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using aromatherapy at home - essential oil profiles

 Essential oils are concentrated, volatile plant oils used in the practice of aromatherapy. These plant extracts are obtained through steam distillation or cold pressing, and contain the plants essence, scent and properties.  To enjoy the full therapeutic and healing benefit, we recommend using only the highest, therapy grade essential oils from reputable, sustainable suppliers. There are many essential oils available so we've put together a list of some of the most commonly used oils for home aromatherapy use. For more information aromatherapy use, read out essential oil cautions page, using aromatherapy at home page, and carrier oil profiles page. 

basil

  • scent - warm, spicy
  • beneficial properties - analgesic, aids digestion, aids concentration, calming, circulatory stimulant, heart tonic, meditation, reduces stress, promotes restful sleep, purifying, uplifting
  • blends well with - bergamot, citrus oils, geranium
  • basil essential oil cautions - Not for use during pregnancy. Not for use with babies, infants and children. Use in low concentrations for sensitive skin 
  • Read our Kitchen Wisdom- uses of basil page for more information on using basil for natural health & beauty

bergamot (Bergapten free)

  • scent - citrus, sweet, slightly floral
  • beneficial properties - aids mental clarity, antiseptic, balancing, calming, cooling, disinfectant, promotes restful sleep, purifying, refreshing, relieves stress and anxiety, uplifting 
  • blends well with - chamomile, geranium, lavender, lemon, neroli, marjoram, ylang ylang 
  • bergamot essential oil cautions - Not for use with babies, infants and children. Use in low concentrations for sensitive skin. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight for several hours after topical use. 

black pepper 

  • scent - warm, sharp, spicy
  • properties - aids digestion in small amounts, aids mental clarity, circulatory stimulant, diuretic, muscular aches & pains, reviving, rheumatoid arthritis, stimulating
  • blends well with - basil, frankincense, grapefruit, lavender, marjoram, rosemary, sandalwood, ylang ylang
  • black pepper essential oil cautions - Not for use during pregnancy. Not for use with babies, infants and children. Avoid if using homeopathic treatment. May cause skin irritation/sensitisation. Use in low concentrations and with further reductions for sensitive skin. 

cedarwood

  • scent - smoky, woody
  • beneficial properties - antiseptic, astringent, calming, diuretic, expectorant, oily skin conditions, relaxing, repels insects, sedative
  • blends well with - frankincense, lavender, lemon, sandalwood
  • cedar wood essential oil cautions - Not for use during pregnancy. Not for use with babies, infants and children.

chamomile

  • scent - apple-like, floral, fruity, sweet
  • beneficial properties - analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, arthritis, calming, colic, eczema, fever, headache, meditation, pmt, promotes restful sleep, relaxing, repels insects, rheumatism, soothes digestion, strengthens immune system, uplifting, warming 
  • blends well with - bergamot, geranium, lavender, lemon, marjoram, neroli, patchouli, rose, ylang ylang 
  • chamomile essential oil cautions - Not for use during pregnancy
  • Read our Kitchen Wisdom - uses of chamomile page for more information on using chamomile for natural health & beauty

cinnamon leaf

  • scent - warm, spicy, sweet
  • beneficial properties - aids digestion, aids mental clarity, analgesic, antiseptic, calming, circulatory stimulant, disinfectant, purifying, tonic, relaxing, repels insects, uplifting, warming
  • blends well with - clove, frankincense, ginger, grapefruit, orange, rosemary
  • cinnamon essential oil cautions - Not for use during pregnancy. Not for use with babies, infants and children. May cause skin irritation/sensitisation. Use in low concentrations and in further reduced amounts for sensitive skin. 
  • Read our Kitchen Wisdom - uses of cinnamon page for more information on using cinnamon for natural health & beauty

eucalyptus

  • scent - clearing, fresh, stimulating
  • beneficial properties - aids mental clarity, analgesic, antiviral, astringent, decongestant, arthritis, coughs/colds, muscular aches/pains, repels insects, rheumatism
  • blends well with - lemon, lemongrass, marjoram, rosemary
  • eucalyptus essential oil cautions - Not for use during pregnancy. Not for use with babies, infants and children. Avoid with epilepsy, high blood pressure, with homeopathic treatment. 

frankincense

  • scent - fresh, lemony undertones, spicy, 
  • beneficial properties - anti-aging, antiseptic, astringent, calming, clearing, fever, meditation, relaxing, rejuvenating, revitalising, uplifting
  • blends well with - basil, black pepper, geranium, grapefruit, lavender, patchouli, orange, sandalwood
  • frankincense essential oil cautions - Not for use with babies, infants and children. Use in low concentrations. 

geranium

  • scent - sweet, floral, fruity, rose-like
  • beneficial properties - analgesic, anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, astringent, balancing, circulatory stimulant, disinfectant, diuretic, eczema, pmt, repels insects, sedative, tonic
  • blends well with - chamomile, frankincense, grapefruit, lime, neroli, ylang ylang 
  • geranium essential oil cautions - Not for use during pregnancy. Not for use with babies, infants and children. Use in low concentrations for sensitive skin. 

ginger

  • scent - warm, spicy, lemony undertone
  • beneficial properties - aids digestion, aids mental clarity, arthritis, clearing, circulatory stimulant, disinfectant, muscular aches/pains, relieves nausea and stomach upset, uplifting, warming
  • blends well with - eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary 
  • ginger essential oil cautions - Use in low concentrations and in reduced amounts for sensitive skin
  • Read our Kitchen Wisdom - uses of ginger page for more information on using ginger for natural health & beauty

grapefruit

  • scent - citrus, light, fresh
  • beneficial properties - aids mental clarity, balancing, cellulite blends, refreshing, reviving, uplifting
  • blends well with - bergamot, geranium
  • grapefruit essential oil cautions - Use in low concentrations for sensitive skin. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight for several hours after topical use. 

