Hey there oh manly users of all things oils. Today I am going to go back to the beginning, back to when I was just getting started with essential oils – a skeptical young man with, how do I say this?, a little less enthusiasm than was probably necessary. As I got to know and use them a little more however I have grown to be a little more positive in their use. What I have realised also is that the more I have used, the more it has cost to purchase them.
So today I wanted to take a step back and revisit the oils that got me started – The Young Living Premium Starter Kit (PSK). Why did I get this kit? Well firstly, it is the most cost effective way to get your sweaty little man-hands on a decent number of essential oils, and secondly, well it was probably the only way my wife was going to convince me to spend anything on them. Now I did know that I wasn’t prepared to trust the cheapies on eBay, but I still didn’t want to spend a fortune on something that I was unsure about.
So today I will run through the contents of the starter kit as well as list the manly uses for the products within them (I have included the costs at the bottom of this post – go to the table of contents if you wish to see them straight up). That way, you can get started in a cost effective manner and know that you will have enough to start you on your journey to oilness…
What does it contain?
The PSK contains most of the oils that I have discussed so far in my blogs. The list is below – with the manly uses I have covered in other posts here as well. Oh, and just as a time saver, I tend to base the manliness of the aroma based on the existence, or lack of, a florally scent… so if I call it manly, that means it is more ‘treey’ than ‘florally’. It is not an exact science, but it has worked for me.
Single essential oils (5ml bottles)
The following essential oils are the single oils that come with the starter kit – meaning that they have not been mixed with any other essential oils – or anything else for that matter.
Contains a manly woodsy aroma and is commonly used in skin care and spiritual rituals. Manly uses include:
- Add to the diffuser for stress relief
- Add to coconut or jojoba oil as a shaving cream
- Mix with peppermint essential oil and coconut cream to sooth sore muscles
Copaiba
Another manly type smelling oil with high levels of beta-caryophyllene support the body’s natural response to irritation or injury. I personally rub this one directly onto my calf muscles when I am suffering cramps. Works a treat!
Lemon
Yep, smells like lemons and follows the whole citrus based benefits of cleansing and purifying so great for cleaning. Manly uses include:
- Cleaning the BBQ – add to vinegar or water and spray directly to the plate
- Natural insect repellent – add to water or onto a cotton ball
- Removal of sticky residue from tree sap, grease, sticker/tape etc. – rub on and remove with hot water
Peppermint
Another one that smells just as you would expect. Peppermint is considered a ‘hot’ oil due to the ‘cooling’ effects of its menthol properties. I use this one a lot with coconut oil and panaway as muscle rub before and after sport. Other uses include:
- Hangover – Peppermint is a proven treatment for IBS and nausea – mix with DiGize and a carrier oil and apply to the old tum tum
- Shaving cream – as with frankincense, add to coconut or jojoba oil for a cooling shave
- Acne – Add to Jojoba or Almond oil for an effective, natural treatment for acne.
Slightly less – ok a lot less – manly in aroma than some of the others but one of the most commonly used of the essential oils. Lavender is extremely good as a calming agent as well as in many skin care products – add it to a good carrier oil for shaving, soothing sunburn or chemical rashes. It is also very good for the hair and beard – again with a good carrier oil.
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Essential oil blends (5ml bottles)
Essential oil blends are a mixture of single essential oils aimed at providing greater, or mixed benefit. They also reduce the need to carry three of four bottles with you when traveling. The following are also included in the starter kit:
DiGize is a combination of Tarragon, Ginger, Peppermint, Juniper, Lemongrass, Anise, Patchouli and Fennel essential oils. It is good for anything to do with an upset stomach and also for use in a portable diffuser to assist with car sickness (for the family of course – not us manly travelers). Oh and in the interests of full disclosure… This one smells a little less than ordinary. My wife mixes it with lavender in the diffuser to break it down just a little.
PanAway
PanAway is a mixture of Wintergreen, Helichrysum, Clove and Peppermint which gives it quite a strong, sporty aroma (I think it smells like Dencorub or Deep heat). This, along with Copaiba, is one of the oils that started to erode my initial skepticism – I have tendinitis in my shoulder and suffer from it after swimming or lifting weights. I added this to coconut oil and rubbed into my shoulder after exercise and I have to say that I noticed not only immediate pain relief but also a reduction in discomfort in my everyday life.
For an extra deep ‘soothing’ feel, I have also added Peppermint to the mix on my ankles.
Note: As with off the shelf sports creams and gels, this mixture will assist with the symptoms only, not the causes so as usual, if you have a major sporting injury, please refer yourself to a medical professional.
Stress Away
This is another commonly used essential oil blend that contains Lime, Vanilla, Copaiba, Lavender, Cedarwood and Ocotea. It is not a real manly in aroma however with the strong vanilla presence I have to admit it is not all that unpleasant. As the name suggests, it is one that is aimed at mood management including stress relief and sleep.
