Cheap, Easy Homemade Thieves Oil Blend:
Young Living Essential Oils Copycat Recipe
I made a Thieves Oil Blend, meaning that the essential oils (EO) are already diluted in a carrier oil so they are suitable to be applied directly to skin safely. I chose to do this because of how we planned to use the oils and because I have small children around, so even though I keep our EO blends away from little fingers, I would still rather be safe than sorry. (Undiluted EO are very potent and need to be respected as such!) I also take a minute to print off a label with the recipe below (including the scientific names) and I also write the date it was bottled and which bottle it is since I use multiple bottles for one batch (example: bottled 9/28/12, 1 of 5) If a small child ever does get a hold of EO, or any medication, vitamin, household cleaner, etc. and you suspect they've ingested/overdosed on it, call poison control or 911 and have the bottle handy to tell them exactly what the contents are.
UPDATE 7/19/18: I want to add that over the years I've seen some families using EO blends heavily, undiluted, and daily. Some of these families began reporting after 3-5 years that they weren't getting any benefits from them anymore. They ended up back at the doctor for prescriptions from ailments that they had depended on their own brand/recipe of thieves oil/immune defense to ward off. They said they "just didn't know what to do, now that the EOs were failing them." Please, do not over-use any EO. Our bodies are different and can react differently. I don't have any scientific research to the effect, but it doesn't seem unreasonable that some individuals can become almost tolerant to a degree and lose benefits, or that other individuals could experience adrenal fatigue concerns. These potent oils can stimulate our immune system and I don't believe it is reasonable to try maintain a heightened level of immune response 365 days a year continuously. Our family has found amazing results at warding off germs by greatly reducing our processed sugar consumption to improve our overall health. In fact, we've only cracked the thieves bottle open when we knew we were coming into contact with families having just recovered from the flu or with those who had half their family home sick but still chose to mingle. Now, onto the recipe!
UPDATE 7/19/18: I want to add that over the years I've seen some families using EO blends heavily, undiluted, and daily. Some of these families began reporting after 3-5 years that they weren't getting any benefits from them anymore. They ended up back at the doctor for prescriptions from ailments that they had depended on their own brand/recipe of thieves oil/immune defense to ward off. They said they "just didn't know what to do, now that the EOs were failing them." Please, do not over-use any EO. Our bodies are different and can react differently. I don't have any scientific research to the effect, but it doesn't seem unreasonable that some individuals can become almost tolerant to a degree and lose benefits, or that other individuals could experience adrenal fatigue concerns. These potent oils can stimulate our immune system and I don't believe it is reasonable to try maintain a heightened level of immune response 365 days a year continuously. Our family has found amazing results at warding off germs by greatly reducing our processed sugar consumption to improve our overall health. In fact, we've only cracked the thieves bottle open when we knew we were coming into contact with families having just recovered from the flu or with those who had half their family home sick but still chose to mingle. Now, onto the recipe!
Recipe:
After doing my own research, including reading up on EO, their uses, and comparing many recipes for Thieves Oil that I found online, here's the recipe (a compilation of many) that I came up with:
1 T. clovebud EO (Eugenia aromatica)
1 T. lemon EO (Citrus limon)
2 and 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon Leaf EO (Cinnamomum selenium) {*UPDATE: I have subbed cinnamon bark (cinnamonium zeylanicum) when necessary}
2 tsp. Eucalyptus EO (Eucalyptus globulus)
2 tsp. Rosemary EO (Rosemarinus officinalis)
*Dilluted into 8 oz Jojoba [carrier] Oil (Simmondsia chinensis)
Just measure carefully & mix the above ingredients (starting with the carrier if you're using one) in a glass bowl & store properly (see more on storage below).
I chose Jojoba as a carrier oil because it isn't as greasy as other carriers and I read that it will allow your blend of EO to have a longer shelf life, up to 2+ years sealed in a dark glass bottle and kept in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. The article on EO safety that I linked to above claims that (non-commercially produced) EO blends will go rancid in as little as 3-6 months, but we have had ours for just over two years (and are now running out) and they haven't gone rancid and are still effective. I still chose to include the link to the article because even though they may be biased toward purchasing from a specific company, I think it highlights some important things to consider when using EO. I would use it as a starting point for more research if something peaks your interest or seems like it may be a concern; it is always best to make an informed decision so I never take any single website's claims as absolute fact.
