The Essential Oils Book: Creating Personal Blends for Mind & Body

by Colleen K. Dodt

Discover the fragrant world of essential oils. Herbalist Colleen K. Dodt profiles the healing and cleaning powers of dozens of oils extracted from herbs, flowers, roots, barks, and resins. This comprehensive guide includes recipes for natural cleaning products, lotions, and ointments that will keep you feeling happy and smelling great. Fill your days with stimulating scents as you learn to use essential oils to wash your dishes, soothe sunburns, combat stress, and improve the quality of your life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Reference, Self Help, Crafts

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 1996

Reviews

[Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very good introduction into using essential oils but still overwhelming. I haven't had a chance to try any of the blends that are talked about, but I just ordered some unscented shampoo so I can add some oils to it. I'm very interested in pursuing more information about essential oils.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although written back in 1996, this small volume is still a useful beginner’s guide to understanding and using essential oils. Thirty oils are described, a comprehensible number for beginners. Most are familiar and available, like lavender, clary sage, citrus, juniper, rose, sandalwood, vanilla, and mint. Others are more exotic, like atlas cedarwood, frankincense, Roman chamomile, labdanum, and linden blossom. Each oil’s benefits and best uses are described, along with cautions about specific uses where needed. Most useful is a list of essential oils that are too dangerous for common use, including such familiar oils as wintergreen, sassafras, sage, and oregano. Types of base or carrier oils, in which essential oils are dispersed for use, are discussed.

It’s obvious that author Colleen Dodt has much hands-on experience in using essential oils. She gives directions for making bath salts, sachets (“sniffy bags”), hair oil and rinses, body lotion, foot baths, personal perfumes, child-friendly products, and household cleaning supplies. She includes both general instructions and specific recipes, and encourages readers to make up their own blends, keeping in mind her tenet “less is more,” to avoid overdoing the amount of scent. Though her specific recipes sometimes vary from her general ones (often containing more drops of essential oil), this variability encourages readers to feel free to experiment with their own blends.

The end of the book is dedicated to special situations in which essential oils can be helpful, from traveling to pet care to enhancing the lives of the sick and the dying. This is followed by a list of book and internet resources for more information, supplies, and the essential oils themselves. Nearly all of the organizations that she cites are still in business—surprising for a 1996 book, and indicative of the quality of her sources.

I recommend this book for anyone who is curious about employing aromatherapy at home or work and doesn’t know how to begin. The information about essential oils and their uses is easy to understand and Ms. Dodt’s enthusiastic and encouraging approach make it easy to put the knowledge from her book to use with confidence.

[Susanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book gives a lot of "in my life" type of remedies. great for the person who wants to make their own blends and use for self or give as gifts.
the recipes sound marvelous.

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is less about essential oils healing and more about their beautifying power and their effect on the soul. This author is obviously in love with her oils! :)

[Hannah Carmona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic guide to using essential oils. I loved how thorough and yet simply worded the book was, making it great for beginners and those subjects that a reader might be more unfamiliar with. There are sections you'll want to sit down and read thoroughly and then an assortment of recipes and tips to be dog-eared for later use.

[Terri Palermo · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can tell the author wrote this book with love and that being healthy naturally is who she is :) Lots of great recipes, but I'm not quite there yet.
Written in 1996, this book is a bit dated yet still valuable.

[Kei · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a fairly decent primer to the world of essential oils.

Unfortunately, as it turns out, I didn't need a primer.

The author's voice was enjoyable, though, and it did give me a number of ideas and directions for what could be done with oils.

[Pauline]

Good basic book

[Yaaresse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clearly presented basic info.

[Amy Kreydin · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the first aromatherapy books written by an American, this sweet volume is sure to inspire the beginner!