Essential Oils for Use In Bathing
Here is a quick little guide to some commonly used essential oils for bathing and body care. There are so very many to choose from!
Visit Bath Magic for bath recipe ideas and to learn more about using essential oils in bathing.
Essential Oils For Bathing
Lavender has a special ability to relax & invigorate at the same time. It is also considered to be very cleansing and helps to soothe skin inflammation.
Rosemary has been used for centuries to aid memory, refresh the mind, and help alleviate fatigue. I love it in the morning with a few drops of lavender.
Spearmint can help to ease fatigue while also lifting sadness and providing calm. This is a great essential oil to use with children.
Rose Geranium is used as a skin tonic that also helps to balances and relaxes the nervous system.
Ylang Ylang is one of my favorites! It can benefit all types of skin, assists in calming to the nervous system and can act as an aphrodisiac.
Sandalwood also helps to benefit all skin types while helping to ground and relax. Note that sandalwood is endangered in the wild so please look for sustainably grown options when purchasing this oil.
Cedarwood assists oily skin and can be emotionally relaxing and centering.
Frankincense is amazing! It helps to ease and soothe dry mature skin. It has been used to deepens the breath upon inhalation thereby assisting in meditation.
Lemon & Sweet Orange can help to benefit oily skin and assist in lightening the mood with a happy, uplifting scent.
Bergamot is can be wonderful for anxiety and stress while benefiting oily skin.
Jasmine assists dry, sensitive skin and soothes the emotions creating a sense of hopefulness.
Neroli is another oil that is can help to ease anxiety especially if it is accompanied by depression. It also helps to tone and heal the skin.
Rose is wonderful for all skin types. Just like the herb, it soothes the heart and is emotionally comforting.
*The above information is sourced from Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless and Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art by Mindy Green and Kathi Keville.
Important Cautions: Essential oils are very powerful. They need to be diluted before use and used in the proper concentrations. Please treat them with respect. Bergamot, lemon and distilled orange are phototoxic so do not use on skin directly before sun exposure. Avoid cedarwood and rosemary during pregnancy.
Learn More About Essential Oils
If you want to branch out into other essential oils or learn more, I highly recommend getting a good book on aromatherapy to aid you in your study.
Some of my favorite aromatherapy books include:
Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless
Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art by Mindy Green and Kathi Keville
The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood
Happy Bathing!
Previously posted on Mama Rosemary