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If you peeked in my cabinets, you’d find my favorite essential oils, the few I reach for just about every single day.

Some make the house smell amazing, some pull double duty in my natural cleaning, and a few end up in my favorite DIYs. I’m all about getting the most out of every bottle.

Adding essential oils to a diffuser.
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Here are the everyday oils I’d grab first, and exactly how I like to use each one.

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Lavender

Soft, floral, and calming, lavender is the one I’d never want to be without.

  • Diffuse it in the evening to make the whole house feel calm.
  • Add a few drops to a spray bottle of water for a simple linen and pillow mist.
  • Stir it into your favorite DIY skincare and body care.

Learn more in my lavender essential oil post.

Lemon

Bright, clean, and cheerful, lemon is my go-to for a fresh-smelling home.

  • Diffuse it for an instant mood lift.
  • Use it in DIY cleaners to cut through sticky messes and grease.
  • Add a drop to a bowl of water to freshen the air in the kitchen.

Learn more in my lemon essential oil post.

Frankincense

Frankincense essential oil bottle.

Warm, woodsy, and grounding, frankincense is the oil I add to almost everything.

  • Diffuse it on its own or blended with citrus for a cozy, grounding scent.
  • Add it to relaxing roller blends.
  • Work a drop into your DIY skincare.

Learn more in my frankincense essential oil post.

Tea Tree (Melaleuca)

Fresh and clean-smelling, tea tree is the one I reach for constantly in my natural cleaning.

  • It’s the star of my all-purpose cleaning spray (recipe below).
  • Add it to DIY laundry and surface sprays.
  • Diffuse a little for a crisp, clean scent.

See more of my favorite ways to use it in my post on natural cleaning with essential oils.

On Guard

On Guard essential oil blend on white marble.

Warm and spicy, with notes of orange, clove, and cinnamon, On Guard is the coziest scent for the cooler months.

  • Diffuse it for a warm, spicy fall and winter scent.
  • Add it to DIY foaming hand soap and all-purpose cleaners.
  • Blend it with wild orange for an extra cheerful holiday diffuser blend.

Learn more in my On Guard post.

My Simple All-Purpose Cleaning Spray

Homemade all-purpose cleaning spray in a glass bottle.

This is the cleaning spray I come back to again and again:

  • 15 drops tea tree (melaleuca)
  • 1/4 cup vinegar
  • A 16-ounce glass spray bottle
  • Water to fill

Add the tea tree and vinegar to the spray bottle, top it off with water, and shake well. Use it as a natural all-purpose cleaner around the house.

How I Like to Use Them

  • Diffusing: A few drops in the diffuser freshens the whole room.
  • Cleaning: Tea tree, lemon, and On Guard are wonderful in DIY sprays and soaps.
  • DIY and roller blends: Lavender and frankincense are my favorites for relaxing blends and skincare.

Other Favorites to Try

  • Wild orange for a bright, happy scent.
  • Peppermint for a cool, fresh pick-me-up.
  • Eucalyptus for a spa-like feel.

Expert Tips

  • Always dilute oils in a carrier oil before applying to your skin.
  • Citrus oils can make skin more sensitive to the sun, so skip the sunshine right after applying.
  • Store your oils in a cool, dark spot, and out of reach of children.

A Few Safety Tips

  • Dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before applying to the skin.
  • Do a patch test first if you have sensitive skin.
  • For external use only, and keep oils out of reach of children.

Favorite Essential Oils FAQs

What essential oils should a beginner start with?

Lavender and lemon are the perfect starting point. They’re versatile, they smell wonderful, and you’ll use them constantly.

How do you use essential oils around the house?

The three easiest ways are diffusing for scent, adding them to DIY cleaners, and blending them into rollers and skincare.

How should I store my essential oils?

Keep them in a cool, dark place with the caps on tight, and out of reach of children.

Related Posts

If you tried any of these essential oil ideas or another tutorial on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

About Laura

Welcome to Our Oily House, I’m so glad you’re here! Explore DIY cleaners, homemade soaps, skincare and hair care recipes, fragrance-free solutions, and sustainable laundry tips for a naturally inspired home.

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6 Comments

  1. Robin says:

    Hey, just dropping in to say I really enjoy your blog. I just found it yesterday and I’ve perused many of your pages on here now and I love some of the ideas and recipes you’ve shared and the care you put into each one. Thank you for sharing this goodness. I can relate to many of the things you’ve made as I’ve done some diy things for my family as well. I’m getting deeper into the oils as time goes by and as my income allows it and I’m excited to try ingesting them for the immune benefits. Thanks so much

    1. Laura says:

      Thank you so much!! I am so glad you are enjoying my content!

  2. Hayley says:

    I’ve been a fan of your sisters blog for quite awhile, and just recently strolled in over here to take a peek. I am SO impressed with you girls and am learning a lot ! 😊
    I do have a question in regard to ingesting Tea Tree oil. I used to put it in a veggie cap. I later read several articles stating that it is considered poisonous to take internally and have since stopped. I see here you’ve included it as a possible ingredient in your veggie caps. I’m wondering if you might be willing to pass along any literature that helped you to decide?

    Thanks so much for all of the hard work it takes to put out such a wonderful blog!

    1. Laura says:

      Thank you so much for following along with me and I am so glad you are enjoying my blog. When taking essential oils internally it is really important to check your sources and know you have pure essential oils. This is hard because essential oils are not regulated by the FDA. I have a post that may help you: https://www.ouroilyhouse.com/taking-essential-oils-internally/

  3. Debbie says:

    Hi Laura found immune receipe here i don’t have on guard or oregano

    1. Laura says:

      Here is a link to where you can buy the oils you need: https://doterra.me/CF6IEshZ. I set it up to get wholesale pricing, if you prefer to buy retail you can edit that at checkout. Let me know if you have any questions!