Quick answer: Start with one or two versatile scents in 10 ml bottles rather than committing to large sizes. Buy oils in amber glass, which protects them from light degradation. Never apply undiluted oil to skin or ingest it — always dilute with a carrier oil first. And know the difference between an essential oil (a plant extract) and a fragrance oil (a scent formulation), because they aren't interchangeable.

Aromatherapy is easy to start and easy to get wrong. Most of what you need to know is printed on the bottle — it's just rarely explained.

What's the difference between essential oil and fragrance oil?

An essential oil is extracted from a plant. A fragrance oil is a scent formulation, which may not come from a plant at all. Both smell good; they're intended for different things.

	Essential oil	Fragrance oil
Source	Plant extract	Formulated scent
Scent range	Limited to what plants produce	Almost unlimited
Best for	Aromatherapy, diluted massage	Candles, soaps, home fragrance

Our PHATOIL pure essential oils are plant extracts with no additives or fillers — eucalyptus, lavender, vanilla, jasmine, lemon and bergamot.

The PHATOIL fragrance oils are a different product: Coconut & Vanilla, Bubble Gum, Sea Breeze and White Musk. Those scents don't exist as plant extracts, which is exactly why fragrance oils exist. They're formulated for candles, soaps and home fragrance.

Rule of thumb: essential oils for aromatherapy and anything touching skin (diluted); fragrance oils for crafting and scenting a room.

Why does the bottle matter?

Light degrades essential oils, which is why they come in amber glass. It isn't packaging aesthetics — it's the reason a bottle keeps its potency for its stated shelf life.

Our oils are supplied in amber glass with a glass dropper, and list a shelf life of three years with storage in a cool, dark place. Store them in sunlight and you'll get considerably less than that.

A glass dropper matters too: it lets you count drops precisely, which is how every dilution guideline is expressed.

What size should I buy?

Start with 10 ml. Essential oils are used a few drops at a time, so a small bottle lasts a long while — and if you decide you dislike a scent, you haven't committed to 100 ml of it.

• 10 ml — the sensible starting size. MAYJAM pure oils come in lavender, eucalyptus, vanilla, sandalwood and camphor with a dropper and gift box.
• 100 ml — worth it once you know a scent is a favourite, or if you're making candles or soap where usage is much higher.

For something more unusual, PHATOIL cinnamon oil is a warm, spicy scent that works well in autumn blends — and its listing states FDA, MSDS and CPNP documentation, which is more transparency than this category usually offers.

Which scents should a beginner start with?

Scent	Character	Commonly used for
Lavender	Soft, floral, calming	Evening and bedroom diffusing
Eucalyptus	Sharp, fresh, clearing	Bathrooms, mornings
Lemon / bergamot	Bright citrus	Kitchens, daytime
Sandalwood	Warm, woody	Living spaces, meditation
Cinnamon	Spicy, warm	Autumn and winter blends

Two oils is a good starting point: one fresh (eucalyptus or lemon) and one soft (lavender or sandalwood). That covers daytime and evening, and they blend with each other.

How do I use them safely?

These aren't cautious extras — they're the warnings printed on the bottles themselves, and they exist because concentrated plant extracts are strong.

1. Never ingest essential oils. Stated explicitly on our listings.
2. Never apply undiluted to skin. Always dilute with a carrier oil first.
3. Patch test before using anything new on skin, and stop if irritation occurs.
4. Avoid citrus oils before UV exposure. Lemon and bergamot are photosensitising — this is a real and commonly overlooked risk before going out in sun.
5. Keep away from eyes and mucous membranes.
6. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
7. Ventilate. Avoid prolonged diffusing in an unventilated room.

This is general product guidance, not medical advice. If you're pregnant, have a health condition, or are using oils around young children or pets, check with a qualified professional first.

What is a carrier oil and do I need one?

A carrier oil is a neutral base — grapeseed, jojoba, sweet almond — that dilutes an essential oil so it's safe on skin. Undiluted essential oil is far too concentrated for direct application.

