Beyond the Bottle: Are Essential Oils and Flower Essences the Same?

Have you ever wandered the aisles of a natural health store looking for essential oils when you discovered something called flower essences?

Both essential oils and flower essences offer unique, all-natural benefits for our well-being, but are they one and the same?

The short answer is no.

While they have some similarities, essential oils and flower essences are, in fact, quite different.

And yet, comparing essential oils and flower essences does offer us an exciting exploration into the world of plant power!

Let’s delve into the subtle and not-so-subtle differences between essential oils and flower essences, their diverse uses, and how they can enhance your holistic health and wellness.

What are flower essences and essential oils made of?

One of the reasons that people often confuse flower essences and essential oils is probably because they’re both made from plants.

But that’s essentially where the comparison ends! (I couldn’t resist ;))

Essential Oils: A plant’s concentrated physical substance

You can think of essential oils as concentrated, aromatic liquids extracted from various plant parts like flowers, leaves, seeds, and bark.

Though distillation or cold-pressing methods, essential oil makers can capture the plant’s essence in the form of a highly fragrant oil.

These fragrant oils are beloved for their therapeutic properties, which can have a wide range of benefits on our physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

If you’ve used essential oils, you may have used lavender (known for its ability to support relaxation), peppermint (known for its ability to aid digestion), and/or rosemary (known for its ability to support memory and/or hair health), just to mention a few.

Flower Essences: A plant’s life force or energetic imprint

Flower essences, on the other hand, are not physical extracts. They do not actually contain ANY physical plant matter. This is the exact opposite of essential oils, tinctures and other herbal preparations.

Please remember… Flower essences are vibrational in nature only.

Flower essences can be helpful for:

• Emotional Regulation: Flower essences are believed to address a wide range of emotions, from fear and anxiety to grief and anger. By addressing the underlying energetic imbalances, they may help us navigate emotional conflict or challenges with greater ease.

• Improved Self-Awareness: Flower essences can be used to promote introspection and self-discovery. By working on a subtle level, they may help us identify recurring emotional patterns and guide us toward emotional healing.

• Personal Growth: Flower essences can support our personal growth and development by helping us to process our human experience. They can also promote inner peace, forgiveness, and a deeper connection with our higher selves.

Although flower essences start with plants, they are very different from essential oils.

How are flower essences made?

Making flower essences is a sacred experience that involves infusing spring water with flowers, usually under sunlight and/or sometimes moonlight. After being infused for a certain period of time, the water is filtered of all physical plant material. The infused water is then usually preserved with alcohol, glycerine, apple cider vinegar or another medium.

Essences can be made of one single type of flower or a combination. They can also be made from crystals/gems, mushrooms, environments (places), and other kinds of high vibrational items (but that’s a topic for another article!). A finished flower essence aims to capture the life force or subtle energetic signature of a specific flower.

How do flower essences work?

Flower essences are believed to work on an energetic level, addressing mental and emotional imbalances primarily.

In my work as an integrative health practitioner, I have come to realize that emotional issues are at the root of most, if not all, physical health conditions. So, if you have a physical health complaint or condition, consider tackling it from an emotional approach and you’ll be amazed at how quickly it can disappear when the root cause is removed!

If you have ever seen or used flower essences, you may have seen Dr. Bach’s popular flower essences, which include Rescue Remedy (for stress relief) and Aspen (for overcoming fears).

If you’re interested in the science of how flower essences may work, check out Dr. Masaru Emoto’s work on the consciousness of water. You can also look up the work of Veda Austin, a New Zealand water researcher and author who conducts experiments on water that might just blow your mind!

How to Use Flower Essences & Essential Oils Wisely

So now that we know that essential oils and flower essences are, based on their very nature, very different, we can talk about some of the ways we might use these complementary holistic tools.

Essential Oils: A multi-sensory experience

Essential oils offer a wide range of applications, making them versatile tools for natural wellness. Here are some popular ways to use them.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is probably one of the most popular ways essential oils are used all around the world. Inhaling essential oils is a great way to benefit from their beneficial properties. When you diffuse them in the air with a diffuser, the lungs can readily absorb their aromatic (and therapeutic!) molecules and potentially support your mood, energy levels, and respiratory function, among others.

Topical Application

Essential oils can also be applied topically for various uses. Since they are so concentrated, essential oils are normally diluted with a carrier oil (like jojoba or almond oil) and can be applied topically to massage muscles, soothe skin irritations, and promote relaxation.

Keep in mind that essential oils can irritate the skin if used undiluted. Be sure to check safe dilution levels, especially if using these with children, and always err on the side of caution. Doing a patch test on a small area is always recommended whether you have used that essential oil before or not.

Bathing

Adding a few drops of essential oils to your bath water creates a luxurious experience. Opt for a calming essential oil like chamomile or lavender. Avoid “hot” oils like peppermint… ask me how I know 😉

Sprays

Essential oils are commonly used to scent sprays of various kinds. They are great to add to air fresheners and cleaning formulas–both for their scent and for their additional benefits.

Flower Essences: Working with subtle energies

As we’ve discussed, flower essences work on a more subtle, energetic level.

But the good news is that flower essences can be used in many of the same ways that essential oils are used! However, flower essences don’t have a distinctive smell except for the preservative they are used with.

Here are some ways you can incorporate flower essences into your day-to-day routine.

Internal Use

Unless indicated otherwise, flower essences are generally safe for internal consumption. They are typically taken orally by placing a few drops on or under the tongue, allowing them to be absorbed directly. The tongue features tons of energetic points on it, so this is a great place to use them.

Topical Application

Flower essences can also be applied topically to pulse points like your wrists or temples. If you are familiar with acupuncture points, consider using flower essences in this way.

There are also several books that have been written on mapping flower essences to various areas of the body. These mainly refer to Bach flower essences, so they may or may not be as useful for other flower essence systems.

Bathing

I love to add flower essences to bath water because they literally ‘bathe’ your energy field in their frequency. The usual recommendation is 7 drops per bath, but you can experiment and see what works for you.

Sprays

Flower essences can be diluted in a spray bottle and misted around your personal or living space. They can be an effective way to clear and cleanse your space. I love using my Home Sweet Home blend (which also contains essential oils!) to create a specific energetic environment.

Complimentary Companions: Combining Essential Oils and Flower Essences

Even though essential oils and flower essences differ in composition and application, their goals often align. They are great companions because they both promote overall well-being! They can find a home in your holistic wellness toolkit to help support your mental and emotional health (and therefore, your physical health!).

Here’s an easy example if you’ve ever had a headache and wanted a natural option for pain relief. You could apply diluted peppermint oil topically to your temples, and then take a flower essence like Rock Rose to address any underlying anxieties that might be contributing to the stress and tension.

See how they can work together so beautifully?

By embracing the power of plants, both in their physical and energetic forms, we can empower ourselves to heal.

From emotional wounds to physical pains, plants are a natural ally for whole health and wellness.

And of course, if you have a chronic or other pre-existing health condition or concern, be sure to consult a qualified aromatherapist or flower essence practitioner before using essential oils or flower essences.

You might love to seek guidance from a qualified and experienced flower essence practitioner who can personalize a flower essence blend based on your unique needs. You can always find out more about personal consults here.