Key points
- Try the Summer Essential Oil Gift Set first: twelve 5 ml oils, from lemon and lime to spearmint and cypress, with two droppers.
- Pick the Lavender Essential Oil 50 ml for a diffuser or a homemade room spray, or the Lavender & Fennel Essential Oil Mist for spraying on linen.
- Peppermint Organic Essential Oil 50ml has a minty menthol scent for an oil burner, and Eucalyptus Organic Essential Oil 50ml is for a diffuser.
- Choose the Manifestation Blended Essential Oil Set if you enjoy making rituals or candles; its rose, peppermint, orange and rosemary scents are in glass bottles.
- Over £60 we pay the first £6 of delivery on most orders, so one ordinary parcel travels free.
How did we choose these picks?
We hand-picked every oil in this guide from the range we stock. For each one we asked who it suits and what it does, so you can match a scent to the way you plan to use it.
You will find a mix of kinds and budgets, from a twelve-bottle summer set to single 50 ml bottles and roller bottles for making your own blends. Start small, then add more as you learn which scents you love.
Want to see more? Browse everything in our Essential Oils & Diffusers range, or try Bath & Body and Gift Sets.
Which essential oil gift sets are best for beginners?
The best essential oil gift sets for beginners are the twelve-oil summer set, the four-blend citrus and lavender set and the four-scent ritual set. Each holds several bottles, so you can try scents before choosing a favourite. Every set comes with droppers for a diffuser or oil burner.
Summer Essential Oil Gift Set (12 x 5ml) (£25.49)
A colourful choice for anyone new to scent. This summer set holds twelve 5 ml essential oils, from lemon and lime to spearmint and cypress. Floral, minty, woody, spicy and herbal scents mean there is plenty to try. For citrus lovers, it is a bright start. The set is 100% pure, handmade, vegan friendly and cruelty-free, with two droppers, and it is bottled and packed in Sheffield, UK.
Best for: Scent beginners who love citrus.
Blended Essential Oil Set, 4 x 10 ml (£14.99)
Practical and pretty, this set gives you four 10 ml blended oils in glass bottles with dropper lids. The blends are lemon and bergamot, grapefruit and clary sage, lemon and lime, and lavender and patchouli. Each one is a ready-made mix, so there is no guesswork about which oils to combine. Diffuser owners who want a few blends to try will like the cardboard display box with plastic insert that comes with it.
Best for: Diffuser owners wanting blends.
Manifestation Blended Essential Oil Set (£14.99)
If they love ritual, this is the one. The Manifestation set holds four 10 ml blended oils in glass bottles with dropper lids. Rose, peppermint, orange and rosemary give a good range of scents to explore. It suits witchy friends, candle makers and anyone who is building a ritual space at home. It comes in a cardboard display box with a plastic insert and weighs 270 g.
Best for: Witchy friends and ritual makers.
Same-day dispatch
Same-day dispatchWhich single essential oils are best for a diffuser?
Eucalyptus is the clearest single oil to start with for a diffuser, and two of our eucalyptus bottles are made for one. Below are five single oils, each steam distilled, so you can compare scents and choose your first bottle with confidence.
Peppermint Organic Essential Oil 50ml (£17.49)
For anyone who collects herbs, this 50ml bottle of organic peppermint essential oil is a lovely place to start. Its Latin name is Mentha piperita, and it is steam distilled from the flowering herb. The minty scent comes from its menthol content. It is made for an oil burner rather than a diffuser, so it suits anyone who already has a burner at home. Not for eating, drinking or use on skin.
Best for: Oil burner fans and herb lovers.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil 50 ml (£9.99)
Hand-picked for a beginner, this 50 ml eucalyptus essential oil is a simple first step into diffusing. It is steam distilled from the leaves and twigs of Eucalyptus globulus, and you only need a few drops in your diffuser. It comes from a professional essential oil range, so it is a good pick if you plan to use it often. For external use only, so never eat or drink it.
Best for: First-time diffuser users.
Citronella Organic Essential Oil 50 ml (£13.99)
Nice to unwrap, nicer to use with the right device. This 50 ml bottle of organic citronella essential oil is steam distilled from dried grass, Cymbopogon nardus, using the leaves and stems. It is made for a vaporiser, so check that your device suits it before you start. Avoid use during pregnancy and in children under 3. Do not consume it, and keep it off the skin.
Best for: Vaporiser owners who want variety.
Eucalyptus Organic Essential Oil 50ml (£11.49)
A gift that says you listened, especially if someone has asked about diffusers. This 50 ml bottle of organic eucalyptus essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves and twigs of Eucalyptus globulus. It is made for a diffuser, and just a few drops go into the device. It is a clear, simple choice for diffuser owners or anyone starting out. For external use only, so never eat or drink it.
Best for: Beginners with a new diffuser.
Sweet Birch Essential Oil 50ml (£16.49)
A grown-up stocking filler for the witchy friend who has a collection of scents. This 50ml bottle of sweet birch essential oil is made from the bark of the tree, Betula lenta, and it is steam distilled. It comes from the 50ml Professional Essential Oils range, so it fits well alongside your other bottles. It is not to be eaten or drunk, and it is not for use on skin.
Best for: Collectors and witchy friends.
Which scents are best for the bedroom and linen?
For the bedroom and linen, start with lavender. The lavender and fennel mist is made for sprays on rooms and bed linen, while the lavender oil suits a diffuser or homemade room spray. All three bring scent into the home, from fresh lavender to warm, spicy patchouli.
