Why Essential Oils Don’t Work for Everyone - Six Reasons (and What to do Differently)
Let’s get honest: Essential oils don’t work for everyone.
At least not the way they could.
And that’s a problem.
Because these potent plant allies are incredibly effective when used correctly - but too often, they’re dismissed as “just nice smells” or a trend that didn’t live up to the hype.
But here’s the real issue…
Most people were never taught how to use them therapeutically, as tools of transformation.
They’re applying them like perfume…when they’re actually potent multi-dimensional, vibrational healing tools.
I believe we can have a healer in every home, with a book, a box of oils and a little sense of curiosity, wonder and adventure.
And when I say “healer”, I don’t mean someone who fixes or diagnoses.
I mean someone who has developed skill to observe, listen, respond.
One who learns to trust the intelligence of the body and of the plants.
Someone who creates space within themselves or for others for balance, presence and healing to unfold.
It means partnering with essential oils not as quick fix prescriptions, but as vibrational allies for your body, nervous system, and soul.
So why don’t essential oils seem to “work” for some?
1. They’re using low-quality oils.
Not all oils are created equal.
Most products on store shelves (even the pricey ones) are diluted, adulterated, or contaminated.
If you’re not using oils that are third-party tested for purity, potency, and sourcing - you’re not using the real thing.
Your cells knows the difference which means your energy field knows, too.
Try this. Inhale a pure oil like Frankincense from Somalia or Oman…then smell a synthetic cheap Frank. Your nose will give you the answer.
Frankly though, many people today are nose- blind… that is so over burdened by synthetic fragrances and chemical exposure from everyday household products. They don’t even realize what they are swimming in.
2. They’re using oils only superficially - not to support cellular and systemic balance.
Sure, Peppermint can soothe a headache + Lavender or help you calm anxious feelings or help you sleep.
That’s great and also just the tip of the iceberg.
When used intentionally, they become something far more powerful.
They heal, balance and fortify on multiple levels.
They recalibrate your nervous system.
They open your emotional channels.
They shift your energetic blueprint.
They change how you feel, function, and flow. And when you learn how to work with them intentionally it’s like jumping straight into a current that carries you to a new level of awareness.
This is what most people miss.
Essential oils aren’t just physical. They aren’t just nice smells.
They’re vibrational tools and they return us to our natural senses.
That means they don’t just “fix” things - they truly get to the root and help your body remember how to regulate, release, and realign. I’ve never witnessed anything quite so brilliant.
3. They’re not pairing them with presence.
If you’re racing through your day, dabbing oils between errands or before a Zoom call - but never actually pausing to breathe them in, presence and feel the response within you - you’re bypassing the power.
Scent is a direct pathway to the limbic brain - your center for memory, emotion, and behavior. Did you know The cells of the olfactory epithelium are in fact brain cells? This is the only place in the body where your central nervous system is exposed and is in direct contact with the environment. (Jodi Cohen, Essential Oils to Boost the Brain & Heal the Body) So. freakin. cool.
This is why I teach essential oils as transformational tools and routines and rituals as embodied resonance practices - not quick fixes.
When you apply oils with intention, stillness, and a few conscious breaths, you unlock a deeper medicine: the kind that shifts not just your state, but your trajectory.
4. They’re using too much, not frequent enough - or the wrong way.
This is a big one. More is not more when it comes to essential oils. They are highly concentrated (50-70 times more potent than herbs).
Overuse can overwhelm your system and dull their effects or even initiate an adverse reaction. Also, sometimes we need to use LESS, BUT MORE OFTEN to see a result. One and done application may not cut it.
It only takes one drop - placed intentionally - to create a shift. There are 3 Ways to Use Essential Oils - Aromatically, Topically & Internally. Knowing which application method is best for what you are working with is key to getting desirable results.
This is why I teach less is more. It’s about precision, not excess.
Oils work best with conscious application and the right energetic timing. Working with intention helps the body open to their medicine.
5. They haven’t been taught how to apply them effectively.
It’s not your fault. I remember receiving an essential oil as a gift back in 2013 and putting it in a drawer because I didn’t know what it was good for.
Most people simply don’t know where or how to apply oils to access their deeper healing properties. So, they sit in a drawer or on the shelf. (Pro tip: Put your oils out in plain view. That will remind you to use them)
The EASIEST way to begin using oils is aromatic diffusion. My favorite kit for beginning your journey with diffusing is The Aroma Essentials Kit $165: Grab yours here.
6. Their body chemistry needs something different.
We are not one-size-fits-all. Our chemistry is dynamic. Hormones shift, nervous systems adapt, and every body responds uniquely.
Sometimes it takes a little exploration to find the oil or blend that truly resonates. For example, my friend had a baby who wasn’t sleeping. at all. She thought for sure Lavender in the diffuser should do the trick. But it didn’t seem to work. She switched to Frankincense, and it worked like a charm.
This doesn’t mean oils don’t work. It means you’re discovering which ones work best for you.
It’s a relationship. A dialogue. A listening and learning. Most of all though, it’s a practice.
Through the process your intuition will sharpen, your appreciation of nature’s magic will deepen, and you will return to your own naturalness in a whole new way.
How do you actually use essential oils?
The way you learn how to use essential oils, is by using them.
There are 3 ways to use them. Aromatically, Topically, & Internally (consult the label to know if an oil is safe for internal use. doTERRA is unique in their quality control and science background)
However, you don’t need a degree in chemistry or extensive training to know how to use essential oils effectively. With a basic understanding of safety precautions and application methods, it's easy to start using essential oils.
Ready to start your own daily routines & rituals to become the healer in your home? When you order from me, you receive 25% off retail pricing, support and direction from me and your own wholesale account with optional Rewards perks and more.
Here’s some of my top kits.
New to oils and want to build daily habits and address health from the inside out?
→ Explore & Purchase the Healthy Habits Kit here. $225A massage therapist or hands-on healer?
→ Start with the AromaTouch Technique Kit $250 (Comes with FREE AromaTouch Technique Online Certification Course)Brand new and want the best for diffusing and learning how to use topically- Start with Aroma Essentials Kit $165
Want to build your own cart? SHOP HERE.
✧ Not sure where to begin?
→ Let’s map your next step together. Book a free Clarity Activation Call. We’ll connect for 20–30 minutes to explore what’s aligned and what would work best for your priorities.
Want to go deeper into energetic healing?
🌿 AromaPoint Mastery is for you.
My signature 9-month journey into plant energetics, nervous system healing, and emotional repatterning.
→ Early bird enrollment $1333 is open now through September 1st. Full price $1600
→ Explore AromaPoint Mastery and Enroll Now
For my entrepreneurial types: Want to learn how to share oils and earn with doTERRA? I’m currently growing my team of partners and plan to help 6 people earn a 6 figure income in the next 2 years. I am also passionate about helping those who want to make an extra $500 a month as well and anything in between!
Learn more here, then book a Clarity Activation Call so we can discuss your priorities and I can share from experience what building a doTERRA Business actually entails.
I’m currently focused on helping Massage Therapists educate and earn through a Free Mentorship called Massage & Mission. Learn More here: Emilypolonus.com/mentorship
