ESSENTIAL OILS

4 things to note about using them to enhance your well-being

By Kevin Druley

Achieving health of mind, body and spirit long has loomed as a pursuit for humankind. The endeavor assumes more significance in January, a time of working on wellness for the new year. Enthusiasts of essential oils might vouch that various fragrant oils or plant extracts can help deliver enhanced feelings of relaxation or well-being. With help from two experts, Kane CountyMagazine examined four things you should know about essential oils.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

“Aromatherapy is a complicated subject with hundreds of uses, depending on which oils you use,” says Marja-Liisa Neylon of Halsa the Aromatherapy Shop in Geneva. She notes that, unlike their name, essential oils are more like plant extracts. “They just didn’t know what to call them when they discovered them. However, less than 10% of the plants in the world can be distilled into essential oils. Most oils are named after the plants they are derived from, and you can get the same single notes even from different brands, though they don’t always smell exactly alike.”

THEREIN LIES THE RUB

Essential oils can be used in a number of ways, with topical application among the most popular. Users should be careful not to use too much. An overabundance of rosemary, for example, won’t leave you with an otherworldly memory. “Normally, one to two drops per oil (can suffice),” says Jennifer DeCarlo of J DeCarlo Salon and Spa in Batavia. “It’s highly concentrated, so you don’t need to use much of it, and that is the key. People think, ‘Oh, I’ve got to dump more in there,’ when they don’t have to.”

Neylon notes some oils are soft, while others could spur irritation or rashes. Be sure to look up product information and safety data before determining the best use for a given oil.

MAKE ROOM

A popular accessory associated with essential oils is a diffuser, or aromatherapy lamp, used to spread oils in the air through heat, natural evaporation or other methods.

Neylon recommends placing the diffuser in the room where you spend the most time. Adds DeCarlo: “I always put mine in open air, so they can move around with the air in your house. Make sure they are clean. You do need to clean them, as well. Some oils can be harmful to pets, so make sure that you do read the label to make sure they are pet-friendly.”

THE REAL DEAL

“It is also worth noting that just because something claims to be an essential oil doesn’t mean it is one,” Neylon says. “An essential oil is made from plant extracts and depending on how much rain or sun they got, they can smell differently from harvest to harvest, but the effects should be the same. Fragrance oils, on the other hand, are artificial recreations, so their scent is consistent, but they lack the aromatherapy effects. Because different essential oils are made from different plants, their price will naturally vary depending on what abundance (they’re) grown in nature and how easy or difficult they are to distill. Fragrance oils and oils that have been cut will often all be the same price, while pure essential oils will have a wide range.”