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4 Reasons Why Essential Oils Don’t Work (and what to do about it)

April 6, 2018 jennifer 27 Comments

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By now I’d be surprised if any human in the first world has not heard of essential oils. You’ve likely heard friends waxing poetic about their favorite blends. You’ve become conditioned to scrolling past oil-centric posts in your news feed. Heck, maybe you even decided to try oils yourself. And then, nothing happened except you smelled like a hippie. ☮ Thanks a lot. 😂 So why is it essential oils don’t work for you?

As an Aroma Freedom Technique Practitioner, and a mom who has used essential oils for over four years, I know what they can do. But I’ve also seen that not everyone gets the same results.

In asking questions and helping people troubleshoot, I’ve seen patterns as to why essential oils don’t always work (or seem to be working). I’m sharing this information so you can get the best results possible. 🙂

Do Essential Oils Really Work | How to Use Essential Oils | Essential Oils for Beginners | Best Essential Oils | Essential Oil Quality | Young Living Essential Oils

Reason Why Essential Oils Don’t Work #1:

Your Timing is Off 🙃

Essential oils work best when used proactively. Like a gymnast walking on a balance beam, pulling yourself back into balance should be done at the first sign of wobbling, not when you’re mid air about to hit the mat. 😉

Thinking ahead is key. If we’re in a season when our immune systems need extra support, I am diffusing Thieves at night next to our beds. If the kids are going to play where other kids have likely sneezed and snotted 🤢, we apply a diluted roller ball of immune support oils before we go. Not to mention Thieves hand purifier during and after outings!

Along the same line, if I know I am going to be in a stressful situation, I’m putting my relaxing oils on beforehand. I’m mindful of where my emotions are and if I need to apply an emotional support blend. I make sure I do this before I’ve worked myself into a tizzy. 🤪

We also have to consider how often we are reapplying. One drop of essential oil has enough molecules to cover every cell in the body approximately 40,000 times. You certainly don’t need to use a lot! However, those wonderful little molecules have been completely metabolized within 2.5 hours. Therefore, applying your oils isn’t a “once and done” thing. Being consistent with your application makes all the difference.

Applying this advice is going to make you tune into your body’s signals. (When using oils with children, you’ll learn to tune into them too.) Listening to the body is something not all of us are used to, but it’s a beautiful ability we all have. Our bodies know what they need. By following that intuition, you will get much better results.

Reason Why Essential Oils Don’t Work #2:

You Haven’t Gotten to the Real Issue 😳

We’ve been conditioned to treating symptoms in our society. We just want to make discomfort go away now. Understandably so, but with this mindset comes the tendency to ignore what our bodies are trying to tell us.

Symptoms are signals that something is off balance and needs correction. When we suppress the symptoms, the underlying problem remains. We may find ourselves using oils in the same way, applying them in an effort to suppress a symptom.

For example, Peppermint or a blend like Panaway can be very soothing for a sore spot. DiGize can feel like a life saver when your tummy is giving you fits. But if we keep having an issue over and over, we need to figure out the cause in order to get lasting relief.

Perhaps that belly ache is because you don’t have enough probiotics and digestive enzymes in your gut. Incorporating fermented and anti-inflammatory foods, a probiotic supplement, and enzymes may be more effective than applying oils when your belly is already churning. 😉 (If that sounds like you, pin this article for later.)

Another example would be a person who can’t wind down before bed. They may try some Lavender oil on their pillow, and when they still are staring at the ceiling they assume Lavender doesn’t work. In reality, their circadian rhythms are messed up from being inside all day or staring at a blue screen before bed, and they are low on magnesium. Lavender is wonderful, but they need to address their other issues before they can feel the benefits.

Be willing to experiment…

On the other hand, sometimes we haven’t yet found the right essential oil for our body. What works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another. Say one person doesn’t sleep well because her mind won’t shut off. A blend like Surrender could help her let go of all the things she can’t control. Another person has issues with feeling safe at night. White Angelica in the diffuser may be just what they need to impart a feeling of protection, therefore enabling them to relax and sleep.

