Each day we use products that help in making our lives happier, healthier and safer. Essential oils certainly fall into this category. They can be easily woven into important daily tasks - from staying healthy, caring for young children, protecting the family pets, keeping the house clean and free from harmful chemicals, unwinding at the end of a long day - the list goes on! That’s why we decided to create a list of 50 easy ways to include essential oils in your daily routine.
With benefits ranging from antibacterial to anti-ageing, breathing easier and boosting your mood, you’ll want to keep a handful of trusted essential oils in your cupboard for whatever need may arise.
Safety Guidelines
Before we get started, we want to cover some important safety guidelines.
- Due to the toxicity level of some constituents in pure essential oils, we do not advocate or recommend that any are ingested. You can read more about this here.
- Everyone's skin is unique and has varying levels of tolerance and sensitivity to topical application of essential oils. We recommend diluting before any topical application. Always consider patch testing first with a small amount on the inner forearm for any adverse reactions.
- If you are diffusing essential oils around pets, avoid continuously running the diffuser all day and all night. Ensure the room is well-ventilated with fresh air and ensure your pet can leave the area that is being diffused if need be. Always observe your pet's response to new scents when trying an oil for the first time.
- Always keep essential oils out of reach of children and pets and only diffuse in well-ventilated areas.
- Always wash your hands after using essential oils.
- Keep all essential oils away from flames.
If you are brand new to using essential oils or you’d love more information on how to use them safely, check out our blog Essential Oils 101 - What, Why & How?
Scent and Perfumery
1. DIY Diffuser Blends
Combine several of your favourite essential oils in an aromatherapy diffuser to create your own DIY diffuser blend (add 1-3 drops of each oil). You can explore our website and blog for lots of handy DIY essential oil recipes.
2. Car Air Freshener
To promote clean, fresh air in your car, place a few drops of essential oil on a cotton ball and wedge it into the air vents. Kunzea and Peppermint can help you to focus on traffic or long car rides, while Ginger helps to prevent travel sickness for passengers.
3. Promote Feelings of Positivity and Motivation
When you’re feeling low, overwhelmed or unmotivated, add a couple of drops of a mood-boosting, uplifting scent or an essential oil blend to a tissue or diffuser and take a few deep breaths to feel the instant benefits. Frankincense, Sweet Orange and our Heaven Scent Lifestyle Blend are perfect for elevating your mood and boosting positivity and motivation.
4. Dispel Unwanted Odours
Diffuse essential oils with cleansing properties such as Kunzea, Lemon Myrtle and Lemon to help dispel unwanted odours and cleanse the air in the home.
General Health and Wellness
5. Breathe Easier
Essential oils with cooling or soothing properties may help promote clear airways and easy breathing. (Try Kunzea, Eucalyptus, Nerolina, Peppermint, Coastal Tea Tree or Breathe Easy Lifestyle Blend).
6. Rest and Relaxation
Aromatherapy is probably best known for its ability to promote relaxation and restfulness. Many essential oils have a calming and grounding effect. Our top picks for relaxation have been included in the Relaxation Essential Oil Collection - including Lavender, Frankincense and Rosalina.
7. Boost Immunity
Some essential oils are traditionally known for helping to maintain and boost immunity.
Eucalyptus has been studied for its immune-enhancing properties, while Clove Bud is a powerful antioxidant and antibacterial that keeps germs at bay and helps to support immunity.1 Nirvana Lifestyle Blend combines the benefits of Clove, Cinnamon, Sweet Orange and Lime.
8. Improve Concentration and Focus
Studying or working hard? Strategically adding essential oils for focus to your diffuser can help you to stay focused on the task at hand. Rosemary may aid memory (while also reducing stress), making it a perfect study aid.2 Zingy citrus essential oils such as Grapefruit, Honey Myrtle and Lemon Ironbark may also help enhance mental clarity and keep you task-focused.
9. Ease Nervous Tension & Anxiety
Many essential oils have been traditionally used to help calm and support the nervous system. Everyone goes through periods of increased nervous tension and anxiety, so keep at least one of your favourite tension-relieving essential oils on hand during these times. Try Kunzea, Fragonia, Ylang Ylang, Rosalina or Bergamot to ease tension.
10. Add to Your Face Mask
Wearing face masks has become an essential part of our lives. With some of us wearing them for many hours in the day, why not get the most benefit you can?
To ease tension and anxiety, try adding a few drops of a calming essential oil such as Tasmanian Lavender, Fragonia or Frankincense to your mask before heading out.
