Natural Health

How I Was Introduced to Essential Oils

Jessica Roldan

The “lavender”-scented garbage bags made me cringe every time I opened up the cabinet door to throw something away; perfumes made me gag; air fresheners and scented candles were like being in a gas chamber; I even had to avoid lotions. That’s what being pregnant does to me: the nausea can be so overwhelming and persistent to the point that I wish I could retreat into a sterile, dark bubble. No smells, no bright lights, no loud noise, no nothing. Just rest. But there was one type of scent that I could handle–that I enjoyed, even! A fragrance that was both calming and rejuvenating at the same time:

The scent of Essential Oils.

Every time I went in to my midwife’s office, I was greeted by a pleasant fragrance vaporizing from her essential oils diffuser. It was truly a  “heavenly” experience! It was a respite from the onslaught of harsh, grating odors I met with at every turn. If I could have bought a diffuser and some oils at that time, I would have–enthusiastically! But what I felt could have benefited me greatly at that point would have to wait to benefit me some other time; I simply couldn’t afford it right then. However, I decided that once I did have the money, the first thing I would get myself would be one of those glorious, exotic, oil diffusers!

And I did. Here’s the starter kit I ordered from Young Living Essential Oils. My midwife and doula are both members of Young Living.

Premium Starter Kit with Dewdrop

That was almost a year ago (I started in February of 2016), and since then, I’ve been excited to discover different and valuable uses for my oils. What makes essential oils so useful, and so powerful?

Largely harvested from farm-grown and wildcrafted plants, herbs, and trees, essential oils are concentrated plant extracts obtained by careful steam distillation, cold pressing, or resin tapping. These pure essential oils are far more powerful than the botanicals from which they are extracted. We offer hundreds of single oils, blends, and oil-infused products, each containing the optimal levels of specific, naturally occurring constituents to maximize their potency. Whether you use oils for aromatherapy, personal care, or household solutions, every aspect of daily life can benefit from the incorporation of essential oils! [Young Living 2016 Product Catalog, page 11] 

I look forward to learning much, much more! What I like most about essential oils is their versatility, as noted in the caption above. You can use them for:

Cooking

Household cleaning

Skin and hair care

Pet care

Air freshening and purifying

Natural food supplements

Supporting good health in general

Massage

Because of their flexibility and because essential oils have so many great benefits, I feel this is something I can get behind 100% and feel good about sharing with others. As I explore and discover more about essential oils, I hope to find answers to such questions as the following, which I look forward to sharing with you…

How can I use essential oils to:

  • Freshen and purify the air in our home? (Not just make it smell nicer, but actually make it healthier to breathe by making it less toxic.)
  • Soothe my husband’s tired muscles after long work days?
  • Support my children’s health?
  • Support my own health, especially during the child-bearing years?
  • Help me relax during pregnancy and labor?
  • Smooth my complexion?
  • Buy or develop my own alternative personal care products but without unnecessary–or even harmful– ingredients?
  • Protect our home from dangerous chemicals by replacing harsh cleaners with natural and safe products?

everydayoils2

I can’t wait to see how essential oils can help my family and I live a healthier life, and I would be delighted for you  to join us in learning more as I post additional articles in the future!

Published by Jessica Roldan

Full-time wife and mother. I cherish the Bible and regard Jesus Christ as my Friend. As a result of studying God's Word, my husband and I made some "radical" changes in our lives--which we don't regret for a moment. I love to read a good book or blog post, and find great satisfaction in expressing my thoughts through a new article. Due to some pretty impressive first-hand experiences, I have also developed a keen affection for Essential Oils . . . Chocolate, pastel colors, and long summer walks are a few of my other favorites.

19 thoughts on “How I Was Introduced to Essential Oils”

  1. One of my mother’s neighbours gave me an aroma pot(lamp) as a wedding gift when I married. Now we have a cat,I do not use the aroma pot anymore for her safety,before having her,I often used it.I bought frankincense (essential oil) and enjoyed its fragrance.It made me feel so relaxed.

    At that time many Vietnamese kids came to my house to play with my son.Some of them were cathoric,everytime they noticed the fragrance,they said ‘smell of church!!’.