Lavender Essential Oil 50 ml (£10.99)
Hand-picked for a beginner, this 50 ml lavender essential oil is steam distilled from the flowering tips of Lavandula angustifolia. Just three to four drops in a diffuser fill the room with its scent. You can also mix it with water in a spray bottle for a linen cupboard, mattress, car or the air. It suits anyone who already loves lavender. Keep it out of reach of children, as it can cause skin sensitivity.
Best for: Lavender lovers and diffuser owners.
Lavender & Fennel Essential Oil Mist 100 ml (£7.49)
A stylish upgrade to an everyday thing, this 100 ml mist blends fresh floral lavender with sweet fennel essential oils. Spray it around the home, in the bedroom or bathroom, or on linen. It measures 14 x 4 cm, so it is easy to keep on a shelf or bedside table. Use it for rooms and linen only, and never drink it or spray it on your skin.
Best for: Bedrooms and fresh linen.
Patchouli Essential Oil 10 ml (£4.49)
This 10 ml patchouli essential oil is steam distilled from dried leaves of Pogostemon cablin, a member of the mint family. Its scent is rich, musky-sweet and spicy, and it is made for an oil burner, potpourri or sachets. It is a good choice if you want something warmer than fresh florals. Pair it with a lavender oil for a fresh and warm contrast.
Best for: Warm, spicy scent lovers.
Which roller bottles are good for making my own blends?
Our three roller bottles are all good for making your own blends. Each one is a small bottle with a polished stone roller ball and stones inside, made for essential oils, perfume oils and DIY blends, so they suit anyone starting their own mixes.
Amethyst Gemstone Roller Bottle, Silver Cap (£3.49)
Fun to give and useful every day, this one has a smoothly polished amethyst ball for the roller top. It measures 8.5 x 2 cm and has a silver cap. It is made from glass, gemstone and plastic, and you can fill it with essential oils, perfume oils or your own sample blends. It suits oil blenders and crystal lovers who like to mix their own scents.
Best for: Oil blenders and crystal lovers.
Rose Quartz Roller Bottle with Wooden Cap (£3.99)
A little luxury for a beginner, this glass roller bottle has a polished rose quartz ball and stones placed inside. It measures 8.8 x 2.1 cm and has a wooden cap. You can use it for essential oils, perfume oils and DIY sample blends, so it is a good pick for anyone who loves a bit of fragrance. Perfect for a perfume oil lover who wants to start blending their own scents at home.
Best for: Perfume lovers starting to blend.
Rock Quartz Roller Bottle with Wooden Cap (£3.99)
Practical and pretty, this rock quartz roller bottle is made to hold your own essential oil blends or perfume oils. It is 8.8 x 2.1 cm with a smoothly polished rock quartz ball, a wooden cap and stones placed inside the bottle. It is a good match for someone starting out with DIY blends who wants a simple, tidy bottle to mix in and keep as they learn.
Best for: Beginners making DIY blends.
Our essential oils for beginners: scents and how to use them compared
Every pick at a glance: who it suits best and how it is sent.
| Pick | Best for | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Summer Essential Oil Gift Set (12 x 5ml) (£25.49) | Scent beginners who love citrus | Standard dispatch |
| Blended Essential Oil Set, 4 x 10 ml (£14.99) | Diffuser owners wanting blends | Same-day dispatch |
| Manifestation Blended Essential Oil Set (£14.99) | Witchy friends and ritual makers | Same-day dispatch |
| Peppermint Organic Essential Oil 50ml (£17.49) | Oil burner fans and herb lovers | Standard dispatch |
| Eucalyptus Essential Oil 50 ml (£9.99) | First-time diffuser users | Standard dispatch |
| Citronella Organic Essential Oil 50 ml (£13.99) | Vaporiser owners who want variety | Standard dispatch |
| Eucalyptus Organic Essential Oil 50ml (£11.49) | Beginners with a new diffuser | Standard dispatch |
| Sweet Birch Essential Oil 50ml (£16.49) | Collectors and witchy friends | Standard dispatch |
| Lavender Essential Oil 50 ml (£10.99) | Lavender lovers and diffuser owners | Standard dispatch |
| Lavender & Fennel Essential Oil Mist 100 ml (£7.49) | Bedrooms and fresh linen | Standard dispatch |
| Patchouli Essential Oil 10 ml (£4.49) | Warm, spicy scent lovers | Standard dispatch |
| Amethyst Gemstone Roller Bottle, Silver Cap (£3.49) | Oil blenders and crystal lovers | Standard dispatch |
| Rose Quartz Roller Bottle with Wooden Cap (£3.99) | Perfume lovers starting to blend | Standard dispatch |
| Rock Quartz Roller Bottle with Wooden Cap (£3.99) | Beginners making DIY blends | Standard dispatch |
How does delivery work?
Every order travels by tracked UK delivery, to your door or straight to theirs if it's a gift. Delivery is the sum of your parcels, from £3.95 each (some items travel free), and free over £60 on most orders: we pay the first £6. Each product page shows the expected delivery dates before you pay. See delivery for the details.
Ready to choose?
Our beginner essential oils suit anyone starting out: a summer gift set, lavender or eucalyptus for diffusers, peppermint for an oil burner, and roller bottles for those who like to blend their own scents. Pick your favourite above and add it to your basket: every product page shows its size, price and delivery dates. More ideas: What Is Aromatherapy? A Plain-English Guide for Beginners · Aroma diffusers: how to choose one · Oil burners and wax melt burners.