51 Surprising Uses Of Essential Oils That Will Blow Your Mind
Written by Jyotsana Rao, BE jyotsana raoBEExperience: 4 years
Jyotsana Rao is an engineering graduate from NIT, Nagpur, who discovered her love for writing during her undergraduate days. She is passionate about writing about everything related to beauty - makeup, fashion, hairstyles, skin care, or hair care and has 4 years of experience on writing in these genres.
Even though they have been in use since ages, essential oils are all the rage nowadays – and for all good reasons. People consider them as a pharmaceutical grade natural remedy that comes with incredible power and has the ability to treat almost any problem. The uses of essential oils range from household cleaning and beauty care to aromatherapy and much more.
From blends to the basics, we are going to give you enough reasons to buy an essential oil bottle today!
Around The House
Use essential oil as an all-purpose cleanser. All you need to do is add 3 drops each of tea tree oil and lemon oil to 2-3 ounces of warm water. Mix this solution well and then transfer it to a spray bottle. Use it as a natural disinfectant.
Mix 5-6 drops of lime oil (you can also use bergamot oil) with half a cup each of baking soda and vinegar. Use this solution as a scrub to clean the bathtub or your bathroom sink.
You can also add a few drops of tea tree essential oil to your diffuser. This will help kill pathogens and the mold present in the air.
Quite often, we ignore the fact that the brush we use to clean our teeth daily needs to be cleaned too. Just washing it with plain water is not enough. You need to wash it with a solution that can kill all the germs and bacteria present in it. Take a cup of water and add 10-15 drops of tea tree oil to it. Wash your brush thoroughly in this solution and then rinse with plain water. Do it once a week to keep your toothbrush germ-free.
Did you know that essential oil can help you get rid of the stinking smell from shoes? Just put a few drops of lavender essential oil or lime oil on your shoes and let them dry. The smell will go away in some time.
Deodorize your refrigerator by mixing a few drops of lavender essential oil with 2 teaspoons of baking soda. Keep this mixture in your fridge after cleaning it. You will notice a unique freshness.
You can also neutralize your pet’s odor with the help of essential oils. Take a spray bottle and fill it with apple cider vinegar. Now, add 15-20 drops of lavender essential oil to it. Shake the bottle well and then spray it to get rid of the odor.
You can also use essential oil as a carpet freshener. Add a few drops of any essential oil to 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda and then sprinkle this mixture on your carpet. Let it sit for some time and then vacuum it.
You can preserve the freshness of your fruits by washing them first with fresh water, and then submerging them in essential oil blend. Take a bowl of water and add a few drops of grapefruit essential oil to it. Mix it well and soak the fruits in that water for a minute or two. Take out the fruits from the water and store them. They will remain fresh for a longer period.
Kill those pesky pests infesting your house and garden by spraying a mix of orange essential oil and clove oil.
Freshen your bathroom by adding a few drops of lemon oil, lavender oil or grapefruit oil to the diffuser.
Essential oil can also be used to battle trash odor. Sprinkle a few drops of geranium oil or lemon oil on a tablespoon of baking soda and mix well. Put this mixture at the bottom of your trash cans.
Mix peppermint essential oil with water and spray this mixture on your doors and windows. This will repel spiders or rodents from entering your home. You can also douse a cotton ball with peppermint oil and stuff them in the corners of doors and windows. This will also help to keep the rodents away from your house.
You can also prevent mites from infesting your clothes with the help of essential oil. Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to water and use this water to wash your clothes.
We all love to use fresh and scented towels, don’t we? Here’s a trick to make your towels and other clothes smell good – sprinkle a few drops of your favorite essential oil onto a small piece of terrycloth and toss it in the dryer with washed towels. Your clothes will smell heavenly.
Bring your old furniture back to life with the help of lemon essential oil. Add a few drops of lemon oil to any carrier oil (I would suggest olive oil) and use this as a non-toxic furniture polish. The lemon oil will leave a beautiful shine on the furniture.
Got kids at home who are obsessed with stickers or temporary tattoos? Lemon oil works for this too. Rub a drop or two of lemon oil over the tattoo and it will come off soon.
Got chewing gum stuck in your hair? How did you remove it? By cutting off those strands of hair? Wait! We have a better solution – apply lemon oil to that portion of your hair and leave it for some time. Wash it off after 2-3 hours and the gum will be gone.
You can use a combination of 10 drops each of tea tree oil, pine oil, lemongrass oil, along with a tablespoon of white vinegar, a cup of baking soda, and 3 tablespoons of liquid dish soap as a grout scrub. Just mix the above ingredients well and place this mixture on a scrub to clean grout.
If you are unable to select the perfect freshener for your bathroom, dab a few drops of lavender essential oil or your favorite essential oil on the cardboard tube of the toilet paper. This will spread your favorite fragrance in the entire bathroom.
Make your kitchen surface cleaner and germ-free by pouring 3-4 drops of lemon oil on a damp sponge. Wipe the countertops with it to eliminate germs and bacteria.
Turn your fireplace into a cozy and aromatic one with the help of essential oil. Add a few drops of pine oil to a medium-sized dry log and let it dry for 15-20 minutes. Once the log soaks the essential oil completely, put it in the fire for a wonderful aroma.
Even after cleaning your kitchen properly, does it still stink? Umm, it might be because of the cleaning sponge. Add a few drops of lavender oil or lemon oil to the sponge and let it dry for some time. The essential oil will act as a disinfectant and leave a fresh aroma.
You can also use essential oil to clean mirrors and windows. Take a spray bottle and add 12-15 drops of lime oil, 1 oz white vinegar, and 1 oz water to it. Mix well. Your cleaning spray is ready!