Some products come pre-diluted, which is worth knowing when you compare bottles. Our lavender aromatherapy massage oil lists its ingredients as lavender essential oil and grapeseed oil — already blended and ready to use on skin, with directions to apply to the neck, shoulders or back and massage in.

That's a different product from a 10 ml bottle of pure oil, and often the better choice if massage is what you want. For a lighter facial and body option, a tea tree facial and body oil comes in sizes from 5 ml to 50 ml.

How do I use oils in a diffuser?

• A few drops is enough. More doesn't smell better — it just gets overwhelming and uses the bottle faster.
• Blend deliberately. Two or three oils maximum; beyond that scents muddy rather than combine.
• Match the room. Fresh scents in kitchens and bathrooms, softer ones in bedrooms.
• Run in sessions, not continuously, and in a ventilated space.
• Clean the diffuser regularly — oil residue builds up and old scent contaminates new blends.

Browse diffusers to pair with your oils.

Which should I buy?

For	Product	Why
Trying aromatherapy	MAYJAM 10 ml pure oils	Small size, amber glass, dropper and gift box
A favourite scent in quantity	PHATOIL 100 ml pure oils	Six scents, no additives or fillers
Candles and soap making	PHATOIL fragrance oils	Formulated scents unavailable as plant extracts
Massage, ready to use	Lavender massage oil with grapeseed	Pre-diluted with a carrier oil
Autumn and winter blends	Cinnamon essential oil	Warm spicy note; documented certifications

How should I store them?

• Cool and dark. Heat and light are what degrade oils and cause rancidity.
• Keep the amber bottle. Decanting into clear glass defeats the purpose.
• Cap tightly. Volatile compounds evaporate, and that's the scent leaving.
• Note the shelf life. Three years on our oils, from opening — citrus oils generally turn faster than woods and resins.
• Store away from children and pets, not on an open shelf.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between essential oil and fragrance oil?

Essential oils are extracted from plants. Fragrance oils are formulated scents that may have no plant origin. Use essential oils for aromatherapy and diluted skin application; fragrance oils for candles, soaps and room scenting.

Can I put essential oil directly on my skin?

No. Always dilute with a carrier oil first, and patch test before wider use. Our listings state this explicitly — undiluted oils are far too concentrated for direct application.

Can you ingest essential oils?

No. Every one of our listings states not to ingest them. They're intended for diffusing and for diluted topical use only.

Why are essential oils sold in amber bottles?

Light degrades the oil and shortens its usable life. Amber glass filters that light, which is how a bottle holds its stated three-year shelf life.

Which essential oils should a beginner buy?

Lavender and eucalyptus are the usual starting pair — one soft, one fresh, and they blend well together. Add citrus for daytime and sandalwood for warmth as you go.

Why shouldn't I use citrus oils before going in the sun?

Citrus oils such as lemon and bergamot are photosensitising, which means they increase your skin's reaction to UV light. Our listings warn against using them before UV exposure.

What is a carrier oil?

A neutral base oil — grapeseed, jojoba, sweet almond — used to dilute essential oils for skin use. Some products arrive pre-blended with one, like our lavender massage oil with grapeseed.

How many drops should I put in a diffuser?

A few is enough. Adding more doesn't improve the scent, it just overwhelms the room and empties the bottle faster. Blend no more than two or three oils at once.

Key takeaways

• Essential oils are plant extracts; fragrance oils are formulated scents for crafting.
• Amber glass protects oils from light — that's why the bottles are that colour.
• Start with 10 ml bottles and two contrasting scents.
• Never ingest, and never apply undiluted to skin.
• Citrus oils are photosensitising — avoid before UV exposure.
• A carrier oil is what makes topical use safe; some products come pre-diluted.
• Store cool, dark and tightly capped; expect around three years.

Conclusion

Buy two 10 ml bottles in amber glass, keep them somewhere dark, and use a few drops at a time in a diffuser. If you want to use oils on skin, either buy a pre-diluted blend or learn to dilute properly — that one distinction covers most of the safety in this category.

Browse essential oils and pair them with a diffuser.