New with some essential oils questions

[Guest guest]

Hi, I'm new and would love to understand more about essential oils, so

here you go. I like to use them in the home for fragrance as in the

laundry, diffusing for scent in the air and in homemade cleaning and

beauty products.

 

1. Can I use essential oils everday in homemade lotions, cleaners, etc.

2. Does sensitization to oils occur only through skin contact or

through inhalation as well.

3. I have read on many of the " green " sites that certain chemicals in

cleaners, fabric softeners, etc. are dangers, i.e. linalool, limonene,

benzyl acetate. These are the same chemicals that make up essential

oils. Are the ones in cleaners, etc. dangerous because they are the

synthetic versions and the ones in essential oils OK because the

chemicals are in their natural form?

 

Thanks so much! Susan

[Guest guest]

> Hi, I'm new and would love to understand more about essential oils, so

> here you go.

 

 

Hello and welcome aboard Susan,

 

 

I like to use them in the home for fragrance as in the

laundry, diffusing for scent in the air and in homemade cleaning and

beauty products.

 

> 1. Can I use essential oils everyday in homemade lotions, cleaners,

etc.

 

As long as the lotion is made properly - and you're not

allergic/sensitized to the oil in it, I don't see why you can't use your

favorite EO scented lotion daily.

 

I make homemade cleaners that contain EO's that I use daily, especially

my soap in the kitchen ..

 

 

> 2. Does sensitization to oils occur only through skin contact or

> through inhalation as well.

 

If you're sensitized to something you might very well not be able to

even breathe in a room with it! Much sensitization occurs via dermal

application, but I can totally see a person who is exposed to a high

concentration of volatile chemicals (which is what EO's are made up of)

in the air becoming sensitized to something - or suffering liver issues

from it. That is one of the reasons to always work in a well ventilated

area.

 

> 3. I have read on many of the " green " sites that certain chemicals in

> cleaners, fabric softeners, etc. are dangers, i.e. linalool, limonene,

> benzyl acetate. These are the same chemicals that make up essential

> oils. Are the ones in cleaners, etc. dangerous because they are the

> synthetic versions and the ones in essential oils OK because the

> chemicals are in their natural form?

 

EO's do contain certain chemicals like the isolates you mentioned above,

but they also have a synergy to them. Their chemicals are not isolated

and stand alone. A plant that contains an irritating chemical can also

very well contain something in it to counter balance that .. and then

again, sometimes not.

 

You have to be as careful with natural things as you do with synthetics.

Its wise to no go overboard with anything .. natural or synthetic!

 

Best thing I can recommend is getting some good reference ,books with

factual information (not AT novels), and go from there

 

> Thanks so much! Susan

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

[Guest guest]

Thanks, that helps. Some of the information on the essential oil and

" non-toxic " websites say to never use artificial fragrances as they

are petrochemical based, but they always recommend essential oils.

However, I've never seen any of them explain the difference in

chemical properties. Thanks for passing on that information. Susan