Do you have a leather sofa at home? We know how hard it is to maintain and prevent it from splitting – but not anymore. Use a soft cloth soaked in lemon oil to clean the leather seat. It will also act as a disinfectant.
Health And Healing
You can use essential oil to boost your immunity by rubbing oregano essential oil on the bottom of your feet regularly before going to bed.
Get rid of a stuffed nose by inhaling the vapor of equal amounts of lavender essential oil and eucalyptus oil. You can rub this mixture on your chest and feet before going to bed.
Soothe a headache (even migraine) by applying a mixture of 2 drops each of eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, and peppermint oil along with 5-6 drops of any carrier oil. Massage this oil gently on the temples, across the forehead, behind the ears, the backside of your neck, and under your nose. It will give you instant relief.
Essential oils can also help you fight hair loss. Mix a few drops of essential oil with a carrier oil and massage it into your scalp. You can use lavender oil, burdock root oil, hops flower oil, thyme oil, ginger oil or yarrow oil.
Prepare your own sanitizer by mixing equal quantities of clove oil, cinnamon oil, rosemary oil, and eucalyptus oil. Dilute this solution with water and transfer it to a spray bottle. Shake well before using it.
You can detoxify your body by adding a few drops of juniper oil or rosemary oil in your Epsom salt bath.
If you have a fever and you’re running out of medication, what would you do? Just add a few drops of peppermint oil or rosemary oil to lukewarm water and sponge your skin. The temperature will go down.
If you’re suffering from indigestion or if your stomach is upset, rubbing a drop of peppermint essential oil on your tummy provides instant relief. You can also consume it internally by mixing a drop of peppermint oil with lukewarm water.
The aroma of peppermint oil is a great and non-stimulating way to boost your mood, especially if you’re traveling or to cure a hangover.
Peppermint essential oil also helps fight bad breath. Peppermint oil mixed with water forms a very healthy and refreshing mouth rinse.
Soothe a sore throat by gargling with a mixture of warm water and a drop of peppermint oil. You can also add a teaspoon of salt to it for better results.
If you suffer from anxiety or depression, you can diffuse a few drops of lavender essential oil around your home. The aroma lifts your spirits and acts as an instand mood booster.
Tea tree essential oil can also help you clear a sinus infection. Take freshly boiled water and add 7-8 drops of tea tree oil to it. Now, lean over the bowl, cover yourself with a blanket, and breathe in the steam for 10-15 minutes. Repeat this twice a day, and you’ll definitely feel better.
Nail fungus is surely an unpleasant condition and getting rid of it is a very painful task. We have the easiest solution for you – mix a tablespoon of coconut oil with 2-3 drops of tea tree oil. Apply it to the affected area regularly.
You can apply the same solution to your acne as well. But, make sure you wash your hands before and after using it to prevent the infection from spreading.
Taking that little splinter out is quite a difficult task, especially if the skin around it becomes too tender to touch. However, this simple trick can help you remove it – take a teaspoon of coconut oil and add a few drops of tea tree oil to it. Now, take a bowl of water and add this oil mixture to it, along with 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt. Soak your finger in the bowl for 10 minutes. This will soften the skin. Now, slowly try to remove the splinter with the help of tweezers. The only thing you need to make sure of is to pull it out completely and not break it.
If you’re looking for an instant energy boost, mix a couple of drops of lemon essential oil and peppermint essential oil in a glass of warm water and drink it up.
Lemon oil can also help in removing dead skin cells. To prepare an exfoliator at home, take a small amount of oatmeal and add 4-5 drops of lemon essential oil and a few drops of water to it. Use it as a face scrub.
If you’re suffering from any type of skin allergy, mix a drop each of peppermint oil and lemon oil and apply the blend on the affected area. It will give you instant relief. However, if the allergy persists, visit your dermatologist.
Add a refreshing kick to your herbal tea by adding a drop of peppermint oil to it. This will relieve heartburn and promote digestion.
If you’re having a hard time sleeping, peppermint essential oil or chamomile oil can help you. They activate the cold-sensitive receptors in the skin and mucosal tissues, and thus, help with insomnia.
Whenever you have scapula or neck tension, apply a little bit of lavender oil mixed with coconut or olive oil and massage those knots out.
If you have been wearing your 6-inch heels for a long time, here’s how you can get rid of that foot fatigue. Soak your feet in a hot foot bath to which a few drops of lavender essential oil have been added. Your feet will definitely thank you after this.
If you’re suffering from dry and itchy skin because of the dry climate, make a mixture of coconut oil and lavender oil, or any of your favorite essential oil, and use it as a moisturizer.
Protect your skin from sunburn by mixing 2 drops of myrrh oil, 2 drops of carrot oil, and 4 drops of jojoba oil. The solution is as effective as a sunscreen with SPF 30.
Massage a couple of drops of juniper oil or wintergreen oil along with a teaspoon of coconut oil to get rid of achy joints.
With so many amazing uses and benefits, isn’t it a great idea to keep a bottle of your favorite essential oil in your cupboard always? You never know when it can turn out be useful! We hope you enjoyed reading the article. Share your views in the comments section below.
Was this article helpful?
Community Experiences
Join the conversation and become a part of our vibrant community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with like-minded individuals.
Jyotsana Rao is an engineering graduate from NIT, Nagpur, who discovered her love for writing during her undergraduate days. She is passionate about writing about everything related to beauty - makeup, fashion, hairstyles, skin care, or hair care and has 4 years of experience on writing in these genres.
Experience: 4 years
