Before you use any oil you need to make sure you are not going to have a bad reaction to it. The best way to do this is to do a patchy test before you use it. This is very simple to do and just needs you to add a small amount of diluted oil to the bend of your elbow. Then you need to leave it for 24 hours and see if you have a reaction. If there is no reaction then you are good to go.



One of my favourite ways to use aromatherapy oils is in the bath. Just run yourself a lovely warm bath and then before you get in add 3 to 10 drops of the oil. The amount depends on the type of oil so you should always read the instructions that they come with. Then simply soak in the bath for at least 10 minutes. This allows the oil to seep in through the pores in your skin and have maximum benefit. One thing I love to do is use lavender oil in the bath before I go to bed. It usually leaves me so relaxed I sleep really well and is great for people with insomnia.

You can also use the oils as an inhaler. If you have a cold the best one to use is eucalyptus oil or if you are suffering from stress try peppermint or sandalwood. This again is very simple to do. Just boil some water and place it in a bowl then add a couple of drops of your favourite oil. Put your head over the bowl and a towel over your head to make a tent. Then simply inhale to steam for around 10 minutes. You will feel refreshed and fantastic at the end of this.

You can also use your oils as a foot soak. Some great oils for this purpose are lemon, mint, tea tree or juniper oils. Just create yourself a warm water foot soak and add about five drops of the oil, then just put your feet in the water and sit back and relax. Remain like this for at least 10 minutes. This is great at the end of a stressful day and you will find it quickly takes the stress of the day away.

You can also make room sprays out of your oils by adding them to water in a spray bottle. Again this can be great to do with lavender oil if you have difficulty sleeping. You can spray a little on your pillow and around your bedroom and it will help you to get to sleep more easily.

There are lots of other uses for oils and you need to be imaginative. If you want to create massage oils then you will need to get a carrier oil and add a few drops of your chosen oil to it. If you have dry skin then good oils to use are coconut or aloe vera to put the goodness back in to your skin.