Before they can conquer their field, master chefs need to know how to boil water; mathematicians need to know 1+1; and musicians need to know how to hold their instruments. The same strategy applies to essential oils: Before you can blend aromatic masterpieces and wow the crowd with your Vitality™-infused cooking, you need to perfect the basics!
Congratulations! Now that you’ve mastered the basics, keep up your essential education with these answers to some of our most commonly asked questions.
Q. How can I use essential oils at home?
A. Essential oil uses are as numerous as the leaves in a forest! Get ready to DIY, concoct, and create with a few ideas for using essential oils in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and more.
- Create a homemade body butter.
- Relax with Valerian.
- Elevate your massages.
- Spice up your cooking.
- Freshen the air.
- Find your signature scent.
- Love on your little ones.
Q. What are the benefits of essential oils?
A. Essential oils can benefit your body, mind, and emotional well-being in many ways. Here are just a few of the handy ways that essential oils can enhance your life:
- Lemon essential oil can remove the sticky residue left by stickers, grease, and gum.
- Peppermint essential oil can create a cooling sensation when applied to fatigued muscles after a workout.
- Tea Tree essential oil and Lavender essential oil help reduce the appearance of blemishes.
- Kunzea essential oil and Citrus Fresh™ essential oil blend purify the air when diffused.
Q. How do I know if the oils I’m using are high quality?
A. Now that essential oils are so popular, they’re everywhere! But you don’t want to purchase them from just anywhere, because purity matters when it comes to essential oils. Here are some things to look for to ensure that you’re getting the highest quality available:
Sourcing: The soil the plant is grown in, the seeds used, and the experts who handle the plant material are just as important as the final product.
Science: Testing is the best way to ensure that the oil meets every benchmark of quality and purity each step of the way.
Standards: Ethically sourcing plant material, benefitting communities around the globe, and staying legally compliant with local regulations should be the highest priority for essential oil producers.
Take your essential oil investigation to the next level! Get a look at the ingredients you don’t want to find in your oils.
Q. How can I use essential oils in aromatherapy?
A. Aromatherapy is the use of aromatic plant extracts to promote health and wellness. Because aromatherapy works through the skin and with your sense of smell, essential oils are a fantastic complement to this ancient practice. We recommend diving in and utilizing the benefits of aromatherapy with a soothing bath or a rejuvenating massage!
Q. Do essential oils stain?
A. Most essential oils of the purest quality do not stain. However, some oils, like Blue Tansy, do have a dark color and can stain due to the naturally occurring colors in the plant material. Learn more about which essential oils stain in our blog post.
Curious for more? Get even more of your essential oil questions answered and dip your toes into EO combination creation!
I have question about coconut oil and why doesn’t Young Living sell this essential oil? Are there any other oils that are similar to it with Young Living?
Hello Tracy, Based on business needs we do not offer coconut essential oil or a similar oil at this time. However, we appreciate your interest in coconut oil and will pass along the suggestion for you!
I started using a diffuser 1 week ago!
I was wondering if you use a solvent extraction or Co2 extraction for your floral absolute essential oils? Thank you so much.
Hi Aisha, Thanks for stopping by with your question! Absolutes are technically not essential oils but essences. Because the oils are very volatile and water soluble, they would not survive distillation and undergo a unique extraction process using a solvent extraction technique.
I am getting confused with the dietary supplement part of the essential oils. I was looking at clove and the 15 ml bottle just says therapeutic grade essential oil while the clove vitality 5 ml bottle say essential oil supplement. Why does the 5 ml say its a supplement but the 15 ml does not? Is there a difference? Can the 15 ml be taken as a supplement as well?
Great question Laura! The Vitality line of oils is the same 100% therapeutic-grade essential oils for which Young Living® has become known. The Vitality line was created so that members can now draw clear distinction between topical/aromatic use and dietary use. Clove 15 ml is labeled as a topical/aromatic while Clove Vitality™ is labeled as a dietary supplement. Please follow the usage directions on the individual product labels. Thanks for stopping by!
Greetings!!! Does anyone know where can I get YL Spanish materials from? Especially learning the basics of EO’s!!! Thanks :-)
Hello! We offer several materials in Spanish under the Business Tools & Aids category of your Virtual Office. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi! I am new to using YL oils and I have a quick question. I was wondering if it is safe to use endoflex oil while on birth control. I know endoflex is used as a natural form of hormonal balance but was wondering if there would be any effect on the birth control if using the oil at the same time. Any input is greatly appreciated!
