There’s a label on the bottom of each Aroma Foundry box that lists the following: “Good for all-natural buffs, environmentally conscious, when guests visit, and smelly rooms.”
Each item is totally true. I’ve been doing my best to make our home homey just with essential oils, and it’s been going really well so far. My eucalyptus oil blend keeps everything squeaky clean, while my Aroma Foundry diffuser blend (DIY recipe below) makes everything smell fresh.
(Yes, even the bathroom.)
How each oil compares
It can be tough to buy your first set of essential oils, and one of the things I’ve always struggled with is knowing how different oils compare. I haven’t been able to find an easy, comprehensible list, so I decided to make one for you!
The most important thing to do when buying essential oils is to buy from a reputable company. Watch out for labels that don’t say “100% pure” or “essential oil,” and if you’re buying in person, smell the testers. Do they smell “oily” or rancid? Are they bottled in glass or plastic? Is it tough to tell one oil apart from the next just by the fragrance?
I really like Aroma Foundry because each oil is really high-quality and lists its country of origin clearly. If there’s something that you can’t find at Aroma Foundry, I’m also a fan of Thursday Plantation and Mountain Rose Herbs.
Bergamot vs lemongrass vs citronella essential oil comparison
Bergamot doesn’t really fit into this category. It’s a deep, hearty scent, and it smells like a floral rendition of bitter citrus. In small amounts (like in Earl Grey tea), I really love bergamot.
Citronella is very lemony, like lemon cleaner and butter. Most cats dislike the smell of it enough that they’ll avoid any areas scented with it, so I may try using this as a cat repellant on some of my textiles!
Aroma Foudry’s quality of lemongrass is really lovely. This essential oil smells like grassy lemon candy.
Spearmint vs peppermint essential oil comparison
Spearmint smells a lot sweeter and softer than peppermint, like green spearmint gum. Peppermint is a lot spicier, like regular white mints.
Cedarwood vs fir essential oil comparison
Cedarwood is often used as a fragrance base for all-natural perfumes, but it’s one of my least favourite EO smells. It smells like a wet, bitter sauna–some people love it, but I’m not crazy about it.
Fir is easier on the palate, and smells almost mentholated. It smells like a very fresh, minty pine tree.
Lime vs mandarin essential oil comparison
Finally, mandarin is citrusy and a little bitter, like the rind of a mandarin orange. Lime, on the other hand, is hella limey and very strong. I was really impressed by the quality of this one – it has fantastic throw and smells so pure I’m surprised it’s not artificially enhanced.
My DIY home fragrance blend of choice
Okay, so full disclosure: I’ve really been enjoying these oils because I’ve been using them to make a Saje-inspired knockoff diffuser blend. The Real Deal™ Saje After the Rain blend is definitely superior, but I really like the oils I’ve been using.
While I totally recognize the value in buying originals, as a consumer, it’s not always practical to do so. Aroma Foundry essential oils are about $66/100ml before any sale prices; the Saje blend is $169/100ml. I’m using it to scent my bedroom, boot closet, and car right now, so for me, it makes sense to be making it in bulk!
My After the Rain-inspired mix currently includes: bergamot, mandarin, grapefruit, lemongrass, spearmint, peppermint, fir, and cedarwood essential oils.
To scent an area without a diffuser, just soak a ribbon of fabric in your essential oil blend and tie it around a vent, curtain rod, or door handle.
Win a $25 Aroma Foundry gift card!
I always believe that the only thing better than reading a review is to try something out for yourself, and one lucky reader is going to have the chance to try out Aroma Foundry thanks to the lovely folks running their operation.
The giveaway is open to all US/Canada residents (or outside, if you have a mailing address in the US/Canada that you can order to). It will run for 2 weeks with full details in the widget itself, so enter below for your chance to win! If you’re having issues with Rafflecopter, leave a comment below and I’ll add your entry in manually.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
What essential oil have you always wanted to try?
