Essential oils have been used for centuries in wellness, beauty, and even cooking. But with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know which ones to choose, how to use them, and which are safe for internal consumption. I know this because I’ve been there. When I first started using essential oils, I realized there were too many options to choose from. I also learned that they aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so without some knowledge, you could end up buying essential oils that aren’t truly good or even what they claim to be.
“Sometimes people think that if an “essential oil” or other ingredient comes from a plant, it must be safe. But many plants contain materials that are toxic, irritating, or likely to cause allergic reactions when applied to the skin.” Source
Whether you’re new to essential oils or looking to deepen your knowledge, this essential oils guide covers everything you need to know as a beginner.
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts obtained through distillation or cold pressing. They capture the natural fragrance and beneficial properties of plants, making them powerful tools in aromatherapy, skincare, and even cooking.
Another thing to keep in mind is that not all essential oils come from a single plant.
These days, you can find essential oils for virtually any occasion or season, with unique scents.
Not Everything Labeled “Essential Oil” is a True Essential Oil
When I didn’t know much about essential oils, I used to think that anything could be an essential oil, pumpkin spice, vanilla, even sugar cookie! Lol. I wasn’t really digging much into what actually makes an oil PURE ESSENTIAL OIL. But as I started learning more, I realized that not everything labeled as an essential oil is actually a true essential oil.
When shopping for essential oils, you might notice that some scents like coffee, vanilla, or even pumpkin spice are sold as “essential oils.” Confusing, I know!
True essential oils are extracted through steam distillation or cold pressing from plants, flowers, leaves, or peels. However, some popular scents especially food-related ones like coffee, vanilla, or chocolate can’t be extracted this way. Instead, they are typically created using solvent extraction, CO2 extraction, or infusion methods, making them more like aromatic oils, absolutes, or CO2 extracts rather than pure essential oils.
For example:
- Coffee “essential oil” is often a CO2 extract or an infused oil.
- Vanilla essential oil doesn’t actually exist! What’s usually sold is vanilla oleoresin, vanilla absolute, or vanilla-infused oil.
- Pumpkin spice, gingerbread, sugar cookie: these are fragrance blends, not true essential oils.
Read: What’s the difference between an Essential Oil, a CO2 Extract and an Absolute?
This doesn’t mean they aren’t useful or beneficial, but if you’re looking for pure, therapeutic essential oils, it’s important to know the difference. Always check how an oil is extracted and whether it’s truly an essential oil or a different type of plant extract.
How to Use Essential Oils
Essential oils can be used in various ways:
- Aromatherapy: Add a few drops to a diffuser or inhale directly for mood enhancement and relaxation.
- Topical Application: Dilute with a carrier oil (like coconut or jojoba) and apply to the skin.
- Household Cleaning: Use antibacterial essential oils to make natural cleaners.
- Cooking: Some essential oils are food-grade and can be used in recipes (always check labels for purity and safety).
- Massage: Mix with a carrier oil for a soothing and therapeutic experience.
Essential Oils Guide and Their Benefits
Here’s a brief essential oils guide with the 50 most popular essential oils, their uses, and their safety for consumption.
You probably haven’t heard of many of the essential oils on this list, and that’s totally okay! You can stick to the most common ones like lavender, peppermint, and tea tree and you’ll be just fine. But if you’re curious about expanding your essential oil collection, I’ve put together this guide to help.
These are all true essential oils, meaning they are extracted from plants through steam distillation, cold pressing, or resin tapping
If you want to learn more I also love Simply Earth’s free eBook, Essential Oils for Beginners, which you can check out here: Simply Earth Free eBook.
Pure Essential Oils List
To make things easier, here’s a table of contents so you can quickly scan through the list.
1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Benefits: Calming, promotes sleep, relieves stress, soothes skin irritations.
- Uses: Diffusion, topical application, bath soaks.
- Edible? Yes, food-grade lavender oil can be used in teas, baked goods, and syrups.
2. Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
- Benefits: Boosts energy, relieves headaches, soothes digestion, cools the skin.
- Uses: Inhalation, topical application, cooking, oral care.
- Edible? Yes, but must be highly diluted. Used in teas, chocolates, and homemade breath fresheners.
3. Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
- Benefits: Antibacterial, antifungal, acne treatment, immune-boosting.
- Uses: Skincare, household cleaning, scalp health.
- Edible? No, tea tree oil is toxic when ingested.
4. Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)
- Benefits: Clears sinuses, eases congestion, repels insects.
- Uses: Steam inhalation, chest rubs, diffuser blends.
- Edible? No, eucalyptus oil is not safe for consumption.