If you’re struggling with pesky ‘mask’ that acne that comes up due to wearing your mask a lot, use Nerolina to protect yourself from acne-causing bacteria that can lurk in your mask.
For a decongestant that will help you to breathe easier while also keeping germs at bay, try 1-2 drops of Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lemon Ironbark or Kunzea essential oil on the inside of your mask.
Beauty and Skincare
11. Promote a Healthy Looking Complexion
Enhance your skincare routine with a drop of a complexion-loving essential oil. Some essential oils are packed with phytonutrients that help to protect your skin from free radical damage that can leave it looking lacklustre.3,4
Next time you’re using your favourite face oil, moisturiser, or clay mask, add 1-3 drops of Frankincense, Lavender or Ylang Ylang essential oil.
12. Wrinkles and Uneven Skin Tone
Free radical-fighting phytonutrient-rich essential oils are also great for anti-ageing and evening out skin tone.4 Sandalwood, Clary Sage, Frankincense and Rose Geranium are all commonly found in natural anti-ageing skincare products - and you can add them to your favourite moisturiser.
13. Prevent Acne & Blemish-Prone Skin
Acne-causing bacteria requires gentle but effective antibacterial skincare. Antibacterial essential oils can help to reduce the bacteria involved in causing blemishes. Try Coastal Tea Tree, Lavender and Kunzea essential oils to prevent acne.
14. Soothe Mild Irritation & Itching
Choosing an essential oil to bring relief to irritated, itchy skin depends on what the root cause is. Bug bites may be relieved with Kunzea and Coastal Tea Tree, while Chamomile helps to soothe irritated, inflamed skin. Lemongrass essential oil may reduce pain related to skin irritation. Traditional Tea Tree may also provide relief from irritation due to certain topical infections.5
15. Stimulating Scalp Massage
For a stimulating scalp massage, blend 1-2 drops of Peppermint and 2 drops of Rosemary essential oils to your favourite hair oil and massage into the scalp for a stimulating treatment. Wash the oil out and style as usual or leave overnight for scalp health benefits.
16. Oil Cleansing
Oil cleansing is a great way to remove make-up, impurities and fight acne and wrinkles. Add a few drops of Rose Geranium, Lavender or Lime essential oil to your base oil of choice and cleanse the face in small, circular motions before rinsing off with a face towel and warm water.
Therapeutic Uses
17. Soothe Tired Muscles
Essential oils with a stimulating effect can help to relieve muscle tension and soreness. Try 5-10 drops of Peppermint or Kunzea in your next bath for muscle-soothing benefits.
If you would like to try some ready-made bath salts, you may like to try our Kunzea Bath Salts which feature the natural therapeutic properties of Magnesium, Kunzea, Lavender and Macrobiotic Sea Salt.
18. DIY Chest Rub
Chest congested? Dilute Lemon Ironbark, Eucalyptus, Nerolina, Peppermint, and Kunzea essential oils in your base oil of choice and apply topically to the chest to promote feelings of clear breathing and decongestion. This will help create an energising vapour.
19. Menstrual Relief
Add a few drops of Lavender, Clary Sage, Fennel and Rose Geranium to your favourite massage oil such as sweet almond or coconut and massage into the abdomen during your menstrual cycle. Massage, along with the aromatherapeutic benefits of these essential oils, may help to ease menstrual discomfort and tension.
20. Headaches and Migraines
If you suffer from headaches or migraines, having a toolkit at the ready is important. Rosalina, Peppermint, Lavender and Eucalyptus essential oils are all helpful to have on hand when a headache strikes, or try our Headache Ease Trio.
21. Arthritis and Joint Pain
Soothe joint pain and arthritis with an essential oil-based gel or cream – such as our best-selling Kunzea Pain Relief Cream which contains Kunzea, Rosemary and Tasmanian Lavender.
Other essential oils that are great in providing relief from sore muscles and joints include Ginger - featured in the Kunzea Concentrated Massage Oil, Frankincense, Peppermint and our native Australian Fragonia.
22. Mouth Wash
Essential oils in mouthwash can be safe and effective in killing the bacteria responsible for causing cavities while also keeping the breath fresh. Myrrh may help to protect gums, while Tea Tree kills harmful bacteria in the mouth.6
Look for a mouthwash that contains antibacterial and breath freshening essential oils such as Spearmint, Peppermint, Tea Tree or Myrrh.
