Taking the first step out into a beautiful and fragrant garden is always a reminder that God made the best things in life to be free for all of His children to enjoy. The good news is that modern technology has made it incredibly convenient to harness plants’ wellness benefits by extracting their essential oils for aromatic and topical usage. Due to its growth in popularity, there is a rising trend of people hosting their own essential oil party to share the amazing benefits of aromatherapy with loved ones.
If you’re looking for a unique party idea, consider hosting an essential oil party and wow your guests with the soothing benefits of aromatherapy. In this article, we will look at the therapeutic benefits of essential oils and provide you with the complete guide to hosting and giving your guests an aromatic experience they won’t soon forget. Below is a plan to host your essential oil party:
Invite a small group who loves essential oils or is interested in learning about them
It is typically best to invite smaller groups of less than ten people to these types of aromatic parties. For the aroma to take full effect, you want the scent to blanket the room, so in large spaces, it can be more challenging to provide an equal smell experience to all the guests in attendance. So smaller and more intimate settings would be preferred. The second reason is that you want to interact with your guests as much as possible to see their facial expressions and gather their feedback on a particular scent and its effects on them.
Determine the party theme based on the oil
Much like having a party on other topics, consider the theme you want for your party and pick an oil that embodies it. For example, if you plan an essential oil party for your small office, you probably want to choose an energizing oil, like lemon or rosemary.
Don’t overdo it with too many oils
Even though you may want to explore many different types of oils and their benefits with your guests, the body can only take so much stimulation before the effects begin to wear off and become counterproductive. We recommend using only one oil using a diffuser and one for topical applications such as hand massages. You will want to space these out so that their scents don’t overlap and provide your guests time to feel their effects. You can always have more parties and choose a different oil to demonstrate.
Minimize alcohol consumption
If you have guests that are entirely new to essential oils and aromatherapy, they may not know how a particular oil may affect them. In this case, we recommend keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum. This is because too much could cause them to feel nauseous, and alcohol could impair their ability to appreciate the oil’s holistic benefits.
Maximize finger foods
We recommend not having a large buffet or heavy meals during an essential oil party. The reason is that the spirit of this gathering is an exploration of the senses. Try incorporating light finger foods such as exotic specialty cheeses, meats, veggies, dips, and sweets to give your guests stimulation across varying flavor profiles. Also, if you don’t already have one, get a nice food serving tray or mini banquet.
Incorporate music that fits the theme
Try to find music that coincides with the theme of oils you are demonstrating. For example, if you are using lavender essential oil as your primary diffused oil for its calming effects, play music that is also tranquil and relaxing.
Use plenty of non-scented candles for ambiance effect
This is optional, but having candles or a fireplace going during an event can only add to its ambiance, and your guests will also appreciate the touch.
Use diffusers that have a remote control
Maybe it’s just us, but nothing is worse than being in the middle of a great conversation but needing to get up to turn something off or on. Many diffusers nowadays have remote controls that allow managing all their settings, including the vapor’s duration, the strength, and even the colors of the light bulbs inside. Also, if the oil scents begin to get a little too overwhelming, you can quickly turn it off without having to walk across the room.
Have plenty of activities and games
What’s a party without plenty of activities? One of our favorite inspirational ideas is to set up a mini art easel and paintbrushes for each of your guests, and at the front of the room, have a reference painting. The goal of this game is for each guest to try to recreate the reference painting. Whoever can replicate the original artwork the best wins a door prize, which could be a new diffuser and a bottle of essential oil.
Provide all the supplies for your guests
In the past, we have seen that hosts have asked their guests to bring their own essential oils to share with the group. We would recommend that you provide all of the supplies needed. This way, you can maintain quality control over the products and provide a unified experience for everyone.
Make sure invitations go out well in advance
When you plan a gathering, one of the primary concerns is that everyone who RSVP’d will be able to attend the day of the event. We have found that by sending out real invitations in the mail, people will usually make an extra effort to attend. Make sure to send out fancy invitations to your guests to make them feel special and build up anticipation for the event.
Turn your essential oil party into a history lesson
Essential oils have been used for centuries in all parts of the world and actually have a pretty interesting history. Start the event off by giving your guests a brief overview of the history of essential oils, the manufacturing process, and how these oils can be used to relieve a wide variety of conditions. If you have multiple oils on display, you might consider arranging the essential oils in groups by types such as citrus oils, florals, conifers, and spice.
Sharing some of your favorite essential oils or exploring new ones with friends and family can be a rewarding experience, particularly if they find the practice of aromatherapy beneficial in their lives. However, like any party, it takes some planning to make sure people call you back weeks later, telling you how much they enjoyed the event. So we put together a complete guide that will help you set up a unique aromatic experience for guests to experience different oils.
However, if you plan to allow your guests to make their own oils during the event, the following section will provide you with everything you need.
Guest making their own essential oils during the party
If you plan on having your guests make their own essential oils during the party, below is a list of the supplies you will need:
- Stash of essential oils in a variety of scents
- Clean, sterile eye droppers
- Tiny plastic funnels
- Empty, dark-colored essential oil bottles
- Carrier oils such as jojoba, coconut, olive, and sweet almond
- Essential oils resource guides to help those who may need more knowledge about which oils are useful for specific remedies or purposes.
