Have you ever wondered how essential oils fit in a frugal kitchen? Here’s how I do it!

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I could say that unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of Essential Oils. But the reality is if you’re living in an off-grid dugout under a rock, you were using essential oils long before the rest of us.

Everyone has an opinion about them, from the vehement skeptic to the dedicated evangelist. I fall in between. I like the way they smell, I like that the smell doesn’t give me a headache like artificially-scented products – candles, shampoo, etc.

Oils have helped support my family’s healthy lifestyle in many ways.

Essential Oils That Save My Kitchen:

1. Lemon oil makes my kitchen smell like fresh citrus when I leave dishes overnight
2. Some blends take away the something-rotted-in-the-trash-can smell (and the oops-I-left-the-laundry-in-the-washer smell)
3. In a pinch, I’ve even used some very clean, trusted brands in cooking when they call for lemon, orange, lime, cinnamon, etc. and I’m all out of what I normally use. Works like a charm, and saves me a trip to the store.

How to Fit Essential Oils in Your Budget:

I don’t have a generous EO budget – or any kind of one to begin with. But natural living is important to my family, so here’s what we did:

1. Shop Brands & Prices

Obviously, some companies are purer than others, just like with any other natural product. I encourage you to take a couple of minutes, read reviews online, and find one you feel comfortable with. I’ve tried multiple brands, and I’m happy with the scents of all of them. However, there are some I trust more than others to support our family’s needs.

2. Budget Intentionally

Since essential oils have a lot of uses, I think it’s reasonable to use the household or medical budget on them. It depends on the oil and how you plan to apply it.

3. Get a Diffuser!

This is my favorite way to use essential oils. Orange or clove oil in the winter, lemon or grapefruit in the spring, Lavender at night. Diffusing oils makes the room smell fresh and seasonal, and only uses a few drops of oil at a time. We’ve used diffusers from Amazon, Target, and Young Living, and have been happy with all of them (but Target had the cutest one!)

3. Start Small

You might feel pressured to try all of the oils at once. This is overwhelming and extremely expensive. Start with a few that you think you will use consistently.

What I Did:

When I started using essential oils, I bought a simple diffuser from Amazon (at the time, cute diffusers existed only in imagination. I got the least-ugly inexpensive one I could find) and 6 oils:

1. Lemon
2. Lavender
3. Purification (Young Living’s smell-eradicator blend)
4. Peppermint
5. Thieves (Young Living’s immune support blend)
6. Cinnamon

I use the first 5 oils all the time and never feel like I wasted my money. Cinnamon was a mistake because I barely use it, and I still have the same bottle 4 years later.

I’ve had the most experience with Young Living oils. While they are pricey, they run a lot of good deals for their members, and I’m happy with the quality and effectiveness of their products.

Most of my friends sell them, and if you don’t have a local rep, check out my friend Jen. She’s smart, authentic, sarcastic (so basically, I love her), and used oils to support her family’s well-being through a lot of difficult seasons. Read more about her story and love affair with essential oils here.

Disclosure: Jen gave me a bottle of Lemon oil as a thank-you for mentioning her here. But I’ve been buying oils from her from years. All opinions are my own.

Essential Oils in My Kitchen

Right now, people have strong opinions about essential oils. I sit in between the vehement skeptic and the dedicated evangelist. In order to guard the budget, we are very selective about what we buy. We use them in our kitchen constantly – to freshen the smells, support healthy living, and occasionally avoid a trip to the grocery store.

What About You?

Do you use essential oils in your kitchen? Do you have a favorite brand? Share it in the comments below!

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