Essential oils are part of an ancient alternative healing method known as aromatherapy. Aromatherapy believes that certain scents have the power to elevate mood and stimulate healing. Essential oils also have medicinal properties in and of themselves that healers use for a variety of health conditions. You can use essential oils and aromatherapy in your home to promote a positive mood and freshen the air.
Air Freshening
Essential oils are popular air fresheners. Aside from their natural healing properties, part of their appeal is that they're so concentrated that a few drops are sufficient to fragrance an entire room. You can add a few drops to a spray bottle of water and spray it into the air or onto your carpets and furniture. A few drops on a light bulb will spread fragrance whenever the light is on. According to Family Corner, rose geranium oil helps eliminate pet odors and can also be added to the inside of sweaty shoes. Ten drops of your favorite oil, mixed into a box of baking soda, will freshen the smell of your carpets. You can sprinkle it on, let it sit for a few minutes, then vacuum. The scent will remain in the vacuum for the next use, providing a fragrance boost.
Cleaning
You can use essential oils to clean some items in your home. Lemon essential oil will polish copper pots, utensils and decorative items without chemical copper polishes. Citrus oils are good for grease. Oils like lemon, lime or grapefruit added to your cleaning water will help cut grease on your stove, counter tops or refrigerator. A few drops in your mop water will help remove tough stains on your floors. You can also add essential oils to your cleaning water for fragrance purposes. This trick works especially well inside of cabinets, where the subtle, pleasant scent will linger.
Bath and Body
When we think of essential oils, many of us think of bath and body products. Rosemary essential oil added to shampoo or hair rinses shines hair and stimulates growth. You can add oils to to soaps, bubble baths or body washes. Lavender bath products promote relaxation while ginger and neroli sooth aching, tired muscles. Homemade soaps are pleasant and offer therapeutic effects when scented with essential oils. Use soaps that contain pure essential oils. If you don't want to add oils to your bath products, add them straight to your bath water to sooth skin, calm nerves and ease muscles. A few drops in your favorite lotion will improve its smell and add whatever healing properties the oils possesses.
Pest Control
According to Family Corner, lavender oil repels moths and flies. You can dab some on a cotton ball and keep it in your closet or clothes storage containers to repel flies. You can also dab it on windowsills to deter flies from sneaking in. Citronella essential oil repels mosquito outdoors. You can add it to candles, fires, Tiki torches or place drops of it in outdoor diffusers. Peppermint oil is said to repel mice and small rodents, so if you have these visitors in your home, place cotton balls with peppermint oil in places where you suspect they enter your home or hang out. You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil to your pet's collar to help repel fleas and ticks.
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