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Handling and using essential oils: When taking essential oils from
bottle, avoid contaminating oil. Don't touch top of bottle or inside of lid. If you are using pipettes to transfer oils, try to obtain disposable ones that you can throw away after use. Never use same pipette for different oils. Used pipettes can also be stored for a short time in clip-seal plastic bags to use again later.
Avoid contact of essential oils with skin as they can cause irritation. Using latex gloves and wearing protective glasses is recommended when handling essential oils. Essential oils must never be used internally. For application to skin, dilute essential oil with a good quality carrier oil e.g. jojoba, almond or olive oil. 3% essential oil with 97% carrier oil is a safe ratio.
Diffusers and oil lamps need only 2-3 drops of essential oil to scent a room for many hours. The cup on oil lamp should be 3/4 filled with clean water, add to it 2-3 drops of essential oil. Only then light candle in burner. Remember some essential oils are highly flammable, so be careful when using an essential oil lamp.
Observe these points and you will get a lot of enjoyment out of your essential oils.
Mireille Gautschi is a qualified Flower Essence Therapist and Herbalist who has many years experience with the developement of natural herbal remedies. Her products can be found on the Hillside Herbal Products website www.hillsideherbal.com.au that also offers a very informative newsletter.
