If you own a shop, chances are you work with substances that stink. Or at the very least smell strongly. Fuel, gear lubricant, and exhaust are just a few of the materials that can stink up your lobby. Using essential oil diffusers can help keep your customers more comfortable and give your shop a better name. But, along with keeping your customers cars safe, keeping them safe from unknown dangers should be a priority as well. The vast majority of essential oils are all just plant derived, and don’t have an abundance of additives. Especially dangerous ones. However it’s still a very important factor to consider how you use an oil, and what type of use that oil is made for. Here are a couple different types of essential oils, what to look for, and how to be safe when using them, aromatically, by using them on the skin, or by ingesting them.
The Obvious Answer
Of course this seems like a no-brainer, but the first thing you should do is read any label that’s on the bottle or box. This will always tell you what uses the oil is safe for. Some will only be for aromatic use, but there are some oils safe for internal use. Just make sure you check before drinking or eating any of your essential oils.
The Ingredients
When buying an essential oil, you may find yourself not knowing what a certain ingredient is, and not knowing whether or not that ingredient is safe. A big misunderstood ingredient is a carrier oil. These are in nearly every essential oil, but not many people really understand what it is or what it does. Carrier oils are a vegetable oil, such as canola or olive oil. Oils such as mineral oils or baby oil, should never be used and aren’t something to be concerned about.
Hot oil is another ingredient that not many people recognize as a specific thing. These are oils that cause a warm or burning sensation when they come in contact with the skin. Follow labels before using an essential oil that contains one of these, and test it on your skin with a small amount, to see how you will react. Do not use hot oils on sensitive areas of the body, especially eyes or the area around the eyes, genitals, ears, or any mucous membrane. If you do decide to use it in one of these areas, dilute it 1 in 10 parts with a safe carrier oil.
When to Use
Using essential oils with an underlying medical condition or while pregnant is only advisable after consulting a doctor. This is also something to keep in mind for children, however most oils will be ok as long as you dilute them with a safe carrier oil before applying. As for how many times a day an oil can be used, recommended dosages should all be printed on the side of the bottle, and should not be overstepped.
