Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission to fund my coffee drinking habit if you use these links to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra. So it's a win for everyone! Please note that I won't link any products I don't believe in or don't resonate with my blog site. Thank you!

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are compounds that are extracted from benifical plants. They are obtained through distillation or by cold pressing. This results in aromotic compounds that give each essential oil its characteristic fragrance.  However, only the oils obtained through distillation are considered to be the ‘real essential oils’. Essential oils are often used in aromatherapy and they are believed to have healing effects, open our chakra’s and to support our overall well-being.

How do you use essential oils?

You can use essential oils in several ways.

• Inhale them directly out of the bottle
• Steam them with a bowl of water
• With a diffuser or humidifier
• Dilute them with a carrier oil to apply them to your skin
• Add a few drops with a carrier oil in your bath water
• Use them with a carrier oil for massages
• Add a few drops to your shampoo and conditioner
• A few drops on your pillow case for a good night of sleep
• Add them to foods for extra flavor

Not every essential oil is suited for all purpose mentioned above. Always check on the label how to use them properly.

How to choose good quality essential oils?

• When you purchase essential oil in a store, please remember you are not testing perfume. Directly applying the undiluted oil to your skin might cause allergic reactions. And don’t hold the bottle too close when you want to smell the oil.
• If a company sells all their oils for the same price, this is a red flag. The process of extracting the oils, isn’t the same for each plant. The price should be based on the amount of raw material is needed to produce is. Which results in different costs and prices. When the essential oils are prices the same, they’re probably either synthetic or of low quality.
• Choose oils from companies that list the botanical name, the country of origin, distillation date on the label.
• Buy only oils that are sold in dark glass bottles. Clear glass can spoil the oil.
• Good quality oils are never the cheapest oils on the market. Don’t buy it if the price seems to be good to be true.
• Buy essential oils from specialized companies.
• Quality oils are tested for the gas chromatography and mass spectrometry tests GC/MS. Check of the seller provides batch-specific reports on their website.
• Look for organic oils. Pollutants on plants can be more concentrated in the essential oil.
• Check if the oil only contains compounds of the plant, and are not diluted with synthetic additives
• Purchase from a brand with a good reputation.

Quality brands for essential oils

Below my top 4 of brands for essential oils. I listed them here because they are reputable and honest brands. All of their oils are well-tested and they work with the best, sustainable companies all over the world. I chose a few more expensive and a few cheaper brands, so there are options for every budget.

doTERRA

Buy on Amazon

Plant Therapy

• Each oil undergoes testing by third parties.
• All test results are available on Plant Therapy’s website.
• They have organic-only oils, but not all their oils are organic. Look for the USDA-Certified organic oils. They have more affordable products, those are not the high-quality oils.
• 100% pure products.

Buy on Amazon

Eden’s Garden

• Each oil undergoes GC/MS testing by third parties.
• Their plants come from their indigenous locations (where they grow naturally).
• All oils are 100% pure.
• They don’t add any bases, carriers, parafins or additives.
• Their oils are free of pesticides, GMO’s, fertilizers and chemicals.
• Their oils are organic as far as possible.
• The product’s are animal-cruelty free.

Buy on Amazon

Plant Guru

• All oils go through third party GC/MS testing.
• All oils are 100%.
• No chemicals, pesticides or GMO’s are added.
• All their essential oils are manufactured from sustainable sources.
• They are a small family business.
• They believe essential oils should be affordable so everyone can enjoy the healing power of their oils. This is why they are cheaper compared to other reputable brands on the market.

Buy on Amazon

Below I listed the most popular essential oils for you with a small explanation about the benefits of each oils, precautions / side effects, recommendations to blend the oils with, my personal recommendation and the aroma.

Essential oils and their benefits

Bergamot

Uses:

• Reduces stress
• Improves skin conditions; acne, eczema, rashes, sores
• Sore throat
• Bladder infection

Aroma: Citrusy fresh

Precautions / Side Effects:

• Mild side effects may include dizziness, muscle cramos, heartburn
• It might make the skin more sensitive to the sun

Goes well with:

• • Lavender
  • Patchouli
  • Lime

My recommendation:

black pepper

Uses:

• Restores emotional balance
• Strengthens confidence
• Strengthens self-worth
• Antiviral; flu, cold
• Promotes digestions
• Supports endocrine system
• Erotic Aphrodisiac
• Increases circulation
• It might help to quit smoking. The respiratory system is stimulated in a way that mimics cigarette smoke

