All Essential Oils

How to buy wholesale essential oils

Do you want to add organic essential oil to your small business? Buying wholesale is a smart way to save money and ensure a steady supply. Whether you're searching for popular scents or organic essential oil blends, finding the right supplier is key to your success.

Why should you choose Africa Imports?

We only sell high-quality and versatile wholesale essential oils. Our choices are perfect for personal care, aromatherapy, perfume creation, and bath products.

As an IFRA-compliant supplier, all our oils meet strict safety and industry standards. This ensures you can focus on creating unique offerings without safety concerns.

And, we always have new ideas! Check back regularly and find new affordable essential oils that your customers will love.

What are essential oils?

Imagine putting the special smell of a plant into a tiny bottle. That's what essential oils are!

Essential oils are natural substances that come from fruits, trees, herbs, or plants. Think of them as having the highly-concentrated smell and beneficial properties of a plant. They're perfect for things like candles, diffusers, soaps, and other personal care products.

Natural essentials oils have been around for thousands of years. Ancient civilizations have used plant oils for medicinal, cosmetic, and spiritual purposes.

The uses of essential oils have changed over time, but the benefits they bring are still the same. Today, essential oils are used as a natural way to support one's health and well-being.

How are essential oils used?

Essential oils are used in many different ways and their versatility makes them an important addition to your health and wellness journey.

1. Inhalation

Inhaling essential oil directly from the bottle can provide immediate benefits. The common benefits are quick relief from stress or a stuffed up nose. You can also add essential oils to aromatherapy diffusers. They release oil particles into the air to create a calming atmosphere in homes, spas, offices, or other spaces.

Adding tiny drops of essential oils to a bowl of hot water and inhaling the steam can help clear stuffy noses, soothe sore throats, and enhance relaxation.

2. Topical Application

Because essential oils are highly concentrated, they need to be diluted with carrier oils, like sweet almond, coconut, or jojoba, to make them safe for use. After the essential oils are properly diluted, they can be used in massage therapy or in skincare.

A few drops of essential oil can also be added to a cloth soaked in warm water to create a compress. It helps relieve muscle aches, skin irritation, and headaches.

3. Cleaning

Some essential oils are useful for killing germs and bacteria. They can be a natural and effective addition to your cleaning routine. Here are some tips that you can try out:

• All-purpose cleaner: Add a few drops of essential oil, such as lemon, tea tree, or lavender, to white vinegar and water. Put the mixture in a spray bottle and use it on different surfaces around the house.
• Disinfectant spray: Mix rubbing alcohol, water, and essential oils like eucalyptus or peppermint to create a homemade disinfectant that gets rid of germs that cause sicknesses.
• Laundry additive: Put a few drops of essential oil in laundry detergent to give your clothes a desired scent.

4. Hair Care

Essential oils carry natural benefits that come from plants. Adding essential oils to your hair care routine can nourish your scalp and improve hair health. For instance, mixing a few drops of lavender or rosemary oil with carrier oil can help soothe the irritation on your scalp and help your hair grow.

You can also create a hair rinse by adding tiny drops of essential oil to a cup of water and using it as a final rinse after shampooing. Additionally, a hot oil treatment with warmed carrier oil and essential oils can serve as a deep conditioning treatment for your hair.

5. Crafting

Crafters use essential oils to add fragrance to homemade candles, soaps, and other handcrafted items.

To create the aroma you want, start by choosing essential oils that complement the wax you're using. Don't be afraid to experiment with different combinations to make unique scents that would suit your customers' preferences.

Just remember to get essential oils that are compatible with the wax and to follow common safety guidelines.

What are the benefits of natural essential oils?

There are lots of benefits that come with using essential oils. A few of these benefits are:

1. Health and wellness

Lots of people use essential oils to relieve pain and enhance focus. They're also great for helping people relax. Certain oils, like peppermint, are known for relieving headaches, while ylang ylang and lavender are popular for reducing stress and promoting relaxation.

Aside from the wellness benefits, the right essential oils can also benefit your skin and hair. For instance, tea tree oil is great for treating acne and other skin conditions. On the other hand, rosemary oil promotes hair growth. Essential oils can be added to handmade shampoos, conditioners, or skincare products to make them more effective.