This is not one I use a lot I will admit, but my beautiful wife adds it to the diffuser whenever there is a little tension in the house. She also rubs a few drops on myself and our son in the early evening and swears that it calms us down… as if I would need calming…
R.C.
R.C. is a blend of Black Spruce, Cypress, three types of Eucalyptus oils (E. globulus, E. radiata, and E. citriodora), Myrtle, Marjoram, Pine, Lavender and Peppermint. In regards to the aroma, the Eucalyptus sticks out as well as the Pine and spruce so I would place it in my very considered and scientifically thought out manly smell category. Manly uses for this oil include:
- Insect repellent – mix with Peppermint to keep the mozzies at bay
- Acne care – Eucalyptus and Peppermint are known treatments for acne – make sure you use a carrier oil though
- Nasal congestion – again, Eucalyptus and Peppermint are common ingredients in gaining relief for a blocked nose – add to the diffuser with some Lemon essential oil.
Purification
This one is another blend included in the start kit and contains Citronella, Rosemary, Lemongrass, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Eucalyptus), Lavandin and Myrtle. The last time I wrote about this oil I put it in the feminine category and stated that I wasn’t sure whether it was manly in scent or not. One of my readers (thanks Christina) then summed it up perfectly when she described it as the “most hospital-ist smell” and bang! That is exactly what it smells like. Although the lemongrass and Citronella are starting to grow on me.
It is actually a very good oil for the diffuser as it is an odor eater! It will overpower just about any smell you can introduce and with its base of Citronella, Lemongrass and Eucalyptus, it is actually also quite a good insect repellent.
We actually took this one camping over the long weekend in January. It really did seem to keep the biteys at bay. I actually quite like this one!
Thieves
And last but not least, Thieves. This is the Mr (or Mrs) Everything of the essential oil world. It contains Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Radiata and Rosemary. It is a very strong, hot oil with an odour that is overridden completely by the Cinnamon and Clove but is very effective in so many areas. My wife loves this sh!t! Its uses include:
- Air purifier – another good odour eater (slightly stringer aroma that Purification)
- Cleaner – Add to 5 to 10 drops to water in a small spray bottle and if you can find surface that needs cleaning – then clean it!
- Antiseptic – try adding to small cuts and grazes to clean and aid in healing
This one is so powerful, that young Living have actually created a whole suite of products from it including cleaners, hand sanitisers and tooth paste – yep… toothpaste. But that is a post for another day.
Ultrasonic diffuser
In my post in regards to room diffusers, I outlined a number from the Young Living stable that I considered effective – I won’t go through them all again now but if you would like some more information to assist with your choice, click here.
As part of your initial journey into manly oilness a diffuser is an absolute must as many of the benefits outlined above do require a diffuser. I recommend the kit with the Desert Mist diffuser as it can run from 4-10 hours with an intermittent mode, offers 10 different light colours and 11 individual light settings, including a candle-like flicker mode, and turns off when it runs dry. I have to admit I got this one as it was the cheapest (I mean, most cost effective) but we use it in a medium-sized kitchen and it is more than adequate for that space.
What else do you get?
Depending on the starter kit you choose, there are a number of different bonus items that you receive. These also change from time to time so in order to keep this page current, I will include the basics that come with the Desert Mist starter kit.
These include:
AromaGlide Roller Fitment
These are little roller balls that fit on top of the 5ml bottles to allow for easy application (do your research first however as not all oils can be applied directly. Those that should never be applied ‘neat’ to the skin in the starter pack include Lemon, Peppermint, DiGize, Panaway, R.C. and Thieves. All others should be ok but as always, maybe just apply a little to test first.
Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier (30g)
As I said earlier, Thieves is used in all sorts of products. This is a Thieves based hand sanitiser.
Mixer bottles
Small mixer bottles for your manly essential oil blends.
2 NingXia Red 60ml samples
NingXia Red is combines the wolfberry superfruit with pure Orange, Yuzu, Lemon, and Tangerine essential oils, along with blueberry, aronia, cherry, pomegranate, and plum juices. Young Living promote it as a whole-body nutrient infusion for wellness support. I haven’t personally tried my samples as yet. But when I do you will be the first to know.
Product Guide and Product Price List
So you can keep buying!
Member Resources & Brochures
Again, full disclosure. To purchase a starter kit, you are required to become a member of Young Living. This means that you are given access to links, promotional materials and other paraphernalia that allows you to become an on-seller of essential oils and other YL products to gain commissions. I can guarantee you that if you do purchase one of these starter kits through this page that myself, and Young Living, will NEVER in any way hassle you or get you to hassle your friends to purchase more products or to become members themselves. I just won’t!
Fine! How much?