23. Aid Sleep
Create your own essential oil blend to aid sleep and create a sense of calm. Diffuse at night before bedtime or add 1-2 drops to your pillow. Some of the most effective essential oils for promoting calm and restful sleep include Lavender, Cedarwood, Ylang Ylang and Frankincense. Reach for our Sleep & Unwind Essential Oil Blends Trio to set your mind and body up for a deep, restful slumber.
24. Boost Respiratory Function
Many essential oils help to support respiratory function. Add a few drops of Kunzea, Cajeput, Peppermint or our Breathe Easy Blend to an aromatherapy diffuser to relieve congestion.
25. Steam Inhalation
For an extra effective way of clearing the airways, add a couple of drops of Breathe Easy Blend to a bowl of hot, but not boiling, water. Cover your head with a towel and spend a few minutes breathing in the essential oils and steam.
26. Bath Time
Bath time is the perfect opportunity to incorporate essential oils to aid relaxation, reduce muscle soreness and stiffness and calm the mind. Ylang Ylang, Lavender, Kunzea and Rose Geranium essential oils help to ease the body and the mind.
27. Boost Your Mood
Many essential oils can have an effect on mood - calming a busy mind and lifting the spirits. Citrus essential oils such as Lemon, Lime, Sweet Orange, May Chang, Bergamot and Grapefruit, or fresh scents of Blue Cypress, Eucalyptus and Peppermint are instantly uplifting.
28. Prevent Infection
Harness the antibacterial powers of many essential oils by adding a few drops to a cotton pad, along with rubbing alcohol and gently applying to skin to prevent infection. Powerful antibacterial essential oils include Tea Tree, Lavender, Kunzea and Manuka.
Household and Cleaning
29. Repel Insects
Dilute and rub essential oils that are known for their natural insect-repelling properties into the wrists and ankles. This is a particularly great option before going on a hike. Try Kunzea, Lemongrass, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Cedarwood or Citronella.
30. DIY All-Purpose Cleaner
Create an antibacterial all-purpose cleaning spray that you can use throughout the home. Have a go at making our All-Purpose Surface Cleaner recipe using the essential oils of your choice.
31. Kill Mould and Germs
If you want a cleaning agent with a bit more grunt for killing mould or germs, add a few drops of Clove Bud Oil to the All-Purpose Surface Cleaner recipe.
32. Freshen up the linen closet
If your linen is getting that distinctly musty closet smell, create a refreshing linen spray using 1 cup of distilled water and 10-20 drops of your choice of essential oils. Rosalina, Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Lemon Myrtle all add a fresh, clean smell to the closet. Include Cedarwood in the mix to keep pests such as moths away.
33. DIY Wood Polish
If you find the smell of cleaning products such as commercial wood polish overwhelming, you’ll want to make this DIY wood polish that uses just four ingredients - ½ cup of white vinegar, ½ cup of distilled water, 4 tablespoons of olive oil and 20 drops of Lemon essential oil. Add the ingredients to a glass spray bottle, spray on all your wood surfaces and polish until they shine.
34. Toilet Cleaning Agent
Use a non-toxic alternative to keep toilets clean. Try our Toilet Cleaner recipe - it uses simple ingredients, including vinegar, salt and baking soda and works a treat.
35. Glass Cleaner
Smudged, dirty glass requires a special kind of cleaner that won’t leave annoying streaks behind. Using the base for the All-Purpose Surface Cleaner recipe, swap out the Tasmanian Lavender and Sweet Orange for 10-20 drops of Lemon or Grapefruit essential oil.
36. Furniture Freshener
The linen closet spray recipe (number 31) can double as a furniture-safe freshening spray. Lightly mist over any furniture that requires freshening up.
37. DIY Garbage Spray
To keep your garbage can from stinking up the entire kitchen, place a few drops of a fresh, clean-smelling essential oil such as Eucalyptus or Lemon on a dryer sheet or newspaper and place it at the bottom of the bin to provide a refreshing scent. It will also reduce bacteria and the likelihood of pests lurking in your bin.
38. Help Alleviate Allergies
Some essential oils have been traditionally used to protect against environmental and seasonal allergies. Regularly using your essential oil diffuser at home and adding oils such as Coastal Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Sandalwood and Frankincense may help to bring relief from stuffy noses, itchy eyes and other irritating symptoms of seasonal allergies.
39. Promote Freshness in the Home
If you don’t have time to clean the house from top to bottom (who does?!), add a small dab of antibacterial and aromatic essential oil – like Grapefruit – to a damp cloth and quickly wipe down surfaces in the kitchen or bathroom.
