Creative Ways to Use Essential Oils

Creative & Practical Ways to Use Essential Oils at Home

Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic plant extracts. While they are often used for their emotional benefits, they can also be used for their ability to freshen the air and adding pleasant natural fragrance to hands-on projects. Incorporating aromatherapy into daily life can offer an uplifting and therapeutic experience for people of all ages. There are countless ways to enjoy the calming and invigorating benefits of essential oils.

Our sense of smell is directly connected to the brain through the olfactory nerve. When we inhale an aroma, scent molecules stimulate receptors in the nasal cavity, which send signals to the limbic system, an area involved in memory, alertness, and basic physiological responses.

Below are several simple, creative ways to use essential oils around the house.

Aromatherapy Playdough

An Aromatic Twist on a Classic Activity

Aromatherapy playdough is a delightful way to combine the joys of creative play with the soothing effects of essential oils. This versatile activity enhances creativity and fine motor skills in children while providing sensory stimulation and emotional comfort for adults, especially those with dementia. Crafting your own playdough allows you to tailor the texture and fragrance to your preferences.

• 1 cup flour

• ¼–½ cup salt

• 1-2 Tbsp cream of tartar

• 1–1½ Tbsp of vegetable oil

• ½–1 cup hot water

• ~5 drops of essential oils of choice 

• food coloring (OPTIONAL)

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Slowly add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Stir until the mixture forms a dough. Blend/knead the essential oil into the dough.  

Optionally, if you'd like, divide the dough into sections and knead in a few drops of food coloring until you reach the desired shade.  

Keep the playdough in an airtight container to maintain its softness and aroma.  

Play around with the ratios to find the right texture for your preferences.

Exercise appropriate supervision and stop using it if any irritation occurs.

Suitable Essential Oils Options

• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): Calming & eases anxiety

• Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis): Uplifting & energizing

• Mandarin (Citrus reticulata): Calming & relaxing

• Lime (Citrus latifolia): Uplifting & lightens the mood

• Lemon (Citrus limon): Uplifting & purifying

• Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana): Inspires focus & relieves stress

• Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens): Brings peace & rebalances emotions

• Frankincense (Boswellia carterii): Relaxing & eases stress 

• Spearmint (Mentha spicata): Refreshing & inspires enthusiasm

Smelling Salts

Simple, Portable Aromatic Boost

Smelling salts can help restore focus, energize, or relax. These concentrated aromatherapy blends are perfect for purses, desks, or car consoles.

• Small glass jar with lid

• 1–2 Tbsp coarse salt

• 5-10 drops essential oils (see suggestions below)

Add salt to the jar, add 5–10 drops total essential oil, then cap tightly and let sit for several hours. To use, briefly waft the aroma toward the nose—do not inhale deeply.

Suitable Essential Oil Blends

• Focus: Rosemary, peppermint, lemon

• Calm: Lavender, bergamot, clary sage

• Energize: Grapefruit, lemon, eucalyptus

• Headache Relief: Peppermint, lavender, frankincence

• Sinus Relief: Eucalyptus, cypress, cedarwood

Sleep Sachets

Crafting Your Way to a Peaceful Night

Aromatherapy can support restful sleep, which is essential for well-being. Homemade sleep sachets, filled with aromatic herbs and essential oils, offer a natural remedy for a good night's sleep. These sachets are easy to make and can be customized with different blends to suit your needs. Enjoy the creative process of crafting (and maybe gifting) your sachets. Sleep results will vary. 

• Mix dried aromatic herbs in a bowl: i.e., lavender, rose petals, chamomile, etc

• Fill a sachet about 2/3 full with the dried herb mixture

• Add 5-8 drops of essential oil and tie shut the sachet

• Shake well to incorporate the oil throughout

• Place it under your pillow or in your pillowcase

Great Blends for Sleep Support

• Citrus: Dried lavender & citrus peels with lavender & bergamot essential oils

• Minty: Dried lavender & lemon balm with lavender & bergamot mint essential oils

• Woodsy: Dried lavender & aromatic fir tips with lavender &  cypress essential oils

• Herbal: Dried lavender & hops with lavender & clary sage essential oils

Aromatherapy Jewelry

Wear Your Scents in Style

Why not take your favorite scents on the go? Aromatherapy jewelry offers a fashionable way to enjoy passive diffusion throughout the day. By using materials like lava beads, raw wooden beads, a locket with a felt pad, or even creating your own terracotta or clay beads and pendants. Get creative and craft something beautiful!

Add 1-3 drops of your favorite essential oil (or blend) to a bead or pendant, let it dry slightly to avoid direct contact with an undiluted oil on your skin, and wear your stylish aromatic art while enjoying the benefits!

Great oils for Diffuser Jewelry

• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

• Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)

• Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)

• Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides)

• Lemon (Citrus limon)

• Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)

• Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)

• Spearmint (Mentha spicata)

• Ho wood (Cinnamomum camphora)

• Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana)

• Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)

Potpourri

Infuse Your Space with Natural Fragrance

Potpourri is a classic way to enhance the ambiance of any room with delightful scents. By mixing dried flowers, fruits, and spices with essential oils, you can create a fragrant display that doubles as decor.

Add 4-5 drops of your essential oil blend to the potpourri. Adjust the drops based on your blend's aromatic strength and dried material amount. Refresh the scent as needed, but avoid overpowering it.

Great Potpourri Blends

Woodsy Blend - does double duty in cleaning the air & calming the mood, try putting this blend over a bowl of pine cones

• 20 drops Siberian fir (Abies sibirica)

• 20 drops black spruce (Picea mariana)

• 10 drops cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana)

• 10 drops juniper berry (Juniperus communis)

Citrus Sparkle Blend - bring clear focus with this blend. Try putting this blend over a bowl of dried citrus slices

• 20 drops lime (Citrus aurantifolia)

• 20 drops mandarin (Citrus reticulata)

• 15 drops bergamot mint (Mentha citrata)

• 5 drops peppermint (Mentha piperita)

Grounding Blend - bring cheerful, grounding calm to the room, try putting this blend over a bowl of cinnamon sticks and dried rose petals

• 30 drops lime (Citrus aurantifolia)

• 15 drops black spruce (Picea mariana)

• 10 drops patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)

• 5 drops ho wood (Cinnamomum camphora)

Final Thoughts

Aromatherapy offers nearly endless possibilities for enhancing well-being through creative means. These simple projects bring the therapeutic benefits of essential oils into your day.

Want to keep track of your favorite blends and creative projects?

My Aromatherapy Primer in my shop includes space for tracking your recipes, blend ideas, and quick-reference guides for essential oil safety.