*UPDATE: An alert reader brought to my attention that I failed to mention in this post that carrier oils should NOT be added to EO blends which will be diffused. The carrier oil can clog up (even potentially damaging) diffusers. I mentioned earlier I add the carrier oil partly for safety measures as the primary way I use Thieves is topical. If I need some to diffuse, I whip up a fresh batch.
Click here for a brief article on storage and use of essential oils and blends.
Here is a longer more detailed article on EO and carrier oils, with info on specific types of carrier oils.
1 T. clovebud EO (Eugenia aromatica)
1 T. lemon EO (Citrus limon)
2 and 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon Leaf EO (Cinnamomum selenium) {*UPDATE: I have subbed cinnamon bark (cinnamonium zeylanicum) when necessary}
2 tsp. Eucalyptus EO (Eucalyptus globulus)
2 tsp. Rosemary EO (Rosemarinus officinalis)
*Dilluted into 8 oz Jojoba [carrier] Oil (Simmondsia chinensis)
Just measure carefully & mix the above ingredients (starting with the carrier if you're using one) in a glass bowl & store properly (see more on storage below).
I chose Jojoba as a carrier oil because it isn't as greasy as other carriers and I read that it will allow your blend of EO to have a longer shelf life, up to 2+ years sealed in a dark glass bottle and kept in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. The article on EO safety that I linked to above claims that (non-commercially produced) EO blends will go rancid in as little as 3-6 months, but we have had ours for just over two years (and are now running out) and they haven't gone rancid and are still effective. I still chose to include the link to the article because even though they may be biased toward purchasing from a specific company, I think it highlights some important things to consider when using EO. I would use it as a starting point for more research if something peaks your interest or seems like it may be a concern; it is always best to make an informed decision so I never take any single website's claims as absolute fact.
*UPDATE: An alert reader brought to my attention that I failed to mention in this post that carrier oils should NOT be added to EO blends which will be diffused. The carrier oil can clog up (even potentially damaging) diffusers. I mentioned earlier I add the carrier oil partly for safety measures as the primary way I use Thieves is topical. If I need some to diffuse, I whip up a fresh batch.
Click here for a brief article on storage and use of essential oils and blends.
Here is a longer more detailed article on EO and carrier oils, with info on specific types of carrier oils.
Where I Buy Ingredients:
Comparing prices is important, and quality need not be compromised. I buy my essential oils and glass bottles with droppers from Mountain Rose Herbs.
Since this original post, we have discovered Native American Nutritionals (NAN), after reading this series of posts on Whole New Mom about which EO is best. We've been satisfied with the prices and quality of EO from them and so I would like to add that they are an alternative to Mountain Rose Herbs in case one item or another is not in stock with either supplier. I have contacted NAN with questions and have been very satisfied with their communication.
UPDATE: NAN has joined forces with Rocky Mountain Oils, another reputable EO producer. Prior to the merge, Rocky Mountain's oils were a bit spendier, and some people have expressed concern on NAN's Facebook page that some products are no longer available in the same form (they no longer carry a specific EO in organic, or the EO they've usually gotten now has a different scientific name and smells/seems different). I was concerned that NAN might lose it's flare by merging, but time will tell. I haven't had any issues, concerns, or complaints with the orders I have placed since the merge, personally.
To make the recipe above, purchase 1/2 oz. of each of Clovebud EO, Lemon EO, Cinnamon Leaf EO, Eucalyptus EO and Rosemary EO. It makes just over 10 oz of Thieves Oil Blend, so if you're ordering glass bottles, be sure to make sure you have one(s) large enough. I personally bought 5 (2 oz.) cobalt glass bottles with droppers for convenience along with an 8 oz bottle with a screw cap. After mixing my blend, I pour the majority into the 8 oz jar for storage, the remainder into the dropper jars for ease of use, and I refill the smaller dropper jars as needed.
I purchase Jojoba oil, my carrier oil, from Appalachian Valley Natural Products. Mountain Rose Herbs is much more expensive for Jojoba oil, partially since at the time I checked they only offered organic Jojoba oil, whereas Appalachian Valley (a wholesaler) offers the option of organic or not and the prices are low enough to justify paying the separate shipping. Do your own comparison shopping, though, because prices do change over time, and I admit, after doing my initial price-comparison shopping for EO, I'm not likely to check them all again. I'm a creature of habit and I'll just assume if they were cheapest last time, they will be again. Now, when it comes to doing weekly grocery shopping, that's a whole 'nother ball game!
