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47 Comments | Jill Winger |    Last Updated: October 6, 2016

How to Put Together an Essential Oil Toolkit


what you need to get started with essential oils

Essential oils can be kinda overwhelming at first, huh?

Not only are there a million-and-one different oils to choose from, but then comes the question of accessories… Oh, the accessories.

Two of the top questions I get are, “What oils should I start with?” and “What else do I need to go along with them?”

Today I’m going to introduce you to my most-used oils, along with the tools that you’ll want to have as you dive into the world of essential oils.

The Oils You Just Gotta Have:

It’s easy to go cross-eyed with all the different varieties of essential oils out there. I remember the feeling of wanting all of them when I started, but knowing my budget would definitely not allow that… So then I was left with the process of picking out the ones I wanted… Lemon, ok sure, that sounds familiar. But what the heck was Vetiver, and did I need that one right away?

My Four Most-Reached-For Oils

  • Lemon – Lemon is the queen of homemade cleaning products. It’s an incredible deodorizer, and can cut grease (and crayon marks!) like no other. Add it to your DIY Protective blends, carpet cleaning projects, or homemade laundry detergent.
  • Lavender – When in doubt, use Lavender… It is also well-loved for its ability to support healthy skin, ease stressful situations, and promote relaxation. It’s one of the main ingredients in my Homemade After-Sun Spray.
  • Peppermint – Peppermint is a tasty addition to homemade milkshakes and hot cocoa, but it’s capable of a whole lot more than that. Whenever I have a spot of tension in my body, Peppermint is the first thing I reach for. It’s also my favorite for supporting digestive health.
  • Melaleuca – Melaleuca (aka Tea Tree Oil) is a really “trendy” oil right now, but incredibly useful.  Melaleuca is renowned for its cleansing effect on the skin, promotes healthy immune function, and protects against environmental and seasonal threats.

A couple of others that are handy:

  • Frankincense – Frankincense, of Biblical fame, is a powerful oil. You really can’t go wrong reaching for this one, no matter what is ailing you. It’s wonderful for skin and emotional support as well.

Carrier Oil

(This post contains affiliate links)

Carrier oils are a must-have if you plan to use essential oils for anything other than homemade cleaning products. A carrier oil is simply a liquid vegetable oil of some sort that is used to dilute the very concentrated essential oils.

I pour a little carrier oil in my palm, mix in a drop or two of EO, and then apply.
I usually pour a little carrier oil in my palm, mix in a drop or two of EO, and then apply.

My favorite carrier oil is Sweet Almond oil. Other options would include olive oil (kinda greasy, but it works), avocado oil, apricot oil, and fractionated coconut oil.

You can usually find these at your local health food store, or Amazon carries them.

*Fractionated coconut oil is simply coconut oil that has had the long chain fatty acids removed from it. The benefit of FCO is that it stays liquid at room temp, and is a lot handier to use for essential oil applications than regular coconut oil, which is usually solid at room temp.

Use a carrier oil if you are applying a “hot” essential oil like Oregano or Peppermint, as well as well you are applying essential oils to a child or someone with sensitive skin.

A Good Reference Book

If you are looking for a book that is not brand-specific, try The Complete Book Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood. And a couple of handy animal reference books are Essential Oils for Horses by Carole Faith and Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals by Kristen Leigh Bell.

Click Here to Get Jill’s Free Essential Oil eBook >>

Diffuser

My Lotus diffuser.
My Lotus diffuser.

Yes, it’s possible to enjoy essential oils without a diffuser, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I have 3 diffusers in my home and I adore them! I use them constantly and can’t imagine my essential oil life without them. This post has 10 of my fav diffuser blends.

Here’s my diffuser comparison post with all the nitty-gritty details of several different models.

Extra Bottles

Once you get your EOs, you’ll want to start playing around with blends and mixes of your own. It’s always handy to have a few extra glass bottles hanging around. I save all of my empties and reuse them for my DIY blends (use a bit of Lemon oil to remove the label). You can also grab glass spray bottles and extra small bottles at AromaTools. Choosing dark colored bottles (like the amber or cobalt blue ones) is advised to help shield the oils inside from excess light. (I’m not affiliated with AromaTools- I just order from them a lot.)

