Oils & Spoils

Super excited to share a series of blogs based on the oils in my oil cabinet and those scattered around the house and in my purse, because I really do use them every day, everywhere. Each week will feature at least five Young Living Essential Oils single oils or oil blends, with a description, uses and applications for each oil or blend.

Disclosures and Disclaimers

What’s in it for you, besides some oily education? A chance to win one of the featured oils each week. How you ask? Follow my blog. Each week, I’ll randomly pick a winner from my followers. Easy breezy.

What’s in it for me? A deeper dive into a personal mission to encourage others to try good, quality essential oils in an educated and safe way. An additional motivator to complete my coursework and paper for a certification in French Aromatherapy (Basil and Bergamot are two of the oils featured in Module 3). And while a lot of my blogs have focused on how to choose and use essential oils, I’ve not focused on individual oils and blends. The huge response to #brainpower made me consider that there may be some mystery  around which oils you might want or need or what to do with that little bottle in your hand. Mystery can draw some like a moth to a porch light, but it can also be a total showstopper for others.

So, let’s remove some of the mystery…99 bottles of oils on the wall, 99 bottles of oil. (OK, I don’t know if I have 99 of the over 120 singles and blends that Young Living Essential Oils offers, but we’re about to find out.) Take 5 down, pass them around, 94 bottles of oil on the wall.

This Week’s Featured Five

Aroma Life:  A proprietary Young Living Essential Oils blend of Sesame Seed Oil, Cypress, Helichrysum, Ylang Ylang and Marjoram. This blend supports cardiovascular, lymphatic and circulatory systems and helps to reduce stress. Marjoram and Ylang Ylang energize the spirit and create a sense of connection. Diffuse, directly inhale, add 2-4 drops to bath water or dilute 1:15 (one drop of oil per 15 drops of a carrier oil) for a full-body massage.

Aroma Siez:  A proprietary Young Living Essential Oils blend of Basil, Lavender, Cypress, Marjoram and Peppermint essentials oils. This blend of essential oils helps to promote circulation and relieve headaches and tight, inflamed, aching muscles resulting from injury, fatigue or stress. Lavender and Peppermint are soothing and relaxing. Dilute 1:1 (1 drop of oil to 1 drop of a carrier oil) to avoid possible skin sensitivity and apply to sore muscles, ligaments or areas of poor circulation.

Basil:  Available as an essential oil single and as part of Young Living Essential Oils Vitality new dietary essential oil line, which means you can add it to food or take it in a capsule. Add to salad dressings, marinades and Italian recipes, or take it as a dietary supplement to support overall wellness. Avoid use if epileptic. Do not pour oil into the ear. Found in Aroma Siez, Clarity and M-Grain Young Living Essential Oils proprietary blends. Diffuse, directly inhale, take as a dietary supplement to support overall wellness, or dilute 1:4 (1 drop of oil to 4 drops of a carrier oil) and apply to temples and neck for a headache. Basil also helps with insect bites.

Bergamot:  Like Basil, Bergamot is available as an essential oil single and as part of the Vitality line. While the majority of essential oils are steam distilled from leaves or tree bark, Bergamot essential oil is produced by vacuum distillation or cold pressed from the fruit’s rind. Bergamot has a light citrusy scent, which can be uplifting and relaxing when diffused and is found in several Young Living Essential Oils deodorants, bath and shower gels, and hand and body lotions. Bergamot is calming and provides hormonal support. Fun facts: Bergamot has been used for centuries and is what gives Earl Grey Tea its distinctive flavor. Use Bergamot to add a fresh citrus taste to dishes. Diffuse, directly inhale, dilute 1:1 with a carrier oil to apply topically, or take as a dietary supplement. Bergamot is photosensitive, so avoid direct sunlight and UV rays for at least 12 hours after application to skin or wear sunscreen.

Black Pepper:  Like Basil and Bergamot, Black Pepper is available as an essential oil single and as part of the Vitality line. Fun facts: Black Pepper was used by Egyptians in mummification and by Indian monks to give them endurance during their travels, and was as valuable in ancient times as gold or silver. Black pepper can help with metabolism, tummy issues, fatigue, nerve/muscle pain, immunity and tobacco cessation. Use Black Pepper to add some spice to dishes. Found in Awaken, Cel-Lite Magic Massage Oil, Dream Catcher, En-R-Gee, NingXia Nitro and Relieve It proprietary Young Living Essential Oils blends and products. Diffuse, directly inhale, dilute 1:1 with a carrier oil for topical application, or take as a dietary supplement to support overall wellness.

Follow Oil & Spoils for a chance to win a 5 ml bottle of Basil essential oil. So many uses for this little gem! I’ll randomly pick a winner by Wednesday, May 18, and notify the luck person via private message. Good luck, all!

I’ll continue to do other Oils & Spoils posts, in addition to one a week of the 99 Bottles of Oil series. Like Black Pepper, gotta spice it up.

Essential oil information for the 99 Bottles of Oils on the Wall series can be found in the Young Living Essential Oils 2016 Product Guide and Life Science Publishing’s Essential Oils Pocket Reference, Sixth Edition.

Until next time, be a smart moth. Bask in the glow of the porch light, but do your research and approach with caution.

Oils Updates

Soapmaking Encore Class: For those of you in Middle Tennessee, I’ll be teaching another soapmaking class Saturday, June 4, 5-7 p.m., at the Hobby Lobby in Murfreesboro for those for whom attending is easier on a weekend, rather than a weeknight. Everyone gets at least one lavender soap bar and one lavender lotion bar, along with packaging and a goodie bag. More details to come. Let me know if you’re interested.

Young Living Essential Oils May Promotions: Truly are ah-May-zing. I’ve helped friends ordering their first Premium Starter Kit add on to their orders to get some or all of the May promo freebies. If you’re already a member, add your friends and family orders to yours and share the promos, or keep them all to yourself.