There are over a hundred different types of essential oils out there. Some are more popular than others but they all have their own medicinal effects and their potential health benefits are widespread. Always choose whichever oils work best for you and your needs.
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Types of Essential Oils
Lavender Oil
I want to start with Lavender oil since it is the most popular and famous essential oil on the market. Everyone is familiar with its wonderful floral scent since it is so widely used especially in cleaning products, lotions and candles.
Potential Benefits:
- promotes relaxation
- reduces anxiety
- sleep aid
- clears acne
- reduces inflammation
- soothes skin
- anti fungal properties
- insect repellent
Lemon Oil
Lemon oil is also another famous oil that is not only used for its potential health benefits but also for cleaning. It’s fresh citrus aroma is appealing to almost everyone and can be used in numerous body care products as well as cleaning agents.
Potential Benefits:
- powerful anti-microbial benefits
- boosts energy and alertness
- improves mood
- enhances skin
- disinfectants air and surfaces
- uplifting
- helps digestion
Rosemary Oil
Rosemary is one my all-time favorite herbs to grow and use in my cooking. It’s essential oil is also very popular outside of the kitchen known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Potential Benefits:
- helps with inflammation
- enhances memory and concentration
- promotes hair growth
- improve circulation
- reduce stress
- supports respiratory function
Rose Oil
Roses are beautiful and have been around forever but they offer more than just beauty. Essential rose oil has a quite a few health benefits that some may not be aware of including the potential to decrease pain levels.
Potential Benefits:
- Eases pain
- Menstrual relief
- improves libido
- Decreases stress/anxiety
- Antibacterial properties
- Anti fungal properties
Clove Oil
Close oil comes from clove trees native to Southeast Asia. It has a strong, spicy aroma plus many potential health benefits.
Potential Benefits:
- Antimicrobial (great for hand sanitizer)
- pain reliever
- aids in respiratory health
- helps with digestion
- can help prevent cavities
Sandalwood Oil
Sandalwood oil comes from the wood and roots of the sandalwood tree and is used in many perfumes and air fresheners. It can be used to promote both our mental and physical health.
Potential Benefits:
- calms nerves
- improves focus
- aid in digestion
- increases alertness
- anti-bacterial properties
- eases anxiety
Bergamot Oil
Bergamot is a fragrant citrus fruit about the size of an orange that is yellow/green in color. IT has a soothing scent and is known to be both calming and uplifting.
Potential Benefits:
Potential Benefits:
- Helps reduce stress
- Improves skin condition
- Anti-bacterial
- Uplifting
- Anxiety reducer
- Anti-inflammatory
Ylang-Ylang Oil
Ylang-Ylang are the flowers grown on a tropical tree native to India. Its flowers have a strong perfume smell that results in a sweet, floral and bright scent.
Potential Benefits:
- Eases headaches
- Relieves nausea
- Promotes relaxation
- Increases memory/cognitive skills
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the Australian tea tree. It is a very common oil that is used in many skin products.
Potential Benefits:
Potential Benefits:
- Anti-bacterial properties
- Immunity booster
- Promotes nail growth
- Improves skin health/acne
- Anti-microbial (great for hand sanitizer)
- Antiseptic
- Deodorant
💆♀️Check out these essential oils that will make your house smell like a spa!
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint comes from the mint family and is a hybrid between watermint and spearmint. Peppermint essential oil is a popular one and has been used in many products, perfumes and candles.
Potential Benefits:
- Boosts energy
- Aids in digestion
- Muscle relief
- Can relieves IBS
Jasmine Oil
Jasmine oil comes from the white night blooming flowers on the Jasmine plants. This scent is known world-wide for being very aromatic, sweet and floral. It also happens to be used in the famous perfume, Chanel No. 5.
Potential Benefits:
- Helps with depression
- Can reduce labor pains
- Can improve libido
- Antibacterial properties
- Improves scarring
Chamomile Oil
Chamomile comes from daisy-like flowers that have been used in natural remedies for years. Other than being used in many teas, chamomile has other benefits you may not know about.
