Roller Bottles 101

Roller bottles how I love thee.  

You make it so simple to use oils on the kiddos.  

You help me conserve my oil supply.  

You make my life convenient.  

You let me combine my oils into combinations that I love, and work for us.  

Lets start with the different sizes and how we use them:

• 1 mL-these would be used for samples or for a very small travel size option.  Possibly if you were experimenting with combining your oils, and were not wanting to use a 5 mL bottle quite yet.

Isn't it cute?

5 mL    

• 5 mL-holds one teaspoon.  My personal favorite size roller bottle.  I like how it provides the convenience of a roller bottle for application, in a small pocket size.  I would prefer to have two 5 mL with the same recipe (combination of oils) compared to one 10 mL bottle.  That way I can always have one in the diaper bag, purse whatever, and one handy in the house.  I always have one on me that someone cleverly named Singing the Blues.  It is a combination of Joyful Blend & Invigorating Blend topped off with fractionated coconut oil.  We have nicknamed it Sunshine in our house :)  

10 mL

• 10 mL-holds two teaspoons.  These are nice for oil combinations you use all the time, or for a specific purpose during times when seasonal threats are high.  We have one with a combination of Respiratory Blend, Eucalyptus and Frankincense for when we need an extra boost of  respiratory support in the winter months.  Most recipes on the internet are made for this size roller bottle.  Cut recipes in half if using a 5 mL bottle.

Tips:  

• Label Label Label.  I cannot tell you how many times in my new oil using days I thought I would remember the combo I had put into a roller bottle, and then did not.  The best way is to use an address label or simply a piece of paper listing what is in the roller bottle, and how many drops of each oil.  And then covering the label with packing tape to make it waterproof. 

  

  (something like this)

• Apply oils to reflex points on your feet, pulse points (wrists & neck) behind ears, and back of neck as needed.  When I am using essential oils for mood and emotional support I apply them as needed, up to hourly.

• When putting the actual roller ball part into the top, it can be a bit tough.  Be sure your hands are dry so you do not accidentally tip the bottle over, and spill your oils.  Been there done that.

• If using citrus oils please be sure to try and keep the roller bottles upright, the citrus oils can breakdown the actual roller ball part.  More companies are coming out with a stainless steel or glass roller ball option.

• Use them!  The best thing you can do is use them, that is why they are there :)

• Find combinations that work for you and spread the love by sharing with others the awesome     oil combinations you use or come up with.

Why I love roller bottles:

• Diluted for convenience to use on the kids.

• Easy to use, the kids can do it themselves.  We have one called Brave with a combination of Lavender & Grounding Blend to help ease nerves and anxious feelings kept in the car (now that it is no longer hot here in the midwest). 

• They help me save oil.  By diluting I am still receiving the therapeutic benefits, and I am no longer accidently dripping extra drops in my hands from the bottles.  While I do not  mind a little extra essential oil, one to two drops is all I need.

• Convenient.

• Versatile.

• Fun.

I was sent this picture by a friend of mine and thought it would be nice to share for mama's who are wondering how much to dilute essential oils with for  their kiddos. 

(If anyone knows where this is from please let me know so I can give photo credit and thank them)

Questions?  Fill out the contact info over to the right or email me at allison@theoilcorner.com

Have A Happy Day!

~Allison

How to Tuesday ~ Lemon Oil

Lemon

On my journey into crunchy mamahood replacing our toxin filled cleaners with natural ones was an easy place to start using these essential oils I had on hand.  I was already using actual lemons to clean my white sinks (one of those things I saw on Pinterest, looked so nice in the picture, but is NOT practical), so lemon was a simple way to ease into using these essential oils.  

Lemon is such a multipurpose oil.  Between cleaning and detoxifying to uplifting mood.  Who can say that about their bottle of bleach? I love diffusing lemon, cleaning with it, and using it when seasonal threats are high.     

How Our Family Uses Lemon Oil:

Weekly Giveaway Announcement!

This weeks giveaway is....

drum roll please.....

Weekly Winner

DIY Friday ~Goodbye Dryer Sheets

When I am on Pinterest the idea of do-it-yourself (DIY) projects seems so simple. Immediately I have images floating through my head of the changes I could be making to my home.  The idea of a simple pinned project integrated into my home seems simple, cost effective, and possibly even fun.  I picture myself like I am most days, with my hair in a cute messy state, distressed jeans, a flannel that is perfect for my body type hugging in all the right places, my three kids behaving like the cherubs they are dressed in equal cuteness, conducting these projects in a clean tidy environment, and have astonishing results to show for it.

