Sniff Smell
Inhale directly from the bottle or put a few drops of essential oil on a tissue, cotton pad, or cotton wick from a nasal inhaler and sniff. Almost every essential oil will have some effect when used in this manner.
A Diffuser
Diffusers range from simple evaporation devices (water evaporation, cotton pads, electrical, or lit fire from a candle) to sophisticated (more money) nebulizers that infuse the air with microscopic droplets of pure essential oil.
Tub Bath
Make this a warm bath because you want the oils to soak into your skin, not sweat out. Add 6 - 12 drops of essential oil to a filled tub and move/stir the water and oil around so it is evenly dispersed. Now for those of us who take Showers more often than baths, you can make yourself a sachet of dried herbs and or pellets and add your essential oil drops. Tie the sachet under the running water (make sure the water is fairly warm so the oils can catch), you may want to leave the sachet for the entirety of the shower but it's not necessary.
Make A Compress
Add 4 - 15 drops of oil to 1 quart of water. Warm for arthritis, cramps, muscle pain. Cold for tension, bruises, headaches. Mix than soak a washcloth. Wring out excess water and apply to affected area.
4 Additional Ways to Use Oils
Spray Mist
With a small clean and dry spray bottle, fill it with distilled water, add 5-10 drops of your chosen essential oil. Spritz away, this can be used on body, hair, clothes, bed linen, and as a room fragrance. (in the summer put the bottle in the fridge for a cool & refreshing spritz)
Foot Massage
Add 15 drops of oil or blend with 1 teaspoon of Jojoba (carrier oil). Massage/rub onto the bottom of your feet, let the oils soak in for about 10 minutes, wipe off with towel. (be careful when you stand, slippery)
Area Massage
Add 12 drops of chosen essential oil to 1 oz. of massage or carrier oil to small bottle. Shake by rotating your wrist, side to side. Do Not shake vigorously, this will destroy the balance.
(if you don't have a bottle with a lid, you can use a small bowl and stir gently). For an intensive therapy, for specific areas of the body use 18 drops of essential oil to 1 oz.
Inhalation
With a large glass bowl or pot, add 1 quart of hot water then add 6-10 drops of chosen essential oil. Cover your head and the bowl with a towel and breathe in deeply. (this process is great for colds, sinusitis, and headaches-p.s. for headaches you can follow with a cold compress: see above )