Lavender

  • scent - fresh, herbaceous
  • beneficial properties - analgesic, antidepressant, antiseptic, antiviral, calming, detoxifying, healing, promotes restful sleep, relaxing, relieves headaches, soothes burns and insect bites
  • blends well with - chamomile, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, lemon, lemongrass, marjoram, peppermint, patchouli, tea tree
  • lavender essential oil cautions - Not for use during pregnancy, or with low blood pressure

lemon

  • scent - fresh, refreshing
  • beneficial properties - antiseptic, astringent, balancing, circulatory stimulant, detoxifying, diuretic, improves mental clarity, tonic, treat warts and verrucas, refreshing, relieves headaches, reviving, soothes insect bites, uplifting
  • blends well with - chamomile, eucalyptus, frankincense, ginger, lavender, rose, sandalwood, ylang ylang
  • lemon essential oil cautions - Not for use for babies, infants and children, may irritate sensitive skin, Avoid exposure to direct sunlight for several hours after topical use.

lemongrass

  • scent - fresh, lemony, sweet
  • beneficial properties - astringent, balancing, calming, circulatory stimulant, repels insects, reviving, soothes muscular aches and pains, stimulating, uplifting
  • blends well with - basil, geranium, lavender, rosemary
  • lemongrass essential oil cautions - not for use with babies, infants and children, use in small dosages as may cause skin irritation 

marjoram

  • scent - herbaceous, warm
  • beneficial properties - analgesic, alleviates cold symptoms, antiseptic, antispasmodic, calming, relieves headache, sedative, soothes muscular aches and pains
  • blends well with - lavender, lemon
  • marjoram essential oil cautions - Not for use during pregnancy. Not for use with babies, infants and children. Avoid with low blood pressure. Prolonged use may cause drowsiness

orange

  • scent - fruity, refreshing, sweet
  • beneficial properties - antiseptic, antispasmodic, antidepressant, detoxifying, promotes restful sleep, relieves fatigue, sedative
  • blends well with - clove, frankincense, lavender, rosemary, ylang ylang
  • orange essential oil cautions - Avoid exposure to direct sunlight for several hours after topical use

Patchouli

  • scent - earthy, musky, penetrating, sweet
  • beneficial properties - anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, relaxing, rejuvenating
  • blends well with - bergamot, lavender, lemongrass, sandalwood, ylang ylang
  • patchouli essential oil cautions - Not for use with babies, infants and children

peppermint

  • scent - cooling, refreshing
  • beneficial properties - aids digestive upset, anti-inflammatory, clears nasal congestion, cooling, eases sunburn, refreshes tired feet, relieves headache, soothes muscular aches and pains
  • blends well with - lavender, marjoram, rosemary
  • peppermint essential oil cautions - Not for use during pregnancy or if breastfeeding. Not for use with babies, infants and children. Use in low concentrations as may cause skin irritation. 

Rose

  • scent - floral, sweet
  • beneficial properties - antiseptic, decongestant, calming, eases allergy symptoms, regulates heart, relieves stress and worry, sedative, soothes headache
  • blends well with - bergamot, chamomile, frankincense, geranium, lavender, orange

Rosemary 

  • scent - refreshing, stimulating
  • beneficial properties - aids memory, analgesic, antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, circulatory stimulant, detoxifying, diuretic, promotes concentration, relieves muscular aches and pains, stimulating
  • blends well with - basil, black pepper, cedar wood, cinnamon, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, ginger, lavender, lemongrass, marjoram, orange, peppermint
  • rosemary essential oil cautions - Not for use during pregnancy. Not for use with babies, infants and children. Avoid with high blood pressure. Avoid if epileptic. Avoid if suffer from hypertension. May cause insomnia. 

sandalwood 

  • scent - rich, sweet, warm, woody
  • beneficial properties - antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, astringent, diuretic, eases coughs and colds, relaxing, relieves anxiety and nervous tension, sedative, soothes sensitive and dry skin
  • blends well with - frankincense, lavender, lemon, ylang ylang 
  • sandalwood essential oil cautions - Not for use with babies, infants and children

tea tree 

  • scent - medicinal
  • beneficial properties - antiseptic, antiviral, cleansing, detoxifying, refreshing, stimulating, strengthening
  • blends well with - bergamot, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, lemongrass
  • tea tree essential oil cautions - Not for use with babies, infants and children

ylang ylang

  • scent - floral, heavy, sweet
  • beneficial properties - antidepressant, aphrodisiac, calming, euphoric, sedative
  • blends well with - bergamot, geranium, patchouli, sandalwood 
  • ylang ylang essential oil cautions - Not for use during pregnancy. Not for use with babies, infants and children. Use in low dilutions for sensitive skin. 
Important considerations & cautions:
The content on this site shares our own personal use of botanical ingredients and essential oils, is for information only, and should not be taken as medical advice. Although many essential oils are considered safe for most people in small amounts, inappropriate use of some oils could be dangerous. Prior to using any essential oils, you should always do your own research, and consult with a medical professional, your GP, qualified herbalist or professional aromatherapist. ​