countries can be more expensive (lower % of oil per plant) or cheaper (higher % of oil per plant).
 

Essential oils are categorized by: Their plant type (ie. Citrus) and by their Note (ie.  Base note)

The plant types are:  Citrus, floral, herb, spice, wood and resin.  Although the oils can blend with any other oils, they blend better with oils of their own group, or with an oil of a similar group.  ie. Lemon ( citrus) & Lavender ( floral) and  Cedarwood ( wood) & Patchouli ( herb).

The note types are:   Top, Middle and Base.  Top note oils such as Neroli and Lemon evaporate and lose their aroma quickly when left open.  A top note oil will last approx 1 week if left opened.  A middle note oil such as Lavender and Geranium is slightly more stable and will evaporate and lose its aroma approx 2-3 weeks when left opened.  Base note oils are the heavy oils such as Sandalwood and Patchouli which will evaporate much more slowly, taking about a month.

When you smell a blended oil you can usually pick which oils are the top, middle and base oils as the first one you notice will be a top note.  The next scent you notice will be from the middle notes and the heavy, lingering scent will belong to the base note.  In this way you can tell which oil is which note.

A good blend will contain at least one of each note, to add a layered effect to the blend.

Most people will have seen cheap bottles of 'fragrant' oils or bottles of  'blended Essential oils'  as well as bottles of 'Pure Essential oils'.  Each one has it's own uses.

Fragrant Oils:  These are the synthetic oils. Scientists have apparently been able to reproduce about 90% of the natural occurring Essential oil composition.  This is what a good quality fragrant oil is.  It is the remaining 10% of the natural Essential oil that holds the therapeutic content of the oil, and that 10% is what distinguishes the two. Cheaper fragrant oils are just scented oil.

Fragrant oils have NO therapeutic content, they smell nice (sometimes better than the Essential oils!) but that is all that they should be used for.  They work well in oil burners, in baths, in pot pourri, as a perfume and various other uses, but will have no healing effect other than to smell nice.  One thing to keep in mind, is while they smell nice and can be used in oil burners and such, they are synthetic, so using a pure essential oil, while more expensive, is a better option.

Blended Essential Oils:   These are made from Pure Essential oils, but have been diluted with a 'Carrier oil', usually Sweet Almond, jojoba, Safflower or Apricot Kernel. These oils are blended because Essential oils are too strong to apply directly to the skin, they must be diluted first, and because a blended oil costs less to produce than a full bottle of Essential Oil.  The Blended oil has been diluted so it is usually safe to apply directly onto the skin. These have therapeutic qualities, which are usually printed on the label. Oils such as Rose, Neroli, Jasmine, Chamomile and Ylang Ylang are rarely available as anything other than a blend, due to their cost.

Pure Essential Oils:   These are the Essential oils in their 100% pure state. These oils should NEVER be applied straight onto the skin, and many Essential oils will have safety data printed onto the label if they have any harmful effects. (there are a few exceptions to the "never put oils directly on the skin" rule... which I will go into later) 
 

When purchasing an Essential oil there are 4 ways to help tell if you are buying the pure oil:

1).  Look for the words "100%"  and "Pure Essential oil".  This is only a guide as many brands of fragrant oil have 100% pure written on them, and some brands of Essential oils (such as the brand I use ) don't have "100% pure on the label" even though they are.  There are also sneaky people who use the "100% Pure Essential Oil" and other such misleading wording as their brand name....(and if the word 'fragrant' appears anywhere, chances are it isn't an Essential oil.).  A Pure Essential oil is not water soluable, so if the bottle says it is, then it is a blend of something and not 100% pure Essential oil.

2).  Smell the oils, Pure Essential oils smell like the plant it comes from. If the scent is slightly fake, very sweet or in the case of Rose and other expensive oils, really strong, it is more likely to be a fragrant oil.

3).  Look at the price,  Pure Essential oils are expensive, due to the quantity of plants needed to produce the oil (for eg. it takes approx 15 roses to make 1 drop of Rose oil.)  Each oil should have a different price, as some are cheaper to produce than others. 

