Q: What are essential oils?
A: Essential oils are liquid, volatile, organic compounds that come from the flowers, shrubs, trees, roots, and bushes that God gave us at Creation. These are aromatic oils which have been carefully extracted through steam distillation or cold expression; and, are highly concentrated. The fact that they are volatile means that they pass off readily into a vapor – that’s what makes them aromatic. Read more HERE.
Q: How do you use them?
A: There are many different aromatherapy models for using essential oils. The one that Young Living and our family personally adhere to is the French model. This includes inhalation, topical use, and oral consumption.
Q: Are they safe?
A: While essential oils are safe to use, and a natural part of any plant, they should always be handled with care. They are a concentrated and potent form of the plant’s beneficial properties. You should think of them like any other powerful product you might keep in your house. Make sure to store bottles out of the reach of curious children and pets.
Recommended usage guidelines can be found on the labels of every oil bottle. And you’ll find some very helpful reference guides here and here. In fact, when you enroll with me by purchasing the Premium Starter Kit, I will purchase the pocket reference for you!
Q: Where should I store my oils?
A: Essential oils should be kept out of direct sunlight as UV rays can damage the chemistry of the oils. This is true for fatty oils in your house too, such as olive oil for cooking. Young Living oils are packaged in amber bottles to help protect them, but be mindful of where you set them in your house. Storing them next to a window, in your car, or on top of the microwave is not recommended, as they will lose some of their potency if they are exposed to extreme temperatures.
Q: Do essential oils expire?
A: Young Living’s essential oils do not have expiration dates. They will evaporate over time if the lid is not properly secured, but they will not spoil. However, if you dilute your essential oil with a fatty oil to apply it, any leftover mixture could go rancid over a period of time. It is recommended that you only mix what you need at the time of application.
Q: Why spend more for Young Living oils when I can buy them cheaper somewhere else?
A: Do you realize that if I put ten drops of lavender in a bottle of sweet almond oil most people would smell it and think it was a “pure” bottle of essential oils? They wouldn’t know the difference. That’s what often happens. People believe they’re getting a “great deal” on their $7.00 bottle of lavender; when, in fact, they just spent $7.00 for ten drops of an inferior essential oil.
In addition, it is very likely that even those ten drops have no therapeutic value, and may be adulterated with synthetics! In this case, they are getting ripped off!
Do some research. You will find that most essential oil companies are just brokers. They’re buying their oils from various sources around the world in barrels, and they’re bottling it themselves. Most oils are perfume grade and are cut with other chemicals. It is scary when you consider that people may try to use those oils on their children the same way I’m using my Young Living oils. I have to stress the purity issue out of a concern for your safety!
Most essential oils on the market are not “therapeutic grade,” and most are not 100% pure, regardless of how they are labeled. The problem is that these terms are not regulated by anyone. So, all I can do is tell you what WE mean when we use the term “therapeutic grade,” and then invite you to compare that definition to other companies.
In fact, as far as I know, Young Living (YL) is the only company that owns their own farms and distilleries; so that right there disqualifies most other companies.
Here are just a few red flags to check for on a bottle of essential oils. If you see these terms, beware. Do your research:
Check out Young Living’s 5 step Seed to Seal™ process: Seed – Cultivate – Distill – Test – Seal.
What Does “Therapeutic Grade” mean and is the term regulated by any outside organization?
How can I get a starter kit and will that qualify me for wholesale prices?
How much do I need to purchase per year to maintain my wholesale status? Answer: Only 50 pv (approximately $50.00)!
What do I do if I get essential oils in my eye or if the oils irritate my skin?