- 4-oz. stainless steel squirt bottles
- 8-oz. dark-colored glass spray bottles
- Witch Hazel
- A few gallons of distilled water
- Bottle labels and sharpies so guests can write their names
As the host, you can purchase all the supplies in bulk from places like Amazon or ask each guest to bring their own supplies. Be sure to buy dark-colored, 2-ml bottles with caps and orifice reducers. These will be useful for mixing blends, dividing larger amounts of oils, and storing. Glass is preferred over plastic because it is better for the environment, and plastic absorbs the oils. Dark-colored glass prevents the essential oil from exposure to UV rays, which destroy the oil’s organic compounds. Orifice reducers stay snug in the bottle opening and prevent oils from pouring out all at once. This can help avoid unintentional spills if the bottles tip over. It’s also handy for when you need to control how much oil you’re dropping out.
Our favorite essential oil recipes for parties
Get the blending time off to a great start by supplying guests with a few blending recipe cards to spark their creativity. You might provide recipes for room fresher spritz, a diffuser blend, and massage oil. Once everyone has had an opportunity to create blends from the available oils, you can provide a demonstration for the group on how to make a massage or body oil blend using a quick and simple recipe using about 60 drops of essential oil with carrier oil added to a stainless steel bottle with a squirt top.
Next, show guests how to make a homemade room spray. This can be made with a few simple ingredients like distilled water, 30 drops of essential oils, ¼ teaspoon of witch hazel, and an 8-ounce bottle. Below you’ll find a few summer essential oil blends to share with your guests or to try on your own.
Summer Essential Oil Diffuser Blend Recipes
Add these to your essential oils diffuser any time you’d like to indulge the senses and create a mood while purifying the air of your home, office, or other personal space. And don’t be afraid to create your own unique blends!
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Sunny Morning:
- 2 drops vetiver
- 2 drops grapefruit
- 3 drops rose geranium
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Bug Off! Natural Insect Repellent:
- 3 drops citronella or lemongrass oil
- 2 drops peppermint
- 2 drops clove
-
Summer Breeze:
- 2 drops coriander
- 3 drops lavender
- 3 drops rose geranium
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Twisted Peppermint:
- 2 drops peppermint
- 2 drops lemon
- 2 drops lime
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Citrus Burst:
- 1 drop orange
- 2 drops lemon
- 1 drop lime
- 1 drop clove
- 1 drop bergamot
- 2 drops vetiver
-
Ice Cream Dream:
- 3 drops orange
- 3 drops vanilla
Essential oil recipes for feet and hands
Fabulous Foot Scrub Recipe
One of the big fashion trends for summer is sandals. And there’s no better time of the year to show those feet some extra TLC with a fabulous homemade foot scrub using natural ingredients.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 5 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup Epsom salts
- 4 drops peppermint oil
- 4 drops lemon oil
- 4 drops rosemary oil
Combine all of the above ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Then transfer your scrub to a glass container with a lid.
When you’re ready to use your new foot scrub, clean your feet with soap and water. Next, fill a small basin with warm water. Apply your scrub to your feet and massage in gently, paying special attention to any rough spots. Rinse in warm water and pat dry.
Natural Hand Sanitizer Recipe
Be ready for all of summer’s messy moments when you’re out and about with this handy homemade sanitizer. And the best thing is that it’s chemical-free. Prep a batch of this to have on hand in your purse or bag for all your on-the-go cleanups.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1-ounce spray bottle with cap
- 3 Tablespoons witch hazel, try an alcohol-free brand
- 4 drops peppermint oil
- 2 drops vetiver oil
- 2 drops eucalyptus oil
- 4 drops lemon oil
An essential oil funnel or pipette makes it easy to add the essential oils and other ingredients into the spray bottle. Next, just add the lid and label.
Using Caution With Essential Oils
While essential oils are natural, it’s still important to exercise care and caution when using them. Some individuals may have adverse reactions to essential oils. For example, some individuals may react to phenol, a compound that is present in peppermint oil. Others may have skin sensitivity issues. And some oils like cold-pressed lime and grapefruit are phototoxic.
Essential oils used topically should be diluted with a carrier oil such as olive oil, jojoba, coconut oil, or almond oil. And if you’re pregnant, use extreme caution with essential oils. Check the label of each essential oil you purchase to be sure of its safety. It is also important to note that essential oils may not be appropriate for use with children depending on their age and the types of oil used.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a diffuser and a nebulizer?
An alternative to the traditional diffusers that use water is an essential oil nebulizer. According to Rain Shadow labs, “the main difference between a diffuser and a nebulizer is a diffuser uses evaporated water particles to transport the essential oil out into the air, unlike a nebulizer, which processes essential oils into an almost gas-like state.” Nebulizers are often considered the most potent type of essential oil diffuser.
Remember, hosting an essential oil party is about creating an enjoyable and educational experience for your guests. Be sure to follow the guidelines and enjoy the aromatic journey together.
