Can you smell it? The fresh air floats with hints of sharp citrus blended with cinnamon & clove undertones, invigorating your senses —and possibly making you and your home healthier?
It’s time to come to our senses, our sense of smell, that is.  While the practice of aromatherapy has been around for ages, we are not talking about burning a few candles, rather we are talking about essential oils and all of their essential uses in our home.
When researching this topic, we were surprised by all the uses essential oils have in the home—and it’s not just about making your home smell pretty. These little, viscous, liquid droplets pass the smell test and seem to hold the possibility of actually healing your home! Here’s how:

 What Are Essential Oils ?

In the dictionary sense of the word, essential oils are concentrated hydrophobic liquids containing volatile aroma compounds from plants.  Broken into layperson language, it is a plant oil that contains the essence of the plant or the smell of the plant.
For the most part, these oils have been used for superficial purposes such as scenting perfumes, soaps, cosmetics and incense. However, there are those who have historically claimed the medicinal benefits of these oils, ranging from claims of clearing up acne all the way to curing cancer.  One particular historian, Alain Touwaide claims there is archeological evidence “…that both frankincense and myrrh were used as medicinal substances in antiquity; used as healing aids in leprosy and toothaches”.
These claims are still up for debate, but one thing is for certain—the interest in these olfactory oils seems to go beyond smell, and its rise in popularity shows the world has ‘caught the scent’.

 How To Use Essential Oils In Your Home

There are thousands of useful online sites that list numerous roles that essential oils can play in the home. One site lists the effectiveness of oils in cleaning products, another to keep mice at bay, and another uses scents to keep her family healthy.
With all the choices available, where do you start? We suggest you start small and try just a few of the more well-known oil extracts such as lemon, orange and lavender. These oils have been known (and are quite time-tested) to aid in the cleaning and aromatherapy of your home.
There are numerous essential oil manufacturers that offer starter kits for those who really want to dive in nose-first.

 The Disinfecting Power Of Essential Oils

Aside from smelling pretty, essential oils have some magnificent cleaning powers. Here are some of the more popular cleaning methods that oil officiando’s are employing to clean their home:

• tea tree oil is mixed with water; pour in a spray bottle and use as disinfectant on toilets, sinks etc…
• lemon oil applied to showers prevents soap scum build-up
• Mix lavender and lemon grass oil and use to clean windows

As you can see, cleaning your home and keeping your family healthy doesn’t have to involve a lot of harsh chemicals.  This Wiki How site shows you how to make an all-purpose cleaning solution with just lavender oil, lemon oil and water.

 Going Green

Speaking of harsh chemicals. Many do not realize the amount of toxins that float throughout their home. Almost all of the content in your home has some form of chemical emission—carpeting, furnishings, cleaning products, insulation, drywall, paint etc…
An article in The Atlantic calls this a ‘silent pandemic’, noting that daily toxin exposure is actually damaging the brains of unborn children, and determining that 41 Million IQ points have been collectively lost amongst Americans due to exposure to common toxins like lead, mercury and pesticides.
Perhaps this should be a wake-up call for us to employ a more green approach to living— and look into ways to use essential oils in place of toxic cleaners. Here is a great link to help you make your home green with essential oils.
It certainly seems that essential oils should have a place in every home. Not only do they smell great; they can alleviate the amount of toxic cleaners that you use in your home, and possibly eliminate some toxins in the home. Go a little green and try on some of these scents today.
Are you ahead of the trend and already ‘on the scent’ of the power of essential oils?