2. Aromatherapy

Essential oils play an important role in aromatherapy -- a practice that uses natural scents to improve someone's well-being.

Experts believe that aromatherapy activates areas in the nose, called smell receptors. These receptors send messages to your brain, and essential oils can influence someone's mood and emotions. They also benefit your mental health.

Potential benefits that you can get from using wholesale aromatherapy oils include:

• Improved sleep.
• Stress and anxiety relief.
• A relaxation boost.
• Easing some types of pain like joint pain, headaches, and more.
• Nausea relief.

Lavender and chamomile are oils that are popular for their calming effects. Citrus oils, like lemon and orange, can help energize you.

3. Home care and personal care

People add essential oils to diffusers too. This method freshens up the home environment and lets you inhale the oils' therapeutic benefits. Some popular oils for diffusers can include sandalwood, frankincense, and chamomile. They're great for meditation, relaxation, and creating a warm atmosphere.

Aside from home use, essential oils can also be added to handcrafted items like candles and soaps. They add a natural fragrance and therapeutic benefits to these products. For example, crafters add lavender scent to candles to create relaxing scents. Another instance is tea tree oil being added to soaps to provide skincare benefits.

What are the different types of essential oils?

Each essential oil comes with unique therapeutic properties and aromas. They are categorized into different types, and here's a bit of what you need to know.

1. Based on plant parts

• Floral: Extracted from flowers like rose, jasmine, lavender and more.
• Citrus: Taken from citrus fruits that you know and love. Think lemons, oranges, and grapefruits --- to name a few.
• Woody: Oils that come from the wood or barks of trees. Common examples are cedarwood and sandalwood.
• Herbal: These are oils that are from the leaves or stems of plants. Some oils that come to mind are peppermint and rosemary.
• Resinous: Extracted from the resin of trees, just like frankincense and myrrh.
• Spice: These are derived from the seeds, bark, or roots of plants. Famous examples include cinnamon and cloves.
• Root: Oils that are taken from the roots of plants. Think ginger and vetiver roots.

2. Based on aromas

• Fresh: Characterized by citrusy, green, or aquatic scents. A few scents that you might think of include lemon, mint, and eucalyptus.
• Floral: These oils usually smell sweet and delicate. Think lavender, ylang ylang, and geranium scents.
• Woody: Described as earthy and grounding scents. Some examples include rosewood, cypress, juniper, and more.
• Spicy: Characterized by warm and stimulating scents from black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and more.
• Oriental: These smells are described as rich and complex. Scent blends often combine sweet, spicy, and woody notes to create something unique.
• Fruity: Sweet and refreshing scents derived from fruits like mango, coconut, limes, oranges, and more.

Lots of essential oils can fit into multiple categories based on their aroma and plant origin.

What are our best selling wholesale essential oils?

Africa Imports has lots of high-quality and affordable essential oils at wholesale prices. There are 160+ oils to choose from. With such a large collection, we're sure that you can find the right essential oils that are perfect for your customers' needs.

Our best selling essential oils include:

• Lavender Essential Oil: The classic go-to oil for aromatherapy and personal use. Lavender is calming and soothing, and also delivers lots of medicinal benefits that can't be ignored. It soothes burns, heals wounds, restores skin complexion, heals hangovers, and more.
• Tea Tree Essential Oil: Essential oil extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant. It smells fresh and medicinal. This oil is also good for treating acne, cuts, and wounds, and also delivers relief from skin irritation and infections.
• Peppermint (Mentha Arvensis) Essential Oil: Soothing, calming, and refreshing. Peppermint re-energizes you and improves your memory and mental focus. Aside from the mental benefits, it also helps skin irritation and improves how your skin and hair looks.
• Eucalyptus Essential Oil: Helpful for clearing up sinus infections, colds, flus, allergies and more. Eucalyptus oil has a natural scent that drives harmful insects away too. It's a natural bug spray that smells clean and crisp.

The Difference Between Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils

Essential oils and fragrance oils are popular for their scents and uses, but they have their differences.

