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These potent plant extracts are experiencing a resurgence with over 13 million Instagram posts boasting the hashtag #essentialoils
Our top picks
Improves everyday wellbeing
Miaroma
Miaroma Lavender Pure Essential Oil 20ml
Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price
£11.00
100% organic essential oil
Tisserand
Tisserand Lemon Organic Pure Essential Oil 9ml
25% off
£5.62
£7.50
Our fascination with essential oils stretches back millennia, with evidence of their use dating back to 4500 BC.1
Ready to delve into the world of essential oils? Whether you're a seasoned diffuser enthusiast or a curious newcomer, we have a captivating selection to explore. From invigorating citrus to calming floral blends, there's an essential oil waiting to be discovered.
With its signature floral scent reminiscent of an English country garden, lavender essential oil is a consistent favourite. It has a great reputation for having a relaxing, floral scent.2
Crafted from the finest lavender oils, this floral oil isn’t just a beautiful oil to scent your home. The blend of quality lavender oils creates a calming, peaceful environment – an ideal choice to help you unwind after a long day.
Pop a few drops into your diffuser to fill your home with this delightful scent. If you don’t have a diffuser, you can add a few drops to aromatherapy balls or even just a tissue to infuse your home with lavender’s herbaceous scent.
Bergamot, peppermint and frankincense.
Crafted using pure lemon oil, this little bottle holds the power to help transport you to a peaceful, serene space of mind. With a sharp citrus note, followed by a subtle herby tang, this lemon essential oil will fill your space with a clean, refreshing fragrance. It’s summer in a bottle.
Adding a few drops to an essential oil diffuser or burner will help you make the most of this tantalising aroma. Another popular way to use lemon is by adding it to cleaning products or using it as a DIY surface cleaner.
Lavender, ginger and tea tree.
With a complex and sophisticated scent that can be both calming and uplifting, this makes a wonderful addition to any essential oil collection. Deep and comforting, bask in the grounding notes of this alluring essential oil and feel your worries melt away.
Frankincense has a rich history and a complex fragrance. It has a warm, inviting aroma that blends the richness of incense with earthy scents and a hint of bright citrus.5
Add three to five drops of frankincense essential oil to your diffuser and fill it up with fresh water to fill your space with a relaxing, soothing fragrance.
Lemon, grapefruit and chamomile.
With its unmissable, citrus scent shining through, this essential oil will brighten up any space. Relish the sweet, warm aroma and indulge in the comfort and joy this brings.
Orange essential oil is extracted from the rinds of oranges and boasts a bright and invigorating scent. The citrusy, sweet and subtly herby fragrance will bring a burst of sunshine to your day.
Blend a few drops with a light carrier oil for a relaxing massage or pop a few drops into your aromatherapy diffuser and fill up with water.
Lemon, frankincense and vetiver.
Fruity and a little spicy, you may be familiar with bergamot as the subtle flavour in Earl Grey tea.6 This essential oil is versatile and favoured for its cheery, uplifting properties.
A delightful mix of citrus and floral notes, bergamot has a subtle warmth, often described as earthy, that gives the aroma depth and substance.
Ideal for blending with other essential oils in your diffuser. Simply add a few drops of bergamot and your other favourite oils to create your own unique blend.
Frankincense, cypress and black pepper.
Is there anything else to know?
Essential oils are highly concentrated and can cause unwanted side effects if not used properly, so make sure to always read the instructions on the packaging before use.9
It’s important to dilute the essential oils in a suitable carrier oil if you want to apply them to your skin, as this will prevent side effects.9 Good choices for carrier oils include castor oil, wheatgerm oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil and olive oil.