The premium starter kits are designed to give to a good coverage of oils at an introductory price. As I have said, I would not have started with them if I had to fork out for a diffuser and all of these oils individually (which, if I purchased each of the ones listed here on their own it would cost me over $415). I could get a cheaper diffuser and probably cheaper oils, but here I know what I am getting. So here are the starter kit prices.
- Premium Starter Kit with Desert Mist diffuser ($165)
- Premium Starter Premium International ($165)
- Premium Starter Kit with Rainstone diffuser ($210)
- Premium Starter Kit with Aria diffuser ($265)
Conclusion
So there you have it. That is how I got started in essential oils and I believe the most cost effective way to do it. I have purchased more along the way of course and am careful with what I pick and choose but for the uses outlined above, the started kits should certainly contain enough to get you started until you know what it is that you are looking for or need.
As always, if you have any questions or if there is anything else you would like some more information on, please do not hesitate to ask and I will check it out for you.
Until then
Have fun
Paul
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Follow me for more of the good stuffMy name is Paul and I live on the east coast of Australia with my wife and six year old son. I also have 19 and 23 year old daughters. I am an ex government and bank worker who took a bit of a sea change and opened my own business by the beach with my amazing wife. If you can do it, try it. You will never look back. You want to know more about me, read my About Me page
Lately I have got really into these essential oils not just because of their nature also because the calmness the give me when I use the diffuser.
You have listed some great choices here for me to choose because my old essential oil is going to end. I’m most likely going to choose the lavender one. I think I’m going to try that first and after that I will order more.
Thank you so much for sharing this article.
Hi Sujander, you can’t really go wrong with Lavender as a first try – it is so versatile. Let me know how you go.
Paul
Hello,
You have given me enough choice to make on picking essential men oils, I just had to include the use of oil in my routine this year and I have difficulty picking the best one for me, but here my problems are solved. Thanks for the wonderful review, it’s really helpful and relevant.
thanks
Thanks Salim
Appreciated
Paul
Great list of essential oils you got here. I have used just few of them mainly because of the pleasant smell that comes with them. Some of these oils leave a long lasting sweet smell on the user which is really attracting. Please do help in getting the source and mode of extraction of these oils. Very helpful content.
HI Ayodeji, try this page:
http://manversusoils.com/what…
Hope it helps, but I will try and add that info to more posts.
Thanks
Paul
I have never considered the usefulness of essential oil diffusers so I had to check your other post on that. Now I know what I need for my home. The Purification one will be my pick for the component of being an insect repellent. Overall you have helped me to be appreciative of the different oils this kit offers, so I have to check with my budget now 🙂
Hi Matlhogonolo , so glad I could be of assistance. Keep me posted on your uses.
Paul
Hi PAUL,
Thank you for writing so much information on essential oil. I believe all of them are natural. Lemon and Lavender are my perfect choice for my family needs now. I am planning to buy both of them. I need to use them first and then I will recommend it to others also. One of my best friend is planning to start a local business of different oil and diffuser products. I am going to discuss it with him.
Hi Mzakapon, you could do a lot worse than start with those two. Let me know how you go.
Paul
Great post and good info.
I like the Lemon one, since it will smell good and refreshing and all the abilities it has.
Now I only have one question, yes this is for men, but is it also suitable for my wife? It is more out of curiousity than something else actually.
Thanks for sharing it!
Hi emmanuel, absolutely they are suitable for your wife. In fact the main reason I started on this journey was the lack of information out there aimed at men and essential oils. My wife uses lemon in the diffuser often when she feels the need to freshen up the house.
Thanks for stopping by
Paul
Oh wow, my husband is going to love your site. I have diffusers and candles all over the house, and he really likes to be in the loop on the fragrances, because he says I’m always picking out “girly” smells lol! When he sees this site, he’s going to be like, “Are you kidding me? Finally!!! Scents for GUYS!” Ha Ha! I can’t wait to show him.
Haha Babsie, great to hear. Let me know what he thinks.
Paul
Paul, I was skeptical about the essential oils as well. I’m a severe seasonal allergy suffer (hayfever) and I have started to use essential oils to treat them. The success has been outstanding for me and it has brought back the joy of summer to me again.
My girlfriend also bought me a diffuser that I use in my bedroom at night. A few drops of oil (lavender), in the diffuser and I find that I sleep much better now.
Hi Scott
So glad you are finding some good use for them. Thanks for your comments
Paul
This is a lovely article and i must commend you for putting this lovely post together. I have a little experience with frankincense and lemon and i can say vividly that your review about them is just too perfect. I hope try othersout anytime soon.
thanks for this wonderful review. Its well appreciated
My pleasure Ola, thanks for stopping by.
Paul
Lemon, Peppermint, and Lavender are three oils that I use with a tablespoon of locally produced honey to deal with seasonal allergy symptoms. It sure makes the allergy season much more tolerable for me.