Purification is an essential oil blend made by Young Living that combines six plant-based oils primarily used for freshening air, neutralizing odors, and creating a cleaner-smelling environment. It’s one of the more popular “utility” blends in the essential oil world, valued less for its scent profile and more for its practical applications around the house.
What’s in the Blend
Purification contains six essential oils: citronella, rosemary, lemongrass, tea tree, lavandin, and myrtle. The blend leans heavily on citrus-adjacent and herbaceous notes, which is why it smells sharp and clean rather than floral or sweet. Citronella and lemongrass give it that distinctive bright, grassy quality, while tea tree and rosemary add an herbal edge. Lavandin (a hybrid of lavender) and myrtle soften the overall scent slightly.
Several of these individual oils have been studied for their antimicrobial properties. Tea tree oil in particular has shown strong antibacterial activity in laboratory settings, including against resistant bacteria like MRSA. A study published in the journal Molecules found that tea tree oil displayed potent bactericidal effects against multiple drug-resistant bacterial strains at relatively low concentrations. That said, lab results with concentrated oils don’t translate directly to what happens when you diffuse a blended oil in your living room. The antimicrobial benefit in everyday use is modest at best.
Common Household Uses
Most people reach for Purification when something in their home smells bad and they want a natural alternative to chemical air fresheners. The blend works well in a diffuser, where 8 to 10 drops can freshen a room for an hour or two. But diffusing is just the starting point. Here are the most popular ways people use it around the house:
- Stale closets and shoes: A few drops on a cotton ball tucked into a drawer, closet, or pair of sneakers can absorb and mask lingering odors.
- Trash cans and diaper pails: A couple of drops at the bottom of the bag or on the lid helps cut through strong smells.
- Air vents: Placing a cotton ball with a few drops on a home or car vent circulates the scent as air flows through.
- Laundry: Adding a few drops to your detergent gives clothes a fresh, herbal scent, especially useful for towels or gym clothes.
- Bathrooms: Two to three drops inside the cardboard tube of a toilet paper roll releases a subtle scent each time the roll spins.
The common thread here is odor control. Purification doesn’t disinfect surfaces the way a cleaning spray would, but the combination of citronella, lemongrass, and tea tree does a solid job of masking or replacing unpleasant smells with something sharper and cleaner.
Insect Deterrent
Citronella and lemongrass are two of the most widely recognized natural insect repellents, and they make up a significant portion of this blend. Many people dab Purification on clothing, diffuse it on a patio, or apply it (diluted with a carrier oil) to skin before spending time outdoors. It’s commonly used against mosquitoes in particular.
How well does it actually work? Citronella-based repellents do deter mosquitoes, but they typically don’t last as long as DEET-based products. You can expect maybe one to two hours of reduced mosquito activity after application, compared to several hours from conventional repellents. For a backyard barbecue, it may be enough. For a hike through heavily wooded, mosquito-dense areas, you’d likely want something stronger.
Skin Application
Some people apply Purification topically for minor skin irritations, small blemishes, or bug bites. Tea tree oil is the ingredient doing the heavy lifting here, as it has well-documented antiseptic qualities. If you’re going to apply the blend to skin, always dilute it first with a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba. A good starting ratio is one to two drops of the blend per teaspoon of carrier oil.
Undiluted application can cause skin irritation, redness, or a burning sensation, especially on sensitive skin. Lemongrass and citronella are both known to be skin sensitizers at higher concentrations. Test a small area first, and avoid applying it near your eyes or on broken skin.
Safety Around Pets
This is worth its own section because several ingredients in Purification are potentially harmful to cats and dogs. The ASPCA warns that concentrated essential oils can cause unsteadiness, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and in severe cases, dangerously low body temperature in pets. Direct application of essential oils to animals should be avoided entirely.
Running a diffuser for a short period in a room your pet can’t access is generally considered lower risk. But keep in mind that your dog or cat has a far more sensitive sense of smell than you do, so what seems like a light, pleasant scent to you could be overwhelming to them. If your pet has any history of respiratory issues, skip the diffuser altogether. And always store the bottle somewhere a curious pet can’t knock it over or chew through it.
What It Won’t Do
Purification is a useful household tool for freshening spaces and deterring bugs, but it’s worth being clear about its limits. It is not a disinfectant, a medical treatment, or a substitute for proper cleaning. The antimicrobial properties of its individual ingredients, while real in lab conditions, don’t mean that diffusing the blend will sterilize a room or protect you from illness. Wiping down a countertop with a few drops in water will make it smell nice, but it won’t kill bacteria the way a proper disinfecting cleaner would.
Similarly, while many people find the blend soothing or energizing to diffuse, these effects are subjective and vary widely from person to person. Use it for what it does well: making your home smell cleaner, keeping your closets fresh, and giving mosquitoes a reason to look elsewhere.