Most of the oils guests ask about do less than the label promises and more than they expect, as long as they are diluted properly. The trouble usually starts with strength, not with the oil itself.
Four oils worth owning
Lavender for evenings, bergamot for low mornings, cedar for a room that needs grounding, and chamomile for skin that flushes easily. Between them they cover nearly everything we use in treatment.
Buy small bottles. Oils oxidise once opened, and a half-used bottle from two winters ago is more likely to irritate than to calm.
Two drops in a carrier oil is a treatment. Ten drops is a reaction waiting to happen.
Dilution is the whole method
For the face, one to two drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil is enough. For the body, you can go a little higher. Always patch-test on the inner arm and wait a full day before using anything new near the eyes.
Two of the four blends we keep open in the treatment rooms through autumn.
When to leave them out
Citrus oils such as bergamot make skin more sensitive to sunlight, so keep them for the evening or for the body under clothing. If your skin is already inflamed, skip oils entirely for a week and let it settle first.
And if a blend smells wonderful but your skin feels warm afterwards, trust the skin.
