Oil Burner

In an oil burner - three quarters fill the bowl of your oil burner with water and add about 5 drops of your favourite oil or blend to the burner.

The aroma will disperse throughout the room as the water is heated.

Ensure that the bowl of your burner is regularly topped up with water, and never allow it to dry out while the candle is alight.

Never leave a candle burning unattended.

In the Car

Use a few drops of essential oil on a tissue and place in the ashtray of your car or place 1 or 2 drops of essential oil on the heater or air conditioning vent.

Quick inhalation

For more immediate effect, place one drop of essential oil in the palm of one hand.

Rub both hands together vigorously for about five seconds and inhale deeply a couple of times.

Alternatively, use three drops on a tissue, hold under the nose and inhale deeply.

Use lavender for an instant calm, cedarwood or eucalyptus for a congested chest or blocked nose.

Steam inhalation

This method is useful for congested chest or nasal passages.

Pour 2 cups of boiling water into a bowl and add two drops of essential oil to the water.

Inhale the vapours from the bowl from a distance of about 30cm covering both the head and the bowl with a large towel. If this irritates, stop immediately.

Uplifting oils such as lime or ylang ylang can energise, and calming oils such as lavender can be used for a similar effect.

General freshener

Add a few drops to your vacuum cleaner filter to avoid the "dusty" smell while you are vacuuming, and to add a clean, fresh smell to your house.

Use a few drops on a tissue and place in the ashtray of your car. Add a few drops to a damp cloth and wipe benchtops in the kitchen.

Add a couple of drops to your air conditioning filter, or the blades of a ceiling fan.

Bath

To ensure that they are dispersed in a bath, add 5 drops of essential oil to a full cup of full cream milk and blend well before adding to the bath.

Alternatively, you can use a solubiliser specifically designed to disperse essential oils.

Add to your bath and enjoy!

Massage

Add 10 drops of your favourite essential oil or blend to 20ml (about a tablespoon) of carrier oil such as sweet almond or apricot kernel oil mixing well and use as a massage blend.

For those with sensitive skin, and when massaging children, reduce the amount of essential oil to 4 drops for every 20ml of carrier oil.