Potential Benefits:
Potential Benefits:
- Improves mood
- Increases relaxation
- Aids in sleep
- Decreases anxiety
- Can improve appearance of skin
Basil Oil
Basil is one of my favorite herbs to cook with. I also love growing my own basil because of the amazingly fresh smell.
Potential Benefits
- Relieve crampsEases joint pain
- Soothes muscles
- Helps with gas
- Reduces water retention
- Promotes relaxation
- Promotes clear skin
Myrrh Oil
Myrrh is an ancient essential oil known for its medicinal properties. It was once valued at its weight in gold. The oil is extracted from the myrrh tree and is most commonly known for its cleansing properties. It has an earthy smell with a touch of licorice.
Potential Benefits
- Cleanses the through and mouth
- Smooths skin complexion
- Antimicrobial
- Can help treat ulcers
- Helps lung congestion
- Promote wound healing
Frankincense Oil
Frankincense is called the ‘king of oils’ for a reason. It has been around for centuries and has powerful medicinal properties. Oil is extracted from the resin of the Boswellia tree and has a woody, spicy smell.
Potential Benefits
- Supports cellular function
- Clear skin
- Supports immune system
- Astringent properties
- Disinfectant
- Prevent cavities
Grapefruit Oil
Grapefruit essential oil comes from the fruit that we have all come to love especially in the mornings. It has a bright citrus aroma that is uplifting and very invigorating.
Potential Benefits:
- Promote weight-loss
- Balance mood
- Antibacterial
- Antimicrobrial
- Stress reducer
- Reduce acne
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus essential oils comes from the eucalyptus tree. It is known for its cleansing properties and stimulating scent.
Potential Benefits:
- Bug repellent
- Reduce cough
- Disinfectant
- Helps you breathe easier
- Maintain blood sugar
- Breath freshener
- Joint relief
Patchouli Oil
Patchouli essential oil is extracted from the patchouli plant which is an herb similar to lavender, oregano and mint. It offers an a strong, earthy aroma that can help to balance our emotions.
Potential Benefits:
- Reduce appearance of wrinkles and skin imperfections
- Insect repellant
- Anti-depressant
- Helps heal wounds
- Aphrodisiac
- Can help with dry skin/rashes
- Reduce anxiety
Lemongrass Oil
Lemongrass oil has a fresh, citrusy scent. It reminds me of summertime in a bottle. The oil comes from the tall, tropical grass that is often dried and brewed in teas.
Potential Benefits:
- Reduce headaches
- Reduce inflammation
- Helps with digestion
- Antimicrobial
- Reduces anxiety
- Clears skin
Clary Sage Oil
Clary sage essential oil comes from a flowering herb that has a clean and refreshing scent. It has traditionally been used to treat eye conditions but it has an array of other benefits.
Potential Benefits:
- Reduce stress
- Antibacterial
- Antidepressant
- Aids in menopause
- Reduces menstrual cramps
Oregano Oil
Oregano essential oil comes from the popular herb. I use this all the time when I cook since it’s a popular Greek herb! When extracted, the oil is much more potent and can be used for many other health benefits.
Potential Benefits:
- Clears skin conditions
- Insect repellent
- Anti-fungal
- Reduce inflammation
- Antioxidant
- Natural antibiotic
- May reduce cholesterol
Orange Oil
Orange essential oil is a popular oil known for its citrus, uplifting scent. It is commonly uses in lotions, candles and cleaning products because of its antibacterial properties and refreshing aroma.
Potential Benefits:
- Air purifying
- Food/drink enhancer
- Mood lifter
- Increase awareness
- Immune support
- Antimicrobial
- Improve blood flow
Cinnamon
Cinnamon essential oil has a warm and spicy aroma. It is one of my favorites to use especially during the colder months. Other than adding some to your oatmeal, it offers many other health benefits that may surprise you.