Aroma: Mild, woody & spicy

Precautions / Side Effects:

• May cause irritation to the sensitive skin
• During pregnancy the skin is more sensitve. So, it’s advised to avoid during pregnancy
• Too much can over-stimulate the kidney’s

Goes well with:

• • Clary Sage
  • Geranium
  • Jasmin
  • Rose
  • Lavender
  • Sandalwood

My recommendation:

black spruce

Uses / health benefits: 

• Purifying and cleansing
• Antibacterial
• Treats diabetes
• Disinfectant
• Cooling and soothing
• Reduce pain and stress
• Reduce spasms
• Reduce redness

Smell / Aroma:

Rich, earthy and a bit woody evergreen scent

Precautions / Side effects:

• Not for ingestion
• May cause irritation

Goes well with:

• Lavender
• Tea Tree
• Frankincense

My recommendation:

blue tansy

• Uses:
  • Great for relaxation
  • Calming anxiety and stress
  • Natural anti-histamine
  • Anti-inflammatory properties
  • Skin healing effect

  Aroma:

  Sweet fruit, with a hint of herbal notes

  Precautions / Side Effects:

  • Make sure you buy Blue Tansy essential oil. Don’t buy oil from the Common Tansy. The Commin Tansy has high concentrations of thujone, which is a toxic enzyme. Make sure it says Tanacetum Annuum on the label, that’s Blue Tansy.

  Goes well with:

  • Jasmine
  • Geranium
  • Lavender
  • Clary Sage
  • Petitgrain

My recommendation:

Cardamom

Uses:

• Uplifting and energizing
• Helps with digestive problems
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Reduce stress
• Reduse spasms
• Reduse nausea
• Antimicrobial
• Natural aphrodisiac

Aroma:

Sweet, spicy with wooden undertones

Precautions / Side Effects:

• Can be irritating when you have sensitive skin
• Pregnant and lactating women should not ingest cardamom oil

Goes well with:

• • Citrus oils, such as:
    • Wilde Orange
    • Lemon
    • Bergamot

My recommendation:

Clary Sage

Uses:

• It reduces menstrual cramps
• It stimulates and regulates the menstrual cycle
• For relaxation and calmness
• Natural antidepressant
• Reduces feelings of anxiety
• Antibacterial properties
• Stimulates the libido
• Soothes skin that is inflammated
• Helps with pain in muscles and joints

Aroma:

Soft, sweet, nutty with a slightly floral scent

Precautions / Side Effects:

• May increase estrogen, but not all studies agree on this
• May not be appropriate for use for people who have low blood pressure

Goes well with:

• Geranium
• Lavender
• Neroli
• Bergamot
• Citrus
• Sandalwood

My recommendation:

Coriander Seed

Uses:

• Natural aphrodisiac
• Antibacterial
• Improves digestion
• Lowers cholesterol
• Improves hair and skin quality
• Helps relieve muscle spasm and cramps

Aroma:

Spicy, slightly musky fragrance

Precautions / Side Effects:

• Don’t take this oil orally, unless approved by your physician.
• Avoid when pregant because of mild muscle stimulating effects.

Goes well with:

• Bergamot
• Cinnamon
• Ginger
• Clary sage

My recommendation:

Davana

Uses:

• Helps reduce anxiety and stress
• Helps reduce menstrual cramps and ease menopausal symptoms
• Regulates and balances the menstrual cycle
• Bacterial infections
• Nausea
• Flu and colds
• Stomach problems
• Reduce muscle spasms
• Natural aphrodisiac
• It might help with drug withdrawal
• Natural antidepressant

Aroma:

A medium strength, fruity, grape and flowery-like aroma with a subtle vanilla note.