There are so many variables in every situation. Get curious about what the underlying issues are for you. When you address the root of the problem, your body will thank you.

Reason Why Essential Oils Don’t Work #3:

You Can’t Oil Your Way Out of an Unhealthy Lifestyle 🤐

No, you don’t have to be a health nut to benefit from essential oils. But a few clicks around the Environmental Working Group website says it all: we’ve got glyphosate in our food, radioactive tap water, endocrine disruptors in our personal care products…  We live in a toxic soup of chemicals. 😨

Yes, there is only so much we can do. However we really must do what we can if we are going to maintain a level of good health.

Because oils are easy to use and effective, they are a wonderful gateway to healthier living. But we can’t continue to fill our homes and bodies with toxins and expect a few drops of magical oil to undo all the damage. 😉 The good news is, essential oils can help us get the toxins out of our homes. We’ll get to that in a second.

Many of the worst offenders to the body come in the form of “fragrance” which can mean any concoction of synthetic chemicals.

EWG says this: “Phthalates, used to make fragrances last longer, are associated with damage to the male reproductive system, and artificial musks accumulate in our bodies and can be found in breast milk. Some artificial musks are even linked to cancer.”

Would you agree that it is counter productive to use a drop of pure plant oil for good health and then slather your body with harmful synthetics? (Not so fun fact: the average woman puts 515 synthetic chemicals on her body every day.) 😳

So we have a couple of options: making our own clean products with essential oils, or buying from a trusted source. DIY is not my thing, but I love Young Living’s pure and effective products, and since I get my oils from there too, it works out! 😄

Don’t get overwhelmed! Just start with these three action steps:
  • Chuck the synthetic perfume (yes, even the expensive ones are harmful) and use essential oils instead.
  • Get rid of the toxic cleaners in your home. Thieves Household Cleaner is the best thing I’ve found. It’s economical, smells amazing, and works wonderfully for just about everything.
  • Get curious about what you are putting into your shopping cart. Download the Think Dirty app and start checking the products you usually buy for endocrine disrupting and carcinogenic ingredients.

Wellness is a multi-faceted thing, but not poisoning yourself is an important first step in the right direction. 😉 Use your oils and baby step your way to a healthier lifestyle.

Reason Why Essential Oils Don’t Work #4:

Your Oils are 💩

Sorry about the poop, I couldn’t resist.🤣 You can get “oils” pretty much anywhere nowadays, but not all are created equally. Unfortunately, the essential oil market is full of synthetic and adulterated oils.

  • Manufacturers often add propylene glycol, alcohol, or acetate to stretch the product.
  • Plants may have been treated with pesticides and distilled with chemical solvents.
  • Synthetic fragrance may have been added to make it smell more pleasing to the consumer.

The resulting “oils” are anything but beneficial to the body. Using them takes you right back to Reason #3. 🤢

Say you have oils labeled as “Pure” or “Therapeutic Grade”, are you safe? Not so much. Those terms aren’t regulated in any way and there are no certification standards for them. It’s simply marketing. Any oil broker can slap them on a pretty label.😬

Even if you have an oil that is pure and organic, it may not contain the constituents to be truly therapeutic.

As we discussed, therapeutic doesn’t mean anything on labels, but in practice it means that the oil does something besides just smell good.

Cypress essential oil is a great example. True therapeutic cypress oil takes 24 hours to distill and contains 280 known chemical constituents. If it was distilled for 20 hours, only 20 of those constituents would be present. If it was distilled for 26 hours, zero constituents would be present! Either way it would probably smell fine, and it wouldn’t have anything bad in it. But it wouldn’t benefit your body very much, so besides getting a nice tree smell it would be a waste. BTW, the industry average for cypress is only 3.5 hours of distillation time.😐

As I mentioned, I use Young Living essential oils. No, they aren’t the only place in the world to get quality essential oils. But with YL I know I am getting the best of the best, and that’s what I want for my family. I also love the rest of their product line and the work they do with the Young Living Foundation. It’s a no brainer for me. I trust you are capable and will do your own due diligence with whatever you choose for your family. 🙂

I hope this post helped you figure out why oils might not have worked for you in the past, and how you can get the results you want from here on out.