Since this original post, we have discovered Native American Nutritionals (NAN), after reading this series of posts on Whole New Mom about which EO is best. We've been satisfied with the prices and quality of EO from them and so I would like to add that they are an alternative to Mountain Rose Herbs in case one item or another is not in stock with either supplier. I have contacted NAN with questions and have been very satisfied with their communication.
UPDATE: NAN has joined forces with Rocky Mountain Oils, another reputable EO producer. Prior to the merge, Rocky Mountain's oils were a bit spendier, and some people have expressed concern on NAN's Facebook page that some products are no longer available in the same form (they no longer carry a specific EO in organic, or the EO they've usually gotten now has a different scientific name and smells/seems different). I was concerned that NAN might lose it's flare by merging, but time will tell. I haven't had any issues, concerns, or complaints with the orders I have placed since the merge, personally.
To make the recipe above, purchase 1/2 oz. of each of Clovebud EO, Lemon EO, Cinnamon Leaf EO, Eucalyptus EO and Rosemary EO. It makes just over 10 oz of Thieves Oil Blend, so if you're ordering glass bottles, be sure to make sure you have one(s) large enough. I personally bought 5 (2 oz.) cobalt glass bottles with droppers for convenience along with an 8 oz bottle with a screw cap. After mixing my blend, I pour the majority into the 8 oz jar for storage, the remainder into the dropper jars for ease of use, and I refill the smaller dropper jars as needed.
I purchase Jojoba oil, my carrier oil, from Appalachian Valley Natural Products. Mountain Rose Herbs is much more expensive for Jojoba oil, partially since at the time I checked they only offered organic Jojoba oil, whereas Appalachian Valley (a wholesaler) offers the option of organic or not and the prices are low enough to justify paying the separate shipping. Do your own comparison shopping, though, because prices do change over time, and I admit, after doing my initial price-comparison shopping for EO, I'm not likely to check them all again. I'm a creature of habit and I'll just assume if they were cheapest last time, they will be again. Now, when it comes to doing weekly grocery shopping, that's a whole 'nother ball game!
I Finally Bought a "Brand Name" Thieves Oil Equivalent: How Did it Measure Up?
We finally purchased a bottle (instead of making our own) because I felt a bit insecure about using ONLY our homemade stuff as a preventative to keep germs away since our 4 year old is scheduled to have a surgical procedure. I thought, maybe some of those people who warn me that "my" ingredients are so far inferior in quality that we aren't getting the "maximum benefits" of the oils had a good point? After all, I haven't done ANY clinical/scientific research on our use of the recipe listed above. We just use it, and when we do, it works.
What made me a believer of thieves in the first place, other than our good friends' (who just happen to be a Biologist and Chemist with 3 children) testimony regarding their use of thieves oil for 5+ years (that'd be 8+ now), it was experience. We dabbed a few drops on each foot at bedtime before we knew we'd be going to a social function the next day, or having the kids in nursery at church, but we didn't get sick often so it wasn't easy to know whether it was helping or not. Then, the stomach flu hit our house. Started with the (then 2 yr old), moved to the next older sibling, and hit my husband. I was pregnant and working part-time in a health-care related job. I could NOT afford (on multiple levels of the word) to get sick. I put on thieves faithfully EVERY night and avoided it until the last of the sickness symptoms had been gone from our home for about 48 hours. Then, it happened, I had to work an overnight shift and had forgotten to put on the thieves before leaving for work. Panic struck me, but I reassured myself, I'll just put it on first thing in the morning when I go home. Well, I woke up in the morning (yes, I slept on the job, it was OK and expected of me, lol) I felt naseaus. Got home and felt worse... put on the thieves daily after that and my battle with the stomach flue was definitely shorter-lived than that of the others, but I am convinced had I not missed that one "dose," I could have prevented ever being ill in the first place.
To clarify, we don't put Thieves blend on our feet every single night. Although, I don't think that would be a problem, we'd go through our oils a lot faster! We rub it on our feet when we feel we are more likely prone or susceptible to illness. We dab it on the kids necks (over their tonsils) and our own before attending church. The nurseries are kept very clean, but we all know the reality of germs being shared in the 3 year-old-room is undeniable. And, when you have a large family, the little one can and often does act as the starting domino!
