All of the books listed below are essential oil reference books covering the use of essential oils for people. If using essential oils for birds, please see our article SAFE USE OF THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS FOR BIRDS.

The Aromatherapy Practitioner Reference Manual (2 Volumes) by Sylla Sheppard-Hanger

If I had to choose just one aromatherapy book to keep on hand to look up uses for essential oils, this would be it. It contains 343 pages of charts listing 13 sections of properties for each oil. The sections include skin properties, respiratory properties, cardiovascular, nervous system, toxicity and others. I reach for this book every time I research an essential oil. If you can afford it, I think you will be happy to have it for a very long time to come.

Reference Guide for Essential Oils by Connie and Alan Higley

This book contains additional information to the Essential Oils Desk Reference shown below. It is a fun book to use, with lots of really useful information about all the Young Living oils including charts, testimonials, recipes, etc. I usually reach for this book right after I look at the book by Sylla Sheppard-Hanger shown above.

Essential Oils Desk Reference (current  Edition) by Essential Science Publishing
This is a very useful reference book about how to use Young Living essential oils and Young Living essential oil products.

The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple by David Stewart, Ph.D., D.N.M.

I love this book. It takes a fairly dry and complex subject, namely the chemistry of essential oils, and makes it really clear, and somehow, quite interesting. Parts of it are awe inspiring. If you want to understand how and why essential oils work as medicine I think you will be very happy with this book.

Advanced Aromatherapy by Kurt Schnaubelt

Medical Aromatherapy by Kurt Schnaubelt

The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils by Kurt Schnaubelt

Kurt Schnaubelt is one of the most highly respected aromatherapists in the United States. He runs Original Swiss Aromatics as well as the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy. Since Kurt is a chemist, there is a fair amount of chemistry in these books. Also, the books contain extremely valuable information about individual oils which I have not seen in other places. I frequently find myself thinking: “I wonder what Kurt says about this” whenever I am researching an oil and so am always happy to have this book on hand.

Lainey Alexander

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, or by any veterinarian. All information, including any product or technique mentioned, is for educational purposes only. None of the information is intended to diagnose or treat any disease.