Hi Theresa, As you are taking medication please speak with a health care provider prior to use to determine what is right for you. Thanks for stopping by!
Our family has recently adopted a cat. Has there been research determining if there are oils that should not be used, even in a diffuser, with a cat in the house? How about using essential oils to promote health for our cat?
Hi Monica, Congratulations on adopting your new feline friend! Essential oils can be safely and effectively shared with your animal friends. Special caution should be exercised when using essential oils with cats. Cats are generally averse to citrus essential oils and high-phenol oils. For a list of high-phenol oils, please contactproductsupport@youngliving.com.
Young Living’s products are intended only for the use listed on individual labels. Please always refer to the label for usage directions. Because Young Living’s products are not labeled to be used as drugs, they are not intended for use in the treatment or cure of disease or any abnormal function of the body, including ailments or injuries. Therefore, Young Living cannot provide advice or recommendation for products to address any type of disease, ailment, or injury for your feline friend. If you have further concerns, we recommend that you seek the advice and recommendation of a competent, trained veterinarian with knowledge and experience with essential oils use. Thank you for stopping by!
Is there any information on the blog in regards to the animal EO line? I am having a challenge finding this. I am looking for a SEARCH keywords square but I don’t see it. Thanks for your help!
Hi Debbie, Thanks for stopping by! Essential oils can be safely and effectively shared with your animal friends. For more information on how to utilize the Young Living® products for your animals, please visithttp://www.youngliving.com/blog/essential-oils-and-pets-a-quick-how-to/. If you have further concerns, we recommend that you seek the advice and recommendation of a competent, trained veterinarian with knowledge and experience with essential oils use on animals.
Hello.
I have the small diffuser and have not used it in a while. I need to know how to use the oil in it.
Do you mix with water or something else or do you used straight oil?
Hi Sandra, It’s great to hear that you would like to start using your diffuser again. Please refer to your product manual for detailed instructions for your specific diffuser. If you are unable to find your manual, please contact Member Services for further assistance. Thanks for stopping by!
How would I go about visiting the Northern Lights farm in Fort Nelson, BC Canada? I live fairly close in southern BC so I would love for that farm to be the first I visit.
Great question, Xanthia! The Northern Lights Farm is not open to visitors at this time but we may offer tours in the future. Please watch https://www.youngliving.com/us/en/farms/young-living-farms for information to be announced. Thanks for stopping by with your question.
For what does the “101” stand for?
Hi Bibiana, “101” means “the basic introduction to something”. The title of this post, “Essential Oils 101”, is meant to explain the basics of essential oils. We hope this information is helpful! Thanks for stopping by!
Are there any oils that cannot be used as a dietary supplement and is there a chart anywhere on any of your websites that tell how much ratio between between the oils as carrier oils? I am having a problem with the oil seeping through my pores and having a strong odor. Is there anything that can be done to correct that in any way. I am taking 3 to 4 times a day as a dietary supplement. Any help you could give me would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Beth, Many essential oils can be used as a dietary supplement. Please refer to each individual essential oil label for usage instructions. At this time, we do not have a comprehensive chart of dilution ratios available to provide. We again suggest referring to the individual oil labels for current usage instructions. When applying a new oil, it is always a good idea to do a test on a small patch of skin first. Skin sensitivity is highly individual. If the skin feels hot or turns red, apply a vegetable oil (V-6™ or olive) to the area to dilute. Washing the area with water is less effective. The situation you described is not a typical occurrence when using essential oils internally according to the label directions. If you are following the usage directions on the product labels, we would suggest discussing this matter further with your health care provider to determine what is right for you.
Yes! Essential oils are beneficial to your entire body in so many ways! Essential oils support wellness. I use them daily!
What happens to the rest of the plant after the oils are extracted?
Great question, Danielle! The plant material leftover from distillation is used as compost. Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for choosing to be cruelty-free but are your products sold in Asia? Most of Asia requires by law for products to be tested on animals.
Thanks for your questions Florence! Animal testing is not required nor performed with Young Living products sold domestically or in any of our International markets. We hope this information is helpful.
