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Kelly the Kitchen Kop

Sometimes it’s Okay to Smell: 8 Powerful Essential Oil Uses in ONE Spray Bottle

October 27, 2015 17 Comments

*Amazon or other affiliate links may be included, see full disclosure after the post. I'm not a medical professional, so use anything you read here only as a starting point for your own research.

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8 Powerful Essential Oil Uses in ONE Spray Bottle

By Joanie Blaxter, founder of Follow Your Gut

(First a note from me, Kelly: I'm so excited about this post from Joanie because I've been feeling for a while now that I'm UNDER-using my wonderful collection of essential oils, so I just ordered the bottles she mentions below to make my own versatile spray!  Here's Joanie…)

I mean, really, we all know how evil commercial car air fresheners are, don't we? (Actually, ANY commercially made air freshener!)

Because we don't actually eat the chemicals they contain, but ONLY inhale them into our lungs to be carried directly to our bloodstream, companies are not required to reveal their ingredients.

A few companies provide ingredient lists on their website in response to consumer demand, but the word “fragrance” may hide dozens of chemicals, many of which may never have been assessed for safety.

(Source: Your best air freshener isn't an air freshener.)

But truth be told, I love a stinky car — I'm serious!  As long as they're not artificial, I've always enjoyed strong fragrances, particularly the bracing aromatics.  My favorites are peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, pine, lavender.

Those essential oils are also in the contents of the separate 1 ounce bottles I keep in my car. Depending on my mood, I sprinkle droplets of different oils on the floor and drip them onto my palms to lightly spread on my seats.

Sleepy from driving too long?  Nothin' like a good whiff of peppermint and rosemary to shake the ole brain cells awake again!

My car makes me happy every time I climb in the driver's seat, and I'm not the only one.  EVERYONE who gets in comments on how good it smells!  If I've been feeling especially pine-and-pepperminty lately, it's usually “Oh, smells like Christmas in here!”  😉

Another wonderfully easy use for a straight oil is lavender for bath time at the end of the day. When you need unwinding, place a few drops directly in the hot tub, especially when combined with Epsom salts. Lavender actually calms brain waves and the magnesium in the salts acts as a muscle relaxant – the perfect, all-natural, sleeping “pill” for overactive little bodies, including the mommies who take care of them.

And don't try to bring me artificial scents!  Any kind of artificial fragrances will immediately give me a headache, muscle aches in my neck and shoulder, and a sore throat. But, a true essential oil?  Ahhhh, the nose knows!

An auto caveat

While real essential oils do dissipate into the air very quickly, I must admit, I have been known to shock my passengers by dripping oils directly into the air vents for a quick blast of fragrance.

Honestly, while I've actually never seen any essential oil residue on my dashboard, you might want to avoid doing this if your car is your (or your husband's) “baby.”  After all, essential oils are strong and can potentially damage plastic.  Hint, hint: my attitude towards my 2007 Toyota Corolla can probably best be summed up in my nickname for her: “Sturdy Pony.”  🙂

Another option, of course, is to make a homemade cardboard “pine tree” to hang from your rear view mirror.  Just periodically saturate it with your own essential oils.  That way you avoid possibly damaging your car's interior.

Or Kelly said she loves using an essential oil diffuser made specifically for use in your car!car diffuser

Virus & bacteria zapper

I first learned about the powerful immune-protective properties of the scents that I naturally love when I worked for a small company owned by woman in recovery from cancer.

Because her immune system was still particularly vulnerable, and she really wanted to come into work anyway, she insisted that an essential oil diffuser be dispensing aromatic oils all day long in the office air.  It was from her that I learned that hospitals in Europe and Japan were way ahead of the U.S. (big surprise) and protectively diffused aromatics in cancer wards for their antibacterial and antiviral properties.

glassspraybottle8 Powerful Essential Oil Uses in ONE Spray Bottle!

One of the easiest and most versatile tools in my DIY kit is simply an 8 ounce spray bottle (glass is best because it doesn't react with those volatile oils) filled three quarters full with either a good organic vodka or rubbing alcohol, and then any combination of my favorite aromatic essential oils:  peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, pine, lavender.  (Use these 1 ounce bottles for smaller jobs.)

Note: The reason it's preferable to use alcohol rather than water is because oil and water don't mix! Alcohol dissolves oil so the essential oils combine better and don't clog up the spray nozzle.

  • Whenever I get tired or writer's block, a couple pumps on my palms, rubbed together and then held up to my nose does wonders for jumpstarting my thoughts with the rest spread around my neck to make the scent linger.  Since I spritz myself several times a day for this purpose, my “handy dandy” bottle lives on my desk at all times.

Hold on! There are 7 more uses for good, ole “handy dandy”!

