I’m in the business of sharing my love for natural, toxin-free living. I share it with all of you because I think it’s something that needs to be shared. We’ve been using essential oils and toxin-free products in our home for almost a year now. In that time, I’ve found that the top two reasons people aren’t using essential oils in their home are: 1) Too expensive and 2) Too good to be true – in other words, they’re skeptical. Here’s what I can say to that, I get it, I was you once upon a time. Before I decided to really do my research, I figured they were just the latest fad. Turns out that couldn’t be farther from the truth, the most basic research will teach you they’ve been around for centuries! Hello, don’t you remember what the three wise men brought as gifts to baby Jesus – Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh! 😉

Like I said, I do a lot of research before I decide to take the plunge on anything. So naturally, I did [and continue to] do a lot of research on essential oils and how they work. Essential Oils can be used several different ways; inhalation and physical application are the two I use. Physical application is pretty self-explanatory; massage an oil onto the affected area and you will experience relief/see improvements. But what about using the oils as aromatherapy? That was the part that I couldn’t wrap my head around. That is until I experienced them for myself. In my research, I read a quote that I believe does a great job in explaining just how these oils can impact our emotional well-being:

“Few things can move us so deeply or have so profound an impact on our psyches as the memories evoked by specific smells.”

I don’t know about you, but there are scents that I can smell that have the ability to transport me back to a moment in time. And other than maybe music, I’m not sure that there’s anything else that can achieve that same effect. A smell alone can elicit happy feelings, remind you of a loss and elicit sad feelings, take you to a place where you felt relaxed and elecit feelings of peace and calmness, you get the idea. For me, the smell of cinnamon always reminds me of my grandma and the delicious Spanish dessert she would make “arroz con dulce”.

It wasn’t until I read this quote that I realized just how effective essential oils truly are. It’s no surprise that different oils promote and elicit different feelings and emotions. Once you begin to learn about how our sense of smell works, aromatherapy makes complete sense [pun intended ;)]!

As far as cost is concerned, you have to realize that you’re not pouring the entire bottle on in one sitting! We’re talking about 2-4 drops per use on average. There are approximately 250 drops in a 15mL bottle of oil. If you break that down, you’re talking about .08 cents a drop in a $20 bottle! I have been really impressed with the use I get out of one bottle of oil. I’m talking about not having to replace some oils for months at a time.

In the interest of helping you take that first step, i,e., start researching the oils, I’ve compiled a list of 5 oils that you can get for $20 or less!

1. LAVENDER TOUCH 10mL – $13.75

Lavender is known for its calming and relaxing properties. It also has the ability to soothe skin irritations. It is commonly referred to as the “gateway oil” because more often than not, it’s the first oil a person falls in love with. It is gentle enough for little ones, it smells amazing, and the list of uses is endless! The Lavender Touch I’m referring to here is diluted with fractionated coconut oil and comes in a 10mL roll on bottle for easy use.

2. MELALEUCA 15mL – $19.00

Also known as Tea Tree Oil, Melaleuca is great for skin irritations. You can add it to your facial cleanser, apply to your skin after shaving, and apply it to your fingernails to keep them healthy!

3. PEPPERMINT TOUCH 10mL – $13.50

Where do I start? Peppermint is one of those oils that can be used for just about anything! Have a headache, apply peppermint. Upset Stomach, apply peppermint. Need a mid-day boost of energy, a mix of peppermint, wild orange and Frankincense will do it! Again, the touch blend means that this is already diluted with fractionated coconut oil and comes in a convenient 10mL roll on bottle. {Also, a 15mL bottle of Peppermint is just $20.50 – .50 cents over for purposes of this blog post, but still very affordable!}

4. LEMON 15mL – $10.00

Lemon is an amazing oil to use because it is so versatile. You can use it make your own cleaning solution to replace all of those toxic cleaners that you have housed in the cabinet under your sink! You can also diffuse some lemon as a natural air purifier to keep the house smelling fresh and clean. Bonus: Lemon is very uplifting and energizing so when you are diffusing to purify the air, you can also improve your mood!

5. BALANCE Grounding Blend 15mL – $20.00

Balance is an essential oil blend made up of Frankincense, Blue Tansy, Spruce, Ho Wood and Blue Chamomile with Fractionated Coconut Oil. It creates a sense of calm and well-being and promotes relaxation. You can apply to your wrists or your neck to help with anxiety. Or, you can diffuse it to create a soothing environment.

*The products above are doTERRA Essential Oils and are based on wholesale customer prices.

I hope this post has inspired you to really look into essential oils and what they can do for you and your family!