    I bought frankincence at natural/faitrade products shop of my city,and cathoric church of the kids are near the shop.The shop owner told me that cathoric customers often come to buy frankincence.
    I guess that priest or nuns of their church used it also!

    Frankincense is also well known as Magi’s gift for Jesus.Off course
    I taught them and my son about it.
    What the kids said-the words ‘smell of church’ always make me smile whenever I remember.It’s little happy memory for me.

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    1. Thank you for sharing your experience, Sanae! I was delighted to hear about how the smell of frankincense reminded the children of church! What a perfect opportunity for you to share with them the story of the Magi.
      So good to hear from you, as always. 🙂
      Jessica

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  2. Hi Jessica

    I too love essential oils and have been using them this week for my daughter who has been unwell. However, and it is a big however, huge warning bells are going off for me in regards to what you say/the company you mention.

    I have got myself in a mess several times with my love of health and related topics; I consider myself discerning, but have been very tripped up and look back and think, ‘How was that possible? Why was I so blind?’. The Lord is gracious and allows us to make mistakes and he watches over us and protects us, and does bring us to the truth, but there is a battle going on and do not be fooled.

    You have already acknowledged your own concerns about the ‘hokery pokery’; I really think that you mustn’t brush this off. It is a slippery slope and remember that you are a child of God – we are not to be yoked together with unbelievers etc (so many verses that apply in this situation) – what are you yoking to here – I mean really, behind it all? Look at the names of the products, the pictures, the words they use…Do not be deceived.

    I could go on and on but please let me know if you have any specific questions. I just pray that as a sister, you really seek the Lord on this and His wisdom.

    Please feel free to delete this comment; it would be great to email you privately, as some stuff just isn’t public form stuff! If you have access to it, please feel free.

    In Christ, Jacqueline

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    1. Thank you so much, Jacqueline, for your sisterly concern! Please be assured that I regard your precautions with careful and prayerful solemnity.

      At this point, my husband and I view the issue this way: when we purchase or promote Young Living’s top quality oils, we are doing just that–buying oils, not opinions. It is unfortunate the wording they use to advertise some of their products. But, by buying from them, we are not necessarily saying that we agree with those ideas. And I hope that as I publish posts on this topic in the future, readers of this blog will note my personal integrity in how I myself use them and talk about them.

      Again, I do appreciate your concern. Please feel free to contact me with additional thoughts on this, or any other issue.
      And I would like to add: thank you for reading and commenting on my blog! It’s always nice to hear from you!
      Jessica

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  3. Ha, ha! Too funny. I have the same memories of essential oil smells in my midwife’s office, but unfortunately, they just made me sicker. I still get hit with unpleasant memories every time I walk into a midwife’s office, because they pretty much all smell the same. Ditto with Sprouts Farmer’s Market. But I know that most women love them, and it does create a lovely atmosphere.

    This pregnancy I had some very good luck with a really good brand of peppermint essential oil for nausea. (I’d tried it before, but it was a cheap brand that smelled mainly of hexane, and it didn’t work.) Unfortunately, it only worked for about three days before I found it repulsive. But it definitely worked for those three days!!

    EO have always been on my “sometime I’ll get around to it” list… I’ll have to look into it sometime! 🙂

    Have a great night!
    Diana

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    1. Yes, lower quality oils will not be effective. Here’s where I shamelessly promote Young Living oils as being top-notch quality because of their unique seed-to-seal promise. They oversee and control every step of their oil-making process, so they can assure the utmost purity. The founder, Gary Young, is actually quite obsessed about this.

      If peppermint didn’t continue to work for you, I wonder if lemon might help? I’ve read some women rely on it to help with nausea prevention. I didn’t try it the last time I was pregnant because I didn’t have the oils then, but I’m looking forward to trying it the next time… 🙂

      It’s always great to hear from you! Please keep me updated on how things are going with your pregnancy…When you can. 🙂
      Jessica

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      1. Thank you so much, I will definitely keep up to date with Truth At Home 🙂 Great Natural Products I Personally Recommend was just fantastic, I’m always looking for good natural products and it can definitely be a challenge! Amazing work!

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