Essential Oil Spotlight: Lavender

Hi friends!

Have you ever wanted to get into essential oils but aren’t quite sure where to start or where to find information? That’s how I felt about a year ago before diving into the magical world of oils! There are so many resources out there and dozens of essential oil companies that this whole thing can be pretty confusing! I’m writing this with hope that I may be able to help you ease into your essential oil practice. My goal is to simplify this information so that you feel like you’re able to digest everything fully, but so that you also feel very confident in your knowledge of different oils.

Today, I’m showcasing lavender essential oil because it’s one of the most common essential oils! It’s most known for it’s relaxing and soothing uses. I use this oil so much that I’ve almost finished 3 bottles and I’ve gifted many bottles to family and friends!

Here are some of the most well-known benefits of lavender essential oil:

Calming for the mind
Soothes emotions
Comforting and uplifting
Alleviates fears and anxiety
Great linen refresher
Sleep aide or sedative
Eases pain and inflammation, muscle aches, strains and sprains
Controls dandruff and lice, and relieves itchiness
Aides in the control of allergies and asthma
Antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiseptic
Great for a variety of skin conditions, including acne, boils, bruises, chicken pox, dermatitis, insect bites, sunburn, stretch marks and other various wounds.
Helps with anxiety and depression
Relieves earaches, headaches, migraines, nausea and whooping cough

Here are a few ways you can use lavender essential oil:

Diffuse in a diffuser or in an aromatherapy inhaler
Create a calming candle
Create a freshening linen spray
Apply to the body to soothe sore muscles
Apply to pimples to reduce inflammation
Add to body and skincare products to gently scent the skin
Take a bath with a few drops of lavender added to your water
Use in a massage oil

In my opinion, one of the hardest parts about using essential oils is knowing what oils blend well together. Some scents work great together, while others clash, just like some benefits work well together, and others are counter-productive. Lavender is one of the most versatile aromas and blends well with so many oils. Here is just a small portion of the oils that blend well with lavender:

Basil
Bergamot
Black pepper
Cedarwood
Chamomile
Cinnamon
Cypress
Eucalyptus
Fennel
Fir needle
Frankincense
Geranium
Grapefruit
Lemon
Lemongrass
Lime
Mandarin
Marjoram
Myrrh
Nutmeg
Orange
Patchouli
Peppermint
Rosemary
Sage
Sandalwood
Tea tree
Vetiver

Although essential oils can be so healing and grounding, there are definitely things to take into consideration before using each oil. Here are a list of precautions to think about before using lavender essential oil:

Lavender may act as a sedative. Take caution when driving, using heavy machinery, or doing other activities that require concentration.
Do not use lavender if you have an estrogen-dependent cancer.

If you’re looking for some recipe inspo, here are a few recipes I’ve created (both for my own blog and for the Simply Earth blog) that include lavender essential oil. I’ll continue to update this list as I create more recipes that feature this amazing oil!

I hope I’ve helped you understand a bit more about lavender essential oil! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me (my email is naturallyariblog@gmail.com).

What other oils would you like to learn more about?

Naturally,

Ari

** I am not yet a certified aromatherapist. All content has been retrieved from reputable and reliable sources that have been listed below. This post also contains affiliate links that I may receive monetary compensation from.**

Resources:

Essential Oils Natural Remedies. New York: Fall River Press, 2015. Print. The Complete A-Z Reference of Essential Oils for Health and Healing

Aromahead

Simply Earth