Where can I find more information about which YL oils are safe for children? Is there a list of ones to avoid? Thanks
Thanks for your questions, Allison. Although we do recommend extreme caution when using essential oils for children, through our research and 20+ years of experience, we have found that essential oils can be safe and beneficial for people of all ages. However, due to the extreme sensitivities of children and the fact that individual reactions will vary, we do not have a list of specific oils that can/cannot be used with children available to provide. We suggest consulting a health care provider to determine what is right for your children. We recommend referring to the individual label directions for any age restrictions as well. Essential oils should be diluted for use on children. We suggest using a patch test procedure prior to ensure the oil is properly diluted for the child. To perform a patch test, just apply 1-2 drops of EO to a patch of skin such as the forearm.
Does this mean you do not sell to countries that are required by law to test on animals? I love your product :) thank you :)
I was wondering if Young Living is cruelty free? Do they test their oils and other products on animals? Thanks much!
I am wondering the same. Need to know before I place an order.
Hello Jen! Young Living® has a policy against testing the efficacy or safety of its products on animals. Young Living’s products are formulated to be safe for nearly all users; therefore, animal testing is neither required nor performed in our product development process.
Can you tell me whether you use a third party for animal testing? Are your products sold in China? Are your products sold in any country that requires animal testing in order for the product to be sold there. Can you guarantee that all of your ingredients are not tested on animals at any step in the process before being sold? I am very serious about purchasing only cruelty free products and need to purchase any additional oils with a clear conscience. Thank you for your time.
Thanks for your questions, Kristin. We do not use a third party for animal testing. Animal testing is not required as we ship our products to China on an NFR (Not for Resale) basis. Our vendors only perform the specific tests we request for our products. We guarantee that our vendors do not perform animal testing on any of our products. We hope this information is helpful!
Not cruelty free though…? Mink oil in some of the ointments…?
Hi Mary, Our products are not certified cruelty free. Young Living Essential Oils exercises careful attention to the formulation and sourcing of its raw material ingredients. Whenever possible, animal sourced or animal derived raw materials are avoided. Only under exceptional situations are animal products ever considered for our products. Mink Oil is used in the Animal Scents Ointment and Rose Ointment for its moisturizing and conditioning properties to the skin. Young Living is cognizant that animal awareness and animal testing are very important topics. We take every precaution to ensure that our vendors obtain the animal derived product in the most humane process accessible.
Is Young Living associated with Beagle testing on any of their products? If I were to go to an animal testing site, should Young Living be listed?
Hi Jennifer, Thank you for your questions. Young Living is not associated with Beagle testing on any of our products and would not be listed on an animal testing site.
Hi, Is it safe and effective to use emu oil as a carrier oil with the EOs considering it isn’t vegetable/plant based?
Hi Yonah, We do not recommend using pure Emu oil as we have not done testing on this specific type of carrier oil.
Can I mix Panaway and coconut oil to use in a roller bottle so I don’t have to mix it each time I use it? How much of each would I use?
I have a 5ml bottle, put 15 drops of panaway and 15 drops of wintergreen in, then the rest carrier oil (about 60 drops)
Hi Gail! You may mix PanAway with a carrier oil in a roller bottle if you would like. According to the label directions, 4 drops of carrier oil should be used for each drop of PanAway.
I was thinking about converting many of my bottle tops to the roller ball? Has anybody else done this? It seems to me that it would be easier to apply? What is the disadvantage of doing this?
The roller tops aren’t that easy to take on & off. If you plan to use essential oils in your diffuser, it wouldn’t be easy to take the roller tops off every time. Also, you might want to make a recipe (face cream, muscle massage oil, etc.) that calls for so many drops of each oil and you couldn’t drop the oils in with the roller tops on.
Many of the oils should be diluted anyway, so I would recommend ordering some inexpensive roller bottles and making your own roller blends! That way you would have what you need (sleepy-time roller, immune-boosting roller, seasonal discomfort roller, post-workout roller, etc.) easy to identify and easy to use. And you would still have your YL bottles with easy-to-remove regular lids for when you want to diffuse or make capsules & recipes!
I have my roller top on my Panaway because I’m only going to use that topically anyway. But first I made a post-workout muscle massage oil with a few drops of the Panaway, and filled the rest of the Panaway bottle with some V6 carrier oil to dilute it a little. Hope that helped answer your question :)
Hi Felicia, I read your response above and wanted to tell you that it is really quite easy to remove a roller ball from your YL Bottles. You simply lay the lid on top of the roller and twist to the side like you were opening a bottle of soda. The roller ball pops right out very easily.
Where is the home office? Aren’t some plants grown in the USA?
