Aromatherapy for Beginners: How to Start Using Essential Oils
You do not need a shelf of bottles, a stack of books, or a long weekend to start using essential oils.
When it comes to aromatherapy for beginners, my advice is to start with one oil and a little curiosity.
Take note of its scent. Is it soft and floral, bright and citrusy, or fresh and herbal?
Getting to know what you enjoy is a simple place to start.
At Aromatherapy Anywhere, I focus on enjoying scent and creating a pleasant atmosphere, rather than using essential oils to treat health conditions.
That’s the approach I use in this guide to aromatherapy for beginners. You’ll find tips to put together a small starting kit, links to four beginner guides that cover must-know basics, and a gentle first-week plan to help you get started.
Remember, you do not need to try everything or build a perfect routine.
Start with the first step below, take time to read the safety guidance, and explore the optional ideas when you feel ready.
Table of Contents
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Aromatherapy for Beginners’ Starting Kit
If you’re new to aromatherapy, there are two simple ways to start using essential oils: with a diffuser to scent your space at home, or in a pre-diluted roll-on to enjoy a favorite aroma while you are out.
Choose whichever fits your day, or explore both at your own pace.
Here is what you need for each:
Essential oils for your diffuser: One or two bottles are plenty to get started. Essential oils are concentrated aromatic oils extracted from plants, including flowers, leaves, and fruit peels. The guide to extraction techniques explains how they are obtained.
A diffuser for home scenting: Use a diffusing device to scent your space with your favorite aromas. Explore the different types of essential oil diffusers and read the diffuser buying guide to choose one that suits your space.
A pre-diluted roll-on for personal aroma: Pre-diluted roll-ons contain an essential oil or blend diluted with a carrier oil, ready to apply as directed on the label. Keep it in your bag to enjoy aromatherapy anywhere.
You do not need a separate carrier oil when you’re just getting started. You will need one later, though, if you decide to make your own roller bottles or other skin-use blends.
Not sure what to look for when choosing essential oils? The essential oil buying guide covers the most important factors.
I highly recommend Plant Therapy essential oils. Their essential oils are third-party tested for quality, and the brand publishes test reports for each batch of oils.
For your diffuser, consider one or two of these familiar scents:
- Lavender: Soft, floral, and herbal.
- Lemon: Bright and citrusy.
- Peppermint: Crisp, cool, and minty.
For a roll-on, choose a ready-made blend with a scent that appeals to you. It does not need to match the oils you use at home.
Follow This Path
These four guides listed below build on one another. You do not need to finish all four before getting started. Read them alongside the first-week plan below, checking the relevant safety guidance before trying a method.
This is a helpful order to read the four aromatherapy guides:
Guide 1. Understand the big picture: Start with What Is Aromatherapy for an introduction to the practice and the role scent can play in everyday life.
Guide 2. Meet your oils: What Are Essential Oils explains where essential oils come from and how popular ones smell. Use it to get familiar with the scents you would like to try.
Guide 3. Choose your tools: Browse the Aromatherapy Accessories Guide to explore other useful items. Start with what you need for your chosen method, and leave the extras for later.
Guide 4. Try the methods: Explore How to Use Essential Oils for Aromatherapy for ways to enjoy scent, from diffusers and room sprays to personal aroma on the go.
Each method links to its own step-by-step post. Follow the links to the individual tutorials when something interests you.
The First Week of Aromatherapy for Beginners
Seven days, one scent at a time. No recipes required.
Days 1 and 2: Smell and Note
Choose one essential oil or roll-on scent.
If you’re using an essential oil, hold the bottle a short distance away and gently waft the scent toward you.
If you’re using a roll-on, swipe it gently on your wrist, and lift your wrist to your nose.
Write down a few words about what it smells like and what it reminds you of.
The essential oil journal in the accessories guide is a lovely place to keep these notes.
Days 3 to 5: Enjoy Essential Oil Your Way
If you chose a diffuser, try your oil in a room you enjoy spending time in. Follow the oil label and your diffuser’s instructions. New to diffusers?
How to Use an Essential Oil Diffuser walks you through the setup with useful tips on the number of drops, session timings, and placement.
If you chose a pre-diluted roll-on, patch test it first and follow the label directions. Notice where you enjoy using it, such as before a walk or while you work.
Whichever option you choose, check with other people in the room before scenting a shared space. If a scent feels too strong, use fewer drops in the diffuser.
Days 6 and 7: Compare Scents & Repeat Your Favorites
If you have a second scent, try it and notice which one you prefer. If not, return to the first scent at a different time of day.
There is no right answer. You may simply learn which scents and moments you enjoy.
A Few Safety Notes Before You Begin Week One
If you share your home with pets or children, check with your veterinarian or pediatrician before diffusing or using essential oils around them.
If you are pregnant, have a health concern, or are unsure whether essential oils are right for you, check with your healthcare provider first.
Essential oils are concentrated. Do not apply them directly from the bottle to your skin. Use a pre-diluted roll-on as directed, or dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before making your own skin-use blend.
Patch test first, and stop using it if your skin reacts. The guide to diluting essential oils explains how, with charts showing exact ratios.
Do not swallow essential oils or add them to food or drinks. Store bottles out of children’s reach. If someone swallows an essential oil, contact your local poison-information service or seek medical help. Keep the bottle nearby.
For the full picture, read the essential oil safety guide.
What Not to Worry About
A big collection. One or two scents are enough to start learning what you like.
Mistakes. A scent that is not for you is simply information. Set it aside and try another.
Memorizing names. Learn one oil at a time. Your notes can help you remember what you thought of each scent.
A perfect routine. There is no schedule to keep. A few minutes with a scent you enjoy is enough.
Aromatherapy for Beginners: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start aromatherapy as a beginner?
Choose one way to enjoy a scent: use a diffuser at home, or try a pre-diluted roll-on while you’re out. Start with one scent and follow the first-week plan above.
Do I need a diffuser to start?
No. A diffuser is the easiest way to scent a room, but a pre-diluted roll-on or a personal inhaler works too. The ways to use essential oils guide shows the other options.
How many oils do I need to begin?
One or two scents are enough to start. Lavender, lemon, and peppermint are options to explore, but you do not need to buy all three.
Can I swallow essential oils or add them to drinks?
No. Do not swallow essential oils or add them to food or drinks. See the safety notes above for what to do if someone swallows one.
Pick One Bottle and Begin
Open one bottle this week and let your nose lead. When you are ready to combine scents, Synergy Blends in Aromatherapy shows how oils pair up in scent families. And if you want every beginner guide in one spot, the Aromatherapy Basics section has them all.