Essential oils are natural and are extracted from plants. They capture the plant's essence and therapeutic properties. It makes them great for stress relief, skin care, and aromatherapy. Essential oils are pure, so they need to be diluted with carrier oil for safe use.

On the other hand, fragrance oils are man-made. They are popularly used in products like soaps, candles, and perfumes. These oils can copy natural scents or create new ones, and their aromas are typically stronger and longer-lasting.

When choosing between these two oils, it's important to think about what you need.

Learn more about the difference between fragrance oils and essential oils

How to Find Essential Oils in Bulk

Finding wholesale essential oils in a physical store close to you will take a bit of exploration and research. You can check:

• Select health food stores: Check around your local area to see if there are health food stores that sell essential oils. Some even offer bulk buying options.
• Apothecary stores: Aside from offering essential oils in bulk, some of these stores also have carrier oils and other natural ingredients.
• Farmers' markets: If you live in an area with a strong agricultural or herbal tradition, you can try looking for local producers who sell homemade essential oils in bulk.
• Wholesale markets: It's worth looking into. Some cities or towns with wholesale markets might offer wholesale options for essential oils.
• Online wholesalers: Some online stores specialize in selling wholesale essential oils. Don't forget to look at detailed product descriptions and read reviews to find the right sellers.
• Google Maps or Yelp: In your search bar, type "where can I buy essential oils" or "essential oils near me". Google or any other search engine you prefer will usually have a list of places you can check out. Read the customer reviews and look at each store's ratings to find trustworthy sellers.

Final Thoughts

Buying wholesale essential oils is a smart choice for businesses offering natural products. Africa Imports provides a wide range of pure, IFRA-compliant essential oils at competitive prices. Our selection suits various needs, from aromatherapy blends to personal care items.

Choose oils that match your customers' preferences and always prioritize safety. With the right supplier and knowledge, you can create unique products that stand out in the market.

Explore our wholesale essential oils today, and contact us if you have any questions. We're here to help your business grow with quality natural scents.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store essential oils?

Storing your essential oils properly is important. If you want to preserve their quality and their effectiveness, here are a few things to remember when storing them.

• Hide them in cool, dark places. Keep them away from direct sunlight, heat, and moisture.
• Use tightly sealed bottles to stop the oils from evaporating.
• Use amber or blue glass bottles. These types of bottles offer better protection against light, which can damage the oil's quality.

Do essential oils expire?

When they're stored properly, essential oils have a long shelf life of 2 to 15 years. They don't expire like food, but their effectiveness does fade over time.

The oils' exposure to light, heat, and oxygen can make them go bad faster. Signs of essential oils expiring include a change in color, odor, or consistency. If you notice any of these changes, it's best to get rid of the oil.

What are carrier oils and which ones are the best?

Carrier oils are unscented or lightly scented oils that come from the fatty parts of plants, such as nuts, seeds, kernels, or fruits.

These oils are used to dilute essential oils and "carry" them into the skin safely. Combining essential oils with carrier oils, like sweet almond or jojoba oil, can help prevent skin irritation and even deliver moisturizing benefits. Carrier oils can also be applied in higher quantities without adverse effects and help essential oils last longer by spreading their benefits over a larger area.

Some of the best and most popular carrier oils are jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, argan oil, and rosehip oil. Each carrier oil has their own unique properties based on their plant source. They differ in thickness, scent, and nutrients too.

Just like with other oils, always perform a patch test before applying any oils to your skin. Also think about using lotions or creams as alternatives for dilution.

What are some essential oils recommended for stress relief?

Several essential oils are popular for their stress-relief properties. Some of our most popular oils for this include:

• Lavender: The most well-known essential oil for relaxation. It calms both your mind and your body.
• Chamomile: This oil is popular for its soothing properties. Chamomile helps minimize anxiety and promotes better sleep.
• Bergamot: Its citrusy and floral aroma helps relieve your stress. Bergamot is popular for uplifting moods.
• Ylang-Ylang: This oil is popular in aromatherapy. This tropical flower-derived oil promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety.
• Frankincense: Its warm, woody scent is believed to have grounding and stress-relieving properties.

These are just recommendations. It's still important to find the right oil that works best for you.

Are there essential oils that can help with sleep?

