Here at Wilton, we're obsessed with essential oils. Not only do they make your cleaning smell divine (I mean, have you tried our Eucalyptus multi-surface...) but there's tons of health benefits too. Here's how to find the right essential oil for you. 

What are essential oils 

Essential oils are the concentrate that comes from thousands of plants around the globe. Often used in alternative medicine, they're a natural way to help you do everything from focus to sleep and help boost your mood too. 

Types of essential oils

Focus

If you're working on a big project, or simply want a more productive workday, you'll definitely want to give these essential oils a try. Generally speaking essential oils that contain some sort of citrus (think lemon or grapefruit) or herbaceous (like rosemary or Cedarwood) are excellent for calming the mind and helping you get more done. Our favourites our: 

• Cedarwood 
• Rosemary 
• Peppermint
• Lavender
• Bergamont 

Stress Relief 

We get it, modern life is stressful. But if you're looking for a way to relax, essential oils have got your back. These essential oils help regulate your olfactory system, which in turn decreases your stress levels. Here's our favourites: 

• Rose 
• Ylang Ylang
• Neroli 
• Vetiver 
• Frankincense

Motivation 

If you're looking for a pep of energy in your day, all you need is a couple drops of energising essential oils. These oils will boost your serotonin levels naturally and overall give you a better mood throughout the day. We recommend: 

• Eucalyptus 
• Ginger Root 
• Lemongrass
• Thyme
• Juniper Berry 

Loneliness

Bouts of loneliness are normal for anyone. Luckily there's a few essential oils that directly help with giving you the calm you need when you're feeling alone. We suggest: 

• Sage 
• Sandalwood 
• Vetiver 
• Palo Santo 
• Helichrysum 

Sleep 

Need better sleep? Skip the sleeping pills and try these essential oils instead. Not only do they activate your parasympathetic nervous system (which slows down your heart rate) but it clears your airways to prevent snoring too. Give these a try: 

• Chamomile 
• Lavender
• Jasmine

How to use essential oils 

Inhale 

The most straight-forward way to use essential oils is to inhale. We like to use the steam method for this. Simply fill a bowl of hot water with a few drops of essential oils. Then place a towel over your head and inhale the bowl. Make sure the inhales are deep to get the full effect. 

Diffuser 

A diffuser essentially 'floats' your essential oils in the air for you to inhale. Choose from an electric, ceramic or reed diffuser (or even a candle) to release your lovely scents. 

Dry evaporation 

If you're in a rush, simply place a few drops of your essential oil onto a cloth or cotton ball and inhale. You can also pop some on everything from shirt to pillowcase for a boost of scent (or just use our Laundry Liquid and Fabric Conditioner). 

Top tips for using essential oils 

• Only buy your oils from trusted sources
• Remember to always use a 'carrier' when using an essential oil (about 6 drops of carrier oil for every 15 drops) this helps dilute the oil and protect your skin — we like to use coconut or olive oil
• Always do a patch test before using essential oils on larger areas of the skin