Ever wondered which essential oil is best for treating period pain, boosting brain power or frightening the moths away? Here's the low-down on 10 of the most popular - including some very surprising uses.

Remember, if you're pregnant or trying for a baby, it's always best to check with a healthcare professional before using essential oils.

By Jane Murphy

Where's it from? Steam distilled from the flowers of the lavender plant.

What's it good for? Its soothing, restorative properties mean it's great for combating stress and helping you to relax. Add a few drops to a hanky during the day - and to your pillow at bedtime to help you sleep. It can also help relieve tension headaches: just rub a couple of drops into your temples.

Anything else? Add a few drops to a cedar block and pop it into your wardrobe to scare off the moths and keep clothes smelling fresh.

Buy it... £8.99 from Wolds Way Lavender - or from chemists and health stores nationwide.

Where's it from? Extracted by cold expression from the peel of fresh lemons.

What's it good for? Lemon is an uplifting, astringent oil with a wealth of uses - from stimulating the mind to fighting germs. For an instant pick-me-up, add a few drops to a cotton-wool ball, and inhale. Or apply a couple of drops to corns, calluses or skin blemishes for a soothing, antiseptic effect.

Anything else? Make your own fatigue-fighting air freshener by adding 6-12 drops of lemon essential oil to pure water in a spray bottle.

Buy it... around £4.39 from Holland & Barrett - or from chemists and health stores nationwide.

Where's it from? Steam distilled from the twigs and leaves of the tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), native to Australia.

What's it good for? Tea tree's antiseptic, anti-viral, fungicidal properties mean it's a great oil to keep in your medicine cabinet. Apply a few diluted drops directly to cuts, sores and open wounds - or to fungal infections such as athlete's foot or ringworm.

Anything else? Add 2tsp tea tree oil to a water-filled spray bottle - then use it to clean areas affected by mould and mildew. It won't get rid of any discolouration, but it will kill the mould.

Buy it... Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Oil, around £4.40, from chemists and health stores nationwide.

Where's it from? Extracted from the fresh or partially dried leaves and twigs of the eucalyptus tree, native to Australia.

What's it good for? Eucalyptus oil is a fabulous decongestant, so it's great for treating chesty coughs and colds. Add two or three drops to a bowl of boiling water, and inhale - or scatter a few drops on your hanky. It's antiseptic, too - so good for dabbing on cuts and insect bites.

Anything else? Add one or two drops (no more!) to your bath or a bowl of water in the sauna for a super-reviving effect.

Buy it... Botanics Aromatherapy Pure Essential Eucalyptus Oil, around £4.29, from chemists and health stores nationwide.

Where's it from? Extracted by cold compression or steam distillation from fresh or dried lime peel.

What's it good for? Lime is antiseptic and antiviral - plus it acts as a coagulant, so can be applied to cuts or skin blemishes to encourage healing. Like lemon, it's very uplifting and revitalising, so add a few drops to your bath water for a relaxing pick-me-up.

Anything else? For an effective spot treatment, add one drop of lime essential oil to 2tbsp witch hazel, and apply to the affected area.

Buy it... around £3.59 from Holland & Barrett, or from chemists and health stores nationwide.

Where's it from? Steam distilled from the leaves of the patchouli plant, a bushy herb, native to India and Malaysia.

What's it good for? No, this musky-scented oil isn't just used in incense sticks - although its uplifting, antidepressant properties make it a good scent to add to a diffuser at home or work. It's also a great antiseptic and antifungal skin treatment - and can be applied neat to insect bites with a cotton bud.

Anything else? Patchouli is believed to have aphrodisiac properties: add a drop or two to massage oil or your bath water, and see if it does the trick.

Buy it... Absolute Aromas Organic Patchouli Oil, around £3.70, Aura Vita, or from chemists and health stores nationwide.

Where's it from? Harvested from the leaves of the peppermint plant, native to Europe.

What's it good for? Another medicine cabinet must-have, peppermint helps clear sinus congestion (add a drop or two to your hanky, and inhale) and eases indigestion (add a couple of drops to a glass of water). You can also relieve headaches by massaging with diluted peppermint oil.

Anything else? Dab diluted peppermint oil on to your skin or clothes as a quick-fix insect repellent - or add a few drops to a water-filled spray bottle, and use it to keep the bugs away.

Buy it... around £3.59 from Holland & Barrett, or from chemists and health stores nationwide.

Where's it from? Steam distilled from the petals of the damask rose (grown in Eastern Europe and Asia) or the cabbage rose (grown in Morocco, France and Egypt).

What's it good for? Rose oil is known for its mood-lifting, aphrodisiac qualities: sprinkle a few drops on to a hanky or add to a diffuser. It's also good for relieving period pain: add four drops to a bowl of hot water, dip a folded cloth into the water, wring out, then apply as a hot compress.

Anything else? Pure rose essential oil is used in the production of Turkish delight. If you fancy making some yourself, you can find plenty of recipes online.

Buy it... around £6.69 from Holland & Barrett, or from chemists and health stores nationwide.

Where's it from? Steam distilled from the fresh flowers of the ylang-ylang tree, grown in the Indonesian rainforest.

What's it good for? Its calming, relaxing properties mean it's great for relieving anxiety and stress. Add a couple of drops to a hanky, and inhale throughout the day. It's also very effective in maintaining the skin's oil and moisture balance, so is used in many beauty products.

Anything else? Ylang-ylang is thought to be an aphrodisiac: add a few drops to an aromatherapy diffuser in the bedroom.

Buy it... around £6.55 from Boots, or from chemists and health stores nationwide.

Where's it from? Steam distilled from the leaves of the rosemary plant.

What's it good for? An excellent tonic for the brain and nervous system, rosemary stimulates mental activity and helps you concentrate on the task in hand. Add a couple of drops to a hanky or aromatherapy diffuser. It's also good for treating respiratory problems.

Anything else? To keep your hair in tip-top condition and get rid of dandruff, mix 10 drops of rosemary oil with a little cold water, then apply to your hair after shampooing. Do not rinse.

Buy it... around £4.59 from Holland & Barrett, or from chemists and health stores nationwide.