4).  There are no Essential oils of "Strawberry", "Dewberry", "Rainforest", "Pot Purri" or "Nanna's Garden".  If something like these is packaged the same and on the same stand, then chances are all the oils are synthetic fragrant oils.

This is a guide only... but it helps to work out which ones are "fake" and which ones are "real".  The store keeper may not know the difference, as they buy products from a distributor, and many haven't a clue what they are... they just know they sell well :)
 

Many people take Aspirin for headaches although many tests have proven that  Aspirin can cause stomach upsets, thin the blood, cause liver damage and contribute to anaemia. Yet people take many of these a day to relieve headaches, and think they are safe.

Antibiotics are used for infections because they kill bacteria.  However there are good bacteria living in our bodies, without which our bodies can not work efficiently.  Antibiotics kill off all bacteria, and many people suffer from thrush and other illnesses as a result.  The other concern with antibiotics is that each time they are used, the body builds up a resistance to them, much the same way our bodies build up a resistance to the Smallpox or Measles virus when we are vaccinated.  Stronger doses of antibiotics are then needed to fight the infections, and the circle continues.

Aromatherapy works on the wholistic approach.  It treats the whole body at the one time.  Aromatherapy has no negative side effects when used properly, and is non - addictive.

A lot of poeple wonder how smelling something can make you better - but Aromatherapy isn't just about smelling the oils.  Herbal medicine has been around since time began, Aromatherapy is just a form of herbal medicine - using the concentrated plant oils rather than the leaves/roots/bark parts of the plant.

People think of Aromatherapy as being smell therapy, but this isn't the case.  The essential oils can used in many different methods, I will be explaining those later... but the reason people think of them as being just all about the smell, is that the blood vessels in your nose are very close the the surface of your skin....so the molecules of "healing goodness" if you want to think of it that way, can be absorbed into the body quickly (and they do smell nice...well....some of them!)

The healing effects can also pass through the skin anywhere on your body, and enter the blood stream, where they work on the troubled areas of the body.  So while most people tend to think of Aromatherapy as being putting some oils in an oil burner and just smelling them, they are used in lotions, creams, shampoos and conditioners, massage oils and other products - all having a healing effect without relying on just the smell of the oil in a burner.

Essential oils basically travel around your body and look for the illnesses, and target them, leaving the rest of your body alone.  It is because of this, that if you run lavender oil into your fingertip, it will help your infected toe...even though the oil never touches the actual toe. (and your headache, and cut finger!!!).  Though obviously where possible, it is best to apply the oil where it is needed, as the results will be better.

INHALATION:
(Breathing it in)
 

• Straight from the bottle - Useful for things like Headache, memory booster, nausea etc.
• Oil burner - Useful to Kill airborne bacteria (to help prevent colds spreading to others),  insomnia, stress etc.  Put 3-5 drops in a water filled well of the oil burner, and replace as needed.  NEVER burn Essential oils without water... it damages the oil by over heating it, and you only need a few drops of Essential oil, which is not enough liquid for the oil burner to work correctly so you can risk breaking the oil burner.
• Drops on a tissue (carry with you or place on the bed-head etc.) - Useful for colds, coughs,  migraine etc. 1-2 drops on a tissue
• Drops in sink/bowl of hot water - Useful for olds, respiratory infection, catarrh (runny  nose) etc. stick your head over the sink/bowl, with eyes closed and inhale the  vapour.  No more than 5 drops to half a sink full of water

BATH:

 Hot/warm bath - Useful for colds, muscle cramp, stiffness etc.  10 drops Maximum

Cool bath - Useful for Fever and heat related problems.  10 drops Maximum

Foot bath - Useful for Athlete's foot, blisters, aching feet etc.  Use a bucket or bowl big  enough to comfortably put your feet in. 5 drops Maximum

Shallow bath - Useful for Thrush, Piles etc.  a bath deep enough to cover the problem area.  5  drops maximum

 

 
 
 

If using peppermint oil, you may want to use only half the recommend drops.... as my Aromatherapy teacher puts it -  "It runs amok amongst your genitals"  (it has a cooling effect that you may not wish to have touching sensitive areas!!!)

