Essential oil kits typically contain several trial-sized bottles of pure essential oils, as well as carrier oils, empty bottles, empty atomizers, bath salts, and pipettes. These accompaniments allow purchasers to make their own perfumes, bath oils, bath salts, scrubs, body sprays, room freshener sprays, and massage oils. Pamphlets explaining the benefits and characteristics of the essential oils are generally included, since most kits are bought as exploratory gifts by novices with little prior knowledge of essential oils. Beginners generally gravitate toward essential oil kits instead of individual full-sized bottles of essential oils because the kits are a less expensive way to experiment without losing money on oils that turn out to be undesirable.
These sampler kits can range from five essential oil offerings to 25. Lavender, orange, and lemon essential oils are common inclusions in many kits. Essential oils are oils that are distilled from roots, barks, stems, and leaves of plants, typically using steam. They have no additives and are thought to carry the essence of the plant from which they are derived. The concentration of essential oils is such that they are considered strong enough to potentially burn, sting, or irritate the body if they are not diluted with a carrier oil, such as olive oil or jojoba oil.
The scents of the essential oils and the oils’ minuscule molecules, which are able to fully penetrate several layers of skin, have been credited with having the power to cure psychologically and emotionally. Alternative medicine practitioners have used more than 100 essential oils since ancient times to treat a range of conditions, including arthritis, depression, acne, headaches, gingivitis, sore throats, warts, and heart palpitations. The practice of using these antiviral and antifungal essential oils for therapeutic purposes is called aromatherapy. Essential oil kits can occasionally be crafted around a specific aromatherapy theme; for example, yoga-themed essential oil kits would include oils that aid meditation.
Purchasers of essential oil kits who wish to use these oils as massage oil can add three to five drops of the oil to an ounce or two of carrier oil. The oil mixture can usually be safely rubbed on all parts of the body except for sensitive membranes in the mouth, genital areas, or inside the nose. Many aromatherapists advise against massaging essential oils directly into swollen joints or inflamed areas because the oils can cause additional irritation. People who use the oils for a bath typically add 10 to 15 drops of the oil to tepid bathwater. Perfumes and sprays are customarily made by adding 10 to 30 drops of three to five different essential oils into a base consisting of carrier oil and an alcohol, such as vodka.