Are you curious about essential oil roll-ons and would you like to learn all the ways roll-ons can be used? This Roll-On guide details the ins and outs of understanding how roll-ons work and how to use them to give you the ease with which to fully appreciate the benefits of essential oils.

Let’s get rolling!

What are Essential Oil Roll-On bottles?

Roll-ons are portable aromatherapy products that contain carrier oil and essential oils for local topical therapeutic application. The typical container size used for roller bottles is a 10 ml glass vial affixed with a roller and cap. The roller keeps the oil from leaking out of the bottle and gives the added convenience of easily applying the oil blend to your skin. The glass vial is filled with approximately 90-95% carrier oil (such as nourishing Fractionated Coconut oil or Jojoba oil) and either a single essential oil (such as Lavender- Bulgarian) or a blend of essential oils that are then added to the carrier oil. 

Edens Garden generally uses an essential oil dilution of 5-10%, including for our OK For Kids blends. This may seem like a high dilution for some people and we often get asked why the OK For Kids roll-ons are diluted beyond 1%, which is generally recommended for children. Aromatherapist, Sylla Sheppard-Hanger has explained that the higher dilution rate is imperative to aroma and effectiveness. One percent is fine for full-body application, but roll-ons are meant for spot treatment. Spot treatment means using the oil on a local area, such as the temples for headache relief. The roll-ons are not meant to be used for the full body. When used for spot treatment, our OK For Kids roll-ons are safe to be used on children, daily.

What Makes an Aromatherapy Roll-On Special?

• Roll-Ons are fabulously portable for on-the-go use and travel.
• Roll-Ons are an aromatherapy vehicle that give the user an incredibly straightforward and effortless way of using essential oils for a myriad of concerns.
• Roll-On essential oil blends can also be used as a natural plant aroma in place of perfume.

Topical Use

Many agree that essential oils have incredible aromas. Their aromatics come from the natural oils extracted from plant material. Essential oils are made from phytochemicals - otherwise known as plant molecules. These molecules are small enough to easily penetrate and be absorbed by the skin, where they make their way through the bloodstream to aid the body. 

Depending on the oils used and the intent of the blend, these oil blends can be used topically in a number of ways to calm the mind, to breathe easy and even on cramps. Other blends target particular muscle areas with specific oils to relieve pain or for an energizing boost.

In studies, Lavender essential oil has been the most researched of essential oils. Analysis on topical treatments of Lavender (specifically Lavender properties of linalool and linalyl acetate) have shown a calming and sedative action on the central nervous system.[1] 

To enhance and optimize skin absorption of an essential oil roll-on blend such as for muscle aches, applying heat with a heating pad will increase the effectiveness of the oils.

Inhalation of Essential Oils

Inhalation of essential oils can stimulate an area of your brain called the limbic system aka the seat of emotion. The nose is the only sensory organ with direct access to the brain. Inhaling the aroma of essential oils can directly stimulate this sensitive area immediately affecting emotions and mood. [1,2] 

“Evidence shows that various types of EOs have a wide range of health benefits. In our previous studies, the potential of lavender EO for prevention and even treatment of depression and anxiety symptoms was demonstrated.” [2]

Why Is It That Bad Smells Linger For a Long Time and Good Smells Dissipate? 

Instinctually, we avoid bad odors due to the threat that they pose. As for good aromas, the brain disregards the continual input from nasal cells responsible for detecting these aromas. In other words, your brain gets used to an essence and the brain disregards the aroma after a short period as it is not a threat to one's existence. The aroma lingers, you just don’t necessarily notice it. 

In What Circumstances Can You Use Aromatherapy Roll-Ons? 

It is safe to say that essential oil blends have countless uses. Whether you want deep relief to ease a headache, use a blend for stress relief or just to calm your mind, Edens Garden has a plethora of blends waiting for you.

Here are a few to guide you on your healing aromatherapy journey:

• Head Ease: Headache relief
• Stress Relief: Take stress away
• Anxiety Ease: Calm anxiety
• Worry Less: Lessen panic and worry
• Aches & Pains: Alleviate aches and pains
• Muscle Relief: Reduce muscle tension
• Sleep Ease: Improve sleep 
• Pollen Buster: Soothe allergies from pollen
• Deep Breath: To aid with breathing easy
• Mood Boost: Uplift mood  
• Digest Ease & Tummy Aid: Oils to ease digestion and tummy aches
• Focus, Focus, Focus: To improve focus
• PMS Ease: Manage PMS symptoms

Where on the body can you apply Roll-Ons? 

Roll-ons are incredibly versatile and can be used on many areas of the body. Where your skin is thinnest such as the inner arm or where blood vessels run close to the skin such as the temples can be ideal locations to apply a Roll-On. 

We do recommend that you test an oil blend on your inner forearm and wait 24 hours. If you experience a reaction, discontinue use. 

“A small number of people may experience irritation or allergic reactions to certain essential oils. You're more likely to have a bad reaction if you have atopic dermatitis or a history of reactions to topical products. Although you can experience a reaction to any essential oil.” [3]

If you have no reaction, uncap the bottle and place the roller on your skin and roll it over any of these places on your body:

• Temples 
• Inner wrists
• Pulse points
• Behind the earlobes
• The back of the neck
• Onto a face mask (great when wearing a mask for short periods)
• The palm of the hands: roll the essential oil blend on the palm of one hand, rub hands together and cup hands over your nose breathing in deeply 4-5 times (this method works exceptionally well for headache, stress and mood enhancement)
• Directly on problem areas (for scars or pain or acne)
• Directly on bug bites
• Brushed into your hair (aroma stays in your hair well!)

SOURCES:

1. Essential Oils Used in Aromatherapy: A Systemic Review 
   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2221169115001033
2. Therapeutic Effect and Mechanisms of Essential Oils in Mood Disorders: Interaction between the Nervous and Respiratory Systems https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8125361/
3. Aromatherapy: Do Essential Oils Really Work? https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/aromatherapy-do-essential-oils-really-work#:~:text=Aromatherapy%20is%20the%20practice%20of,emotional%20center%20of%20the%20brain.
4. 11 Essential Oils: Their Benefits and How To Use Them https://health.clevelandclinic.org/essential-oils-101-do-they-work-how-do-you-use-them/
5. How and Why to Use Essential Oil
   https://health.osu.edu/wellness/integrative-healing/essential-oils