Precautions / Side Effects:

• Pregnant women should avoid it
• It should only be used in trace quantities
• It should never be consumed
• It might cause some irritations

Goes well with:

• Clary Sage
• Vetiver
• Frankincense
• Neroli
• Orange
• Jasmine
• Lemon
• Geranium

My recommendation:

Frankincense

Uses:

• Skin problems: acne, dry skin, reduces the appearance wrinkles, spots, stretch marks, discoloration scars
• Indigestion
• Colds, coughs
• Reduces feelings of anxiety and stress
• Relieves pain
• Anti-inflammatory
• Stimulates the immune system

Aroma:

Woody, sweet and spicy

Precautions / Side Effects:

• It may cause rashes
• It may cause stomach pain and nausea
• It may cause irritation to the skin

Goes well with:

• Citrus oils: Lime, Orange
• Lavender
• Geranium
• Rose
• Clary Sage
• Sandalwood
• Bergamot
• Peppermint

My recommendation:

Geranium

Uses:

• Reduces feelings of stress and anxiety
• It improves the cognitive function
• Balances the hormones and emotions
• Enhances mood
• Sometimes used as an insect repellant

Aroma:

A fresh, sweet, lightly floral scent with herbal notes.

Precautions / Side Effects:

• It may cause irritatations / rashes when applied tot he skin
• Not known what might bet he side effects when taken in larger amounts
• As far as known it is likely safe for pregnant and lactating women

Goes well with:

• Bergamot
• Lime
• Lavender
• Orange
• Clary Sage

My recommendation:

Grapefruit

Uses / health benefits: 

• Balances the mood
• Helps to reduce stress
• Lowers blood pressure
• It may help with weight loss
• Helps to treat acne.

Smell / Aroma:

Citrusy and sweet.

Precautions / Side effects:

• May cause irritation when applying the oil to the skin
• It can be dangerous in combination with certain medications

Goes well with:

• Orange
• Peppermint
• Bergamot
• Lemon
• Lavender
• Franincense
• Geranium

My recommendation:

Jasmin

Uses / health benefits:

• Natural aphrodisiac
• Antidepressant
• Uplifting the senses
• Soothens menopause symptoms and PMS-symptoms
• Improves concentration
• Improves immunity
• Helps with insomnia

Smell / Aroma:

Sweet, intense and alluring scent

Precautions / Side effects:

• Considered safe
• Might cause allergic reactions
• Pregnant and lactating women only in food amounts

Goes well with:

• Rose
• Clary Sage
• Lime
• Bergamot
• Ylang Ylang
• Sandalwood
• Frankincense

My recommendation:

Lavender

Uses / health benefits: 

• Calming and sedative
• Treats anxiety, restlessness and depression
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Fungal infections
• Insomnia
• Menstrual cramps

Smell / Aroma:

Floral, sweet and herbal notes

Precautions / Side effects:

• May cause skin irritation, nausea and headaches.
• Constipation
• Increased appetite

 Goes well with:

• Geranium
• Clary Sage
• Citrusy oils
• Vetiver

My recommendation:

Lemon

Uses / health benefits: 

• Stress relieve / Depression
• Treats acne
• Stimulates immune system
• Helps with losing weight

Smell / Aroma:

Smells like ripe lemons, a refreshing, citrusy scent

Precautions / Side effects:

• May make the skin more sensitive to the sun

 Goes well with:

• Lavender
• Neroli
• Sandalwood
• Ylang Ylang
• Geranium

My recommendation:

Neroli

Uses / health benefits:

• Relieve stress and anxiety
• Relieve insomnia
• Calming and relaxing
• Good for the skin: scars, stretch marks, wrinkles
• Helps to prevent depression

Smell / Aroma:

Sweet, floral, honeyed fragrance.

Precautions / Side effects:

• Inhaling Neroli oil can be dangerous to pets
• Not to be ingested
• It can make the skin more sensitive for the sun

Goes well with:

• Sandalwood
• Geranium
• Lavender
• Jasmine
• Lemon
• Grapefruit

My recommendation:

Orange

Uses / health benefits: 

• Enhances the mood
• Antidepressant
• Disinfectant
• Supports clean skin
• Helps to detoxify the body

Smell / Aroma:

Sweet, citrusy fragrance, like orange peels

Precautions / Side effects:

• May cause skin irritation

Goes well with:

• Franincense
• Lavender
• Geranium

My recommendation:

Palo Santo

Uses / health benefits: 

• Used to purify and cleanse from negative energies
• Relieve cold, flu
• Relieve stress, anxiety and depression
• Relieve headaches
• Insect repellant
• Reduces allergies

Smell / Aroma:

Sweet and woody

Precautions / Side effects:

• Avoid use if it has oxidized
• May cause skin irritation

Goes well with:

• Franincense
• Lemon
• Grapefruit
• Orange
• Lavender

My recommendation:

Peppermint

Uses / health benefits: 

