Eucalyptus oil smells delightful and has many handy uses. You can use it on your body to perfume your bath, nourish your hair, and repel mosquitoes. You can also use eucalyptus oil to soothe congestion by breathing in eucalyptus-scented steam. Whatever the use, you’ll enjoy eucalyptus oil’s fresh, bright aroma.
StepsMethod 1Method 1 of 2:Using Eucalyptus Oil on Your Body
1Sprinkle a few drops of eucalyptus oil into your bath or shower. If you’re taking a bath, just run the water and place a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil into the bathtub once you are ready to get in. If you’re taking a shower, drop a few drops of eucalyptus oil onto the floor of the shower. The eucalyptus oil will perfume the steam.XEucalyptus oil makes a soothing, fresh smell, and will lightly perfume your skin and hair.
2Nourish hair with a mixture of eucalyptus oil and a carrier oil. Combine 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of eucalyptus essential oil with 4 tablespoons (59 ml) of coconut or olive oil, which will act as a carrier oil to dilute and hold the essential oil. Gently massage the mixture into your scalp and hair and let it sit for an hour. Then take a shower and wash it out with shampoo and conditioner.The combination of eucalyptus oil and a carrier oil will help moisturize and nourish brittle, dry, or dull hair.The extra moisture can be helpful to rehydrate a dry scalp and prevent itching and flaking.
3Use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus to repel mosquitoes. You can buy repellents that contain oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or you can add some of the oil to a carrier oil, like coconut oil, and smear it on your skin. Don’t put undiluted oil of lemon eucalyptus on your skin.XLemon eucalyptus oil is not as strong a repellent as DEET, but is a good natural alternative.
4Avoid putting undiluted eucalyptus oil on your skin. Plain eucalyptus oil can irritate and burn your skin. Instead, combine it with a carrier oil, like olive oil or coconut oil, before you put it on your skin or hair.XYou can also buy lotions, creams, and even toothpastes, that have a bit of eucalyptus oil mixed into them. These are safe to use, because the eucalyptus oil is diluted.Method 2Method 2 of 2:Soothing Congestion with Eucalyptus Steam
1Bring a kettle of water to boil. You want the water to come to a rolling boil, so that it will emit a lot of steam. You’ll inhale the steam to help clear congestion.XYou can boil water on the stove or use an electric kettle.If you don’t have a kettle, just boil the water in a saucepan or pot.
2Pour the water into a bowl and put in a few drops of eucalyptus oil. 2-5 drops of eucalyptus oil is generally enough to perfume the water. Adding eucalyptus oil gives the steam a fresh, sinus-opening scent, and makes it especially soothing.XSmell the steam and keep adding drops until it has the right potency for you.
3Lean over the bowl of water with a towel draped over your head. Drape the towel so that it hits the table, making a cocoon over you and the bowl. The towel will trap in the delicious eucalyptus-scented steam. XSome people recommend inhaling steam over a boiling pot of water on the stove, but that is less safe, because you would be leaning over a hot burner.
4Breathe deeply to inhale the eucalyptus-scented steam. Keep breathing in and out for a few minutes, until you can breathe through your nose. You should feel your sinuses clearing from the steam.XThe eucalyptus oil will give you a cool, bright sensation, similar to eating mint. This is very soothing for head colds.Repeat this process once a day for the duration of your head cold for congestion relief.
