Aromatherapy for beginners may seem a little daunting at first, but the truth is that it’s really easy for beginners to get started with aromatherapy. You don’t need any fancy equipment or a ton of cash to do it: in fact, you don’t need anything more than a single essential oil.
We suggest starting with a scent you really enjoy: choose an essential oil that smells great and makes you feel good. Will it be chamomile? Rosemary? Lemon? The choice is entirely up to you. (And if you can’t make up your mind, we’ve listed some of our favorite essential oils in our Top Essential Oils for Everyday Use section.)
Once you’ve chosen your essential oil, it’s time to start using it!
Chamomile Essential Oil
Rosemary
Lemon
Getting started with just one essential oil:
One essential oil is all you need to start exploring the world of aromatherapy! For those looking for aromatherapy for beginners strategies, here are a few ways to make the most out of just a few drops:
- Add the essential oil to a diffuser to spread its beautiful aroma throughout the room.
- Drizzle a few drops of the essential oil into your next bath.
- Sniff the scent right from the bottle (or sprinkle a few drops on a cotton ball) and feel an instant change in mood.
Note that most essential oils shouldn’t be used directly on the skin unless they’ve been diluted first. (You’ll want to read about this in our Aromatherapy DOs and DON’Ts section, as well as our primer on Blending and Dilution.) If you’re using a single essential oil without some type of carrier to dilute it in, you can stick to our suggestions above, which safely use the oil as an inhalation or as part of a bath.
That said, a few essential oils are OK to use directly on the skin. One such oil is lavender, which also happens to be our favorite essential oil for beginners because it has such a wonderful smell and because it’s so versatile: it can heal burns, ease headaches, deter bugs, and more!
Aromatherapy for Beginners: Getting started with just one essential oil and one carrier oil
Once you’re comfortable working with just one essential oil, you can start using it in various beauty concoctions or massage blends. All you need to do is to pair it with a quality carrier oil.
We suggest looking at our Carrier Oils section for suggestions on which oils to use. Our favorite all-purpose carrier oil is sweet almond oil, just because it’s great for all skin types, is incredibly light, and doesn’t leave a greasy residue.
Once you’ve got your essential oil and your carrier oil picked out, your possibilities widen. You can:
- Create a massage blend by diluting a few drops of your essential oil in the carrier oil.
- Put together an indulgent bath scrub.
- Make your own moisturizer, body lotion, or other homemade beauty product.
Going further with essential oils – Aromatherapy for Beginners:
When you’re ready, you can start adding other essential oils and carrier oils to your collection. This introduces a whole new world of possibilities, as you start blending oils together to create synergistic blends or your own signature perfumes and beauty products. You’ll find the resources you need to go further in our Resource Center.
If you’re truly new to the amazing world of aromatherapy, seize this moment, because soon you will find that aromatherapy for beginners is full of exciting discoveries and opportunities.