So, you own a collection of essential oils and you’d like to use them up before they expire.
Is there anything else you can do with these aromatics, other than putting them in a diffuser, or using them for massage?
Actually, there are a seemingly infinite number of ways to use essential oils. I’m continually finding new ones.
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Essential oils are so versatile. I use them for massage and inhalation. They seem to have mood elevating and natural tranquilizing properties. When I’m stressed, (I reach for a certain essential oil blend made with citrus oils. For me, it brings instant relief.)
I also use essential oils for housecleaning projects. And I use them for homemade all natural cosmetics and personal care formulas. We even use them on our family pet.
Do Essential Oils Expire?
Because I love using essential oils, I love to buy them. This means it’s easy to end up with more oils than I need. Aromatics don’t last indefinitely. Some oils may last for several years. But others, such as lemon or sweet orange essential oil, may only last a year or two.
So, if you want to use your oils up before they start to go bad (you’ll probably notice because they start to smell funny) here are some more ways to use them, which you may not have considered.
5 Unique Ways to Use Essential Oils
Essential Oils in a Dehumidifier. Of course, you may want to check with the manufacturer of your dehumidifier before doing this. However, I was dealing with a moldy smelling dehumidifier that I probably would have had to get rid of, if I didn’t do something drastic. This was running in our basement.
This was a replacement dehumidifier, which I bought because the old one developed a musty odor. When the new one did too, I knew I had a problem. Fortunately, I had the right essential oils on hand. The one I chose to use was Fabulous Frannie Protect, a blend of give oils that’s developed a reputation for being able to kill pathogens. So I turned it loose on the mold.
Protect contains clove, cinnamon, lemon, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oil, the same mix that’s found in the better known Thieves oil, sold by the Young Living company.
Anyway, Protect did get rid of the bad smell and we now have two dehumidifiers that work.
Essential Oils for Sunburn Relief
We spent the Fourth of July at the beach. It was a beautiful sunny day. Even though I had put my homemade sunscreen recipe on my face and shoulders, we were at a place that didn’t have a lot of shade. So, even with sun protection, my nose and cheeks became a little red.
Once I returned home, I added some lavender essential oil to some natural body butter. I had whipped up this easy DIY body butter a few months earlier. I’ve been able to use it for so many things, including sunburn relief. You can make body butter very easily with just coconut oil and organic shea butter. However, you can also add essential oils to the mix. I love making a large batch of body butter, so I have some to give away to family and friends. Here’s how to make your own body butter. You need shea butter to make body butter. So if you don’t own any, it’s available online.
Lavender oil has earned a reputation as a burn remedy. That’s probably because of a widely publicized incident that happened in Europe. In the early 1900’s, a French chemist named Rene-Maurice Gattefosse burned his hands badly. He plunged them into a vat of lavender oil. They reportedly healed quickly, with minimal scarring.
If you don’t have body butter, another possibility is to mix a drop or two of lavender oil with one teaspoon of rosehip seed oil. This carrier is also believed to have skin regenerating properties.
Essential Oils for Flea Control
Yes, in our house, we even use essential oils to control fleas and ticks. I’d much rather use something (anything) that doesn’t involve potentially toxic chemicals, which have been linked to the deaths of hundreds of pets. Plus, there’s also evidence that these compounds result in human exposure. (Not something I want to do to my family.)
So, instead, we use natural essential oils on our dog’s collar. If I find any evidence of pests, I put one drop of geranium essential oil on my dog’s fabric collar. I’ve also heard lemongrass oil works just as well. Of course, you’d need to check with your own vet before using essential oils on your pet. They shouldn’t be used on young puppies or on pregnant or nursing females.
Making Essential Oil Shower Melts
Aromatic shower melts are as easy to make as body butter. With a few ingredients I already had in the house, plus an antique deviled egg mold, I was able to mix up a batch of shower melts using lemongrass essential oil. If you’ve never smelled lemongrass, it’s exquisite. It smells like lemon, only better, with rich exotic undertones.
If you’re interested, here’s an easy way to make essential oil shower melts.
Essential Oils for Washing Clothes
When I have a really soiled load, I sometimes add a few drops of Fabulous Frannie Protect blend to the cycle. It seems to add some cleaning power. This blend is also used for general disinfection purposes. I may not do this for delicate clothing. But in my house it works really well for dirty towels and work clothes.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. People with health concerns should discuss them with a doctor. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils, unless under the direction of a health care professional.