What made me a believer of thieves in the first place, other than our good friends' (who just happen to be a Biologist and Chemist with 3 children) testimony regarding their use of thieves oil for 5+ years (that'd be 8+ now), it was experience. We dabbed a few drops on each foot at bedtime before we knew we'd be going to a social function the next day, or having the kids in nursery at church, but we didn't get sick often so it wasn't easy to know whether it was helping or not. Then, the stomach flu hit our house. Started with the (then 2 yr old), moved to the next older sibling, and hit my husband. I was pregnant and working part-time in a health-care related job. I could NOT afford (on multiple levels of the word) to get sick. I put on thieves faithfully EVERY night and avoided it until the last of the sickness symptoms had been gone from our home for about 48 hours. Then, it happened, I had to work an overnight shift and had forgotten to put on the thieves before leaving for work. Panic struck me, but I reassured myself, I'll just put it on first thing in the morning when I go home. Well, I woke up in the morning (yes, I slept on the job, it was OK and expected of me, lol) I felt naseaus. Got home and felt worse... put on the thieves daily after that and my battle with the stomach flue was definitely shorter-lived than that of the others, but I am convinced had I not missed that one "dose," I could have prevented ever being ill in the first place.
To clarify, we don't put Thieves blend on our feet every single night. Although, I don't think that would be a problem, we'd go through our oils a lot faster! We rub it on our feet when we feel we are more likely prone or susceptible to illness. We dab it on the kids necks (over their tonsils) and our own before attending church. The nurseries are kept very clean, but we all know the reality of germs being shared in the 3 year-old-room is undeniable. And, when you have a large family, the little one can and often does act as the starting domino!
Bottom line Comparison from our Experiences:
**Thank you to an alert reader whose question reminded me to complete this post by including my review of "Name Brand" thieves oil compared to the homemade blend we are using and making. We've still been using thieves blends, and have tried a variety of different brands' mixes of it as well. I am going to choose which company names I display here wisely:
"Name Brand" stuff had no difference in performance or results in our experience when compared with the recipe made above using EO purchased from either Mountain Rose Herbs OR Native American Nutritionals, with the exception that when we diffused it using a breeze (cold diffusion- no water, heat, or ultrasonic waves) diffuser, it diffused slightly faster (In other words, it took X amount of time to diffuse an entire bottle of our homemade blend, and it took about an hour less to diffuse an entire name brand bottle in the same diffuser with the same settings.I am not a chemist and won't make any guesses as to why.) When we used our recipe above and subbed NOW FOODS brand for the lemon EO, or any other "cheaper brand" for one or more component, then when I diffuse in the same diffuser, the bottom of the bottle ends up with about 1/8 tsp of oil that will not diffuse. When I use all oils purchased from either supplier mentioned above, or a Name Brand oil or blend, they diffuse 100%. Hence, I learned my lesson (more than once because I'm cheap and stubborn), that it's not worth it to sub a cheaper oil that can be ordered faster.
I will also add that we tried Native American Nutritionals comparable to thieves and did not care for it because it includes the addition of oregano oil. While oregano EO is widely used for immune support, we discovered that, even greatly diluted, it was too potent and caused skin irritation when applied sparingly. I am sure others do not have an issue with this, but we do, so we continue to make our own.
"Name Brand" stuff had no difference in performance or results in our experience when compared with the recipe made above using EO purchased from either Mountain Rose Herbs OR Native American Nutritionals, with the exception that when we diffused it using a breeze (cold diffusion- no water, heat, or ultrasonic waves) diffuser, it diffused slightly faster (In other words, it took X amount of time to diffuse an entire bottle of our homemade blend, and it took about an hour less to diffuse an entire name brand bottle in the same diffuser with the same settings.I am not a chemist and won't make any guesses as to why.) When we used our recipe above and subbed NOW FOODS brand for the lemon EO, or any other "cheaper brand" for one or more component, then when I diffuse in the same diffuser, the bottom of the bottle ends up with about 1/8 tsp of oil that will not diffuse. When I use all oils purchased from either supplier mentioned above, or a Name Brand oil or blend, they diffuse 100%. Hence, I learned my lesson (more than once because I'm cheap and stubborn), that it's not worth it to sub a cheaper oil that can be ordered faster.
I will also add that we tried Native American Nutritionals comparable to thieves and did not care for it because it includes the addition of oregano oil. While oregano EO is widely used for immune support, we discovered that, even greatly diluted, it was too potent and caused skin irritation when applied sparingly. I am sure others do not have an issue with this, but we do, so we continue to make our own.
If you're interested in free downloads for homeschooling, gluten/dairy/egg free recipes, book reviews, poems, Christian parenting, or my experiences following Jesus imperfectly, but authentically (as much as a sinner can), check out my blog.
*** The link to Rocky Mountain Oils is a referral link which gives you 10% off your first order. I am not an affiliate, it's just a refer-a-friend type link and I want to share the savings with others.