You will need to swish the water around to disperse the oils.  There is a product called  "Solubalizer" that may be useful.  It makes the oil dissolve in water, although the same effect can be to mix the oil with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) or vodka, which will make it water soluble.  5 drops to 1tsp alcohol.  (I have also heard that the same effect can be achieved with milk, but I am not sure...)

MASSAGE:
 

• Massage diluted oil onto effected area - Useful for things like varicose veins, strains, constipation  Muscle aches etc.
• Massage diluted oil all over body - Useful for things like Stress, insomnia, anxiety etc.

Both, use a 3% dilution for normal skin, 1% for face or sensitive skin (explained further below)

INTERNALLY:

Most Essential oils are toxic and should NEVER be taken internally.  It is safest to assume that ALL Essential oils are toxic and therefore none should be taken internally. 

Many Aromatherapy books suggest  a mouth wash or a gargle for gum problems or throat infections, however it is dangerous and other methods work just as well.  There are many different species of the same oil, for example Birch  has 2 varieties, white and sweet.  White birch is non-toxic, but sweet birch is fatally toxic.  I would not use ANY Essential oils internally, especially in their pure state,  as there are many other methods of application which are much safer.

{as I was saying in a previous section, even rubbing an oil on your toe will help a sore throat, so it isn't worth ingesting something that is potentially harmful}

DIRECTLY TO THE SKIN:

There are really only four Essential oils which may safely be applied directly onto the skin an all should have a patch test done first.  Have you ever seen what they do to plastic?  and they can burn your skin - some more than others.

Place a drop of the oil onto the back of your wrist, cover with a Band-Aid and leave for 1 hour (24 hours is best).  If no irritation has occurred you may use it.  If irritation does occur, bathe the area in cool water and dilute the oil with a carrier oil to use it.  Only the four Essential oils listed below may be applied to skin directly, and only onto an effected area  ie. a cut or wart.  DO NOT use as a massage oil, or slather it all over your skin:
Lavender,  Sandalwood,  Tea tree  and some say Lemon, ylang ylang or  Chamomile.

There is no need to apply any essential oil directly onto the skin, an essential oil blended 3% into a carrier oil will have exactly the same healing properties as a full strength oil... so not only do you run the risk of burning the skin by applying them neat, you are also wasting oil :)  -- Scrooge McObsidian here :)

COMPRESS:

• Drops of oil in cold water for cold compress - fever, swelling etc.
• Drops of oil in hot water for hot compress - Headache,  period pain etc.

To make a compress, half fill a bowl or sink of either hot or cold water, and add 3-5 drops of essential oil.... soak the cloth in this water for a few moments, wring out, and apply to the effected area.

PERFUME:
(Dab behind ears, wrists etc)

• Use same dilution as for a massage oil - using a carrier oil base of Apricot kernel or other  light oil. 
• Use same dilution as for a massage oil - using an alcohol base (vodka or rubbing alcohol)

• Use this when an oil is not suitable, for example on an oily scalp, or to dry out  a cut.  use 5 drops essential oil into a teaspoon of Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing  alcohol) or vodka

Dilutions:
For normal use do not exceed 3% Essential oil dilution.  For use on face or other sensitive skin use a 1% Essential oil dilution.  Children should have a weaker dilution to adults, and should not have any oils other than the ones listed.
 

Dilutions and oils for Children

• 0-12 months - 1 drop of Rose or Lavender or chamomile in 1 tsp of carrier oil (Further diluted if using for massage), or in a bath.
• 1-5 - Use 2-3 drops of Rose, Lavender, Chamomile, Sandalwood, Tangerine, Ylang Ylang or Neroli in 1 tsp of carrier oil (Further diluted if using for massage) or in a bath.
• 6-12 - Use as for adults, but half the concentration.

3% dilution
For 100 mls of carrier oil use 60  drops of Essential oil.
For 25 mls of carrier oil use 15 drops of Essential oil.
For 5 mls of carrier oil (1 teaspoon) use 3 drops of Essential oil.

