Favorite Essential Oils for Beginners From Industry Leaders

Now that I've dished on my ten recommended essential oils for beginners (as well as recommended usage rates for essential oils in soapmaking), I figured I would add more options to the pile by reaching out to other industry experts, such as soapmaking & bodycare teachers, aromatherapists, and authors!

This roundup of fabulous recommendations should help any newcomer to essential oils and soapmaking pick out their first additions to their supply arsenal!

Favorite Essential Oils for Beginners from Industry Leaders

Each industry leader I reached out to provide me with their own top ten list of essential oils for beginners, as well as any relevant blog posts or articles they've put together in the past on the topic. Plus, I hope this helps connect you to some of the other amazing talented soapmakers, formulators, and leaders in the handmade soap world!

Certified Aromatherapist, Herbalist, & Formulator Extraordinaire: Joan Morais

Meet Joan Morais

Joan Morais is a certified aromatherapist and herbalist, as well as a talented author, formulator, and skincare instructor. Joan started her own publishing company in 2003 and is the author of many books on natural product making including How to Make Professional Natural Lotions and Creams, as well as the mastermind behind dozens of "how-to" courses and classes. To learn more about Joan Morais, visit her website at www.JoanMorais.com.

Joan's Ten Favorite Essential Oils for Beginners

• Litsea Cubeba
• Lemongrass
• Lemon
• Sweet Orange
• Petitgrain
• Lavandin Grosso
• Rose Geranium
• Peru Balsam
• Eucalyptus
• Rosemary

Joan has previously written a blog post about using essential oils in cold process, which covers basic usage rates and some more of her favorites!

Hot Process Soapmaking Superstar & Certified Soapmaker/Teacher: Jennifer Grimes

Meet Jen Grimes

I affectionately refer to Jen as the Hot Process Queen, as she takes as much pride and joy in hot process soapmaking as I do in cold process soapmaking. She is a certified soapmaker through the Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetics Guild, as well as a frequent teacher at The Nova Studio. Jen owns & operates Loft Soap in San Francisco, California.

Jen's Ten Favorite Essential Oils for Beginners

• Anise
• Lemongrass
• 5 Fold Orange
• Peppermint
• Lavandin
• Eucalyptus Globulus
• Petitgrain
• Litsea Cubeba
• Cedarwood
• Rose Geranium

Founder of One of the Oldest Bath & Body Instructional Studios: Lori Nova Endres

Meet Lori Nova Endres

Lori Nova Endres is the infamous founder and co-owner behind The Nova Studio (one of my favorite places to teach!) She opened The Nova Studio in 2003, which has hosted hundreds of classes on creating bath and body products and running a successful business. The Nova Studio offers tons of ebooks, handouts, and online classes to suit your fancy (including some of mine!)

Lori's Ten Favorite Essential Oils for Beginners

• Lavender
• 5 Fold Sweet Orange
• Petitgrain
• Lemon
• Litsea Cubeba
• Spearmint
• Lime
• Peppermint
• Rosemary
• Clary Sage

Lori has previously written a Handy Doc about her top ten essential oils in cold process, which covers basic usage rates and how to calculate the total amount of essential oil in soapmaking!

Founder of One of the Oldest Online Bath & Body Instructional Programs: Erica Pence

Meet Erica Pence

Erica is the founder and owner of Bath Alchemy Lab, one of the oldest online instructional programs related to soapmaking and bath and body product formulating. Erica's background in education and curriculum development has ensured that Bath Alchemy Lab is one of the most comprehensive and robust programs available, and being completely online certainly helps!

Erica's Ten Favorite Essential Oils for Beginners

• Lavender
• Sweet Orange
• Lemon
• Spearmint
• Peppermint
• Rosemary
• Litsea Cubeba
• Amyris
• Patchouli
• Tea Tree

Erica has previously written a blog post with more thorough details about her top ten essential oils, including their scent profile, what they blend with, and a cost rating!

Swirled Soap Master, Certified Soapmaker, & Studio Owner: Michelle Rhoades

Meet Michelle Rhoades

In 2010, Michelle founded Mossy Creek Soap Studio in Georgia, and has been teaching ever since! Michelle offers both in-person classes in her studio and online handouts/videos via her website, as well as finished bath & body products through her Mossy Creek Naturals line. She recently opened a second location, a retail brick & mortar, and is always pushing herself to conquer more of the soapy world!

Michelle's Ten Favorite Essential Oils for Beginners

• Lavender
• Spearmint
• Lemon Eucalyptus
• Geranium
• Rosemary
• Patchouli
• Tea Tree
• White Grapefruit
• Peppermint
• 15 Fold Orange

Pillar of the Indie Beauty Community: Angela Carillo

Meet Angela Carillo

Angela is a New York State licensed and certified Medical Technologist with a fondness for biology, chemistry, and fragrances, and the owner of Alegna Soap. Besides being a wonderful soapmaker and teacher, she has a heart of gold and is constantly giving back to the industry through the Indie Business  and her blog over on Alegna Soap. She has touched the hearts & minds of hundreds of soapmakers from around the world with her sense of humor and growing list of accomplishments.

Angela's Ten Favorite Essential Oils for Beginners

• Lavender
• Peppermint
• Lemongrass
• Orange
• Patchouli
• Rose Geranium
• Tea Tree
• Eucalyptus
• Rosemary
• Anise

Angela has previously written a blog post with more thorough details about her top ten essential oils, including what she blends them with!

Certified Aromatherapist & Self-Publishing Superstar Author: Kayla Fioravanti

Meet Kayla Fioravanti

Kayla Fioravanti is a registered and certified aromatherapist. She is the author of eight books including, The Art, Science & Business of Aromatherapy as well as the abridged edition The Art & Science of Aromatherapy. Kayla’s passion is to educate business owners and empower authors. Kayla released the long held industry secret recipes for melt & pour soap in 2011 in her book How to Make Melt & Pour Soap from Scratch. To learn more about Kayla Fioravanti, visit her websites KaylaFioravanti.com and Selah-Press.com.

Kayla’s Top Ten Essential Oils for Beginners

• Cedarwood (Cedrus deodora)
• Chamomile, Blue (Maticaria chamomilla, Chamomilla recuita)
• Cistus (Cistus ladanifer)
• Clary sage (Salvia sclarea)
• Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globules)
• Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)
• Laurel Leaf (Laurus nobilis)
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinale cineole)
• Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)

The profiles of Kayla’s top ten essential oils for beginners can be found in The Art, Science & Business of Aromatherapy and The Art & Science of Aromatherapy.

Are you an experienced essential oil user & soapmaker? Dish out your favorite essential oils in the comments below!