  • Deodorant – You have to be careful your combination is not so strong that it stings, but all those oils, in addition to the alcohol, kill the bacteria that cause body odor.  You can also read how to make your own deodorant powder:  Homemade Deodorant Powder: DIY Recipe that actually WORKS.
  • Insect killer – Any aromatic oil, but particularly peppermint, will quickly soak through the exoskeleton of an insect.  When I get the occasional ant invasion, all I do is grab “handy dandy” from my desk and begin spraying.  It kills them on contact.  I've also found it to be equally effective on spiders and earwigs. For more ideas and DIY to zap those buggies, read my post: SIMPLE, Nontoxic Insect Control.
  • Garbage can deodorizer – Sometimes the ant invasion is due to my not taking the garbage out soon enough.  (Don't laugh, please!  It's embarrassing enough…)  Proactively, I just spray the inside and lid of the kitchen garbage can before putting in the plastic bag.  Not only discourages insects, but also bacteria, as well as garbage can odor, and makes the kitchen smell incredibly refreshing!
  • Scalp conditioner – Fabulous for itchy scalp!  “Handy dandy” comes into the shower with me and, after shampooing, is sprayed directly on those itchy spots.
  • Headache – I used to get migraines regularly until I figured out that, for me, it was caused by eating pasteurized dairy.  Until I figured that out, though, inhaling strong peppermint and rosemary while also rubbing the oil on my temples would give me some degree of relief. (For more information on migraines, see my article How to Stop a Migraine.) Nowadays, the minor, but occasional, tension headache is always helped by inhaling a few squirts of “handy dandy” on my palms.
  • Hand sanitizer – Spray on your hands after handling meat, changing the baby's diaper, wiping somebody's runny nose, or any time you want to avoid inadvertently spreading viruses or bacteria.  (Much better than the rotten chemical-laden hand sanitizers you see in the store!)
  • Cold & flu protection – Worried about getting sick?  Try this germ fighter blend from Plant Therapy.
    planttherapy1. Use your “handy dandy” to spritz all around the sick person's pillow, bed and environment.  2. Or, just like my ex-boss, get out the diffuser and let it dispense those powerful antibacterial, antiviral droplets into the atmosphere constantly.  3. No diffuser?  Simply place your patient next to a pot of hot water with a towel draped over the head. Splash a few drops into the water and inhale the aromatic steam! 4. Eucalyptus combined with a foodgrade vegetable oil is an oldtime favorite to help the loosen mucus associated with coughing. My favorite oil? A good organic coconut oil.  Keep in mind that anything you spread on your skin goes directly into your bloodstream so always make sure your carrier agent for your essential oil is something you'd also be willing to eat.  Rub the combination liberally on the chest and breathe deep. (Or see this great recipe for a DIY All-Natural Vapor Rub.)

***Here's the brand of essentials oil with Kelly's “seal of approval,” Plant Therapy: Safe, Organic,Therapeutic Grade.

Beware cat owners

Be careful spraying these oils near your felines and never, never use them directly on your pet!  Not only is the fragrance painfully overwhelming to their sensitive noses, but they also contain compounds that can cause feline liver damage.

Cats lack the liver enzyme (glucuronyl tranferase) that would allow them to break down these compounds…

In cats, these otherwise harmless substances can build up in the liver, sometimes very quickly, depending on the amount of exposure… It’s usually a slow process and doesn’t show up until it’s too late.

This is not the only thing cats are extremely sensitive to. Cats are also particularly sensitive to chemicals, such as insecticides, herbicides.

(Source: Essential Oil Safety with Cats.)

A homeopathic caveat

Did you know that the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies can be destroyed by strong fragrances?  This is because scents carry their own energetic signature which will interfere with that carried by the remedy.

So never store your essential oil collection near your homeopathic remedies.

Do tell!  I know you use essential oils in your daily life.  What are some of your favorite oils and why?

ACV Printable

Other Resources

  • Kelly: Why I Love Essential Oils
  • Kelly's favorite: essential oil diffuser made specifically for use in your car
  • Kelly: My Business FAIL Plus Essential Oil Diffusers
  • 4 All Natural Air Fresheners
  • DIY Non-Toxic Air Fresheners: 3 Ways
  • Homemade Holiday Air Freshener
  • Homemade Deodorant Powder: DIY Recipe that actually WORKS.

DON'T FORGET to get your free printable by clicking here:  Top 25 Simple Ways to BOOST Your Health with Apple Cider Vinegar!

Joanie new picThis was a post by my sweet friend, Joanie Blaxter, now a regular writer around here!

Joanie is the founder of Follow Your Gut and a health coach who has been in sales and education in the natural foods and products industry since the early 70’s, with her most recent six years spent as a vitamin specialist in a natural foods store.

For dietary consultations, Joanie can be contacted here. Joanie’s past articles are located here.

Disclaimer: Neither Joanie nor I are health professionals! Use what you read here for your own research and then consult with a natural-minded doctor or health professional you trust to find what is best and right for YOU. Read my entire disclaimer here, and also note that there may be affiliate links in this post.

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Comments

  1. Adria says

    November 17, 2015 at 1:43 PM

    Hi, why is Rosemary crossed out throughout the article??

    Reply
    • Joanie Blaxter says

      November 17, 2015 at 2:06 PM

      Thanks for pointing that out Adria! The link to Amazon is broken and we’ll see if we can fix that.