1% dilution
For 100 mls of carrier oil use 20 drops of Essential oil.
For 25 mls of carrier oil use 5 drops of Essential oil.
For 5 mls of carrier oil (1 tsp) use 1 drop of Essential oil.
 
 

Pregnancy - use half the dilution and none of the contraindicated oils.

Aromatherapy oils are concentrated and should not be directly applied to the skin or taken internally.  There are also other times when Essential oils should be treated with caution or not be used at all, these are called Contraindications.  The following is a list of some of the contraindications for the various Essential oils.
 

OILS NOT TO BE USED AT ALL! - These oils are dangerous for anyone except a trained Aromatherapist to use. They are either extremely toxic or cause severe skin irritation even in a diluted state. Use of these is at your own risk.  These oils are:
Bitter Almond, Arnica, Boldo, Broom, Buchu, Calamus, Camphor(brown & Yellow), Cassia, Chervil,  Cinnamon(bark), Costus, Deertongue, Elecampane, Fennel(bitter), Horseradish, Jaborandi,  Melilotus, Mugwort, Mustard, Oregano, Pennyroyal, Pine(dwarf), Rue, Sage(common), Santolina,  Sassafras, Savine, Savory, Tansy, Thuja, Thyme(red), Tonka, Wintergreen, Wormseed and Wormwood.

OILS THAT  SHOULD BE USED IN SMALL DOSES FOR NO LONGER THAN 2  WEEKS. - These oils are fairly toxic or may have side effects such as nausea, vomiting and headaches and should be used with extreme caution:
Ajowan, Anise star, Aniseed, Basil(exotic), Bay laurel, Bay(west indian) Calamintha, Camphor(white), Cascarrilla bark, Cassie, Cedarwood(virginian), Cinnamon(leaf & bark), Clove(bud),  Coriander, Eucalyptus, Fennel(sweet), Hops, Hyssop, Juniper, Nutmeg, Parsley, Pepper(black),  Pine, Sage(spanish), Tagetes, Tarragon, Thyme(white), Tuberose, Tumeric, Turpentine and Valerian.

OILS THAT IRRITATE THE SKIN IF USED IN HIGH CONCENTRATION.  - These oils should be used in half the reccomended dilution, and no more than 3 drops in a bath. These oils are: 
Ajowan, Allspice, Aniseed, Basil(sweet)  Black pepper, Borneol, Cajeput, Caraway, Cedarwood(Virginian),  Cinnamon(leaf), Clove(bud),  Cornmint, Eucalyptus,  Garlic,  Ginger,  Lemon,  Parsley, peppermint, Pine(needle, Scotch & Longleaf), Thyme(white) and Tumeric.

OILS THAT CAUSE IRRITATION ON SENSITIVE SKIN. - These oils may cause eczema or dermatitis with people who have very sensitive skin. ( For people with senstive skin always test the oil on the back of your wrist, and leave for an hour to 24 hours. If irritation occurs bathe area with cold water and try a weaker concentration.) These oils are:
Aniseed, Basil(french), Bay laurel, Benzoin, Bergamot, Cade, Cajeput, Cananga, cedarwood (virginian), Chamomile(Roman and German), Citronella, Garlic, Geranium, Ginger, Hops,  Jasmine,  Lemon, Lemongrass, Lemon balm(Melissa), Litsea cubeba, Loveage, Mastic, Mint(pepper & spear), Orange, Peru balsam, Pine(scotch & longleaf), Styrax, Tea tree, Thyme(white), Tolu balsam,  Tumeric, Turpentine, Valerian, Vanilla, Verbena, Violet, Yarrow and Ylang Ylang.

OILS THAT ARE PHOTOTOXIC. - These are oils which can cause the skin to darken if exposed to direct sunlight.  Do not use these oils at all if the area will be exposed to sunlight.  These oils are:
Angelica root, Bergamot, Cumin, Ginger, Lemon, Lime, Loveage, Mandarin, Orange and Verbena.

