Best Essential Oils
Over the past few decades, there has been a distinct rise in the popularity of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). A big part of this is due to the rising popularity of essential oils. According to the global Aromatherapy Market Analysis, Companies Profiles, Share, Size, Trends, Growth, and Forecast to 2024, there is expected to be an 8 percent growth in the global aromatherapy market between 2017 and 2024.
Despite its rising popularity, you might not know what essential oils are. The simplistic way of looking at it is that they are very potent oils, some of which that have been around for centuries. These essential oils are extracted from plants in order to capture their scents, flavors, and overall beneficial elements.
Not only that, but they also have wonderful benefits for your hair, and skin, and make for a great addition to your healthcare collection in addition to being used for aromatherapy.
There are a couple of things that you need to know before we get into the specific types of essential oils. The first is that, when applying these oils topically, you should always use carrier oil rather than applying the oils from your essential oil bottles. Carrier oils such as jojoba or coconut oil are used to dilute the potency of the essential oils.
You should always perform a patch test with the oil before applying it to larger areas of your skin just in case you have any sort of negative reaction. It is also worth noting that a great deal of essential oils are toxic and they absolutely should not be taken by mouth unless it is under the specific guidance of a healthcare professional.
Lastly, you want to make sure that you buy pure essential oils. There are a ton of knock-off versions out there that simply put, just smell good. Perfume oils won’t contain the same kinds of benefits that true essential oils will have. Be sure to look out for the knock-offs.
If you want to take the leap into essential oils but aren’t quite sure where to start, here is a list of some of the most beneficial and popular essential oils on the market today. These are just a few that could potentially meet your needs and wants.
Top 15 Essential Oils
1. Roman Chamomile
This oil possesses the potential to put your mind at ease thanks to a combination of a light herbal and floral aroma when you diffuse it and then inhale it through steam. This is one oil that is meant to be used for calming the mind, though it has just as many uses when it comes to your skin.
Roman chamomile possesses the ability to treat skin conditions like eczema and inflammation, though it is important to note that people with allergies should pay close attention. If you have allergies to ragweed, daisies, and marigolds, you will want to avoid using this oil.
2. Lavender
This is hands down one of the most popular essential oils out there and it has a ton of benefits to it. The floral scent is subtle and can definitely help with relaxation and going to sleep. Not only that, it has been shown that breathing it in can help with alleviating headaches.
Using the oil topically has been known to reduce the swelling and itching that comes along with bug bites. Just like anything else, it is important to know about the side effects. There have been instances of headaches, nausea, vomiting, and chills that have been involved and there can be skin irritation if you have an intolerance to this essential oil.
3. Hyssop
This is one of the more earthy essential oils. It has an herbal, sweet scent to it and it can be used on the skin in order to minimize scarring, act as a healing agent, and even decrease inflammation.
This is a very potent essential oil, so always make sure to distill it. You might want to stay away from using it if you have a history of seizures or you are pregnant as it can have adverse effects.
4. Rose
Right up there with lavender, rose is an incredibly popular and potent essential oil. When inhaled, this floral, sweet scent of rose oil can help to reduce anxiety and to help you relax. Rose also has antioxidant properties that have been shown to improve your complexion and help to treat acne to give you a younger, clearer look to your skin.
The side effects of this essential oil are that it can cause a bit of skin irritation when it is applied topically. This can be combated by using more of the carrier oil so that you can still reap the benefits of the highly popular rose oil.
5. Myrrh
This is more of a sappy-smelling oil and it has been said that it can be used to treat a variety of skin issues like cracked skin and acne. Not only that, it has been shown to help treat athletes’ feet as well. Myrrh remains a very popular essential oil.
Like most essential oils, it should not be taken orally under any circumstances. It is worth noting that if you do use it topically, be aware that it has caused dermatitis in others. There are some serious side effects to keep an eye on like lower blood pressure and heart irregularities. Those who are pregnant should be cautious as well since it can increase the risk of miscarriage.
6. Ylang-ylang
One of the more flowery essential oils on the list, it has a spicy and sweet aroma to it. Ylang-ylang has been suggested as a self-esteem builder and an aid in relaxation; this is something that more and more people are taking note of these days.
In addition to acting as a repellant for certain types of insects, it has also been frequently found in cosmetics across the globe. It promises a huge array of beauty benefits that include the promotion of hair growth and the treatment of combination skin. This is one of the more versatile and safe essential oils that are available on the market today.
