From Skeptic to Believer: My Story with Essential Oils
I never imagined that essential oils would become such a familiar part of my everyday life.
Today, I use doTERRA Serenity and Vetiver as part of my evening routine, add Frankincense to a personal-care product, or carry Shinrin-Yoku in my bag. These are simple choices that complement the other ways I care for my health and well-being.
But I did not begin as an enthusiastic essential-oil user. I began with questions.
A New Direction
After a fulfilling career in human resources, including serving as a vice president, I reached a point when I was ready to explore another side of myself.
During a coaching conversation, someone asked what I had wanted to be when I grew up. After thinking about it, I answered:
“I thought I would become a child psychologist or an attorney who advocated for children.”
That conversation helped me recognize that I had spent much of my HR career advocating for people by helping shape healthier workplaces and organizational cultures. The work was meaningful, but I felt drawn to understand people more deeply.
I returned to school and earned my M.A. in Psychology from Pepperdine University.
As I studied human behavior, motivation, and the relationship between our thoughts, choices, and well-being, I became increasingly curious about whole-person approaches to health.
One discussion in my psychopharmacology class particularly stayed with me. My professor used lavender to illustrate a broader principle: when appropriate, consider whether a less intensive, nonpharmaceutical approach might be worth exploring before moving to medication.
She was not dismissing the value of pharmaceuticals or suggesting that lavender was right for every person or circumstance. She was encouraging us to think carefully about available options, their potential benefits and risks, and the importance of making informed decisions with a qualified healthcare professional.
That perspective sparked my curiosity. I began wondering whether natural products could have a thoughtful, responsible place alongside—not in place of—the other practices and professional care that support our well-being.
Curiosity Replaced Skepticism
Around that time, someone close to me experienced a serious health crisis. Watching his recovery—and seeing how daily choices could support the medical care he was receiving—changed the kinds of questions I was asking.
What role do our everyday habits play in how we feel? How can nutrition, movement, rest, stress management, and our environment support overall well-being? Are there responsible ways to incorporate natural products into an otherwise well-rounded approach to health?
I did not have immediate answers, but I wanted to learn more.
Essential oils also kept appearing in my life. A well-meaning colleague frequently stopped by my office to tell me about them and encourage me to consider the business opportunity.
Her persistence did not win me over. In fact, the pressure had the opposite effect.
Still, I was curious.
A trusted friend who had used essential oils for many years helped me learn about them without pressure. I began experimenting carefully, paying attention to how I used each product and whether it had a meaningful place in my life.
I did not adopt everything at once. I asked questions, read labels, learned about appropriate use, and gradually discovered which products I genuinely enjoyed.
An Invitation to Learn More
By the time I met my husband, Ron, I was already using essential oils as a customer.
When we had an opportunity to attend a science-focused educational seminar together, he came with me. With his chemistry background and interest in natural health, he was curious too.
Partway through the presentation, he slid a note across the table:
“Let’s do this!”
That was more than a decade ago.
What began as curiosity gradually became part of our lifestyle. Essential oils did not replace good nutrition, movement, restorative sleep, medical care, or other healthy practices. They became one more tool we could use intentionally.
Education Without Pressure
My early experience also shaped how I introduce essential oils to others.
I never want someone to feel pressured into buying a product or joining a business. I would rather create a comfortable place for people to ask questions, learn how products may be used, and decide for themselves whether something fits their needs, preferences, and lifestyle.
Essential oils are concentrated plant compounds and should be used thoughtfully. I encourage people to follow product directions, learn when dilution is appropriate, consider individual sensitivities, and consult a qualified healthcare professional when they have a medical condition, take medications, are pregnant or nursing, or have questions about safe use.
Natural does not automatically mean appropriate for every person or every circumstance.
That individualized approach is consistent with how I view wellness more broadly. There is rarely one product, habit, or routine that is right for everyone. What matters is making informed choices, listening to your body, and developing practices you can safely and realistically sustain.
Why I Continue to Share
I share essential oils because I enjoy helping people discover practical ways to support their everyday well-being. For one person, that might mean creating a calming bedtime ritual. For another, it might mean choosing thoughtfully formulated personal-care or household products. Someone else may simply enjoy the aroma of a favorite oil.
My role is not to promise a particular result. It is to provide education, encourage responsible use, and help people make choices that feel right for them.
For me, this has never been about finding a single answer to wellness. It is about bringing together supportive habits and resources that care for the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.
Essential oils are one part of that larger picture.
Have you ever been skeptical of something that later became a meaningful part of your routine? I invite you to share what changed your perspective in the conversation below.