Oilveda

Essential Oils Through an Ayurveda Lens

Oilveda is a simple guide to common essential oils. Each card shows traditional uses, common reasons people use the oil, who it suits best, and how to use it with a basic carrier oil.

🌙 Sleep + calm 🧠 Focus + energy 🌬️ Fresh + clear 🧴 Easy skin blend
This page is made to be fast to read. The cards focus on traditional uses and common modern uses. They are not a replacement for medical care. For simplicity, every starter blend below uses 1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil on intact skin.

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Calming Ayurveda: Vata + Pitta
🌸 Traditional use

Traditionally used to calm the mind, soften tension, and support rest.

✨ Common use

Often used for stress, sleep, mild headaches, tension, and skin-soothing blends.

🧘 Best fit

Especially good for restless Vata and overheated Pitta.

🧴 How to use

3 drops in 1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil for temples, neck, chest, or bedtime massage.

Peppermint

Mentha piperita

Cooling Ayurveda: Pitta + Kapha
❄️ Traditional use

Traditionally used to stimulate, refresh, and support circulation-focused massage.

✨ Common use

Often used for headaches, focus, scalp stimulation, post-workout rubs, and cold or sluggish areas.

🧘 Best fit

Best for hot Pitta and heavy Kapha. Use lightly if Vata is already cold or dry.

🧴 How to use

2 drops in 1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil for temples, neck, shoulders, scalp, or massage blends.

Tea Tree

Melaleuca alternifolia

Cleansing Ayurveda: Pitta + Kapha
🫧 Traditional use

Traditionally used in cleansing routines for skin, scalp, and feet.

✨ Common use

Often used for oily skin, scalp support, body freshness, and targeted spot blends.

🧘 Best fit

Best for hot Pitta skin patterns and damp, heavy Kapha buildup.

🧴 How to use

2 drops in 1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil for scalp massage, feet, or small skin areas.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus globulus

Clearing Ayurveda: Kapha
🌬️ Traditional use

Traditionally used to open the breath and clear heavy, stuck energy.

✨ Common use

Often used for congestion-style steam, fresher rooms, chest rubs, and post-exercise recovery blends.

🧘 Best fit

Best for heavy Kapha. Can feel too drying for high Vata if overused.

🧴 How to use

2 drops in 1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil for chest, upper back, or shower-steam use.

Lemon

Citrus limon

Brightening Ayurveda: Kapha + Pitta
☀️ Traditional use

Traditionally used to brighten mood, freshen spaces, and lighten sluggish energy.

✨ Common use

Often used for low mood, stale rooms, cleaning blends, and daytime focus support.

🧘 Best fit

Often good for sluggish Kapha and a light refreshing lift for Pitta.

🧴 How to use

3 drops in 1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil for body blends; avoid strong sun afterward.

Frankincense

Boswellia carterii

Grounding Ayurveda: Vata + Kapha
🌲 Traditional use

Traditionally used for grounding, breath, meditation, and slow restorative rituals.

✨ Common use

Often used for prayer, quiet focus, skin rituals, breath practices, and evening calm.

🧘 Best fit

Especially supportive for Vata and useful for still, quiet routines.

🧴 How to use

3 drops in 1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil for chest, neck, face oil blends, or meditation rituals.

Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis

Stimulating Ayurveda: Kapha + Vata
⚡ Traditional use

Traditionally used to stimulate the mind, warm sluggish energy, and support hair and scalp rituals.

✨ Common use

Often used for mental focus, low energy, scalp massage, and circulation-style body blends.

🧘 Best fit

Best for sluggish Kapha and dull Vata. Use lightly if Pitta is already hot.

🧴 How to use

2 drops in 1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil for scalp massage, temples, or morning body rubs.

Roman Chamomile

Chamaemelum nobile

Gentle Ayurveda: Pitta + Vata
🌼 Traditional use

Traditionally used to soothe irritation, calm the nerves, and settle the evening.

✨ Common use

Often used for bedtime, anxious tension, gentle skin blends, and comfort-focused massage.

🧘 Best fit

Best for irritated Pitta and anxious Vata, especially in the evening.

🧴 How to use

3 drops in 1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil for temples, neck, abdomen, or evening massage.