Heritage Essential Oils
When I first started using the oils on my children, we'd get the new bottles in the mail, open the lids to smell them. I'd inhale deeply and say, "Oh, this is wonderful!" Then I'd ask if they wanted to smell it. They all did. I told them how they came from plants and how the Lord provided them to help us stay well. Unless it was a *hot* oil like Oregano or Cinnamon, I'd put a drop on my palm, rub my palms together. inhale deeply from my palms, and then brush the oil over my neck or arms (if this seemed appropriate to do so). Sometimes my children didn't think the aroma was 'wonderful', but we'd talk about the various aromas and marvel at how unique they all were and how each one was a storehouse of healing molecules.
If there was an oil or blend that I felt my little one needed, I'd explain to them how this one specifically helped people and how we felt that the Lord would help them with it as well. I'd offer them to inhale it from the bottle or my palms. If they didn't care for it, I'd encourage them that sometimes we don't like things that will help us, but if we believe the Lord wants to use it to help us, when we submit to that, He helps us learn to appreciate His provision.
If a child doesn't care for the aroma, I'd be very gentle with them and, depending on the need, probably only put a single drop on the bottom of one foot and then rub the bottoms together, or, if it's something they need to inhale, I'd put a drop or two on a cotton cloth and ask them to inhale from the cloth at intervals through the day. As we do this, we'd thank the Lord for His wonderful, healing oils and ask Him to use His oils to help us. I would not force the oils on them, but rather lead them to inhale or allow me to put a drop on their foot (or wherever).
When people of any age have an aversion to the aroma of the oils, it may indicate that they are either acidic or perhaps have negative associations with the aroma. I personally had a negative association with the aroma of Lavender. It had always made me have allergic reactions of sneezing and misery. What I didn't realize is that my reaction was to synthetic Lavender I'd smell in candle shops, not the true essential oil, but my association caused me to recoil from true Lavender. Every time I had to blend something with Lavender, I wanted to wear gloves and a mask! Had I been a child, I might have refused to do it! To overcome my aversion, I prayed that the Lord to help me grow to love the oil that has so many wonderful uses - and now Lavender one of my favorites!
Here are two testimonies that may be helpful:
Headache/pH testimony from Brenda
Having just recently purchased my first diffuser, I was excited to start trying different oil blends. I purchased Peaceful as my first "non illness" blend, but I was really turned off by the smell. I developed a headache within minutes after starting the diffuser. After turning it off and wondering why on earth I had bought it, I emailed Linda with my issue. She emailed me back stating what a popular blend this was and wondering if my reaction might be due to my body being too acidic. I have run acidic in the past, so I spent the next few days trying to balance myself. I then tried the diffuser again and thoroughly enjoyed it. I realized that it had a strong citrus base that I had not been able to detect the first time. Not only will I be able to enjoy this blend, but I will now be able to use it as an indicator that my body is running acidic.
Headache testimony from Lee
When I first started using essential oils, I had one older child that said he'd get a headache every time he smelled them. I explained how it was highly unlikely to be allergic to a true, pure essential oil and encouraged him that he was probably just very toxic and needed to try to smell a little every day until they didn't bother him anymore. It took a while, but now this child will actually ask me for an oil when he has a headache!