I keep a lot of sample bottles on hand...
I keep a lot of sample bottles on hand…
  • Keep 1/4 dram sized sample bottles on hand if you plan to share oils with friends and family.
  • 5-15 mL bottles are useful when you are mixing up your own blends.
  • I like the 4 oz glass spritzer bottles for things like Sunburn Spray or room spritzers.
  • Roller bottles make the topical application of oils super easy. I like to place a few drops of Lavender  in a roller bottle, and then fill it up the rest of the way with carrier oil. Prairie Boy and Prairie Girl love me to swipe it on their feet before bedtime.
  • If you end up with more empty bottles than you need, here are 15 ideas for using empty essential oil bottles.

Droppers

The biggest complaint I hear from my essential oil team members? Sometimes it’s hard to measure out drops from the tiny glass bottles without spilling. This is where glass droppers come in handy. Sometimes you can find droppers that screw right onto the bottle, which makes mixing and blending even easier.

A Notebook

You won’t be sorry if you start keeping a essential oil notebook right off the bat. Use it to write down notes about your favorite blends, ideas you might find in your internet travels, and tips for which oils work best for your family members. You might think you’ll remember what you mixed up last week for your great-aunt Martha, but trust me, you’ll forget.

————————-

Interested in learning why I’ve stuck with the same brand of oils for over three years? GO HERE.

47 Comments | Learn Natural Remedies & Healthcare

Put Essential Oils to Work Around Your Homestead!

Essential Oils & homesteading go together like peanut butter & jelly. This short, practical eBook will help you master the ins-and-outs of adding essential oils to your homesteading routine (no matter what sort of homestead you may have) and includes DIY fly spray formulas, garden pest control sprays, DIY cleaners, and tons more!

You may also like these posts...

10 healing herbs to grow in your salve gardenTop 10 Healing Herbs to GrowMy Top 5 Picks for Essential Oils Around the BarnyardIt’s Here!! My NEW eBook– Natural Homestead!Herbal Home Remedy for Congestion

Reader Interactions

47 Comments

  1. Angie says

    August 7, 2013 at 6:54 am

    How do you travel with yours?

    reply to comment
    • Jill Winger says

      August 7, 2013 at 7:51 am

      I have a case with a foam insert that holds them all. I got it off of Aroma Tools. It was around $50, but worth it, I think!

      reply to comment
  2. Susan H says

    August 7, 2013 at 12:40 pm

    Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! This is exactly what I needed, Jill. Thank you for the time and effort you put into gathering all this info for us. After you suggested peppermint oil a couple of weeks ago for my spider problem, I have used it every few days in the corners where they seem to want to gather and my husband and I have been blown away by the results. It has really made me want to dip my toe into the EO pond, but I hesitated because I didn’t know where to begin. Now I’ll feel confident taking the first step because you presented it all so nicely. Thanks again!

    reply to comment
  3. Catherine @ Happily Ever Crafter says

    August 7, 2013 at 1:19 pm

    Those are all my top favorite oils too! And seriously…when in doubt…lavender. Every time! I want to grow my collection. It’s so little right now! I also want to get a good shelving unit to have them orderly plus a nice travel box. Any suggestions from anyone?

    reply to comment
  4. Erika says

    August 7, 2013 at 3:20 pm

    I have been contemplating starting EO’s. Just not exactly sure if my homestead is ready for them.

    reply to comment
    • Jill Winger says

      August 7, 2013 at 3:32 pm

      They are so much fun Erika!

      reply to comment
  5. Desiree says

    August 7, 2013 at 3:52 pm

    I’m wondering what lead you to this company? The prices are much higher than I would pay for an essential oil purchased from my local health food store which includes brands such as Now, Beeyoutiful and Aura Cacia. Just curious. Should we be using the pricey oil’s because they are a better quality? Is it even safe to use the “cheaper” brands? They all seem to be labeled “pure”.

    reply to comment
    • Darlene says

      August 7, 2013 at 7:01 pm

      I would like to know this as well. I am new to essential oils and it can be overwhelming. This is awesome information. thanks

      reply to comment
      • laura cullen says

        March 12, 2014 at 7:42 pm

        I buy from mountain rose & love all their items. I accidentally overbought & had to cancel an order & they were so nice about it. If I have any questions, I can call & ask. I bought safflower oil for a carrier because it seems to be the purest of all the oils. Lightest & most fragrant free. Thats my opinion. I also bought herbs there & plan on making my own essential oils for my cosmetic products. That way, I know exactly what is going into my products.