Potential Benefits:
- Cough suppressant
- Stimulate circulation
- Stress reducer
- Aids in digestion
- Inspect repellent
- Antimicrobial
Cypress
Cypress essential oils comes from the twigs, stems and leaves of the cypress tree. It contains a molecule that is found in herbal cough suppressants.
Potential Benefits:
- May help minimize warts
- Antibacterial
- Cough suppressant
- Ease hemorrhoids
- Disinfects wounds
- Great for acne
- Can reduce appearance of veins and cellulite
- Helps with body odor
Vetiver
Vetiver essential oil is a green grass that is native to India. The aroma is earthy and woody similar to citronella and lemongrass.
Potential Benefits:
- Improves alertness and brain functions
- Improves brain function
- May help sleep respiration
- Can ward off ticks and other insects
- High in antioxidants
- Can help arthritis
- Ease anxiety
Hyssop
Hyssop essential oil comes from a small bush that comes from the mint family. This herb is normally used in cooking and herbal medicine.
Potential Benefits:
- Helps with digestion
- Could ease gas
- Can support respiratory functions
- Can help fight infections
- Insect repellent
- May help with sore throats
Spearmint
Spearmint essential oil comes from the spearmint plant which has a sweet and minty taste. It is most commonly used to freshen breath and is often used in cooking. There are multiple other claimed benefits too.
Potential Benefits:
- Freshens breath
- Mood lifting
- Energizing
- Promotes digestion
- High in antioxidants
- May lower blood sugar
- May reduce stress
Arborvitae
Arborvitae essential oil comes from an evergreen tree that has natural preserving properties which helps prevent wood from rotting or decaying. The aroma is very grounding and calming.
Potential Benefits:
- Powerful cleansing and purifying properties
- Stress reducer
- Supports immune system
- Promotes healthy skin
- Bug repellant
Cassia Oil
Cassia essential oil is extracted from the bark of a cassia plant and is closely related to cinnamon. It offers a warm, spicy aroma making it ideal in the winter months.
Potential Benefits:
- Can support the cardiovascular system
- Can promote feelings of arousal
- Energizing aroma
- Supports digestion
- Supports immune system
- May support colon health
- Improves skin
Geranium Oil
Geranium essential oil comes from the flowering geranium plant. It is most commonly used in both skin and hair care products such as lotions, shampoos and perfumes. It has a bold floral aroma and can offer you a peaceful environment when diffused.
Potential Benefits:
- Can boost skin appearance
- May reduce swelling in legs/feet
- Anxiety/stress reducer
- Great for your hair
Ginger
Ginger essential oil is extracted from the ginger root. It has a strong, spicy taste and aroma and is known for many other health benefits outside of the kitchen.
Potential Benefits:
- Promotes digestion
- Relieve upset stomach/nausea
- Promotes joint health
- May help with inflammation
- Relieves stress
- Can improve circulation
Helichrysum
Helichrysum essential oil is known as the ‘everlasting flower’ and has an exotic, spicy scent like curry. It comes from a plant in the sunflower family and is most known for its anti-aging properties.
Potential Benefits:
- Promotes skin-cell regeneration
- Promotes vitality
- Reduces blemishes
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Can promote wound healing
- May reduce fine lines/wrinkle
- Helps fight infection
- Can reduce inflammation
Neroli Oil
Neroli essential oil comes from the flowers of bitter orange trees. It is also known as orange blossom oil
Potential Benefits:
- Relieves anxiety
- Helps with depressions
- Can help prevent breakouts
- May reduce blood pressure
- Can help with menopause
- Anti-inflammatory properties
In Summary
These essential oils are just touching the surface. There are so many other essential oils out there that have many other benefits however these are the most popular ones and ones I use the most. I suggest adding a couple of drops of your favorites (with a carrier oil) in a small glass bottle to make your own essential oil recipes that work for you and your needs! Make sure to learn about where you should purchase your oils.
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