I’ve been asked many times if it’s really necessary to have ALL the essential oils. There are literally hundreds of them, so it can be a bit confusing as to which ones are essential (pardon the pun) and which ones are just nice to have. All families are different and so your use of oils and the oils your family requires will differ from the way other families use oils, and an oil that is essential to us might just be a nice-to-have for you.
So which ones should your family start with?
One of the (many) reasons I love Young Living is that they take the guesswork out of that first investment.
They’ve put together a starter bundle that has the most commonly used oils and the purpose of this article is to help you to understand just some of the ways by which they can impact your life and improve your family’s wellbeing.
Please note that I’ve put together the ways in which our own family uses each of the 12 oils in a Young Living Premium Starter Bundle but this list is by no means exhaustive and there are a plethora of other ways in which the oils can be used.
If you’re going to make an investment in the future wellbeing of your family by purchasing a Young Living Premium Starter Bundle, I want you to be able to use all of the contents and not have some sitting on the shelf gathering dust because you’re not sure how to use them.
Some of the ways in which the essential oils from a Young Living Premium Starter Bundle can be incorporated into your daily life.
Lavender
Lavender has a calming, soothing fragrance and we use it in the diffuser in the bedrooms at night to aid sleep. I also incorporate lavender into almost all of my DIY skincare products, such as perfume rollers, misting sprays and toner, as it’s great for skin. If you don’t have a diffuser for each of the bedrooms, you can put a drop of lavender onto the baby’s hanging mobile or place some on a hankie and tie it to the curtain rod. Alternatively, if you can’t sleep with the white noise of a diffuser, pop some lavender in a roller bottle and top with carrier oil then apply directly to your neck and temples.
Another great thing you can use lavender for is bites and abrasions. You can apply it directly or diluted with a carrier oil and just rub directly over the bite or scrape. I find it’s particularly great for mozzie bites. I have a couple of kids who react quite badly to mozzie bites and lavender really helps to sooth the bite long enough to distract them from it so they don’t stratch it.
Orange
Like all citrus oils, orange has a beautifully uplifting scent and is lovely in the diffuser with peppermint or frankincense. It’s useful in cooking and one drop on your toothbrush is a great tooth whitener.
Frankincense
My all time favourite oil? Tough call, but I think pretty darn close! I love diffusing frankincense, in particular along with lavender and use it as a key component of my daily face moisturiser, which is literally just jojoba and frankincense. I also use a lavender/frankincense misting mix to spray on my mascara brush. This helps to give it a more even finish.
Frankincense is known as the king of oils for good reason. Historically, frankincense was valued higher than gold because it was used in numerous healing practices, from open wounds to reducing fever. I read a fabulous book recently about the trade of frankincense in ancient times and the way that the trade caravans worked and one of the things they would use the resin for was healing wounds. They didn’t extract oil back then, but they had resin and they boiled it down to create a paste and they would just slather this directly on to an open wound. They also would burn the resin to create an incense for spiritual practices, but also for really practical reasons – because they couldn’t shower! They’d hang their clothes over the incense and it would help to mask the smell of sweat but also keep sand fleas out during the night in the desert.
From a 2020 perspective, frankincense is still incredibly useful and I think if I had to have only one essential oil for the rest of my life, it would be frankincense. We use it in the diffuser when we need some grounding, in an immunity roller (see “Thieves” below) and for skin healing: straight onto a pimple or an acne scar or a small cut. It’s a really great first aid oil.
Lemon
Lemon is a seriously useful essential oil and it will probably be the one you run out of first because it can be used in almost any capacity! Citrus oils are commonly regarded as being useful mood enhancers and we love to diffuse this one as well, but it’s also perfect for cleaning and cooking. I use 15 drops of lemon essential oil in a roller bottle, topped with our clothes washing detergent, as a roll-on laundry stain remover.
Just remember if you’re cooking with oils, that a little goes a long way. It takes the rind from 75 lemons to fill a 15 mL bottle of lemon essential oil, so if the recipe calls for a tablespoon of lemon juice and you don’t have fresh lemons on hand, just start with one drop of oil. You can always add more.