5. Lemon (Citrus limon)
- Benefits: Detoxifying, uplifting, antibacterial, enhances focus.
- Uses: Cleaning, diffusion, skin brightening (diluted), cooking.
- Edible? Yes, food-grade lemon essential oil can be used in drinks and recipes.
6. Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
- Benefits: Anti-inflammatory, promotes relaxation, supports immune function.
- Uses: Skin serums, meditation, diffusion.
- Edible? Yes, but must be 100% pure and used sparingly.
7. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Benefits: Enhances memory, stimulates hair growth, relieves muscle pain.
- Uses: Hair oils, cooking, massage blends.
- Edible? Yes, commonly used in dishes.
8. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla or Chamaemelum nobile)
- Benefits: Promotes sleep, soothes skin, reduces anxiety.
- Uses: Teas, skincare, relaxation blends.
- Edible? Yes, in very small amounts.
9. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
- Benefits: Aids digestion, reduces nausea, anti-inflammatory.
- Uses: Massage oils, teas, aromatherapy.
- Edible? Yes, a great addition to teas and recipes.
10. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
- Benefits: Warming, circulation-boosting, antibacterial.
- Uses: Diffuser blends, topical application (diluted!), cooking.
- Edible? Yes, food-grade cinnamon oil can be used in baking and warm drinks.
11. Clove
- Benefits: Pain relief, antimicrobial
- Uses: Aromatherapy, dental care, muscle relief
- Edible?(edible in small amounts).
12. Bergamot
- Benefits: Mood-boosting, stress relief
- Uses: Diffusion, skincare, perfumes
- Edible? No
13. Ylang Ylang
- Benefits: Mood enhancer, skin balancing
- Uses: Perfumery, relaxation, skincare
- Edible? No
14. Geranium
- Benefits: Hormonal balance, skincare
- Uses: Skincare, emotional balance, insect repellent
- Edible? No
15. Grapefruit
- Benefits: Detoxifying, energizing
- Uses: Diffusion, skincare, metabolism support
- Edible? Yes, in small amounts
16. Cedarwood
- Benefits: Grounding, improves sleep
- Uses: Diffusion, relaxation, scalp health
- Edible? No
17. Thyme
- Benefits: Immune-boosting, antibacterial
- Uses: Cooking, respiratory support, antimicrobial
- Edible? Yes, in very small amounts
18. Sandalwood
- Benefits: Meditation aid, skin benefits
- Uses: Aromatherapy, skincare, relaxation
- Edible? No
19. Oregano
- Benefits: Powerful antimicrobial
- Uses: Cooking, immune support, antifungal
- Edible? Yes, in tiny amounts
20. Patchouli
- Benefits: Skin healing, grounding
- Uses: Perfumery, skincare, relaxation
- Edible? No
21. Lemongrass
- Benefits: Insect repellent, stress relief
- Uses: Diffusion, skincare, digestion support
- Edible? Yes, in very small amounts
22. Basil
- Benefits: Focus-enhancing, antibacterial
- Uses: Cooking, respiratory support, mental clarity
- Edible? Yes, in small amounts
23. Fennel
- Benefits: Digestive aid, hormone balancing
- Uses: Digestion, menstrual support, relaxation
- Edible? Yes, in tiny amounts
24. Helichrysum
- Benefits: Skin healing, anti-inflammatory
- Uses: Skincare, wound healing, relaxation
- Edible? No
25. Juniper Berry
- Benefits: Detoxifying, immune-boosting
- Uses: Digestion support, aromatherapy, skincare
- Edible? Yes, in small amounts
26. Coriander
- Benefits: Aids digestion, soothing
- Uses: Cooking, digestion, relaxation
- Edible? Yes, in very small amounts
27. Myrrh
- Benefits: Anti-aging, immune support
- Uses: Skincare, wound healing, meditation
- Edible? No
28. Rose
- Benefits: Skin rejuvenating, anti-aging, mood-enhancing, stress relief
- Uses: Skincare, haircare, emotional balance, aromatherapy, massage
- Edible? No (it’s typically not recommended for consumption)
29. Neroli
- Benefits: Deep relaxation, sleep aid
- Uses: Diffusion, emotional grounding, skincare
- Edible? No
30. Wintergreen
- Benefits: Pain relief, anti-inflammatory
- Uses: Muscle relief, skincare, aromatherapy
- Edible? No
31. Blue Tansy
- Benefits: Anti-inflammatory, skin-soothing
- Uses: Skincare, relaxation, calming skin irritation
- Edible? No
32. Spearmint
- Benefits: Digestive support, cooling
- Uses: Digestion, oral care, energy boost
- Edible? Yes, in very small amounts
33. Lemon Balm
- Benefits: Stress relief, antiviral
- Uses: Diffusion, immune support, relaxation
