Superb wildcrafted and organic essential oils, sourced internationally,
a wealth of information on their safe and effective use,
and a full range of aromatherapy accessories

HEAT RELIEF: If your climate is anything like ours, here in Middle Tennessee, you have been sweltering for the last few weeks, with little or no relief in sight. Other than never leaving the air-conditioning, I'm finding a chilled atomizer of Spearmint Hydrosol the most refreshing aromatic relief. Somehow when the heat index is out of sight, Mint is the most refreshing scent I know. A tepid bath with just two or three drops of Peppermint EO is also a wonderful 'cool-down'.

• Insect Repellant Spray
• Backache Blend
• Back to School/Early Bedtimes

RECIPE from a Florida client who found that a carrier oil based insect repellant just sheeted off her in the Florida heat: She adds our Lemon Teatree (about 40 drops) to 2 ounces of witch hazel. (the alcohol in the witch hazel dissolves/disperses the EO quite nicely) and then adds another two to four ounces of distilled water to the blend, pours it into an atomizer bottle and sprays all her exposed skin and, sometimes, her clothing. Says it keeps the Florida 'skeeters' away better than anything.

BACKACHE BLEND Recipe: Another recipe that some of our clients have found giving relief from chronic back pains and various forms of arthritis/rheumatism/joint pains: Calophyllum inophyllum as a carrier, with a blend of Helichrysum italicuum, Black Pepper and Lavandin Super essential oils. I've not offered this massage blend online yet. It has always been a custom product; however if the demand is there we could add it to our list of physically healing blends.

Back to School HINT: In New England, school didn't start until the Thursday after Labor Day. Here in Middle Tennessee the children have been back to school for a couple of weeks now. If your little ones are having some problems going to bed earlier to catch an early school bus, you might try a few drops of Bulgarian Lavender, or Roman or English Chamomile in a bedtime bath to relax them and help them fall asleep. If getting them up and moving in the mornings is a problem, I suggest diffusing or spraying a water and EO spray in their room.... our FogCutter is the most energizing synergy I have experienced.

• Anti-virus anti-flu?
• Migraines

Anti-viral experiences: A couple of weeks ago, one evening, I felt exhausted...and I hurt all over. My joints ached, my bones ached... my HAIR hurt. Obvious signs of a virus of some sort trying to take over. I put about 20 drops of Ravensara in the diffuser in my bedroom, but didn't want to fall asleep to its medicinal scent. I discovered a wee bit of Colleen K. Dodt's Christmas Potpourri blend. I don't know what else is in it...but I remember sending her some Cinnamon Bark last autumn for that blend. My nose says there's a bit of clove, as well. I added perhaps one drop of that spicy blend to the Ravensara, and turned on the diffuser. The room smelled wonderful...and by morning whatever I was fighting off had disappeared. Does this prove the oils killed whatever virus it was? Nope...anecdotal evidence isn't worth much to the scientists. But I plan to mix some Cinnamon Bark and Clove Bud into MY stash of Ravensara, for future use. Maybe some Lemon Myrtle...backhousia citradora, as well, for it's powerful antibacterial effect?

More feedback from friends using our Peppermint EO for migraines. Sniffing Peppermint straight from the bottle at the first sign of the aura seems to stop a lot of migraines in their tracks. Handy to know!

• Colds and flu and other winter nasties

I have been diffusing a blend of Ravensara Aromatica, with just a few drops of Clove Bud, Cinnamon Bark, Melissa, and a touch of Lemon Myrtle. The touches of spice and Lemon are wonderful, and I think the combined antibacterial and anti-viral effects of this blend should keep all the flu-bugs at bay through this winter!

• Safe and Aromatic Showering
• A New Years perfume blend
• Ear Infections in babies

IDEA...from Barbara Lucks, (almasol@sopris.net) respected aromatherapist, a way to use oils that are not generally 'skin friendly' in your morning shower.

Says Barbara: "I drop 4-6 drops on the shower floor with the drain closed, and the oil is carried up in the shower steam. I love starting the day this way." Barbara goes on to add that if you use the decongesting oils, one of the Eucalyptus species, for example, the aromatic steam really helps loosen congestion.

BLEND IDEA from Jenine Stanley:

>I just had to tell you about a wonderful a wonderful blend I concocted
>recently. I was looking for something interesting for the diffuser during a
>New Year's Eve party coming up and I was just sort of mulling over my oils.
>The combination that came to me surprised me and turned into something
>totally different than what I'd originally started to create.
 

• >10 drops Cedarwood
• >5 drops Juniper
• >25 drops Bergamot Mint
• >10 drops Lavender

>

>Let this sit for several days as its character seems to change a bit as it >ages. >

>I liked this so much that I decided to use it a perfume, diluted in Jojoba
>oil rather than putting it in the diffuser. I'm really fussy about
>fragrances and this one really seems to capture what I want plus having the
>properties of the oils that I really tune into. The combination of the
>Cedar, Bergamot Mint and Lavender is really stunning.
>

>Thanks again for discovering this unique oil. It is fast becoming one of my favorites.

