I personally carry a essential oil roller bottle everywhere I go. It serves not only as a perfume (when needed), it also relaxes me. To check out my own blends, Chill Out and Sunshine, you can find them here.

Chill Out is as it sounds, when you need a deep breathe and calm your mind; use it in times of stress or even before bed. Sunshine throws you a ray of perk-me-up right when you need it with its hits of peppermint and eucalyptus! 

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Essential oils have been around for years and there's a reason for it. With their antidepressant, stimulating, detoxifying, antibacterial and even calming properties, they are gaining popularity as a natural and safe therapy. With benefits that are vast, EO can be used from aromatherapy, household cleaning products to personal beauty care.

The particles in essential oils come from distilling or extracting the different parts of plants, including the flowers, leaves, bark, roots, resin and peels. EO are highly concentrated oils that have a strong aroma, and can be used by itself or diluted. To prevent a potential skin reaction, diluting essential oils can allow them to work better. When exposed to air, the molecules of pure essential oils tend to evaporate very quickly and adding the carrier better facilitates the absorption of oil. 

When I first started using it, I was excited but my husband was highly skeptical. The one particular incident that sold him was when we got together in a Grab car that was particularly foul-smelling. I immediately reached for my diffuser bracelet to ease the journey. Seeing my husband's misery, I whipped out my roller bottle and rubbed some beneath his nostrils. Seeing his eyes widen in surprise and relief, I got a silent mouthed 'thank you'. 

Recently, we had an influx of mozzie bites due to the wet humid weather. Suffering from itchy bites, I applied my own blend of lavender, peppermint and purification EO to his bites. The next night, he was asking for them himself. 

I love essential oils and used them for everything - cleaning, diffusing, and on myself so here are 5 benefits of essential oil to share with you guys!

1. Boost Immunity & Fight Infections 

Many essential oils have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-fungal properties that help to boost your immune system and fight infections. Some of the best essential oils for your immunity include oregano, myrrh, ginger, lemon, eucalyptus, frankincense, peppermint (or Mentha piperita) and cinnamon.

Studies have shown that essential oils effectively destroy several fungal, viral and bacterial pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Helicobacter pylori and Candida albicans infections.

Frankincense oil has immune-enhancing properties that can help to destroy dangerous bacteria and viruses. It also demonstrates for anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects when tested in lab studies and on animals. 

2. Mood- and Energy-Booster

Some oils such as lemon, peppermint and eucalyptus are able to stimulate and actually increase oxygen to your brain to leave you feeling refreshed, focused and energized. A study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition shows that peppermint oil increased brain oxygen concentration, improved exercise performance and reduced exhaustion.

3. Reduce Emotional Stress/Anxiety

One of the most well-known and popular benefits is their ability to reduce stress and anxiety. Some have sedative properties and are able to induce a calm and relaxed feeling.The best known oils for anxiety and stress include lavender, frankincense, ylang ylang and more. 

A study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice showed that the use of lavender/rose oil blends helped to reduce anxiety and depression scales postpartum women. The women using the blends as aromatherapy had significant improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms compared to the control group. 

4. Alleviate Aches 

Essential oils may be applied topically or used aromatically to reduce aches and pains and may work as natural headache/migraine relievers because they treat the problem instead of masking it like painkillers. 

Recent studies have found positive effects against headaches when applying peppermint and lavender oil topically. A placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted in 2012 evaluated the efficacy of inhaling lavender oil for the treatment of migraine headaches. Forty-seven patients with migraines were divided into two groups — one that inhaled lavender oil for 15 minutes and one that used a odorless liquid. From 129 headache attacks in the treatment group, 92 responded entirely or partially to lavender. In the control group, 32 out of 68 headache attacks responded to the placebo. 

Aside from lavender, some other oils that can help to relieve headache pain include peppermint, which has a cooling effect and stimulates blood flow OR eucalyptus, which relieves sinus pressure. 

 A few essential oils for alleviating aches include lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, chamomile and ginger. 

5. Reduce Toxicity

By using essential oils, we also reduce toxicity in our home and body. Most home cleaning products are filled with chemicals and as we use them, we are also breathing in these toxic particles that can build up in our body! Do you know EO can clean your home naturally and destroy harmful bacteria too? 

Thieves EO is highly effective in supporting the immune system and good health. You can simply put 2-6 drops in a small spray bottle, fill it with water and spray on counter tops to combat household germs! 

Other well-known oils for reducing toxicity in your home include grapefruit, orange, lemon, lemongrass, eucalyptus, cinnamon, peppermint and tea tree.

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My two favorite ways of using essential oils, aside from making my own blends, are to apply it topically in replacement of perfumes and diffusing it in the home. 

I have a major allergy to painkillers which means headaches are quite often a bitch for me. I get tension headaches regularly due to work nature and ever since starting on my own blend for headaches, I find that the accompanying nausea and dizziness are reduced significantly. I have a particular tendency to lean towards anything lavender-scented and i find that as it calms me down and I breathe more mindfully (to take in the scent), the throbbing and aching ebbs away little too. 

I work mainly from home and I am a clean-freak. I clean ALOT but I don't like the use of chemicals in the home. However, living near the beach means my apartment is constantly humid and it tends to develop a wet-musty smell that I really don't enjoy coming home to. So using EOs in a diffuser means I get to smell a nice-smelling, calming home all the time. I used to burn candles for this effect but I found out that major candle companies still uses paraffin wax that will produce numerous toxic carcinogens and emits harmful vapors that are unsafe. I am also a tad bit too lazy to research on my candles before buying so diffusers with high-grade essential oils that provide multiple health benefits seemed to be the perfect solution! 

All the essential oils I use for my blends are from Young Living. To understand more or purchase a starter kit, you can email me at pea.neo@gmail.com