Take Control of Your Health and Wellbeing with Essential Oils

What essential oils are, how scent reaches the emotional center of your brain, how to choose oils with the Five Elements, and how to use them safely.

February 28, 2023 · 12 min read

Aromatherapy is nothing new, but it just might be one of the quickest and easiest ways to start your own journey of wellbeing and discovery.

Here’s what essential oils are, how they work, and how they can help you get the results you want.

The short version

Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts, steam distilled or cold pressed from leaves, stems and flowers. They’re potent, so use them with care.
Scent goes straight to the limbic system, the part of the brain that mediates emotions and memory, which is why an aroma can change how you feel before you’ve even thought about it.
Every Chaé Organics oil carries ToxicFree® Grade A Verification and a “Field to Bottle” connection to a specific farm, with no chemical solvents used in extraction.
We organize our oils by the Five Elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal), a roadmap from how you feel to the oils that can support you.
Dilute before use: about 5–10 drops per ounce of carrier oil, or up to five drops per 100 ml of water in a diffuser. Patch test, avoid the eyes, and keep oils away from children.

What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts, often used in aromatherapy and natural self-care. They’re made by steam distilling or cold pressing plant materials such as leaves, stems and flowers.

Because they’re highly concentrated and very potent, essential oils should be used with care. Each oil has its own properties and benefits, and each can be used to support physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

The Brain Connection

When you breathe in an essential oil, tiny volatile molecules travel through the air, up your nose and into the upper nasal passage, where they trigger a lining of nerve cells. Those cells send electrical impulses to the brain’s olfactory bulb, which passes them on to the amygdala (our memory storage unit) and other parts of the limbic system, a powerful mediator of emotions and reactions.

The limbic system also communicates with the parts of the brain that control blood pressure, heart rate and stress levels. It can directly activate the hypothalamus, our “master gland” and hormonal control center. The hypothalamus is responsible for producing growth hormones, thyroid hormones, sex hormones and neurotransmitters such as serotonin (the “happy molecule”), and it even regulates the feeling of satisfaction after eating.

That’s why scents can evoke memories and emotions before we consciously think about them. Sight, touch, hearing and taste all pass their information through the thalamus, which relays it to the cerebral cortex so our thinking brain can take part in the response. Smell takes a shortcut: essential oil molecules knock directly on the door of the limbic system.

When the nasal lining is greeted by a pleasant scent, the effects on body and mind can be profound. Breathed in, essential oils can help ease stress and negative feelings and bring energy to your day.

How Chaé Organics Essential Oils Are Different

Are all essential oils made equally? Not at all. We include information on each of our oils about the care we take to source only the highest-quality, most sustainable oils, and that commitment is on the package, too. The ToxicFree® Grade A Verification and “Field to Bottle” symbol are reminders that every oil we offer comes from a direct connection with a specific farm.

Each oil is made only from the most fragrant, sought-after parts of the plant, grown and harvested in peak conditions by farmers making a positive impact in their communities. Whenever possible, we buy oil distilled by the same farmers who harvest the crop, and we always make sure no chemical solvents (including propylene glycol) are used in extraction.

We hold these industry-leading standards at every step, so every Chaé Organics essential oil you try arrives at its healthiest and most vibrant.

The Essential Oils Chaé Recommends

New to essential oils, or just curious about our personal favorites? These are some of the most effective, truly essential oils that everyone should have tucked away, just in case.

Love Essential Oil Blend

This gorgeous, intoxicating blend is designed to promote a profound feeling of loving kindness for yourself and others. Love Essential Oil Blend uses uplifting, relaxing, invigorating and opening scents to help anyone who smells it find the compassion within and radiate it outward. Many people wear it with the intention of awakening compassion in others and strengthening their own commitment to loving kindness.

Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint Essential Oil has been called one of the most versatile oils in the world, and for good reason. Its menthol content alone would make it refreshing, but it’s packed with other sought-after natural compounds, too. Invigorating to the mind, peppermint offers a penetrating feeling of freshness and renewal.

Mint was traditionally called a Visionary herb, thought not only to uplift the spirit but to enhance our capacities on mental and spiritual levels, promoting wellness of body and mind.

Blood Orange Essential Oil

Blood orange is believed to help with everything from the look of your skin to your outlook, but where Blood Orange Essential Oil truly shines is in its ability to replenish the mind. It helps you step out of judgmental and comparative modes and into healthy new ways of thinking, supporting a mind and body that feel more adaptable and harmonious. Feel refreshed with awareness, gratitude and confidence, whatever is thrown your way: the ultimate bounce-back oil.

Ravensara Essential Oil

Ravensara Essential Oil is a rare delight. Grown only in Madagascar, this sweet and spicy oil has a long history of traditional use. It’s a favorite in massage blends and muscle rubs for a relaxing feel when muscles are tense, and its aroma is as mentally stimulating as it is comforting, helping to open the mind to a deep sense of wellbeing. A true first-reach oil for your collection.

Geranium Rose Essential Oil

Our Geranium Rose Essential Oil is truly a masterpiece. Many geranium oils are made from the stems, leaves or whole plant. Ours is made by a family who lovingly harvests only the “sweet scented geranium” blossoms and processes them on their farm, creating an exquisite floral oil at the height of freshness.

They continue this delicate work because they believe the scent is so beautiful and so beneficial that it can help promote peace around the world. Our geranium rose is known for the calm strength it supports, making space to balance and reconnect.

Chaé Organics Geranium Rose Essential Oil, 15 ml

How to Choose Essential Oils: The Five Elements

Chaé Organics makes choosing easy. We organize, label and recommend our essential oils according to the Five Element Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It works like a roadmap from where you feel dissatisfied within yourself to where you want to be, closer to what you might consider your ideal self.

Each element comes with a wide variety of ways to interact with, or shift, its signs within you, which may point toward balance or imbalance in that area.

Element	Water	Wood	Fire	Earth	Metal
Out of Balance Attributes	Apathetic, Untrusting, Restless, Driven, Insecure	Tense, Frustrated, Angry, Rigid, Repressive, Compulsive	Anxious, Annoyed, Hopeless, Low Self-Esteem	Unclear, Confused, Worried, Codependent, Self-Doubting	Depressed, Regretful, Pessimistic, Vulnerable, Avoidant
Emotional Foundation	Fear	Anger	Joy	Reflection	Grief
Balanced Attributes	Determined, Resourceful, Wise	Motivated, Organized, Easy-Going	Sensitive, Intimate, Joyful	Attentive, Thoughtful, Supportive	Courageous, Lively, Optimistic
Area of Impact	Will	Spirit	Focus	Wisdom	Beauty
Functions	Willpower, Stamina, Creativity	Purpose, Planning, Adaptability	Awareness, Identity, Harmony, Love	Concentration, Intellect, Sympathy	Boundaries, Instinct, Socialization
Highest Expression	Wisdom	Compassion	Love	Empathy	Reverence
Essential Oils	Cedarwood, Cypress, Geranium, Ginger, Jasmine, Juniper Berry, Love Blend, Ravensara, Sandalwood, Vetiver	Bergamot, Chamomile, Grapefruit, Helichrysum, Lavender, Love Blend, Melissa, Neroli, Orange, Peppermint, Spikenard	Love Blend, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Melissa, Neroli, Palmarosa, Rose, Rosemary, Spikenard, Tea Tree, Ylang Ylang	Cardamom, Coriander, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit, Lemongrass, Lemon, Marjoram, Peppermint, Ravensara, Love Blend, Spearmint	Cypress, Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Lemongrass, Lime, Pine, Tea Tree, Thyme, Verbena, Love Blend

Just pick a feeling from the Out of Balance row, remember that you can reach a harmonizing solution, get to know that element’s column, and read on to find out more.

Water

If you’re hoping to move past feelings of apathy, insecurity, distrust, restlessness or an overactive drive, this may point to a Water imbalance.

Water shows up mostly in the will. In balance, you feel determined to reach your goal, resourceful in finding and using tools, and wise about where your resources should go. Water is our willpower and stamina: it decides whether we stay encouraged and keep advancing, and whether inspiration strikes when we meet unexpected obstacles. In the physical body, Five Element theory links Water’s balance and imbalance to the head, hair, ears, bones, kidneys and bladder. Water is emotionally rooted in fear, and its ideal form is wisdom.

Chaé Organics essential oils to support Water: Frankincense, Grapefruit, Lime, Thyme and Verbena.

Wood

If you’re hoping to move past feelings of tension, frustration, anger, rigidity or repression, this may point to a Wood imbalance.

Wood shows up mostly in the spirit. In balance, you feel motivated from within to move toward your goals, able to organize and manage a great deal, and generally easy-going, ready to change course and keep a positive attitude when challenges come. Wood helps us define and pursue our purpose with satisfaction and gratitude, see the big picture and plan ahead, and stay present instead of stuck on how things could or should be. In the physical body, Five Element theory links Wood to the liver, gallbladder, nails, eyes, tendons and ligaments. Wood is emotionally rooted in anger, and its ideal form is compassion.

Chaé Organics essential oils to support Wood: Cinnamon, Elemi, Geranium Rose and the Love Blend.

Fire

If you’re hoping to move past feelings of despondence, hypersensitivity, agitation, nervousness or low self-esteem, this may point to a Fire imbalance.

Fire shows up mostly in focus. In balance, you feel engaged in and stimulated by the world around you, intimate with yourself and your surroundings, and abundantly joyful. Fire keeps our awareness sharp, shapes our identity, establishes harmony and lights the flames of love. In the physical body, Five Element theory links Fire to the heart, pericardium, mind, blood vessels, tongue and complexion. Fire is emotionally rooted in joy, and its ideal form is love.

Chaé Organics essential oils to support Fire: Birch, Lemon, Peppermint and Ravensara.

Earth

If you’re hoping to move past feelings of confusion, indecisiveness, worry, over-protectiveness, dependence or self-doubt, this may point to an Earth imbalance.

Earth shows up mostly in wisdom. In balance, you feel attentive to your own needs and others’, thoughtful in considering ideas, feelings and situations, and able and energized to offer support. Earth calls up concentration when it’s needed and engages our logic and reason, but it also helps us understand situations from other people’s perspectives and feel sincere sympathy. In the physical body, Five Element theory links Earth to the spleen, pancreas, stomach and blood. Earth is emotionally rooted in reflection, and its ideal form is empathy.

Chaé Organics essential oils to support Earth: Bergamot, Cypress, Helichrysum and Spearmint.

Metal

If you’re hoping to move past feelings of melancholy, regret, pessimism, vulnerability, avoidance or isolation, this may point to a Metal imbalance.

Metal shows up mostly in the body, and it’s closely tied to some of our most human, existential drives and feelings. In balance, you feel excited to take on new challenges, full of courage and lively energy, with faith in yourself and hope for the future. Metal helps defend and integrate us safely, set healthy boundaries, honor our instincts and socialize. In the physical body, Five Element theory links Metal to the lungs, intestines, skin, nose and body hair. Metal is emotionally rooted in grief, and its ideal form is reverence.

Chaé Organics essential oils to support Metal: Blood Orange, Lavender and Lemongrass.

Go Deeper Into the Five Elements

To learn more about how aromatherapy works with the Five Elements, we highly recommend Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit: A Guide to Restoring Emotional and Mental Balance Through Essential Oils by Gabriel Mojay.

How to Use Essential Oils

Because essential oils are so potent, you’ll get the best results by diluting them in a carrier oil you like: coconut, jojoba, apricot kernel, sweet almond, olive, argan, rosehip, black seed, grape seed, avocado or sunflower oil. If you haven’t tried these, or don’t like any of them, do your research first. Depending on your skin type, some oils may irritate skin or worsen a preexisting skin condition.

How you’re using it	How much essential oil
On skin, in a carrier oil	About 5–10 drops per ounce of carrier oil
In a diffuser	Up to 5 drops per 100 ml of water
Water-based mist	10 drops per ounce of water
Alcohol-based mist	15 or more drops per ounce of vodka, gin or similar

Essential oils can sometimes be used directly on the skin, but they may be irritating at full strength (“neat”). Use them wisely. Some are safe to use neat on the soles of the feet, the palms of the hands and the wrist pulse points, if your physician has given no restrictions. It’s never appropriate to use any essential oil or essential oil product in the immediate eye area or on sensitive areas.

For mists, remember that essential oil dissolves in alcohol but stays separate in water, so always shake the bottle before you spray. With any homemade product or mist, avoid the eye area, avoid open flames, and spot test fabrics somewhere inconspicuous before spraying them.

Safety First

Some essential oils carry their own warnings, so always read labels and cautions before use, and consider a patch test with any ingredient you haven’t used before. If you’re pregnant or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Always keep essential oils out of reach of children.

At Chaé Organics, we have an abundance of recipes for essential oil blends and ways to use them, so let us know if you’d like us to share more tips. In the meantime, you can browse all our essential oils.

And remember: you can accomplish a harmonizing solution!

This article is for informational purposes, has not been reviewed by the FDA, and is not intended to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure disease. Always consult a physician or qualified health care practitioner for medical advice and health care decisions.

FAQ: Essential Oils

What exactly is an essential oil?

A concentrated plant extract, made by steam distilling or cold pressing plant materials such as leaves, stems and flowers. Essential oils are very potent, so they should be used with care and usually diluted.

Why does a scent change how I feel so quickly?

Sight, touch, hearing and taste are routed through the thalamus to the thinking brain first. Smell goes straight to the limbic system, which mediates emotions and memory, so a scent can shift your mood before you’ve consciously noticed it.

How do I dilute essential oils for my skin?

Add about 5–10 drops of essential oil per ounce of a carrier oil such as jojoba, sweet almond, coconut or argan. Patch test first, and never use essential oils in the immediate eye area.

How many drops should I put in a diffuser?

Up to five drops per 100 ml of water in your diffuser of choice.

How do I know which essential oil to choose?

Use the Five Elements table. Pick a feeling from the Out of Balance row, find its element, and try the Chaé Organics oils we recommend for that element.

Can I use essential oils if I’m pregnant?

If you’re pregnant or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician before using essential oils, and always keep them out of reach of children.

Sources

Gabriel Mojay, Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit: A Guide to Restoring Emotional and Mental Balance Through Essential Oils.

Product Spotlight

Start with the four oils we reach for most: the Love Blend, which appears in every element, plus Peppermint, Blood Orange and Geranium Rose. Each is 100% pure and ToxicFree®, sourced Field to Bottle.