When I first heard whispers about essential oils I was really unsure about them and thought they were weird. I read about them on the internet and saw them in Youtube videos but didn’t know much about them. I’m here to tell you they are not weird and can really be an uplifting part of your life. Here is the how and why I started using essential oils. I’m hoping this will help you see that they aren’t just for flower children. I may have flower child tendencies but I promise I’m just a regular girl hoping to answer your questions.

Why I Started Using Essential Oils

I started using essential oils because I was looking for natural relief from my allergies. I use to take two types of allergy/asthma medication every day. Allergy and asthma medication became apart of my daily life as a young child. It was normal for me and I never thought twice about it.

Then, I got pregnant and I didn’t want to do it anymore. I didn’t want to put that in my baby’s body and I didn’t want it to dry up my milk when I began nursing. Maybe I was overreacting but I’m glad I did.

So I just stopped taking the medicine… everything. I was miserable for a period of time but my body started to adjust and I started to research natural remedies for allergies. I tried a bunch before I really found what worked for me. You can read more about what works for me in my post on natural allergy remedies.

In my search, I started reading about essential oils. I had always had an interest in aromatherapy so I decided to go for it. Here are a couple simple ways I started using essential oils.

The Oils I Started With

I actually got my first set of oils as a gift from my sister. I had mentioned that I wanted to try them so she got me a set of Plant Guru Oils for my birthday. If you are interested in trying oils but are feeling unsure this is a great set. The cost is low and you get to try out a large variety of different types and see how they each smell. My favorites are the lavender, eucalyptus, and sweet orange. I ran out of my lavender quickly so when I purchased a second bottle I ordered a bottle of Aura Cacia Lavender from Amazon. This is also a great brand to use when you are just starting out. It is easy to find, inexpensive, and the Lavender smells wonderful.

Diffusing Oils

The very first thing that I did with my oils was diffuse them. Along with my Plant Guru Oils my sister got me this diffuser from InnoGear. This thing has never let me down. I truly believe diffusing oils by my bedside helps me sleep at night. Plus, diffusing oils can help ward off bacteria and the allergens that I was so desperate to get rid of.

DIY Cleaning Products

When I got pregnant I also started becoming more aware of how many chemicals were in the cleaning products that I used. Since I already had the essential oils to help with my allergies I thought I would give some DIY cleaners a try. I believe the first recipe I ever made was a multi-purpose cleaner with water, vinegar, and lemon essential oil. I still use this today.

The second cleaner that I started making is a carpet freshener that I put down before I vacuum. I bought some at the store but felt bad if my baby was going to be crawling on the carpet after I had sprinkled down some chemical dust. I love this homemade stuff so much that I’m going to rave about it for just a minute.

To make the carpet freshener I put a few drops of rosemary essential oil into about a cup of baking soda and sprinkle it on my rugs and couches before vacuuming. I chose rosemary for its antibacterial properties. With two big dogs, I need all the antibacterial help I can get.

This stuff is amazing. It has totally changed my vacuum game. Having the dogs means I need to vacuum often. After a while, the dog smell would get stuck in the vacuum and every time I vacuumed I would spread musty dog smell around the house. Now the rosemary smell stays in the vacuum, which is a way better smell to be spreading around the house than musty dog smell. Plus, this mixture makes my couches look way cleaner than when I was vacuuming without it.

That’s it!

I started small and have grown to truly enjoy my essential oils. I use them for much more these days, but that’s a story for another time. If you have been on the fence about whether or not you should try them, I say, go for it! You can start small and inexpensive like I did and decide if they are the right fit for you and your family.

How do you use essential oils in your life? I love learning new ideas. Leave your ideas in the comments below.

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