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Diffusing Now

Candles make a house feel and smell like home.  If you read my I have oils what now? post you may have picked up on the fact that we do not have candles in our house anymore.  The aroma, ambiance, and comfort candles bring to a house makes it feel like home.  It never occurred to my by embarking on this essential oil journey I would be eliminating candles in my home.  Over time I have come to learn and appreciate the aromatic benefits of essential oils.

Soon after getting started with essential oils I fell in love with this little thing called a diffuser.  The uses, benefits, and versatility are endless.  Over the last year and a half we have added a diffuser to almost every room in our home.  Nine times out of ten there is a diffuser running.  Now I have the ability to tweek the aroma filling our home to accommodate our needs and desires.  Currently diffusing is what I like to call Feels Like Fall. 

Feels Like Fall Recipe

3 drops Clove

3 drops Cassia

   Clove is one of the most powerful antioxidants.  Cassia is what I like to call cinnamon's sister. Cassia and Clove both help support a healthy immune function, and have a warm uplifting aroma. The two combined in the diffuser not only smells lovely, but has the ability to be helping support my families immune systems.  During this time of year who wouldn't want that in their home?

Have A Cozy Day,

~Allison

Carrier Oils?? Diluting? Huh??

When I first started with essential oils I was perplexed as to the why and how of diluting.  I heard olive oil was an option, tried it and hated it.  It was so greasy.  Then I kept hearing fractionated coconut oil this fractionated coconut oil that.  What did it matter if it was fractionated or not?  I had plenty of regular coconut oil on hand, but it was not fractionated.  Did that matter?  What I learned was...it depends on what you are doing with the essential oil.  

How To Tuesday ~ Respiratory Blend

      Let me preface this by saying I love my children.  Each one. But...having baby #3 threw me for a loop.  Before him I found joy in running.  Since having him it has been so much harder to find time to run.  Now I am getting back into it (he is almost two), but my legs feel like lead balloons, my shirt keeps riding up, and the music on my iPod is over two years old.   I know once I get there the joy will be back.  In the meantime to keep me motivated I committed to running a 5k-on halloween no less.  The race is called "frightening 5k." I am not sure who it will be more frightening for.  Me? Or the people who will have to witness me bopping my head to my iPod, playing the air drums, and applying my much needed Respiratory Blend.

I Have Oils Now What?

I love singing along with the radio.  Turning up the volume to a good song with the windows down is something I really enjoy.  Unfortunately, I do not have the gift of hearing what the actual words to a song are or any musical talent for that matter.  Are you familiar with the song from about 10+ years ago by Akon called I'm so lonely.  It sounds like the chipmunks are joining in with him in the chorus.  No? Yes?  Well I was not hearing the words I'm so lonely. I heard I'm
spumoni.  I thought it was odd they were singing about ice cream, but well yeah.  My boyfriend at the time and I were playing a game with another couple, the song came on and I was killing them all by joining in singing.  After the first I'm spumoni my boyfriend stopped me and asked if I really thought those were the words.  I answered yes.  Silence filled the room.  Then everyone started laughing telling me the actual words were I'm so lonely.  Fortunately that same boyfriend asked me to marry him and I still sing along with the radio, wrong words and all.

Weekly Winner

Let's start Monday off right with a Winner!!!

Motivation Monday

Do things with thought. With purposeful intent.  With selflessness.  With love.  Doing so will make this world a more beautiful place to be. 💕

Have a Happy Day,

~Allison

Experience

      One of the reasons I bought the kit was for the tiny bottle of Grounding Blend.  I fell in love with the smell.  Oh how I love this oil. I use it EVERYDAY. I never used to think I struggled with anxious feelings. I guess I was as we say "Type A". I started using Grounding Blend because I LOVED the smell.  Grounding Blend is a blend of spruce, ho wood, frankincense, blue tansy, & blue chamomile in a base of fractionated coconut oil. 

Why?

Why start a blog about essential oils?  Aren't there a lot of these?  Yes there are.  I  am starting this blog to help other people who have oils or want oils and are not sure how to use them.  I was one of those.  I bought a kit with a determination to have alternatives for my families health.  I had already made lots of changes in our home to be healthier, so why not buy a nice big kit with lots of options for health?