Hi Pamela! Young Living HQ is in Lehi, Utah, USA. We have a few farms in the USA, then some others overseas. Take a look at our farm locations here:
It’s important to realize that not all plants can be grown in the United States. Some plants will only grow in the soil and climate of the Middle East, some will only grow in the mountains of China, etc.
Hi, I am new to this. Where do I find the recipes to make my own roller blends?
Welcome to Young Living, Dorothy! If you would like further information on Young Living’s Seed to Seal process, the quality of our essential oils, recommended uses, or any further information on any of Young Living products, please visit YoungLiving.com. Thanks!
I new to Young Living Oil and I just got my kit in. What can I use DiGize, Lemon and Copaiba for?
Thanks, Barbara
Hi Barbara – welcome! Take a look at our product pages for more information – https://queue.youngliving.com/softblock/?c=youngliving&e=prodmain&t=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youngliving.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fproduct%2Fdigize-essential-oil-blend&cid=en-US&rticr=0, https://www.youngliving.com/us/en/product/lemon-essential-oil, and https://queue.youngliving.com/softblock/?c=youngliving&e=prodmain&t=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youngliving.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fproduct%2Fcopaiba-essential-oil&cid=en-US&rticr=0.
Essential Oils Pocket Reference published by Life Science Publishing is what you need Barbara . Talk to your enroler about it or visit
I am searching for guidelines for adding essential oil (Thieves, etc.) to my potable water supply in RV when I am camping. I am looking to improve quality of water, disinfecting potential. I am also interested in how others are using essential oils in their RV living. I already use a diffuser and some of the cleaning products (Thieves)
Hi Melanie! We do not recommend using any essential oils for water in an RV water supply tank. The reason being that it is highly likely that the oils would react negatively to the materials used to make the tank and the oil would sit on top of the water.
Melanie, I work away from home & live fulltime in my RV. I use the Thieves Household Cleaner ALL the time. I use YL products exclusively! Shampoos, bar soaps, shower gel, toothpaste, mouthwash, foaming hand soap & since unveiling new Thieves products, the laundry soap & fruit & veggie cleaner! I diffuse YLEO constantly! I love YL and the wellness, purpose & abundance it supports!
I have spinal issues with fusions and bulging disks. I also have had cancer 3 times. I also have some heart issues due to over 30 operations since 1995 and had two heart ablations. I would love to use some of these oils to be able to cut down on prescriptions. What area would you consider to be the first place to start working on and how? Inhaling, rubbing on directly, etc.
Hi Mandy! Sorry to hear about your medical issues!
Young Living’s products are intended only for the use listed on individual labels—either for topical/aromatic use or as a dietary supplement. Please always refer to the label for usage directions. Because Young Living’s products are not labeled to be used as drugs, they are not intended for use in the treatment or cure of disease or any abnormal function of the body, including ailments or injuries. Therefore, Young Living cannot provide advice or recommendation for products to address any type of disease, ailment, or injury. We advise that you consult with a medical professional on your specific issue.
If you would like further information on Young Living’s Seed to Seal process, the quality of our essential oils, recommended uses, or any further information on any of Young Living products, please visit YoungLiving.com.
Mandy, have you joined a team yet? Your upline if you have one should be able to help you better understand how to use them. If you don’t please message me and I would love to help!!
This is a great article for people who don’t know what essential oils are or what they are used for!
I am interested in using essential oils that might better me and my families lives. I have been reading about oils now for a while but haven’t fully decided as to where to start.
Hi Carlene! Our blog is a great place to start, as is the Young Living website. Hope this helps!
Hey Carlene! Send me an email and I’ll help you get started. I’ve been using Young Living Essential Oils and all their products for about a year and a half and I LOVE them!
Carlene,
Please email me and I will tell you what I have learned. They are wonderful!!! I got the premium kit and it is wonderful!!!
I WAS JUST TOLD ABOUT THIS AM INTERESTED LEARNING MORE WHAT BOOK WOULD BE FOR A BEGINER THANKS
Did anyone contact you as of yet? If not, check out my site and also contact me. Would love to work with you. I am also pretty new.
We literally use our oils head to toe daily! This is an excellent presentation to help introduce the oils to others and to help them see how truly perfect and God-given these oils are. Not all brands are created equal, and this shows that in an acceptable way! Can’t imagine using another oil.
Can anyone help me with poison ivy?
Thank you. I am waiting
How long does it take for an answer?
