Spring is here! Sale and Celebration

Well, we hope it's here.  This week in Middle Tennessee daytime temperatures have hovered above 80. Of course, next week they may be in the 40's.  But for now, it looks and feels like Spring outside our door.

To welcome Spring, our Specials page has our favorite Springtime Oils and blends - deeply green Galbanum, the oil of rebirth and renewal; our "youngest" floral - Linden Blossom; the perfumer's favorite Violet Leaf, all at 10% off.   Save 10% on Jojoba oil and Calophyllum this month, as well as two of our most useful hydrosols, Witch Hazel and Melissa.  Save on our allergy fighting oils and blends, and personal inhalers for ease of use.  Let our Fresh Aire and GermBeater Synergies aromatically "Spring Clean" your home.  Stock up on Bulgarian Rose Oil diluted to 10% in Jojoba at a 10% savings, and try our new, much easier to fill, frosted glass roller bottles to carry this most feminine oil in your pocket or purse.

For pet owners:  Have you heard of The Whole Dog Journal? The current issue has an article about this year's Herb of The Year, Melissa. They recommend Melissa Hydrosol, and graciously recommended Nature's Gift as the source for it. Read more on our specials page.

Shipping Deadlines - If you love our Baby Bottom Balm (useful for adults, as well...for treating dry damaged hands and/or eczema) or our whipped Shea Soufflé, please remember that they don't ship well during Summer's heat.  We will stop making them sometime towards the end of April, so if you love one of them....order it now!

Our clients say:

Hi Marge
I just had to let you know how incredible your blue tansy is!
My husband had an allergic reaction to something unknown yesterday.  He broke out in red welts around his neck and it quickly started to spread up onto his face.  It was very painful and itchy and rather scary.  All I could think of to do in an emergency was to put a drop of your blue tansy on a tissue and tell him to inhale.
Well what a shock!  The allergic reaction stopped almost immediately and within half of an hour there was no sign that anything had ever happened.  I knew blue tansy was good for allergies but that surpassed all expectations!
Kind regards
Kerry Miles

Tanya Brickley, of Virginia recently wrote:

I recently purchased your Fresh Aire Spray for the common area's in my apartment complex. In doing so, we have found that the tenants love the fresh scent, and that it lasts for an extended period of time.

And she went on to request a bulk quotation.

ROOM SPRAYS 

from our "how to use essential oils" page

To 4 ounces of distilled water add 80 to 100 drops (or 4 to 5 ml) Essential Oil or Blend. This mixture will require a lot of shaking, since the essential oils do not dissolve in water. You may first dissolve the essential oils in an ounce of perfumers alcohol or high proof vodka, or in a solublizer like the polysorbate available on our carrier oils page, then top the mixture off with approximately three ounces of distilled water.   I have used 3 mls of Rose Otto in 6 to 8 mls of Polysorbate, and filled the 4 ounce atomizer with distilled water.  It makes the worlds absolutely best linen spray. Just one spritz on the pillowcase three or four times a week is enough.  Use Lavender or Clementine for a wonderful "Monster in the Closet" spray for little ones. 

Spring Cleaning:  

Did you know that our Hints and Tips files are full of formulas and suggestions to make Spring Cleaning easier with all natural products?  And our stash of previous newsletters contain all sorts of formulas that haven't made it to the hints page yet.  Christi has been browsing them, and coming up with new ones...like the following, from a now defunct website:

Make Your Own Homemade Fabric Softener:

1 gallon white vinegar
20-30 drops lavender essential oil

Add the lavender essential oil to the vinegar right in the container and you've got instant fabric softener. Shake well before using. For a large load, add 1 cup during the rinse cycle; use 1/2 cup during the rinse cycle for smaller loads.

Did you know that "dryer sheets" are one of the major causes of contact dermatitis? I was told that years ago by a dermatologist, and have been using vinegar in the rinse cycle ever since.  Hadn't thought about adding essential oils to it, but that makes so much sense!

from our April '04 newsletter:
http://www.naturesgift.com/NewsApril04.htm

Spring Cleaning Blend

Awhile ago, Jenine Stanley wrote sharing some blends she uses with our oils. This one seemed appropriate for spring cleaning time:

"A final blend I use in the diffuser and mixed with Borax crystals for the
vacuum is:
   * 3 parts cedarwood
   * 2 parts lemongrass
   * 1 part lemon tea tree
   * 1 part lime
This blend freshens, kills little critters in the carpet and keeps the vacuum bag from smelling like Golden Retriever and Maine Coon Cat."
Thanks, Jenine!!!! (I usually mix Black Spruce oil with borax and use it to freshen my carpets...I might try this blend next time.)

More cleaning hints: (from an unknown source!)

Cutting board disinfectant-Blend 2 tablespoons of salt with 2 tablespoons of
baking soda. Add water until paste forms, mix in 2 drops of thyme.  Rub into
board and let sit one hour.  Rinse.

Another Fabric softener-
1 cup of white vinegar
1 `cup baking soda
2 cups of water
10 drops of lavender, lemon, peppermint (choose one)
mix all together then add to your rinse cycle.
deoxidizes, sanitizes, softens your laundry


Polish, mirrors-1 cup of water, 1 cup of white vinegar
and 1 tsp. of rubbing alcohol with 20 drops of clove oil, or tea tree oil.
Apply on damp cloth then wipe dry.

Cleaning Wood Floors:

Sherry Harvey wrote:
I have found the perfect wooden floor cleaner - finally - and I have tried everything.  I have all hard wood floors and even though everyone tells me not to clean them with water - that is just not an option for me.  So, I have tried it all.  Today I used Murphy's Oil and lemon-scented myrtle!  The best!
My floors may not be cleaner but my house smells amazing!!!

Shoe Freshener:

Another recipe, from my friend Wendy at Aromaweb http://www.aromaweb.com

Ingredients:

            4 tablespoons cornstarch
            4 tablespoons baking soda
           20 drops Tea Tree
           10 drops Lemon
           10 drops Lavender

    Instructions for Use: Sprinkle the deodorizer lightly into shoes in the
    evenings or at times when the shoes will not be worn for a few hours.
    You will not see a "cure" for smelly shoes the first time you use the
    deodorizer. The magic occurs after regular uses.
 

Enough - time to get away from this computer and get out and enjoy the Springtime!

Quote of the month:

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

Marcel Proust (1871 ? 1922)