- Edible? No
34. Cajeput
- Benefits: Respiratory support, muscle relief
- Uses: Congestion relief, pain relief, skincare
- Edible? No
35. Carrot Seed
- Benefits: Skin rejuvenation, antioxidant
- Uses: Skincare, sun protection, anti-aging
- Edible? No
36. Bay Laurel
- Benefits: Immune support, lymphatic drainage
- Uses: Diffusion, respiratory support, cooking
- Edible? No
37. Black Pepper
- Benefits: Warming, digestive aid
- Uses: Cooking, muscle relief, circulation booster
- Edible? Yes, in tiny amounts
38. Tangerine
- Benefits: Uplifting, antioxidant
- Uses: Mood booster, skincare, immune support
- Edible? Yes, in small amounts
39. Marjoram
- Benefits: Muscle relaxation, immune-boosting
- Uses: Aromatherapy, muscle relief, emotional balance
- Edible? No
40. Palmarosa
- Benefits: Skin hydration, antibacterial
- Uses: Skincare, emotional balance, antibacterial support
- Edible? No
41. White Tea
- Benefits: Antioxidant, skin-soothing, anti-aging
- Uses: Skincare, anti-inflammatory, relaxation
- Edible? No
42. Verbena (Lemon Verbena)
- Benefits: Calming, digestive aid, stress relief
- Uses: Diffusion, relaxation, digestion support
- Edible? Yes, in very small amounts
Lemon verbena is one of my go-to oils for relaxation. It helps me unwind after a long day, and I love using it in a diffuser
43. Gardenia
- Benefits: Stress relief, mood enhancer, skin hydration
- Uses: Aromatherapy, skin care, emotional support
- Edible? No
44. Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
- Benefits: Respiratory support, antibacterial, energizing
- Uses: Diffusion, cleaning, respiratory relief
- Edible? No
I absolutely love pine essential oils! I used it in this pine sugar scrub recipe.
45. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
- Benefits: Sleep aid, anxiety relief, calming
- Uses: Relaxation blends, sleep support
- Edible? No, Valerian essential oil is for topical and aromatic use only.
46. Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
- Benefits: Circulation-boosting, respiratory support, grounding
- Uses: Aromatherapy, massage, circulation support
- Edible? No
47. Hyssop
- Benefits: Antimicrobial, respiratory support, digestion aid, promotes circulation
- Uses: Diffusion, chest rubs for congestion, massage oils for circulation
- Edible? Yes, in very small amounts (must be food-grade and highly diluted)
48. Spikenard
- Benefits: Deep relaxation, stress relief, promotes restful sleep, anti-inflammatory
- Uses: Diffusion, massage, meditation blends, skincare
- Edible? No, spikenard essential oil is not safe for consumption
49. Cajeput
- Benefits: Respiratory support, muscle relief, antimicrobial, relieves congestion
- Uses: Steam inhalation, topical pain relief, massage, insect repellent
- Edible? No, cajeput essential oil is toxic if ingested
50. Angelica Root
- Benefits: Detoxifying, digestive aid, supports circulation, calming
- Uses: Diffusion, massage, digestive blends, stress relief
- Edible? Yes, in very small amounts (must be food-grade and highly diluted)
Where to Buy High-Quality Essential Oils
Not all essential oils are created equal so here’s what to look for when buying:
- 100% Pure & Therapeutic Grade: Avoid oils labeled as ‘fragrance oils.’
- Organic & Non-GMO: Ensures the oil is free of harmful pesticides.
- GC/MS Tested: This verifies the oil’s chemical composition and purity.
- Reputable Brands: Some trustworthy companies include Simply Earth, Plant Therapy, Eden’s Garden, Rocky Mountain Oils, and doTERRA.
Safety Tips for Using Essential Oils
- Always dilute essential oils before applying them to the skin.
- Avoid ingesting oils unless they are specifically labeled as food-grade.
- Keep oils away from pets and children.
- Store essential oils in dark glass bottles away from heat and light.
- Perform a patch test before using a new oil topically.
Essential oils are an incredible natural remedy for wellness, skincare, cleaning, and even cooking. Whether you’re looking to boost your mood, clear congestion, or create a non-toxic home, there’s an essential oil for you. Just remember to choose high-quality oils, use them safely, and enjoy the benefits nature has to offer!
Have you tried essential oils? Let me know your favorites in the comments!
This post was all about essential oils guide.