A good night's sleep is important to your overall well-being, and certain essential oils can help improve your quality of sleep. Some essential oils that you can try include:

• Lavender: Aside from being a great stress reliever, lavender is also effective in inducing sleep.
• Chamomile: Popular for its calming properties, chamomile helps you unwind before bed.
• Cedarwood: This woody scent has a grounding effect and helps with getting restful sleep.
• Valerian: This one is not as popular as other options, but valerian root essential oil has been traditionally used as a sleep aid.

To experience the full benefits, you need to use these oils consistently and in moderation.

How do essential oils affect mood and emotions?

Essential oils play a big part in influencing people's mood and emotions because of their aromatic properties. Some oils are popular for being uplifting, calming, or grounding.

How essential oils affect your mood and emotions have something to do with how your sense of smell and how the brain works.

When you smell an essential oil, tiny scent molecules attach to receptors in your nose. These receptors send signals to the brain's smell center, called the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb is connected to the limbic system, which handles emotions, memories, and behavior in the brain. The limbic system then releases chemicals, called neurotransmitters, that affect mood and emotions. For example, certain scents might boost serotonin, a chemical linked to happiness.

It also has something to do with memory and associations.

Smells can bring back strong memories and emotions. A particular scent might remind you of a place or time, bringing back associated feelings.

The way we perceive a scent can also affect our mood. For instance, citrus oils often smell fresh and clean, which people associate with feeling happy and energized.

Not everyone will respond to essential oils in the same way though. What works for one person might not have the same effect on another.

Are essential oils safe for everyone?

In general, yes, essential oils are safe when they are used correctly. Africa Imports' wholesale essential oils and its ingredients are safe, lab-tested and IFRA-compliant.

But just like any other health supplement or cure, not everyone can safely use essential oils. There are certain groups of people who should be careful when using these oils or avoid them altogether. They are:

• Children: Not all children should avoid essential oils, but be very careful in general. Some kids are sensitive to essential oils. Plus, some oils can be toxic if they accidentally eat or drink them.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women: Certain essential oils, like sage, juniper, and clary sage, should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding because of potential risks. While some oils are generally considered safe, caution is advised when using essential oils during pregnancy.
• Pets: Lots of essential oils can be toxic to pets. If you think you need to use essential oil on pets, speak to your veterinarian to make sure it's safe.

Just like with other things related to your health and well-being, remember to consult your doctor before using essential oils regularly.

What should I do if I have an adverse reaction to an essential oil?

If you experience an adverse reaction to an essential oil, such as skin irritation, difficulty breathing, or any other unusual symptoms, stop using the oil immediately. Seek medical attention as quickly as possible, if necessary.

Some general guidelines that you should remember:

• Stop using the essential oil that caused the reaction.
• If the reaction is on your skin, gently cleanse the area with mild soap and water.
• Keep an eye on the reaction and seek medical advice if symptoms get worse.
• Before using a new essential oil, perform a patch test on a small area of skin to check for sensitivity.

Always be careful when using essential oils, and if you have any concerns, consult with your doctor.

What are some precautions to take when using essential oils?

Some safety precautions that you need to remember when using essential oils:

• Always dilute essential oils with carrier oils before applying them to the skin.
• Test new oils on a small area of skin before using them all over your body.
• Avoid contact with eyes and other sensitive areas of your body, like the inside of your nose or mouth.
• Always ask your doctor's advice before using essential oils therapeutically.

Can essential oils replace medical treatment?

Essential oils bring a lot of natural benefits when they're used correctly, but you can't use essential oils to replace traditional medical care. A licensed doctor's prescribed medications and professional medical advice should still be considered first.

People respond differently to essential oils. What works for one person might not work for another. Sometimes essential oils may even cause harmful reactions when they're not used properly.

As a general rule of thumb, always consult with a healthcare professional before using essential oils to treat any medical condition. They can give you better guidance on safe and appropriate use.

Essential oils are a valuable addition to a wellness routine, but they should be used as a complement to, not a replacement for, proper medical treatment.

• Essential oils offer therapeutic benefits and are best for general applications.
• Fragrance oils deliver long-lasting scents with less health benefits