Yes, you can. It’s actually like having one big incense stick. But there are a few precautions to take and make sure of before you begin. They aren’t complicated, but you can turn a peaceful moment into a dangerous situation if you’re not careful.
Building a fire in your backyard, for a barbecue, in your fireplace or at your campsite can bring warmth and ambiance. A fire provides a wonderful, relaxing atmosphere that connects us to nature and the beginnings of human existence.
Sometimes, you may feel like enhancing the moment with something aromatic and aromatherapeutic. You have a few bottles of essential oils that would be perfect. But is it a good idea to put it on firewood?
If the fire is indoors, like in a fireplace, using essential oil on the logs will mitigate that smoky after smell that tends to linger the following day.
How Do You Put Essential Oils on Firewood?
Add your oil of choice before lighting the fire. Place a few drops in all the crevices, nooks and knots. You want to give the oil time to absorb and disburse into the wood; about 10 to 15 minutes will suffice. Then, all you have to do is light it and in no time, you’ll notice a pleasant aroma rising with the flames.
Should I Blend Carrier Oils With the Essential Oils Before Burning?
If you’re familiar with essential oils, we’re often told to blend them with a carrier oil like olive, sweet almond, grapeseed, avocado, coconut and etc. Don’t do this for firewood. If you’re going for ambiance, this can ruin the moment.
Carrier oils smoke profusely when on fire because oils, like coconut and sweet almond, have a low flash point. Also, regardless of oils with higher flash points, like olive and avocado, the fire will burn much hotter than it would for cooking and the smoke will be most unpleasant, to say the least.
How Many Drops per Log?
There is such a thing as overkill. If you pour too much essential oil on the firewood, the smell can be very overpowering. Some people may even experience a choking sensation from it.
On the other hand, if you have an oil that’s very light, like rose absolute or evening primrose, you may not smell anything with only a few drops. You will have to either use a lot of oil or put them in a blend with other oils.
So, it’s best to start with only a few drops depending on how strong the essential oil is. Use your best judgment to determine the right amount appropriate to the wood you’re going to use. Thicker, sappier and denser logs like oak, maple or pine, may require more essential oil than spruce, fir, pinion or cedar.
Can I Put Essential Oil on the Logs When They’re Already Burning?
It is not advisable to throw essential oil on an already roaring fire. If you want to do this, you should preplan putting oil on the log before you start burning. If you toss it on while it’s going, you may run into problems by adding too much or too little essential oil, or you might burn yourself.
But, if you become inspired while the fire is going you have two options. The first is to wait until the fire dies down and the logs begin glowing. The other is to grab a handful of dried herbs or flower petals and put a few drops on the pile. Allow it to absorb, making sure to mix it well. Then, throw it on the fire.
What Essential Oils Are Safe to Burn?
Any essential oil you have will be good and safe to burn. So long as it’s 100% pure, steam distilled, you can have fun trying a single scent or creating your own blends. You can use essential fragrance oils too, but you must use caution and exercise safety when selecting those. So, just because you have an essential oil doesn’t mean you should burn it.
We recommend this set of 14 essential oils by Anjou. It comes with a wide variety of therapeutic grade essential oils. You can expect to see some of the most popular oils like lavender, eucalyptus, tee tree oil, and many others in this set.
Cold ; Flu Remedies
If you have a very pungent oil, like wintergreen or camphor, you may want to avoid using it. Of course, if your household has come down with a cold or flu, it may be a good idea to use either of those oils to help clear up sinuses and chest congestion. Other ones for relieving cold and flu symptoms are tea tree, eucalyptus, juniper, peppermint, rosemary and orange.
Love ; Romance
If you’re burning a fire with that special someone, adding a few drops of essential oil can heighten the mood. For increasing a romantic and loving atmosphere, try using one or blend a few of the following:
- rose
- lavender
- jasmine
- honeysuckle
- lilac
- lily
- carnation
- hibiscus
- violet
- ylang ylang
- patchouli
- vanilla
- neroli
Scents for Camping
In those moments where you’re in the great outdoors and you want something subtle that promotes the moment, try a little frankincense, mesquite, myrrh, sandalwood, fir needle, cedar, juniper or pine. As a matter of fact, if you have cedar, juniper, mesquite or pine as the firewood itself, using the same essential oil will enrich the smell of the burning wood.
Using Essential Oils on a Grill or Barbecue
For barbecues, try using cedar, mesquite, pine or even rosemary and basil to bring out the flavor in food. Avoid using essential oils like tea tree, eucalyptus and camphor for cooking situations. They will add a terrible flavor and could end up making your dining experience a toxic one. Only use essential oils on grills and barbecues that are safe for ingesting.
Other essential oils you can use for cooking are lavender, peppermint, thyme, sage or rose. You want to make sure it’s for a dessert or the meal you’re preparing will benefit from flavors like this.
Restfulness ; Relaxation
If you’re looking to increase relaxation and induce sleep, there are a host of essential oils you can try on firewood. Anything that brings you calm and tranquility will work. But you could also attempt any one of these:
- lemon balm
- hemp flower
- chamomile
- lavender
- passion flower
- rose
- jasmine
- lotus
- rosemary
- apple blossom
- neroli
- vanilla
- sandalwood
- clary sage
Energy Increase
Sometimes, we want to keep the high energy and good vibes going around. So, you’re not going to want anything relaxing but you want something a little more vibrant than matching the oil to the firewood you intend to burn. You can try pre-treating your log with things like orange, ginger, clove, lemon, lemongrass, cinnamon, cypress and bergamot.
Final Thoughts
Using essential oils on firewood can add special aromatherapy to any occasion. As long as its pure and you exercise a little foresight, you can magnify or promote certain qualities to bring about healing, rest, tranquility, increased energy or love.
The benefits of adding essential oils to firewood are endless. They can help mitigate the tensions, strains, problems and stresses of daily life while being an embellishment when spending time with friends and loved ones.
Always exercise caution and be smart when handling fire with essential oils.