Peppermint
Another great oil for cleaning and cooking with, peppermint is also great to clear the head and assist with releasing muscle tension. I use peppermint, lemon and lavender in roller oil blends for a delicious and calming scent. Peppermint is a circulatory stimulant and I use this topically to help with varicose veins. It’s also great for digestive support.
Peppermint has been shown in studies to reduce head tension when inhaled, so we definitely use this just inhaled straight from the bottle (see PubMed 31404204).
The following essential oils are Young Living proprietary blends.
DiGize
DiGize is made from a beautiful mix of peppermint, tarragon, ginger, juniper, fennel, lemongrass, anise and patchouli. We dilute with V-6 carrier oil to assist in managing abdominal discomfort.
PanAway
PanAway contains wintergreen, clove, helichrysum and peppermint and helps to cool the skin after physical activity and is the ultimate oil to use for a muscle rub. Simply add 20 drops in a 10 mL roller bottle and top with carrier oil of choice then roll on to troubled areas and massage in. Think of it like a natural “deep heat”.
R.C.
R.C. contains 3 different types of eucalyptus essential oil and is amazing in the diffuser when everyone is down with the sniffles, but also perfect to add to a tub of hot water for clearing the sinuses. You can also add a few drops to the bottom of the shower to help create a steam that will clear the head. R.C. contains eucalyptus globulus, eucalyptus radiata, eucalyptus citriodora, myrtle, black spruce, cypress, peppermint, pine, lavender and marjoram. I use 5 drops of R.C., 5 drops of lemon and 5 drops of peppermint or spearmint topped with carrier oil in a roller bottle and apply to neck, chest and wrists to help with congestion.
This one can also be used on its own in a small jar with coconut oil as a chest rub. Just add 20-30 drops of R.C. in a small jar (baby food jar is perfect) and top with liquefied coconut oil. Leave aside to re-set (can take a couple of days depending on the size of the jar) and then apply to the chest just as you would with a pharmacy chest rub.
Thieves
Thieves is my go-to oil for enhancing DIY cleaning products, as it contains a powerful combination of clove, cinnamon bark, rosemary, lemon and eucalyptus radiata. We use the Thieves cleaning range and the oil is a great way to make these products pack a little more punch, if that’s what you’re needing. It also smells amazing in the diffuser and if I’m after a “clean” feel from the diffuser, Thieves is what will go in!
Thieves is the backbone of our “immune boosting” roller and we apply it (diluted and blended with frankincense and lemon) to the back of the neck and chest area.
Valor
Valor is a great oil to help calm feelings of worry, racing thoughts and high emotions. It’s a terrific choice for natural men’s cologne.
Stress Away
When you receive your Premium Starter Kit, you’ll notice that there is a bottle of Stress Away with a roller fitment so that you can turn this gorgeous little bottle into an essential oil roller. Make sure you do this: you won’t regret it. Even though Stress Away is also gorgeous in the diffuser, having it in a roller means you can smell it everywhere you go, which is something you definitely want to enjoy! Stress Away contains copaiba, lime, cedarwood, vanilla, ocotea and lavender.
Peace & Calming
This is a recent addition to the Premium Starter Kit and can also be used as a beautiful natural perfume roller (with the second roller fitment that’s included in the kit). This one literally does what the name implies… it’s almost as if it gives your body permission to breathe a beautiful deep sigh of relief and is my go-to night roller. Peace & Calming contains Tangerine, Orange, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, Blue Tansy.
Each of the essential oil premium starter bundles comes with a diffuser for hydrating the atmosphere and building a calm, healthy, natural and pure living environment, plus some great sample products from other Young Living lines.
Why Choose a Premium Starter Bundle
Essential oil starter kits are a brilliant way to kick off your wellness journey as they offer up to 50% off the combined value of the products included. If you’re after more than just one or two oils, a starter kit is the way to go as it’s the best value option and is like the “key” that opens up wholesale pricing for you across the entire range of Young Living products.
Start your wellness journey with a premium starter bundle HERE.