• Relieve muscle pains
• Relieve spasms and cramps
• Calms inflamed skin
• Treats irritable bowel syndrome
• Helps with digestive problems
• Relieve from itching

Smell / Aroma:

Cool and refreshing

Precautions / Side effects:

• Large amounts of peppermint oil can be toxic
• Don’t apply to face and chest of children
• Allergic reactions
• Heartburn
• Diarrhea

Goes well with:

• Grapefruit
• Geranium
• Lavender
• Lemon

My recommendation:

Petitgrain

Uses / health benefits: 

• Relieve stress and anxiety
• Relaxing
• Helps insomnia
• Anti-inflammatory
• Treats skin problems
• Helps cardiovascular system
• Helps digestive system
• Great addition to hot drinks

Smell / Aroma:

Fresh, floral and woody fragrance

Precautions / Side effects:

• Pregnant and lactating women should avoid petitgrain oil

Goes well with:

• Geranium
• Ylang Ylang
• Bergamot
• Clary Sage
• Lavender
• Jasmin
• Neroli

My recommendation:

Rose

Uses / health benefits: 

• Relieve stress and anxiety
• Treats the skin; clears acne, wrinkles, dry skin, eczema
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Relieve pain
• Relieve menstrual cramps
• Antibacterial
• Aphrodisiac

Smell / Aroma:

Deep, warm, floral fragrance

Precautions / Side effects:

• Inhaling too much may cause headaches
• It may cause skin irritation

Goes well with:

• Bergamot
• Jasmine
• Geranium
• Neroli
• Vetiver
• Sandalwood
• Frankincense
• Ylang Ylang

My recommendation:

Sandalwood

Uses / health benefits: 

• Relieve stress and anxiety
• Urinary and genital disorders
• Treats skin diseases
• Mental disorders
• Hemorrhoids
• Liver and gallbladder problems
• Relaxing and calming effect
• Reduce high blood pressure

Smell / Aroma:

Woody and earthy

Precautions / Side effects:

• Not to be ingested: can cause itching, nausea, stomach and kidney problems.
• May cause skin irritation

Goes well with:

• Bergamot
• Black Pepper
• Geranium
• Lavender
• Rose
• Vetiver
• Ylang Ylang
• Grapefruit

My recommendation:

Spikenard

Uses / health benefits: 

• Healthy skin
• Enhances mood
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Antibacterial properties
• Relieve muscle pain
• Relieve menstruation cramps
• Helps with constipation
• Relaxing and calming
• Pancreatitis

Smell / Aroma:

Earthy and musky

Precautions / Side effects:

• May cause irritation when applied to the skin

Goes well with:

• Frankincense
• Geranium
• Lavender
• Lemon
• Rose
• Neroli
• Vetiver

My recommendation:

Tea Tree

Uses / health benefits: 

• Antibacterial properties
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Treats and improves skin conditions such as acne
• Also used as a natural deodorant and insect repellant
• Antisceptic
• Mouthwash
• Nail fungus
• Stimulates the immune system

Smell / Aroma:

Astringent, medicinal, woody and earthy.

Precautions / Side effects:

• Not for ingestion
• May cause skin irritation or swelling

Goes well with:

• Bergamot
• Grapefruit
• Lavender
• Lemon
• Rose
• Spruce

My recommendation:

Vetiver

Uses / health benefits: 

• Calming and relaxing
• Helps with insomnia
• Warming
• Relieve stress and anxiety
• Joint and muscle pain
• Also used as insect repellant
• Natural anti-oxidant

Smell / Aroma:

Sweet, earthy and woody.

Precautions / Side effects:

• Must be avoided by pregnant women, it can induce miscarriages
• Lactating women should also avoid vetiver oil

Goes well with:

• Cedarwood
• Lemon
• Grapefruit
• Orange
• Jasmine
• Ylang Ylang
• Petitgrain

My recommendation:

Ylang Ylang

Uses / health benefits: 

• Relieve stress and anxiety
• Relieve pain
• Enhance mood
• Good for the skin; wound healing and scars
• Kill bacteria
• Aphrodisiac
• Lower blood pressure

Smell / Aroma:

Sweet, fruity and floral scent

Precautions / Side effects:

• May cause irritations

Goes well with:

• Bergamot
• Geranium
• Grapefruit
• Lemon
• Vetiver
• Sandalwood

My recommendation: