I didn’t come to essential oils through a wellness trend. I came to them the way I’ve come to most good things in my life — through desperation, a good friend, and God’s grace meeting me right where I was.
Years ago I was struggling. Anxiety had a grip on me I couldn’t shake, my emotions felt like a roller coaster I couldn’t get off, and I was running out of ideas for how to feel better in my own body. A friend introduced me to essential oils and something about them resonated immediately.
Not just practically, but spiritually. Here were these plants, these seeds and roots and bark and flowers, distilled down to their most potent form. I kept thinking about how intentional that felt. How like God, to hide so much healing inside something so small.
I’ve been using them ever since. Through sobriety, through anxiety, through the season when I finally started putting my life back together with God at the center.
They’ve never been my whole answer. That’s always been faith. But they’ve been a faithful companion along the way.
If you’re here because you’re curious about essential oils and want to know where to start, I hope what I share here serves you well.
How Essential Oils Work
Essential oils are the natural compounds found in plants, extracted from roots, bark, seeds, flowers, and peels. When you smell peppermint and feel instantly more alert, or inhale lavender and your shoulders drop a little, that’s not placebo. That’s your limbic system responding to compounds that have been used for wellness for thousands of years.
There are three main ways to use them: aromatically (diffusing or inhaling directly), topically (applying to skin, usually diluted with a carrier oil), and internally (only with oils that are specifically labeled safe for consumption and in appropriate amounts).
A note I always share with people just starting out: dilute more than you think you need to. A carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil is your best friend, especially for sensitive skin or when using oils on children.
More is not better with essential oils. A little goes a long way.
A Few Safety Basics Worth Knowing
Essential oils are powerful, and a little knowledge before you start makes all the difference.
Always dilute before applying to skin, especially for children, the elderly, or anyone with sensitivities. Some oils are considered “hot” like oregano, cinnamon, and clove, and need more dilution than others.
Keep oils away from eyes and ears. If you ever get oil in a sensitive area, reach for a carrier oil to dilute it, not water. Oil and water don’t mix, and water can actually drive it in deeper.
If you’re pregnant, nursing, or managing a health condition, check with your doctor before using essential oils regularly.
The Oils I Use and Trust
I want to be upfront with you before I start talking about specific oils and blends. I use dōTERRA and I love them, but I’m not here to sell you anything or recruit you onto my team. That season of my journey has passed.
I still recommend dōTERRA because I trust their sourcing and purity standards, and that trust was earned over years of use, not just their marketing. The quality difference between a therapeutic-grade oil and a cheaper alternative matters more than most people realize, because the industry isn’t tightly regulated and what’s on the label isn’t always what’s in the bottle.
If you want to explore dōTERRA’s oils, you can find them at doterra.com. That’s where I’ve bought every oil in my home for years.
With that said, everything I share from here is just what I’ve lived and learned.
Emotional Support: My Favorite Way to Use Oils
This is where they’ve served me most personally, and where I think they shine brightest for women who find their way here. When anxiety creeps in, when the day feels heavier than it should, when you need to settle your mind before prayer or time with God, a diffuser blend can be a surprisingly powerful tool.
Not because oils fix what’s broken inside us. But because they help create an atmosphere. They signal to your body that it’s okay to slow down. And for a woman who’s carrying a lot, that signal is powerful.
Some of my favorites for emotional support:
For calm and grounding: Lavender, vetiver, and frankincense. Frankincense especially has a long history of use in prayer and worship, and there’s something that feels intentional about that. I also have to mention dōTERRA’s Balance and Serenity blends here — these two are what made me a true believer in these gifts from God.
For lifting a heavy mood: Wild orange, bergamot, and lemon. Citrus oils are remarkably effective at shifting the emotional atmosphere in a room.
For focus during prayer or study: Rosemary, peppermint, and frankincense.
Here are a few of my favorite diffuser blend combinations to get you started:
A Few Oils Worth Starting With
If you’re new to essential oils and not sure where to begin, these are the ones I’d put in almost anyone’s hands first.
Lavender for calm, sleep support, and skin. Peppermint for energy, headaches, and focus. Lemon for mood, cleaning, and diffusing. Frankincense for grounding, prayer time, and overall wellness. DōTERRA’s OnGuard blend for immune support, especially through cold and flu season. DōTERRA’s DigestZen blend for tummy upset and digestive discomfort.
These six oils alone can address a surprising range of everyday needs, and they’re a gentle, practical place to start.
One More Thing
If you landed here through a pin about essential oils, welcome. This space is about much more than oils, and I’m so glad you found me.
I’m Candace, and I help women who are emotionally exhausted and spiritually disconnected find their way back to peace through faith, grace, and practical tools that actually fit real life. Essential oils are one small part of how I care for myself. The deeper work happens at the soul level.
If any of that resonates, I’d love for you to grab my free Daily Soul Check-In below. It’s a simple four-step practice to help you reconnect with God and realign your heart. It’s a meaningful first step into everything I offer here.
You found your way here for a reason.
Maybe you’re tired of going through the motions. Maybe you just need permission to pause and breathe. Either way, I’m glad you’re here.
The Daily Soul Check-In is a simple, four-step practice I created for exactly this moment — when you know something needs to shift but you’re not sure where to start. It takes just a few minutes and helps you release what’s heavy, reconnect with God, and find your footing again.
It’s free. It’s gentle. And it might be exactly what your soul needs today.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