If you love oils, you might like to read my series on oils and emotions next!

Essential Oils & Emotions Series: Part 1

To learn more about Young Living Essential Oils go here.

Oh, and hey, are you an oiler looking to further incorporate oils into your mind and body wellness routine? I do personal coaching featuring Aroma Freedom Technique. Check it out if you or someone you love could benefit from some personalized attention.

Essential Oils, Natural Wellness Best Essential Oils, Do Essential Oils Really Work, Essential Oil Quality, Essential Oils for Beginners, Holistic, How to use Essential Oils, Young Living Essential Oils

Comments

  1. Jennifer Giganto says

    April 18, 2018 at 10:54 pm

    very helpful post. thank you. 😊

    Reply
    • jennifer says

      April 18, 2018 at 10:59 pm

      So glad you found it helpful, Jennifer! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Melinda G Gladstone says

    April 22, 2018 at 9:33 am

    Words of wisdom Jennifer. However, when scrolling through my emails, I saw your title “4 Reasons why essential oils don’t work” and my heart sunk a little bit. I first thought, ‘oh no another person who uses trash oils and expects top-shelf results’ OR ‘a person who uses an oil for pain and expected the oil to work like morphine sulfate’. GOOD LORD! I have been using YL essential oils for quite some time and you are spot on all your 4 points. I am an MSN RN CNS and have used YL essential oils even with my nursing students. I still am delighted to teach them there ARE alternative ways to issues other than drugs! So many things I wish to discuss with you but so little space in a message box.

    Reply
    • jennifer says

      April 23, 2018 at 8:24 pm

      Melinda, that is so awesome that you are teaching your nursing students about essential oils and alternatives! Hopefully we are slowly chipping away at those old belief systems and more people are learning how to be proactive with their well being. I am so glad you enjoyed the article. I too have had that sinking feeling when I have seen those oil bashing articles. I just hate to think of someone missing out on something that could help! Thanks so much for reading and for taking the time to comment! 🙂

      Reply
      • Joy says

        May 6, 2018 at 6:33 pm

        My heart also sank when I read this title and I ALMOST didn’t read the post because I’m trying to avoid the ‘Negative Nancy’ post which pops up here and there! SO glad I took the time and had the courage to continue! What a GREAT post and I can just see it drawing those in who will say, “AHA, see I told you fools they don’t work!” only to be surprised ! Thank you so much!

        Reply
        • jennifer says

          May 6, 2018 at 7:16 pm

          I’m so glad my crazy title didn’t stop you from reading, Joy! 🙂 I really hope it will help more people want to give oils a fair try. Thanks so much for reading and for your encouraging comment!

          Reply
  3. Brenda McGeorge says

    April 25, 2018 at 2:02 am

    I would like information about getting started with oils. I have heard many say how good they are but hesitant. What can you suggest for this newby.

    Reply
    • jennifer says

      April 25, 2018 at 1:08 pm

      That’s awesome, Brenda! I’ll send you an email so you can pick my brain about it. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Kate says

    May 4, 2018 at 12:46 am

    Very, very interesting blog! Thank you for your knowledge. You seem to very wise.

