The use of botanical essential oils in natural medicine and spiritual practices are almost as old as humanity itself, with evidence of essential oil being used dating back to 4500 BC in ancient Egypt and ancient East Asia.

Our My Herb Clinic essential oils collection has some of the best essential oils Australia has to offer. Read on to learn about essential oils and their many benefits.

Essential oils Australia

This ancient, tried and tested tradition continues in our collection of 100% pure essential oils and essential oil products, including:

• Pure Essential Oils
• Absolutes 
• Custom blends
• Sprays and roll-ons
• Attars and perfumes
• Massage oils and more

Read on to discover more about the high-quality essential oils for sale in our My Herb Clinic selection.

What is essential oil?

Essential oils are hydrophobic liquid compounds extracted from various botanicals using various extraction methods. The parts of a plant used to isolate botanical essential oils include, but are not limited to:

• Flowers
• Bark
• Sap
• Fruit skins
• Leaves and more

Essential oils are volatile oils, ethereal oils, and aetheroleum. Each essential oil has a distinct aroma and potency, often but not always matching the plant's smell from which the oil was extracted. 

What do essential oils do?

Each essential oil is known for its unique qualities, aromas and effects on the human body, psyche, and energy levels via various application and inhalation methods.

Each essential oil also carries varying degrees of medicinal benefits, including such properties as:

• Antiseptic properties
• Antimicrobial properties
• Antibacterial properties
• Antifungal properties
• Mood and mental alterations
• Alertness or relaxation effects
• Spiritual health and development properties and more 

Essential oils are often mixed into a carrier oil for dilution. Various oils can also be put into blends, which can enhance or alter the effects of the essential oils used. These blends are usually made by essential oil specialists who understand each oil's unique properties and attributes.

Some of the most well known essential oils in our My Herb Clinic Site collection and examples of their benefits include:

• Peppermint: Boosts alertness and aids digestion
• Lavender: Antiseptic and calming agent
• Sandalwood: For calming nerves and aiding focus
• Bergamot: Stress relief and skin treatment for inflammatory conditions
• Rose: Improves mood, reduces anxiety and helps heal scar tissue
• Chamomile: Relaxes and aids sleep
• Ylang-Ylang: Lowers blood pressure, kills bacteria and acts as an aphrodisiac
• Tea Tree: Strong antibacterial and immunity-boosting properties 
• Jasmine: Helps with depression and increases libido
• Lemon: Aids digestion, soothes headaches

Although these ten essential oils are some of the more popular and well-known, there are 90-oils commonly used in essential oil practices and treatments.

How are essential oils extracted?

There are several common methods of extracting essential oil from botanicals. Extraction is the method used to separate and isolate the oils from the rest of the plant material. Different extraction methods may be more effective on certain botanicals.

Steam distillation is the most common extraction method; however, there are other popular methods used, including:

• Expression
• Solvent
• CO2 extraction
• Maceration
• Cold press extraction
• Water distillation
• Enfleurage

Our collection of therapeutic-grade 100% pure essential oils comes from world-class essential oil manufacturers using the cleanest extraction methods from the highest-quality ethically sourced botanicals.

How can you use essential oils?

There are several ways to use essential oils, and different essential oils will provide various benefits depending on their properties and methods of application or inhalation.

Topical Application  

Topical application is the method of applying essential oil directly onto the skin. Essential oils are easily absorbed into the skin, either in their pure form or diluted in a neutral carrier oil, 

Examples of neutral carrier oils include:

• Sweet almond
• Cold-pressed coconut
• Grapeseed
• Jojoba
• Olive oil and more

As an example of topical application, if you were using lavender oil for relaxation, you may only use a few drops in a carrier oil for application to the temples and forehead. However, if you were using lavender oil to protect a closed healing wound, you may use a more concentrated mix or apply the pure oil directly to the affected area.

Many essential oils are too potent to apply directly to the skin in their pure form and can cause damage or burning. Only apply oils undiluted under the advice and direction of a qualified essential oil practitioner or healthcare professional.

Aromatherapy and inhalation

Aromatherapy is the art of preparing, blending, diffusing and inhaling the aromas and vapours of essential oils. There are several common inhalation methods in aromatherapy practices.

Direct inhalation

This method involves breathing in the pure essential oil, either via placing a vial under the nose or placing a few drops on a handkerchief or tissue. An example of when this method may be used includes:

• Clearing your nose with eucalyptus oil
• Using tea tree oil to remove sticky residue
• Applying lavender oil to your pillow before sleep

Pure essential oils are potent, and you should get advice or research on which oils are safe for direct inhalation or use.

Diffusing

Diffusing oil is achieved via a diffusing tool, such as an oil burner or an electric diffuser. Diffusing is the method most commonly used in aromatherapy; the oil or oil blend requires a carrier for the diffusing, which is often a carrier of oil or purified water. 

Heat or ultrasonic waves are applied to the carrier, either via candle flame or electric coils, and the vapour of the essential oil is released with the carrier compound.

Bathing

Bathing with essential oils provides the best of both worlds. The hot water and steam from the bath diffuse the oils into the air for inhalation, while the oil in the water is absorbed into the skin, a perfect way to unwind after a long week of work.

Dangers of essential oil ingestion

While some essential oils are used in food, such as peppermint oil, many are toxic if ingested. Therefore, we strongly advise against ingesting any essential oil at any potency and suggest acquiring edible plant oils from appropriate sources. Only ever consume an essential under the direct guidance of a qualified healthcare professional.

Essential oils for sale

Our My Herb Clinic essential oil specialists have carefully selected every oil in our collection based on the quality of botanicals and extraction so that you can buy essential oils with confidence.

We provide fast and free shipping, with an affordable Express post shipping option Australia wide, dispatched daily from our Gold Coast location. So, browse and buy online today, or for more information, send your inquiry via our online contact form.