Ingredient Insight | Summer Essential Oils
Hey everyone! Tess here, store manager at WiDEYE Bournemouth. I am an essential oil geek and love to practice aromatherapy on a regular basis. With all this stunning weather we've been having I thought I'd share my favourite essential oils for summer. Make sure if you are using them directly on the skin you use a carrier oil, but you can use these for massage or in the bath for their benefits. Alternatively if you have a diffuser, you can vaporize or burn them to get the aromatherapy effects as well!
Essential oils are a fantastic way to enjoy aromatherapy in the home, they are a powerful tool that can help support and aid our mood and physical wellbeing. Here at WiDEYE our pure essential oils are ethically sourced from around the world and can make any day a spa day. With so many different varieties of these essential oils, I wanted to break it down by the season and summer has arrived, so what better than to share four of my favourite essential oils to benefit from while the sun is out!
Jasmine essential oil
Jasmine oil comes from the beautifully scented white flowers of the Jasmine Tree, found in mainly tropical climates and is generally associated with the summer months.This oil has been used for centuries as a popular fragrance and known throughout history as the “romantic oil” for its aphrodisiac properties but Jasmine has several different uses for the mind and body.
Here are a few different uses of this luxurious oil:
Stress reliever
- Jasmine when inhaled in the air reduces stress by calming the nervous
system. This can help ease anxiety and aid in getting a good night sleep.
Concentration
- This oil also has the added benefit of helping to boost your concentration by
stimulating the brain, whether you are studying, working on a project or just feeling a bit off, Jasmine is there to get you through the day.
Antiseptic
When diluted with a carrier oil this Jasmine oil is fantastic when used as a
disinfectant as it contains an active constituent called benzoin acid that kills bacteria and fungi. This can help with unwanted acne or speed the healing of wounds.
Sweet orange essential oil
Sweet orange is a particular variety of orange, believed to be a mix between a pomelo and a mandarin .This oil is extracted by using a cold pressed method directly from the fruit and peel itself. Mainly found in warmer regions of the world. This particular oil has been used in folk medicine for hundreds of years because of its therapeutic benefits, here are some of its uses.
Eliminates toxins
- Sweet orange oil has natural antioxidant properties which help eliminate the
free radicals that build up in our body that can cause harm, this strengthens your immune system to help fight toxins.
Mood enhancer
- When this oil is inhaled it can reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety, uplifting and boosting one's mood by having a balancing effect on body and mind. Soothes Irritated acne prone skin.
- Sweet orange oil contains antimicrobial properties that help ease certain acne issues by reducing the amount of bacteria on the surface of the skin.
Peppermint essential oil
This essential oil hardly needs an introduction, we’ve all probably used this at some point in our life. This versatile essential oil is taken from the peppermint plant, which is a hybrid between spearmint and watermint. It has been around for centuries and was first cultivated in England in the 17th century and has been used ever since in most all branches of medicine.
Let’s take a look at some of its incredible uses!
Cooling
- The biggest benefit of this oil during the summer months is that it cools the body
down, this is caused by the menthol the plant produces which increases blood flow.
Anti-inflammatory
- Again because this oil contains menthol, it helps reduce inflammation
caused by an injury or even sunburn due to its cooling properties, when used topical with a carrier oil.
Eases stress
- Due to peppermint oil’s refreshing properties, it helps ease stress, as well as
headaches caused by a buildup of stress when inhaled.
Citronella Essential oil
This aromatic oil is extracted from a grass native to Sri Lanka and Java, it is a pale yellow colour with a fresh lemony scent. It has been used throughout the years for different things but mainly for its light happy scent.
Insect repellent
- The biggest use for citronella is as an insect repellent, this is due to it masking the scent that the insects are attracted too, making you less appealing to snack on or be around. Making this perfect for any camping trip!
Hair health
- Citronella is great at regulating the natural sebum (oil) our body produces thus
decreasing the amount it produces. It also helps soothe and irritated dry scalp.
How to use essential oils
You can add a few drops to any diffuser or oil burner which will slowly release it into the air to be inhaled. For use on the body and face, it will have to be diluted as you cannot use essential oils neat. The best way to do this is by using a carrier oil, 1 drop of essential oil to every 10ml of oil.
Another great way is using essential oils is a few drops in the bath as the oil will gently be absorbed into the skin and the aromatic properties can also be inhaled subtly.
Precautions when using essential oils
- Never use directly onto the skin.
- Avoid use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Never ingest essential oils, only for use topically.
- Please consult your doctor first if you are taking any medications.
- Avoid use on pets.
- Avoid use on children under the age of three years old.
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