"Scents and Sensibility": My Top 10 Tips for Essential Oils

Whether you’re brand new to essential oils or you’ve been using them for years, there’s always something new to learn. Essential oils can be incredibly versatile tools for self-care, aromatherapy, and everyday wellness- but using them well is about more than simply knowing which oil smells good or which one is trending online. Understanding quality, safety, dilution, application methods, and how to use oils intentionally can make all the difference.

Over the years, I’ve learned that some of the most important aromatherapy practices are also the simplest. So today, I’m sharing my top 10 essential oil tips. Whether you’re building your first collection or already have an entire cabinet of oils, these tips can help you feel more confident, informed, and intentional in the way you use them.

Let’s dive in!

Tip #1: Know What an Essential Oil Is

This might sound a little rude, but I’m going to say it anyway, haha. It amazes me sometimes the number of people who use essential oils on a daily basis that don’t understand exactly what they’re using. So naturally, this is my first tip. 

Essential oils are the “essence” of the plant itself. It’s not simply plant material. It’s the very core, most concentrated identity of the plant. My favorite example to illustrate this is taking lemon, for instance. Lemon juice by itself smells and tastes strong, but it’s nothing compared to just a single drop of essential oil. One drop of lemon essential oil equals 2-4 ENTIRE lemons. 

That means the effect of lemon being invigorating, energizing, clarifying, etc, is much stronger when using the essential oil vs just a single lemon sitting in front of you. 

Sometimes people ask me if it’s the same as vanilla extract that you can make yourself. The answer is no. This is because vanilla extract works similarly to a tincture- you’re still keeping the plant intact, plus, you’re adding material in order to do so (typically alcohol, some use glycerin). 

Essential oils are most often steam distilled- which is when steam passes through the plant material, which releases the essential oil. The steam is then cooled back into water, separating the essential oil from the water. We keep the essential oil only, and the “water” from the plant is often sold separately as a hydrosol. 

Knowing what an oil is gives you a basic understanding of the power and concentration you’re working with- and why the rest of my tips here matter. Let’s get into tip #2. 

Tip #2: Know Which Oils are Safe for You and Your Family

There are hundreds of essential oils, which means there are lots to choose from! Unfortunately, with how concentrated oils are, there are also many that may not be good to use in your home with your family. 

Essential oil safety is a HUGE topic, too much for this article, but here are my main considerations for picking an oil to use. 

First, primarily use oils that are widely regarded as safe. Lavender, frankincense, sweet orange, etc. These rarely have adverse effects.

Second, if you have children, pets, elderly, or are on medications that are blood thinning, for respiratory disorders, or other issues, I advise staying away from the really “hot” oils and the really “cold” oils until you do the reading to determine what’s ok and what’s not. 

Hot oils = clove, cinnamon, etc

Cold oils = eucalyptus, peppermint, wintergreen, etc. 

That’s not to say to be afraid to ever use these, of course. Just to be intentional when you want to try them, and do some research first! I have lots of resources available for safety here, as well as clear age and condition safety information on each of my product labels if there is a potential for concern. 

Tip #3: Stay Away from Internal Use Unless Working With a Qualified Professional

This one is simple. There are certain companies who encourage ingestion, but knowing people personally to have permanent damage to their esophagus, have developed allergies to oils, etc, it’s just simply not worth the risk to ingest them. 

I am a qualified aromatherapist who can work one on one with clients for reasons that may benefit from ingestion, but it’s never a first-line defense, and never done more than once or twice. 

Tip #4: Keep Dilution Top Priority

If you’ve ever googled essential oils, dilution is always one of the top topics. This is for good reason. Diluting essential oils is the key to making them safe, keeping risks low, and maximizing benefit.

Because essential oils are highly concentrated, they should generally be mixed with a carrier oil, lotion, or other appropriate base before being applied to the skin. The right dilution depends on the oil, the person using it, the area of application, and the intended purpose- so more is not necessarily better. 

For most everyday adult body applications, a lower dilution is often sufficient, while children, older adults, sensitive skin, and certain situations may require additional caution. Always follow reputable safety guidelines and supplier recommendations, and remember that essential oils should not be applied to the skin undiluted simply because they are “natural.”