        reply to comment
    • Jill Winger says

      August 7, 2013 at 9:16 pm

      Hi Desiree,

      Essential Oil brands are a touchy subject- especially online. I love this because of their commitment to purity, and the ethics of the company. Each liter of oil undergoes 5 different third-party tests to make sure it’s free of any foreign substances or adulteration. They are beyond organic. Many of the cheaper oils plainly state “Do Not Ingest” on the label– and I’m just not comfortable with that. As far as YL oils, I’m personally not comfortable with the business ethics that that company has portrayed. So, that is my reasoning in a nutshell. Feel free to email me if you have any questions! 🙂

      reply to comment
      • Amber says

        August 15, 2013 at 10:06 am

        I just wanted to say DITTO on this. I love oilsand what they stand for and some of the things GY has done make me want to vomit so I stay away from YL oils. I Know they seem pricey, but everyone is looking at the RETAIL pricing and not wholesale 😉

        reply to comment
        • Heather says

          January 25, 2014 at 9:35 pm

          I would very much like to know what specifically makes you want to vomit about Gary young. I have tried to research info in him as I prefer yl oils and the blends they offer. Not to sound rude, just wanting to know so that I can make informed decisions. The only thing I could find was a quack watch article which I don’t put much stock in.

          reply to comment
    • Jill Winger says

      August 7, 2013 at 9:17 pm

      Oh– also wanted to say that if you take advantage of wholesale pricing, the oils are much more affordable. Yes, they are still more expensive that the cheapie oils at the health food store, but they are pretty comparable to other, more-quality oil companies online.

      reply to comment
  6. Kathy Minderman says

    August 8, 2013 at 7:02 am

    So helpful! Thank you.

    reply to comment
  7. Al says

    August 9, 2013 at 2:32 pm

    I find olive oil to be a good carier. I put tea tree, eucalyptus, and pepermint with some olive oil and mix half and half with melted bees wax to make a good all purpose skin balm. I also put tea tree oil with fresh aloe pulp in a glycerin lotion base for a good burn cream.

    reply to comment
    • Jill Winger says

      August 11, 2013 at 9:55 am

      You bet- olive oil is a good one too. 🙂

      reply to comment
  8. Wendy says

    August 13, 2013 at 3:45 pm

    I am new to essential oils in general and this is exactly what I needed! Thanks so much for the great info!

    reply to comment
  9. Jessica says

    September 18, 2013 at 7:17 am

    How do you know where to apply the oils? Temples, feet, etc
    Is there a spreadsheet that says if you have a headache use this oil on this location?
    That’s what I need 🙂
    Thank you !

    reply to comment
  10. Jo says

    January 24, 2014 at 4:25 pm

    I ordered the starter kit with the lemon peppermint and lavender. They didn’t come with any type of dropper. How do I get “drops” out of my jars? I don’t want to wasted oils!

    Jo

    reply to comment
  11. Angie says

    January 25, 2014 at 5:30 pm

    I’ve always respected the various opinions written by the homesteader blogs, as I do place value in what they are promoting. Not necessarily their “specific” products,I don’t need to be told what to buy, as I do have a mind of my own. But because healthy living, clean eating and creating non-toxic homes are some of my passions, I continue to follow. But today’s posting about essential oils left a very sour taste in my mouth. I love my YL oils, and I know they are superior over ones found in stores, and even ones sold on the internet. Why not use your blog as a way to educate vs. slander a reputable company?

    reply to comment
    • Jill Winger says

      January 25, 2014 at 9:45 pm

      What post are you referring to Angie? I do not slander companies on my blog or FB page, and in fact, make every effort to keep the “essential oil wars” off of my social media and this blog. I’m not sure which post you are talking about?

      reply to comment
  12. Robin says

    January 25, 2014 at 7:42 pm

    I have a number of different oils from different companies. I like Plant Therapy, Spark Naturals, Aura Cacia.

    reply to comment
  13. Riversana says

    January 27, 2014 at 11:36 am

    Hi Jill! Thanks for such a great article on how to get started with EOs. I’m currently working up the nerve (and credit card bill!) to get a diffuser to round out my stash. 🙂 I have a question for you; when using droppers to measure your oils, what do you clean them with? I’ve read some good articles on the importance of drip vs drop when measuring, but I hate the idea of wasting my precious oils by leaving a drop or two in the dropper that needs to be cleaned out! I’ve also read that storing your droppers in your EOs isn’t a good idea bc some of the oils can degrade the rubber squeezie over time. Any suggestions?