7. Vetiver
This is one of the more unique essential oils on the list thanks to its smoky and sugary scent of vetiver. This essential oil is most often used in tranquil aromatherapy methods in order to calm your nerves and boost your overall mood.
Not only that, it has antioxidant benefits like promoting skin health and even helping to treat scars. Best of all is that it is both non-irritating and non-sensitizing. This means it’s a great topical alternative for those who have difficulty handling other essential oils.
8. Grapefruit
You would expect this to be a bit of a brighter, more airy essential oil since it is derived from the peel of citrus fruit, but it actually has a bit more of a fresh and bitter scent. Not only that, it is one of the most popular essential oils to use in a diffuser.
Additionally, it is said that grapefruit essential oil has antifungal properties that can help to reduce potential bacteria. Similar to lemon, it is important that you avoid UV rays from the sun when applying this essential oil topically.
9. Frankincense
This has the type of aroma that is reminiscent of the holiday season to it. The thing is that it also has antiseptic, disinfectant, astringent, and digestive properties to it to make it a jack-of-all-trades sort of essential oil that you will make frequent use of.
There have been studies that suggest it can help to improve your overall skin health and it can help prevent certain oral issues like toothaches, bad breath, mouth sores, and cavities. There are potential issues with skin sensitivity, but most users can use this essential oil with confidence because there are no major side effects.
10. Peppermint
There may be no other essential oil on the market today more popular than peppermint. When you inhale the minty, herbal scent of this oil, there has been some evidence that has shown that it can help relieve the symptoms of IBS. There has also been evidence, albeit in limited amounts, that suggest that it can help with indigestion as well as headaches.
You may also notice that, when applied topically, there is an immediate sense of cooling. This can help relieve muscle pain (and perhaps increase exercise performance), help with sunburn relief, and even aid against itchy skin conditions like insect bites or poison ivy.
Again, like most essential oils, you should not ingest it as it can cause serious side effects like headaches, heartburn, mouth sores, and an irritated esophagus. Stick with actual mints if you are looking for a breath freshener.
11. Cedarwood
This is one of the more naturally woody and earth-smelling essential oils out there. It has a number of different uses for topical beauty treatments. There have been studies that show that there are benefits for treating eczema, fighting acne, and even reducing dandruff. It also has been alleged to help relieve coughing and reduce arthritis.
Consuming cedarwood oil is not something that you want to take part in; it can result in nausea, vomiting, damage to the digestive system, and thirst. As a rule of thumb, you should not ingest any essential oil.
12. Spearmint
Not quite the same as peppermint, this other minty option is very similar in regard to its aroma and benefits, so you can feel confident in using it as an alternative to peppermint. Spearmint oil has a little bit of a sweeter kick in regard to its aroma and has actually been found to have antifungal properties to it.
Just like peppermint, spearmint provides a cooling effect to the skin when applied topically; this makes it a very useful essential oil when it comes to keeping those annoying bugs away and relieving those nasty bug bites that can be so annoying.
While there are not a ton of different health issues caused by spearmint, it should be noted that those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should speak to their physician before using spearmint oil of any kind.
13. Melaleuca
There’s a pretty good chance that you will recognize this essential oil by its more commonly used name: tea tree oil. It also has a pretty easily identifiable medicinal scent, too. You will find it used as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral treatment; it also can help to treat hypersensitivity.
In addition to these benefits, it has been shown that melaleuca has benefits when it comes to reducing reactions in people who have an allergy to nickel, can help to treat eczema, and it can even treat bug bits and staph infections. Like all the other essential oils on this list, you would only want to inhale or apply this oil topically; never ingest it. If you do ingest this essential oil, it can lead to hives, dizziness, or digestive issues.
14. Basil Oil
This essential oil is extracted from basil (as the name would suggest) and has many internal and topical benefits. There have been noted anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects, working as a cold and flu remedy and even as a muscle relaxer.
Like some of the others on the list, this essential oil has been shown to treat acne and there have even been noted effects on treating stress. You can also add it to your hair treatment in order to get rid of buildup and enhance the shine of your hair.
15. Orange
It should be of little surprise that this is one of the most popular essential oils on the market today. It is packed with vitamin C and has a lot of different skincare benefits when you apply this oil topically. Not only that, it is found in a wide array of beauty products and it also promises to make skin appear smoother, brighter, and clearer.
While it has been shown to help treat anxiety and even aid in some pain relief, it has been known to not dilute very well. You also do not want to apply it directly to your skin as you could experience swelling and redness. You also want to make sure that you avoid direct sunlight after you apply it.