(Not oils I would ever have thought to blend...Thanks for the tip, Jenine!)

From Amy Sikes: I asked you what to use to prevent my baby (just turned 1 last weekend) from getting ear infections and you suggested diffusing Eucalyptus Smithii. I've been using that anytime he is congested and so far so good, no ear infections! I diffuse it and mix it with epsom salt and put in his bath. I'm so pleased with this, because the last time I was at the pediatrician's with him she was talking about tubes for him and I really don't want to go that route. I just can't thank you enough!!!

My children had constant ear infections when they were small, so I know how miserable they can make both the baby and the mom. Wish I had known about Eucalyptus Smithii thirty years ago!

• Aromatherapy during childbirth
• Aromatic Verse
• Spring Scents

Mari also used our Ylang Ylang EO to control her daughter's blood pressure during labor and delivery. Says it worked quite well. Mari writes, "She didn't moan, groan, yell, or scream once during her labor. The physician and nurses were very interested in the Neroli, as they could hear other mothers screaming while they were giving birth. But not Spring, my daughter. Afterward, she said, she felt very relaxed and there was pain, of course, but she felt she could handle it. And handle it, she did. We both swear it was the Neroli. I would just spray it on her each time she asked."

J675, circa 1863, booklet 24 Essential Oils--are wrung­
The Attar from the Rose
Be not expressed by Suns--alone­
It is the gift of Screws­
The General Rose--decay­
But this--in Lady's Drawer
Make Summer--When the Lady lie
In Ceaseless Rosemary­
EMILY DICKINSON
 

Quick reminder, if you are looking for ideas for a "spring blend".... to me, Linden Blossom Absolute is the scent of Spring, sweetly floral and young. And the tradition "rites of spring" aromatic is Galbanum....the oil of renewal, complex and multilayered...the warm growing scent of the greenhouse.

First, a story that delights me. We were recently contacted by the Bishop of Papua New Guinea, asking if we could supply some Peru Balsam. Now, we don't normally carry this highly sensitizing oil, but I have access to a lovely specimen. He needed it to blend the anointing oil, for baptisms, confirmation, ordination, etc. I am just blown away by the thought that one of our oils is winging its way half way around the world, to be used in the rites of the church. I am used to Helichrysum, not Holy Chrism.

Some blend suggestions from friends. Just in time for final exams, my friend Harriet writes: FYI I've found that a blend of Lemon Rind and Black Spruce, in the diffuser, is the perfect oil for increasing focus and mental ability...in addition for wonderfully cutting the cigarette smoke out of the air.

And a delightful diffuser blend from my friend Wendy Robbins of Aromaweb Sweet and romantic, without being cloying. 1 drop Jasmine 6 drops Sweet Orange 3 drops Patchouli

Yummy. (I used Jasmine Sambac in this one, although normally my favorite is the Grandiflora...am tempted to blend some into a solid perfume, it's that pretty!)

• Snake Oil chuckle

CHUCKLE of the WEEK: from my mail. A gentleman with a website about rattlesnakes, selling leather and snakeskin accessories wrote asking if I knew of any medicinal uses for rattlesnake oil, and would I be interested in buying some.
My reply?
I don't think I'm really interested in purchasing any snake oil at this point.... After all, I do buy for resale, and really don't think I want to be known as a snake oil salesman.
my partner, on the other hand, wants to know how much it is per ounce.
and to the best of my knowledge, it has no medicinal value.

• Poison Ivy
• SkeeterBeater
• Focus Blend
• Refreshing Aromatic Apple Drink
• Tanning Blend
• Household Ideas:
• Window/Glass Cleaner
• Furniture Polish

POISON IVY

My friend Danielle wrote the following:

I read your article on poison ivy on Agora. Something I tried recently is some essential oil of Citrus aurantium, leaf, Petitgrain. I had poison oak on my hand and it was starting to get to me, seriously. I grabbed the first bottle of essential oil I found, which happened to be Petitgrain. So much for enlightened therapy. Some kind of aromatherapy roulette... I applied it neat. It stopped itching immediately and never itched again. I could not feel it at all. It started oozing right away, and the day after, it was completely dry. A friend of mine tried it, same result. That was impressive. A wider guinea-pig pool would help validate this use for Petitgrain essential oil. If you ever try it, let me know if you have similar results.

Now, I would NOT recommend using Petitgrain neat, especially on broken or disturbed skin. But perhaps a compress of cool water with a few drops of petitgrain floated on top? At any rate, since our Petitgrain is on sale at an all time low price, this is the time to stock up.

If any of you try this one, please let me know so I can give Danielle feedback.

SKEETERBEATER.... this stuff really works, folks. Was at a campfire meeting Sunday evening from just before sunset until quite late. Everyone around us was slapping at mosquitoes, until I shared our skeeterbeater. Just a few drops of the diluted blend on my wrists and forearms kept me bite free all evening. Hope has been putting a drop of the diluted synergy (15 drops per ounce) on her dogs, just a bit on the back of their necks, once or twice a week. Not only has she not seen any fleas, but they are not bringing ticks into the house either. Now, I dont know if this blend will repel ticks. But neither she nor I have seen any, and they are usually a real problem with our outside dogs. If you plan to spend any time outdoors, you NEED some of this. A lot of you are already using it; if you are finding no ticks when you normally would expect them, please let me know. We love feedback!

