Are you interested in using essential oils but feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sheer choice of oils available, not to mention the huge variations in price?

One of the easiest ways to get started is to buy an aromatherapy kit from a reputable, specialist supplier such as ourselves. This will not only give you a good selection of the most popular and useful aromatherapy oils, but it will also save you money versus buying the oils individually.

Buying aromatherapy kits

Base Formula offers a range of kits and blending equipment that is suitable for everyone from absolute beginners and aromatherapy students through to professional therapists. We’ll guide you through some of our most popular options below.

Home essential oil kit:

This basic collection contains 8 of the most popular, multi-purpose essential oils that can be used at home or while on your travels. It is also ideal for therapists who are wishing to top up their existing oil supplies. The kit contains 5ml bottles of French Lavender, Eucalyptus globulus, Rosemary, Peppermint USA, Lemon, Tea Tree, Sweet Orange and Citronella. 

Luxury essential oil kit:

If you’re looking for a real bargain, then this luxury collection is a bit of a steal – offering you nearly 35% off individual prices. It contains 5ml bottles of High-Altitude Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang Xtra, Eucalyptus radiata, Frankincense, Bergamot, Geranium Bourbon and a 2ml bottle of the highly concentrated Rosa centifolia Absolute.

Aromatherapy starter kit:

This is a great choice for a complete beginner or for therapists wishing to stock up on popular aromatherapy oils at discounted prices. Not only does it contain 10 of the most popular essential oils but it also comes with 2 carrier oils and a selection of blending equipment, giving you everything you need to get started! The kit contains 10ml bottles of Bergamot, Eucalyptus globulus, French Lavender, Peppermint USA, Tea Tree, Geranium Egypt, Sweet Marjoram, Rosemary and Ylang Ylang Grade II, 5ml Roman Chamomile, 50ml bottles of Grapeseed and Sweet Almond carrier oil, measuring cups, pipettes and essential oil cap labels. 

Aromatherapy student kits:

If you’re studying for a professional aromatherapy qualification, you’ll need a far more substantial collection of essential oils and carrier oils. There are a variety of different qualifications that meet National Occupational Standards (NOS), these include VTCT, BABTAC, BTEC, CIBTAC, CIDESCO, City & Guilds, IFA, IFPA, IIHHT, ITEC and NVQ Level 3. Each course will have a list of oils that are required for your studies. 

Base Formula supplies a range of student kits that are suited to most major UK courses. Our latest kit is specifically tailored to the VTCT Level 4 Diploma in Aromatherapy for Complementary Therapists and contains the 26 mandatory essential oils and 10 carrier oils detailed in the course curriculum.

We also offer bespoke college kits which can be tailored to specific course requirements.

What else will you need?

Most of our kits come with carrier oils in which to dilute your essential oils, but you may wish to consider other suitable carriers such as a fragrance-free cream or lotion, shower gel, bath oil or shampoo which will enable you to use your oils in a variety of different ways. 

If you’re going to be making lots of products, measuring and blending equipment plus bottles and jars will also come in handy.

You may also wish to invest in an essential oil burner or aromatherapy diffuser.

Finally, as your oil collection grows it might be worth investing in a storage case to organise and protect your oils from heat and light deterioration.

Using your oils

If you’re a complete beginner, the first thing to note is that essential oils should never be applied undiluted to the skin. The only exceptions to this might be a single drop of Lavender or Tea Tree for specific issues such as a burn, bruise or insect bite. 

For general everyday use we recommend that you always dilute your oils at a ratio of 1-3%.

• 1% dilution is generally recommended for use on the face, during pregnancy, for anyone who is sensitive to fragrances or chemicals,  the elderly and children over 5 years of age. This equates to 1 drop of essential oil in 5ml of base product.
• 2% dilution is good for general skincare excluding the face (see above) and for emotional support. This equates to 2 drops of oil in 5ml base.
• 3% dilution can be used for specific short-term problems such as colds or for pain relief. This equates to 3 drops in 5ml.

Please note these are average figures. Drop sizes may vary according to the dropper size used in the bottle and the viscosity of the oil. You should also check safety instructions for each oil as some may have specific safety warnings and maximum dilution levels. Click here for more information on how to use your oils safely.

Storing your oils

The shelf-life of essential oils varies greatly and can be affected by numerous factors, including storage. To protect your oils from oxidation and to maximise their shelf-life we recommend you store as follows:

• Heat, light and oxygen all speed up the oxidation process so make sure you store your oils in dark glass bottles that are tightly closed and keep them in a cool dark place. If possible refrigeration is highly recommended.
• Keep your oils in the smallest sized bottles to ensure they are mostly full. E.g. if you buy a 30ml bottle decant the oil into a smaller sized bottle as it gets used up, to minimize the space available for oxygen.

In general, most essential oils if kept in the fridge will last 2-3 years. Citrus oils, Cypress, Frankincense, Lemongrass, Pine, Spruce and Tea Tree are more delicate and will typically last 1-2 years, whereas oils such as Copaiba, Patchouli, Myrrh, Sandalwood and Vetiver may retain their fragrance and therapeutic properties for up to 4 years. 

You should discontinue using an oil if the aroma changes or if it becomes cloudy or thickened.

For more information read our Aromatherapy for Beginners article.

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