OILS THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED DURING PREGNANCY. - Due to the effects of these oils on the reproductive organs, and the sensitivity of the foetus, certain oils should not be used at all during pregnancy. These oils are:
Ajowan,Anjelica, Anise star, Aniseed, Basil, Bay laurel, Calamintha, Cedarwood(all types),  Celery seed, Cinnamon(leaf), Citronella, Clary sage, Clove, Cumin, Cypress, Fennel(sweet), Hyssop,  Jasmine, Juniper, Labdanum, lovage, Marjoram, Myrrh, Nutmeg, Parsley, Penyroyal, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Snakeroot, sage, Tarragon and Thyme(white)

OILS THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. - These oils should not be used:
Black pepper, Hyssop, Lemon, Lemongrass, Nutmeg, Rosemary, Sage (spanish & Common) and Thyme.

OILS THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED WITH LOW BLOOD PRESSURE. - These oils should not be used:
Chamomile(Roman & German), Lemon balm, Lavender(true), Marjoram(sweet) and Ylang ylang.

THE OIL THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED FOR DIABETES. Anjelica.

THE OIL THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED FOR KIDNEY PROBLEMS. Juniper.

OILS THAT SHOULD BE NOT BE USED WITH HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENTS. - These oils are not to be used by anyone recieving homeopathic treatment:
Black pepper, Camphor, Eucalyptus and Peppermint.

OILS THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED WITH ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION. - These oils will increase the effects of alcohol:
Aniseed, Clary sage and Fennel.

THE OIL THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED WITH  DEPRESSION. Basil.

OILS THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED WITH EPILEPSY. - These oils should not be used:
Fennel, Hyssop, Sage and Rosemary. 

Aromatherapy can be used for dogs, Horses and other larger animals, but is not recommended for use with cats, as they cannot excrete the oils and this can cause a buildup of toxic chemicals in the body.   Likewise birds (and other small animals) should not be exposed to Essential Oils.   When using Essential oils for animals, use only the oils recommended for children, and in a 1/2 to 1/3 of the concentration you would for adults.  Using Aromatherapy with pets can be dangerous, so is best left to trained Aromatherapists.

To apply the oils, you can use Inhalation methods, or make up a blended oil for use on the area, or on the back of the neck.  An estimated guide for blends would be 2tb of carrier oil with about 12-15 drops of Essential Oil.  Then use 1-3 drops of this blend as required.
 

Anxiety & Hyperactivity:
Clary Sage, Lavender, Ylang Ylang

Arthritis/Muscle Ache:
Black pepper, Chamomile, Lavender 

Calming:
Lavender, Marjoram, Petitgrain, Neroli, Rose, Valerian, Spikenard, Orange, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang

Fleas & Ticks:
Citronella, Grapefruit, Lemongrass, Lemon, Peppermint

Skin Conditions:
Lavender, Chamomile, Cedarwood
 
 

links
http://www.pamperedpuppy.com/features/200309_aromatherapy.php
http://www.dog-first-aid-101.com/aromatherapy-for-dogs.html
http://www.aromaweb.com/books/kristenleighbell.asp
http://www.thelavendercat.com/3201/index.html
 

The Magickal properties of Essential Oils are the same as the Magickal properties of the plants they are derived from, so please see this page on the properties of herbs and plants.  Essential oils have various uses in Magick.  Some uses are as follows:

• Annointing oil (for annointing yourself or objects) - Use Essential Oils that have properties that would be appropriate for the type of work you are doing.  For example you could make a blend for protection, love, power or fortune.
• Incense - When making your own incenses, you can include Essential Oils.  If making powdered incence, you can grind the herbs/gums you are using, then add a drop or two of Essential Oil.  If making Incense sticks or cones, you can add oils to the mixture as you make them, or add a drop to a finished incense stick/cone.  ou can sometimes buy scent-less incense for you to add your own oils to.
• Oil Burner - You can make a blend to burn in an oil burner for Ritual use.  You could make specific blends for your particular workings, or make a basic Cleansing. Concentration or Purifying blend to use each time.