I’ll be coming out with an article soon about the keys to dilution, but the general recommendation is keeping it lower than 2% for daily use, and under 1% for kids under the age of 6, and the elderly. 

Tip #5: Keep Homemade Blends Simple

This one is easy. The more oils you add to a carrier, the less effect you’re getting from each one individually. By the time you add 6+ oils to something, you might as well not add it at all. Because of this, I always emphasize to not stress out when making a blend. Keep blends to 2-3 oils at home and you’ll be keeping them effective, safe, and stress-free!

A simple example is a blend for sleep. I like cedarwood or frankincense, lavender, and chamomile. Whatever your favorite oil is, you can use it too. Just don’t stress about it!

Tip #6: Know How to Use Your Diffuser

This is one of my favorite topics to talk about. I swapped out candles years ago for essential oil diffusers, and will never go back. There are so many different types of diffusers- from ultrasonic to passive- and infinite number of blends to try with safe oils! 

If you’re using a standard water diffuser, I recommend using this number of drops for the size of diffuser:

100 mL – 3 to 5 drops

200 mL – 6 to 10 drops300 mL – 8 to 12 drops500 mL+ – 10 to 15+ drops (depending on room size & oil strength)

Here is an article from my blog about using diffusers. Go give it a read!

Tip #7: Know What to Look For When Purchasing an Oil

Not all essential oils are created equal, so knowing what you’re buying matters. Look for the correct botanical name, the plant part used, country of origin when available, extraction method, and clear labeling that tells you exactly what the product is. 

A reputable company should be transparent about sourcing and quality testing rather than relying solely on phrases like “therapeutic grade,” which is not a regulated standard. Be cautious of products simply labeled “fragrance oil,” “perfume oil,” or “vanilla oil” if you’re specifically looking for a true essential oil. 

The easiest thing to check is if there’s a GCMS report available. You don’t have to understand how to read it, but the first page should tell you that it’s pure for the batch being sold. Know what’s in the bottle before you put it on your skin or in your diffuser!

Tip #8: Don’t Keep Old Essential Oils

Contrary to claims, essential oils do expire. When an oil expires, it becomes what’s called “oxidized”, meaning oxygen has changed its composition. This increases risks of adverse effects- like skin irritation, for example. It also lowers the effectiveness of the oil being used, which of course, impacts the amount of benefit you’ll feel. 

I use expired oils to clean with, but that’s about it. 

Here’s the general rule of thumb for types of oils and shelf life: 

Citrus: 1-2 years

Floral/Herbal: 2-3 years

Resins: 7 years

Tip #9: Know When to use Aromatically vs. Topically

Knowing whether to use an essential oil topically or aromatically depends on what you’re hoping to get from it. 

Aromatic use- diffusing, using an inhaler, or simply smelling a properly prepared blend- is a great option when you’re looking for an experience related to mood, relaxation, focus, or creating a certain atmosphere.

Topical use means applying a properly diluted essential oil product to the skin, such as a roller, lotion, or massage oil, and may be useful when you want the product applied directly to a particular area. 

Neither method is automatically “better”, they’re simply different ways of using essential oils. When in doubt, start with aromatic use and always follow appropriate dilution and safety guidelines for topical application.

Tip #10: Don’t be Afraid to Ask Questions

Ever heard of the saying, “there’s never a dumb question”? It’s true! How will you know what to do if you don’t ask? That’s what I’m here for! As a certified aromatherapist, I’m always happy to answer questions- especially because it gives me content ideas. 

Nobody should expect themselves to know everything, no matter how long they’ve used oils. There’s always more to learn, and ways to improve usage. 

Never be afraid to learn and grow!

In Conclusion

Essential oils don’t have to be complicated. My hope is that these 10 tips give you something useful to take away, whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been incorporating essential oils into your self-care routine for years.

And if you’d rather leave the formulating to someone who has done the research and safety work for you, that’s exactly where I come in. As an aromatherapist, my goal is to make essential oils approachable, practical, and useful for real life- and not overwhelming or intimidating.

Ready to bring a little more natural self-care into your routine? Come shop with me at the Salem Apothecary or visit my website at www.rdaromatherapy.com and discover what aromatherapy can do for you.