Lynn,
Your question is not compliant with the FDA regulations. We cannot give advice on a diagnosis; the FDA says poison ivy is a diagnosis. There are reference guides that you can use to find the answer to your question. Otherwise, you should repost a question that deals only in body systems.
Hello Lynn, there are oils that will support your immune system. Contact me through lavonnewalter@gmail.com.
Lynne, our focus has to be on maintaining health and maintaining systems. We are not doctors and therefore cannot “prescribe” anything that would cure, diagnose, or prevent any illness ir condition. That is why you have not received a reply.
thieves!
The message is so clear and simple. Thank you for creating this.
Great information on 1 page! Thank you! I have been using coconut oil, but it adds the coconut smell, could not find almond oil. Glad to hear about olive oil.
You can also look for fraccionated coconut oil! It doesn’t have the smell of coconut and is so much lighter and absorbs better than olive oil. I like it better than almond oil as well. Actually, it’s my favorite carrier oil because, in my opinion, it’s the one oil that that simply dilutes the essential oil(s) without leaving the skin greasy or sticky or altering the scents of the oils, or any other changes you could think of. It just acts as the carrier and that’s it!
Where can you buy fraccionated coconut oil?
Danielle, the best way to find a place to purchase fractionated coconut oil is to Google it. Or you may want to call and ask local healthier food groceries like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Sprouts. I have also found that my local beekeeping supply has a lot of natural ingredients in addition to beeswax, like shea butter, almond oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, apricot oil, and other things I like to use. Other than carrier oils, though, you can depend on Young Living’s lotions and creams to be excellent, without the expense of experimenting to make your own. Try Sandalwood Cream, Boswellia Wrinkle Cream, Essential Beauty Serum, Lavender Lotion, Genesis Lotion, Sensation Lotion. And there is also a line of luscious soaps, shower gels, hair care and others, and don’t forget the household items and powerful supplements!
French version
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This is presentation is really great and easy to understand. Do you have a version in French for a relative of mine?
Hi Elimba! We don’t have a French version at the moment, we’re sorry!
Can we use this graphic on our blog?
Please do!
Thank you Young Living for investing in your members and educating us! great tools and information
Lovely! Clear, Crisp, Clean… Is this going to be one of the purchasable brochures? Or can we get this in a printable version?
Hi Neelima, we don’t have plans to make it available as a brochure at this point, but feel free to right-click to download it for printing!
I never realized that particular definition of the word volatile! Thank you. I hear the word and I associate it with the definition of explosive. And it always bugged me. Then I would forget that I was going to “look it up” in the dictionary. Cool!
Great Post! Love the graphic!!
does olive oil change the smell/taste of an EO?
Hi Pam! Olive oil won’t affect the smell or taste of the essential oil itself, but olive oil does has a stronger taste and smell than some other carrier oils, so it will partially cover the essential oil.
I don’t leave home without them. They are the Missing Link to wellness.
This is a simple but concise introduction from where to begin the conversation at a class.
Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for creating this!
Nice refresher course, I am very familiar with your products and love them!
I save my empty bottles to use as inhalers. Once all
Scent is gone, I use them to held stock blends.
I found it interesting that each oils has hundreds of different chemical compounds – no wonder each oil does so much!! I LOVE my Young Living oils!!
Why is it important to take essential oils in a plant-based milk? Is there something about taking them internally in a dairy-milk that impacts the therapuetic property of the oil?
Hi Amy! Dairy milk does not negatively affect the essential oils, but we typically suggest using plant-based milks instead of dairy because that is what many of our Young Living members prefer to use.
The oils have simply made my life beautiful! They are amazing because God made them :-). Thank you Gary Young &Young Living for trusting in our Lord Jesus and following your passion!
This is well written i am going to include it with my presentations
These are gorgeous graphics. I would love to print and show to others but the way these are designed they do not print nicely on regular paper. To get them on one page they need to be reduced so much you can’t read them, and they don’t split nicely over several pages. Are there other print options that I am not aware of and/or am I just doing something wrong? Thank you.
Hi Shati, thank you! You can right click to download the image and take to a professional printer – they’ll be able to print on larger paper. Hope this helps!
I love everything about this blog…it has soo much useful and beautiful information. I read about putting a few drops in your hands and inhaling, will try that as well as from the bottle. I use them topically everyday with a carrier oil.
I seriously love this! Gorgeous!!!!
I always forget about inhaling from bottle! And it’s free :-)