If you’ve spent any time at all looking up essential oil recipes and DIY projects on Pinterest, chances are you’ve heard about Thieves Oil. Many people believe that this blend of spicy essential oils helps to purify, improve immune function, and even ward off illness.

Thieves Oil as we know it today was created by Gary Young (of Young Living Essential Oils) in the early 1990s, based on years of research. But the story of Thieves Oil goes back a lot further, all the way to the Middle Ages!

The Story of Thieves Oil

Legend has it that the Thieves Oil story started with a group of spice traders and merchants who traded spices like clove and cinnamon throughout Europe from India. When the Black Plague hit, their business went south, and they had to find new ways to survive and make money. So they took up looting to make ends meet, ransacking the homes and bodies of plague victims, and pawning or trading the stolen items for food, other supplies, and money.  Since they were well-versed in the medicinal properties of spices from their careers as spice traders, the thieves would rub a blend of oils and spices all over their bodies for protection from illness before going to work looting.

Eventually they were caught by the King, who demanded that they either tell him their secret formula for avoiding the plague, or be put to death. The thieves shared their secret with the King, and the story of Thieves Oil was born.

So, are you ready to try it out for yourself? Use our DIY Thieves Oil Recipe to make your own at home!

DIY Thieves Oil Recipe

• 1 tbsp Clove Essential Oil
• 1 tbsp Lemon Essential Oil
• 2 ½ tsp Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil
• 2 tsp Eucalyptus Essential Oil
• 2 tsp Rosemary Essential Oil
  
• Amber bottle for storing your oil

How to Use Thieves Oil

While we can’t promise you that our Thieves Oil recipe will actually protect you from the plague, there’s lots to love about this powerful, plant-based blend! Lovers of Thieves Oil say that the blend helps to boost the immune system (especially when diluted with a carrier oil like jojoba and rubbed into the soles of the feet), and purifies the air when used in an aromatherapy diffuser. We also love to use it as a household cleaner – just mix 6-7 drops of Thieves Oil to a spray bottle filled with water and use on surfaces around your home. It’s also great at getting rid of funky smells from the fridge – just add a few drops to an open box of baking soda in the fridge to keep things smelling fresh.

Have you ever used Thieves Oil? What do you use it for? Tell us in the comments!