You should avoid using essential oils or use them cautiously if you:
- are pregnant or breastfeeding:7,8 if you don’t want to give them up check with your GP. Children under the age of five are often more sensitive to them, so we suggest avoiding them during this age9,10
- have a pre-existing medical condition: some essential oils can interact with medications or even worsen some health issues – so check with your doctor if you want to use essential oils to make sure it’s safe9
- have skin sensitivities: essential oils are potent and can irritate the skin, so watch out for this9,11
- are often out in the sun: some essential oils, like bergamot, are photosensitive, which means they can increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight and up your risk of getting sunburnt9,12
The final say
Our favourite essential oils are just a peek into the vibrant world of aromatherapy. With so many incredible scents to discover, you're sure to find the perfect oils to elevate your well-being, or to just scent your home.
This article is for information only and does not constitute as medical advice. Please speak to your GP before using essential oils if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have skin sensitivity, pre-existing medical condition or any other reason for concern. Note that essential oils should not be applied direct to the skin unless it is diluted with a carrier oil first.
1. Elshafie HS, Ippolito Natale Camele. An Overview of the Biological Effects of Some Mediterranean Essential Oils on Human Health. BioMed research international [Internet]. 2017 Jan 1 [cited 2024 Apr 30];2017:1–14. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5694587/
2. Hugar SM, Gokhale N, Chaitanya Uppin, Shweta Kajjari, Priya Meharwade, Joshi RS. The Effects of Lavender Essential Oil and its Clinical Implications in Dentistry: A Review. Jaypee’s international journal of clinical pediatric dentistry [Internet]. 2022 Jun 30 [cited 2024 Apr 30];15(3):385–8. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9357533/
3. Zhao H, Ren S, Yang H, Tang S, Guo C, Liu M, et al. Peppermint essential oil: its phytochemistry, biological activity, pharmacological effect and application. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy [Internet]. 2022 Oct 1 [cited 2024 Apr 30];154:113559–9. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332222009489
4. Ylang-ylang | Fragrant, Tropical, Flowering | Britannica. In: Encyclopædia Britannica [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2024 Jun 25]. Available from: https://www.britannica.com/plant/ylang-ylang
5. Frankincense | Definition, Uses, & Facts | Britannica. In: Encyclopædia Britannica [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2024 Jun 26]. Available from: https://www.britannica.com/topic/frankincense
6. “Earl Grey” [Internet]. Oed.com. 2022 [cited 2024 Jun 26]. Available from: https://www.oed.com/discover/earl-grey/?tl=true
7. Italy: Responsibly sourcing bergamot from Calabria [Internet]. Archive.org. Givaudan; 2020 [cited 2024 Jun 26]. Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20201027091954/https://www.givaudan.com/sustainability/sourcing-for-shared-value/working-together/italy-bergamot
8. Sindle A, Martin K. Art of Prevention: Essential Oils - Natural Products Not Necessarily Safe. International journal of women’s dermatology [Internet]. 2021 Jun 1 [cited 2024 Jun 26];7(3):304–8. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8243157/
9. Dosoky NS, Setzer WN. Maternal Reproductive Toxicity of Some Essential Oils and Their Constituents. International journal of molecular sciences [Internet]. 2021 Feb 27 [cited 2024 Jun 26];22(5):2380–0. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/5/2380
10. Are Essential Oils Safe for Children? [Internet]. Hopkinsmedicine.org. 2023 [cited 2024 Jun 26]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/are-essential-oils-safe-for-children
11. Ross JA, Eldridge DL. Pediatric Toxicology. Emergency medicine clinics of North America [Internet]. 2022 May 1 [cited 2024 Jun 26];40(2):237–50. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35461621/
12. Asja Sarkic, Stappen I. Essential Oils and Their Single Compounds in Cosmetics—A Critical Review. Cosmetics [Internet]. 2018 Jan 12 [cited 2024 Jun 26];5(1):11–1. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/5/1/11
13. M. Carmen González-Mas, Rambla JL, M. Pilar López-Gresa, M. Amparo Blázquez, Granell A. Volatile Compounds in Citrus Essential Oils: A Comprehensive Review. Frontiers in plant science [Internet]. 2019 Feb 5 [cited 2024 Jun 26];10. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2019.00012/full
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