    reply to comment
    • Jill Winger says

      January 29, 2014 at 1:56 pm

      Well, I don’t use droppers a whole lot–mostly I just use the orifice reducers that come on the bottles. When I do use a dropper, I just rinse it really well with water. And yes, I never store a dropper in my oil bottles. 🙂

      reply to comment
    • Linda says

      October 4, 2016 at 9:35 pm

      I have a question about droppers, can I go from one bottle to another, or do I have to rinse the dropper in between? and what do I rinse them with? I did oils long ago, and now want to start up again, but can not remember a lot of the stuff…
      So I need help….can anyone help me?????

      reply to comment
  14. Jill Winger says

    January 29, 2014 at 1:58 pm

    You are SO welcome Connie!

    reply to comment
  15. scott says

    February 26, 2014 at 11:46 am

    I’ve had good results with a brand. Do you know anything about them. They say they are therapeutic grade, but are way cheaper. I know they are sold thru dealers. says they are cheaper cause they sell directly.

    reply to comment
  16. Karen says

    February 26, 2014 at 5:30 pm

    I like using Hemp oil for my carrier oil. Especially for healing blends. Jojoba, Almond or Sesame oils are good as is Vit. E oil.

    reply to comment
  17. chris says

    February 26, 2014 at 7:48 pm

    I’ve never “replied” on one of these things before but here goes…
    First, all blogs are in and of themselves self-promoting and selling something…because this is how these wonderful people who do all the “leg-work” for us busy/lazy people so all we have to do is jump onto a few blogs that we trust and “voila” done!
    Second, it is the ONLY “certified pure essential oil” on the market…they are certified because as noted in the article due to very rigorous 3rd party testing. There are several great suppliers of “pure essential oil”…which don’t go through the same testing but are “pure” and are tested as such. (i.e. Mountain Rose, Young Living that I can name off the top of my head).
    Third, anything less than “pure” I would maybe use only for cleaning products, possibly diffusors (when using for enjoyment purposes).
    Please get your facts straight before you post something that is completely false. Someone new to the EO life may read your information and not do any further research to “fact check”…

    reply to comment
  18. Jill Winger says

    February 27, 2014 at 10:53 am

    I use mine topically and internally, but it is a hotly debated topic. It depends on who you talk to. 🙂

    reply to comment
  19. Emily says

    February 27, 2014 at 12:27 pm

    Getting ready to dilute my first batch. I have my bottles and my carrier oil, but I failed to consider how to get them both in my 5ml bottles without wasting any! I can pick up a dropper for the EO, do you use a funnel for the carrier oil, or does anyone have any tricks or tips for the process?

    reply to comment
    • Jill Winger says

      March 2, 2014 at 3:20 pm

      I just usually drip it in carefullly. 🙂 But I do spill a bit sometimes…

      reply to comment
  20. Stacey says

    March 12, 2014 at 8:49 pm

    I would love to learn more about selling oils!

    reply to comment
    • Jill Winger says

      March 18, 2014 at 10:09 pm

      I’d love to tell you more! Shoot me an email: jill(at)theprairiehomestead(dot)com

      reply to comment
  21. Destiny says

    May 25, 2014 at 10:54 am

    I go through a LOT of lavender oil (teething baby, she has two teeth and is trying for two more!) And just found a fabulous local lavender farmer who sells EOs. I bought a huge (1oz) bottle of oil from him yesterday and I was wondering if there could be any issues putting it in an empty lavender bottle without cleaning the bottle first? Also I love regular coconut oil as a carrier oil! It is cheap, melts at a low temp so I don’t feel like I am cooking my oils and solidifies right up in a little pot. (Unrefined CO + a few drops of lavender is our butt cream. One of the few things that works AND is cloth diaper safe!) I find it less messy to use than liquid oils lol

    reply to comment
    • Jill Winger says

      May 27, 2014 at 8:57 am

      I don’t see any problems putting it into an empty lavender bottle. 🙂

      reply to comment
  22. emily hall says

    May 31, 2014 at 4:48 pm

    can you add coconut oil to your oils in the diffuser to make them last longer

    reply to comment
    • Jill Winger says

      June 1, 2014 at 2:27 pm

      My diffusers are just designed to work with water. 🙂

      reply to comment
  23. Kim says

    June 30, 2014 at 8:35 pm

    Can I use safflower oil in the sunburn spray?

    reply to comment

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