How To Make Money With Essential Oils — Other Uses of Your Favorite Oils

We live in uncertain times. Between trade wars, actual wars, and the looming fear of AI replacing human jobs, it can feel like no career is truly “safe.” People everywhere are looking for side hustles or alternative ways to earn. And guess what? Your love for essential oils might just be your unexpected golden ticket.

Essential oils aren’t just for relaxing baths and spa days. If you know how to use them well, you can turn this fragrant hobby into a serious source of income. Let’s explore some online and offline ways you can start making money with essential oils.

1. Start Your Own Essential Oil Brand

If you’re serious and have some capital to invest, starting your own essential oil brand is one of the most direct ways to make money.

You’ll need to source high-quality oils, create beautiful packaging, and set up a strong brand identity. You can sell online via a website or platforms like Amazon, Etsy, or Shopify. Offline, you can work with local boutiques, organic stores, or even salons.

However, this option requires investment, patience, and a lot of research on safety, legal regulations, and marketing. But if you succeed, you can build a strong, loyal customer base.

2. Create Handmade Products

Essential oils are the magic ingredient in many handmade products. You can make and sell:

• Soaps

• Candles

• Lip balms

• Body butters

• Bath salts

• Room sprays

These products can be sold at farmer’s markets, local fairs, craft exhibitions, or online. People love buying handmade, natural, and beautifully packaged items, especially as gifts.

To stand out, focus on unique blends or scents, eco-friendly packaging, and good storytelling behind your products.

3. Offer DIY Kits

Many people want to learn how to use essential oils but feel overwhelmed. You can help them by creating DIY kits.

For example:

• A “Sleep Better” kit with lavender and chamomile oils, a small diffuser, and instructions.

• A “Happy Home” kit with lemon, orange, and eucalyptus oils for cleaning and freshening.

• A “Relax & De-Stress” kit with massage oil recipes and oils.

You can sell these kits online or offer them at workshops (more on workshops in a bit). This is a great passive income idea since once you prepare the kit, it can be sold repeatedly.

4. Host Workshops and Classes

Workshops are a fun, interactive way to make money while sharing your passion. You can do them in person at local community centers, schools, yoga studios, or wellness centers.

Or, if you want to reach a wider audience, you can offer online classes through Zoom or platforms like Teachable and Udemy.

You can teach topics like:

• Basics of essential oils

• How to blend oils for emotional wellness

• Creating your own skincare with essential oils

• Using oils for household cleaning

People are often willing to pay for hands-on experience and expert guidance.

5. Create Online Content

If you love writing, filming, or talking, use that skill! Start a blog, YouTube channel, or Instagram page focused on essential oils.

You can earn money through:

• Affiliate marketing (promoting oil brands or diffusers and earning a commission)

• Sponsored posts or videos

• Selling digital guides or e-books (like “50 Essential Oil Blends for Every Mood”)

• Ads on your blog or videos

Consistency and authenticity are key. Over time, as your audience grows, so will your income.

6. Become an Affiliate or Distributor

If creating your own products feels too big, you can become an affiliate or distributor for an existing essential oil brand.

Many big essential oil companies have affiliate or multi-level marketing (MLM) programs. While MLMs can be controversial, some people do succeed with them if they are genuinely passionate and honest in their approach.

You earn money by:

• Selling products directly

• Earning commissions on sales through your referral links

• Recruiting other sellers (if it's an MLM structure)

Just remember: choose reputable companies with high-quality oils. Your reputation is important.

7. Offer Consultations

If you’ve studied aromatherapy formally or have years of experience, you can offer one-on-one consultations.

People often want personalized advice on:

• Which oils are safe during pregnancy

• How to use oils for specific skin concerns

• Oils that might help with sleep or stress

You can charge by the hour or offer packages. This works well both offline and online (via video calls).

8. Partner with Local Businesses

Think outside the box! Partner with:

• Spas and massage therapists (offer custom blends)

• Yoga studios (create a relaxing blend for classes)

• Hotels (offer room sprays or guest gift packs)

• Florists or gift shops (sell small blends as add-ons)

These collaborations can help you reach new customers without needing to set up your own store.

9. Subscription Boxes

Subscription boxes are all the rage. You can create a monthly or quarterly box featuring:

• Seasonal essential oil blends

• DIY recipes or small kits

• Accessories like roller bottles or diffusers

• Little extras (tea samples, wellness tips)

People love surprises and enjoy discovering new products regularly. This can create a steady stream of income.

10. Sell Digital Products

If you don’t want to handle physical inventory, create digital products instead. Examples:

• E-books on essential oil uses

• Printable blend recipes and guides

• Online courses or webinars

Once made, these can be sold unlimited times with no extra cost.

11. Add Oils to Your Existing Services

If you’re already in a service industry—like massage, beauty, or wellness—you can integrate essential oils into your offerings.

For example:

• A hairdresser could add scalp treatments with rosemary or tea tree oil.

• A massage therapist could offer customized aromatherapy massages.

• A yoga instructor could diffuse oils in class or sell blends to students.

This enhances your services and creates a new income stream without much extra effort.

Final Thoughts: Turn Passion Into Profit

The world may be uncertain. AI might take some jobs. Trade wars might disrupt markets. But one thing stays constant: people seek comfort, healing, and simple joys. Essential oils tick all those boxes.

From creating and selling handmade goods to offering workshops, consultations, and digital guides—the possibilities are endless.

So if you love essential oils, why not make them work for you? Your hobby can become a side hustle or even a full-time business. With creativity and dedication, you might just smell your way to success.