    Reply
  5. Kate says

    May 4, 2018 at 12:49 am

    Oops, so very wise

    Reply
    • jennifer says

      May 4, 2018 at 12:14 pm

      Thank you so much for your kind words, Kate! I’m so glad you found it interesting. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Cary says

    May 8, 2018 at 1:43 am

    Loved this post! Title pulled me into the article right away. I have been using YLEO for 8 years or more. Everyday I learn something new about another oil and myself.
    You nailed it with your article. Be curious and , keep learning about oils and healing. I look forward to reading more.
    Namaste
    Cary

    Reply
    • jennifer says

      May 8, 2018 at 11:57 am

      Thank you so much, Cary! I love the process of learning with oils. And I so appreciate you reading! 💗

      Reply
  7. Amy says

    May 8, 2018 at 4:42 pm

    Great advice and suggestions!! I’m still a 4 year newbie to essential oils. I’ve slowly been making lifestyle changes in different areas of my life & researching EOs so this was very informative. Thank you.

    Reply
    • jennifer says

      May 8, 2018 at 6:37 pm

      So glad you found it valuable, Amy! Thank you for reading and for your comment!

      Reply
  8. Nicole says

    June 2, 2018 at 12:00 am

    Great article. I love young living oils and I use a lot of them. It is exactly like you said one works for one but not work for others, experiment.

    Reply
    • jennifer says

      June 2, 2018 at 12:56 am

      Thanks, Nicole! It’s great to hear from YL peeps!

      Reply
  9. Genesis says

    July 18, 2018 at 5:29 pm

    Apart from YL what otger brands are dependable?

    Reply
    • jennifer says

      October 18, 2018 at 8:45 pm

      Hi Genesis, I don’t really have a good answer for you. 😆 I know companies exist that do a good job with their oils, but in my experience I have never found any others that really hold a candle to YL. They just don’t even have that depth and complexity of scent that YL does. 🤔 I’m sure there are some out there somewhere, but I really have been happy with the old standby. 😄

      Reply
  10. Genesis says

    July 18, 2018 at 5:30 pm

    Apart from YL which other brands are dependable?

    Reply
    • jennifer says

      July 18, 2018 at 6:24 pm

      Hmm… good question, Genesis! I’m afraid I don’t have a good answer, lol! I never really found a reason to stray from YL. I trust their quality standards, I appreciate their ethics, and also the work they do to help those less fortunate. And I’m totally addicted to their products, so their rewards program makes sense for me. I know they are not the only ones on the planet who produce quality oils, but I’ve never dug into researching any other company to verify who they are. Sorry not to be able to answer your question though! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Shlomit says

    February 3, 2019 at 10:36 am

    Thank you so much for this article. I am a beginner with oils. I already bought my starters kit with Young living. I’m loving it so far but I did have the question of whether or not oils really help it is it all in our heads. I am starting to detox my life and an excited to be using essential oils. Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • jennifer says

      February 3, 2019 at 10:28 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed the article and I’m excited to hear you are detoxing your life with YL! It’s a wonderful thing!🤗🎉 Thanks for reading and commenting! ❤️

      Reply
  12. Trisha says

    August 20, 2019 at 11:13 am

    Be careful putting on too much oils when in public. They give me migraines and I know some people who get seizures when oils are present. It triggers them somehow. My sister used to sell young Living and she would try to make me sniff them. I would be in bed with a migraine the rest of the day. 💔💔😭😭🥺🥺.

    Reply
    • jennifer says

      August 20, 2019 at 2:23 pm

      You poor thing! Migraines are the worst! Yes, everyone reacts differently to things and we can’t assume other people will feel good with something just because we do! BTW, have you heard of Dynamic Neural Retraining? It is sometimes helpful for people with multiple chemical sensitivity. Look up the book Wired for Healing by Annie Hopper, or YouTube videos by Dr. Gupta if you are interested. Thank you for stopping by! 😊

      Reply
  13. Kimberly Smith says

    May 3, 2020 at 2:06 am

    Great article! I’m team Doterra, but regardless, I love seeing helpful information getting out to everybody!

    Reply
    • jennifer says

      May 3, 2020 at 2:21 am

      Thank you, Kimberly! I’m so glad you liked the article. ❤️ Yay for all of us being empowered with these wonderful plant juices! 🤗

      Reply

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Welcome! I'm Jennifer, your resident Health & Success Coach and Aroma Freedom Technique Practitioner.

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