40. Elevate the Clean Laundry Smell
If your laundry detergent is mildly scented because you don’t enjoy the smell of many commercial laundry products - you can add your own! Just 5-10 drops of your favourite fresh scent such as Eucalyptus, Lemon, Tasmanian Lavender or Sweet Orange to impart a subtle, fresh, clean laundry smell.
Exercise
41. Warming up
Certain essential oils such as Frankincense and Cinnamon Bark have a warming effect and can be rubbed on muscles before the gym to support circulation in preparation for your workout. Be sure to dilute these oils to prevent skin irritation.
42. Keeping the Gym Bag Fresh
If you’re storing worn gym clothes and socks in your gym bag, add a couple of drops of antibacterial Grapefruit or Lemon Ironbark essential oil to keep bad odour-producing bacteria at bay and prevent bad smells.
43. Cooling Down
During your cool-down routine, look to cooling, soothing essential oils to prevent muscle soreness and relieve pain, such as Kunzea and Peppermint. This is why we have included them both in our MAGZEA Sports Cooling Spray.
Babies & Children
44. DIY Nappy Rash Cream
Make your own gentle, soothing nappy rash cream using natural anti-fungal ingredients such as coconut oil, aloe vera gel, Tasmanian Lavender and Coastal Tea Tree essential oils – just be sure to add the smallest amount of essential oils and dilute well.
Using a mild essential oil-based cleaning spray such as our DIY All-Purpose Surface Cleaner, wipe down toys and equipment to kill nasty bugs without the potentially harmful chemicals.
45. Calming Baby Massage Oil
Add a few drops of a calming essential oil such as Tasmanian Lavender or our Chamomile to a gentle carrier oil such as sweet almond, coconut or jojoba and gently massage into your baby’s skin before bedtime.
46. Change Table Cleaner
Keep the essential oil-based All-Purpose Surface Cleaner and some wipes on hand for between changes to keep the changing table free from germs.
47. Nursery Aromatherapy
Having a diffuser on hand in your nursery with calming, relaxing essential oils for baby’s bedtime can help ease your baby into a restful sleep. German Chamomile, Tasmanian Lavender, Patchouli and Ylang Ylang combined with your baby’s favourite lullaby will have them fast asleep in no time.
Pets
48. Calming Distressed Pets
Anxious, overly sensitive or temperamental dogs and cats can benefit from aromatherapy just like humans. Keeping a diffuser close to your pets and adding a few drops of a pet-friendly scent such as Chamomile, Frankincense, Tasmanian Lavender or Cedarwood can help them feel at ease.
49. Easing Sensitive Digestion
Nausea or an upset stomach can affect your pets too! Add a few drops of Ginger essential oil to 250mL of a pet-safe carrier oil such as coconut or jojoba oil and gently massage into your pet’s belly.
50. Pest Repellant
Repel pests like ticks and fleas by adding 5-10 drops of a pet-friendly essential oil such as Rosemary, Tasmanian Lavender, Lemongrass, Cedarwood or Clove Bud to pet shampoo. Alternatively, make a spray using 250mL of distilled water and 10 drops of essential oil and spray over your pet’s coat several times a week.
Always keep in mind that dilution is key to safely using essential oils with your pets! See our safety guidelines at the top for more information.
The power of pure essential oils
Every area of our lives can be enhanced by the use of essential oils. Changing your environment and the products you use each day to be healthier for you, your family and your pets don’t have to be difficult. A few drops of your favourite essential oils here and there is all you need to start noticing a difference in your mood, your health and your home. So, how many ideas from the list will you try?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - MICHELLE BRASS ND
With over 25 years of experience in the natural health industry, Michelle has dedicated her life to helping others embrace the therapeutic benefits of nature. Throughout her time as a health practitioner, she has used and recommended countless traditional and conventional treatments to her clients - as she believes an integrative approach to health and wellness is very important. Michelle is passionate about using and promoting essential oils and, in particular, Kunzea Oil, as she has seen them help thousands of people over the years. She knows that using essential oils in your daily life can help bring balance to the mind, body and soul. She is constantly trialling and testing new products with her loyal clients.
To learn more about Michelle, go to her full bio page.
Medical Disclaimer
All content by Australian Kunzea Pty Ltd, including, text, images, audio, or other formats, were created for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. To read our full medical disclaimer, click here.
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- Sharifi-Rad, J., Sureda, A., Tenore, G.C., Daglia, M., Sharifi-Rad, M., et al. Biological Activities of Essential Oils: From Plant Chemoecology to Traditional Healing Systems. Molecules, 2017;22(1):70.
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