      Reply
      • Adria says

        November 17, 2015 at 3:42 PM

        Ah! ha ha, I thought there was some reason we should be avoiding rosemary eo now 😉 thank you for clarifying.

        Reply
      • KitchenKop says

        November 18, 2015 at 9:39 PM

        All fixed! 🙂

        Reply
  2. Joanie Blaxter says

    November 3, 2015 at 4:34 PM

    Ah, nice combination! Frankincense would give subtle, lower notes while the lemon, etc would lighten it up. Nice!

    Reply
  3. Allyson Bossie says

    November 3, 2015 at 10:58 AM

    My personal favorite is Frankensense and this blend I purchased that smells like fruit salad. But I use peppermint, lemon and Tea Tree the most

    Reply
  4. Kenn32 says

    October 28, 2015 at 3:34 PM

    Joanie, you began your presentation with this statement:

    “Because we don’t actually eat the chemicals they contain, but ONLY inhale them into our lungs to be carried directly to our bloodstream, companies are not required to reveal their ingredients.”

    From my experience, this is incorrect. These products are designed to permeate anything that the vapors come in contact with. The chemicals used in their manufacture not only contaminate the air one breathes, they also contaminate food and clothing. In the case of food, I’ve gotten breads and other food gifts from friends sealed in plastic bags. I know for one of these items, some organic bakery bread was purchased that morning and we received it that evening. It was tossed out the next day after we cut into it and prepared it for breakfast toast, since the odor of their plug-in air fresheners was now the main flavor in the bread.

    Plug-in air fresheners containing liquid pthalates, then heated to produce a perfumed, penetrating vapor, would be the worst offenders for toxicity. If you’re inhaling these vapors it would be impossible to not have toxic effects from them. As you stated, these companies are not required to reveal their ingredients. They are especially vague in regards to chronic toxcicity, claiming “no data available” on the required MSDS sheet. If there is no data available, why isn’t there, How does anyone figure out if this stuff is safe to use if it has no test data to offer?

    MSDS Sheet for Glade Plug-in:

    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDQQFjABahUKEwiEjuKw7eXIAhXL5CYKHVPEDNE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scjohnson.com%2FLibraries%2FMSDS%2F350000004892_Glade_PlugIns_Scented_Oil_Lasting_Impressions_Hawaiian_Breeze_and_Vanilla_Passionfruit_05-10-10.sflb.ashx&usg=AFQjCNHPNecbIn8QQzFgVfgT2gRyNlPAng&sig2=y3XLP4yz884Gn7U9-QUpzQ&cad=rja

    I really despise going to the food store and having to pass by the aisles containing the perfumed cleaners, air fresheners and other household sanitizers. Though I don’t have issues with asthma, the effects from the concentrated chemical stockpiles will appear and remain until I can get far from that area. There is a nearby Mall Wart store we sometimes visit that has installed a super ventilation fan exhausting the air from these aisles. Certainly, it helps, but that’s only one store out of many. If these odors and chemicals can permeate and contaminate food in a home, they can do the same in a store. Perhaps the chemical odor industry needs to be considered a form of toxic air pollution and outlawed; or highly taxed like tobacco to reduce the impact on people’s health

    https://www.silentmenace.com/-Air_Fresheners_.html

    Reply
    • KitchenKop says

      October 28, 2015 at 3:37 PM

      Kenn, Joanie was being sarcastic, she totally agrees with you, trust me!! That was the point she was making.
      Kel

      Reply
      • Kenn32 says

        October 28, 2015 at 4:01 PM

        Understood and agree with you Kelly! Just trying to use that comment as leverage to explain my experience with friends who use these horrible things.

        As a side note to the way these products permeate anything in a home, If I go to visit a neighbor even for a few minutes, I have to remove any clothing and leave it outside until it’s washed, since their use of these things is so intense.

        Reply
  5. Nadia @Body Unburdened says

    October 28, 2015 at 9:47 AM

    Loved this post — such great info! Thanks for including my homemade air fresheners in the resources section 🙂

    Reply
    • Joanie Blaxter says

      October 28, 2015 at 10:34 AM

      Thank you Nadia! And thanks for the great information on your site!

      Reply
  6. Dorsey Clark says

    October 27, 2015 at 9:32 AM

    Great post!! I am falling more and more in love with my EO’s. I make a circulation blend to roll on my feet at night and have been using a pain spray for my bad shoulders as well as a breathing spray for my husband to use at bedtime. Also use them in my DIY skin care products. I now will make my bottle of “handy dandy” spray. 🙂

    Reply
    • Joanie Blaxter says

      October 28, 2015 at 10:33 AM

      Love those uses! And have fun with “handy dandy” 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Another Side to Essential Oils You Probably Don't Know - Kelly the Kitchen Kop
  2. 2015 Flashback
  3. Causes of Sleep Paralysis
  4. Prayer Update, 13th Holistic Doctor Dies, Food to Make You Poop, the Eczema Song, Are Dental Sealants Safe?, and More Today, Too! - Kelly the Kitchen Kop

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