NEW BLEND:

FOCUS Blend:

My good friend Lane comes up with strange and wonderful blends. I fell in love with this one. It's in the aromalamp next to this desk, and I think is going in my car diffuser soon.

Lane's Focus Blend

6 Melissa
6 Basil
6 Rosemary
6 Lemon
6 Peppermint
3 Cistus

Wonderful sunny uplifting stuff! Not as physically energizing as our FogCutter, so that I can stay at the computer. (With FogCutter in the diffuser, I can't sit at a desk!) To encourage you to try it, we are also offering the two most rare and precious components, Melissa and Cistus, at an all time low price during this special solstice sale. Please, order them through our specials page to take advantage of this summer special bargain.

Roses and Apples:

Did you know that the Rose and the Apple were from the same family? I had forgotten. Discovered a wonderful way to blend the families, for a festive toast in place of champagne, or a romantic breakfast. Add about one part Rose Hydrosol to about six parts of apple juice. YUMMY..... Have yet to try it with sparkling cider, that's next on the agenda. (And now I'm considering adding a single drop of Organic Rose Oil to a bottle of apple juice.)

Have I mentioned Neroli Hydrosol in Coffee? Just a drop. Perhaps a ½ teaspoon in a large mug. Also yummy. (I don't put cream in my coffee, not sure how it will work with "light" coffee.

Spider Bite

First aid tip from one of our client's...Email just received from Lisa:

hi Marge. in my last order, i requested a sample of the Bulgarian Lavender (the more perfumery one, in case i got the name wrong).

i got a very large, itchy spider bite on my leg. i thought i was going to have to *not move* all day because when i walk, the itchy/burniness is tremendous. then i remembered the sample.

in about 15 minutes, the itching went away and just a moment ago, i forgot it was there! isn't THAT fun!?

Fun indeed! and good to know. Thanks, Lisa, for letting me share it.

• Carpal Tunnel Experience
• Dogs and Fleas

Another use for Helichrysum: Carpal Tunnel

From my friend Pattye Z: one thing i forgot to tell you in my last message-the immortelle is just great on my carpal tunnel in my right wrist. I've been using it when i get those pains and within about 10 minutes the pain is completely gone for hours. i can type and write pain-free. i have been taking motrin and using rubs on this but without complete pain removal. this product does it. thanks (is there NOTHING Helichrysum isn't good for? I believe it is the most healing of all the oils, even more so than Lavender!)

Tip from my daughter the groomer...if your dog has one of those woven collars, rather than a leather one, add two or three drops of undiluted Skeeterbeater to his collar to keep him pest free. She says it works as well as commercial products and it's a lot cheaper. (and SHE gets a discount on the commercial stuff!)

ANOTHER Carpal Tunnel suggestion.   Carla is a professional chef, and all the slicing and dicing has given her carpal tunnel that wakes her in the middle of the  night with the pain.  I blended some of our BACKEASE Synergy into our St. John's Wort infused oil.  Within a few days she was pain free. It's not an instant magic wand cure-all...but the combined anti-inflammatory ingredients really helped.

One can't have too many Romance blends,

can one? This one shared "verbatim" because it's too neat to edit a single word, from my friend Karla:

my "It Absolutely Worked For Me, and I Am NOT Kidding, Great Sex and Cozy Intimacy" oil---

• Rose Absolute (10% jojoba dilution) 6 parts
• Sandalwood 6 parts
• Black Pepper 4 parts
• Ginger CO2 2 parts
• Ylang Ylang 2 parts

blend into 2 oz of jojoba oil--or your favorite massage oil.

1. Grief that is coupled with emotional shock and stunned disbelief:
True Lavender (5)
Jasmine (3)
Spikenard (2)

2. Grief in which an unbearable feeling of loss, overwhelming sadness, and constant tears are most pronounced:
Rose (4)
Sandalwood (4)
Neroli (2)

3. Grief that results in a sense of being numbed and withdrawn:
Frankincense (5)
Cypress (3)
Clary Sage (2)

4. Grief that provokes a terrible feeling of anger and revenge:
Roman Chamomile (3)
Rose (2)
Bergamot (5) (or Bergamot FCF, if the blend is to be applied to the skin and exposed to the sun)

5. Grief that involves feelings of anxiety, dread and helplessness (for spiritual courage):
Thyme Linalol (3)
Lavender (3)
Spikenard (2)
Angelica Root (2) (or Cedarwood, if the blend is to be applied to the skin and exposed to the sun)

6. Grief that partly expresses itself as a need to nurture others, but in so doing, forgetting one's own needs:
Sweet Orange (4)
Marjoram (3)
Frankincense (3)

Gabriel, as most of you know by now, is the author of my favorite aromatherapy book, "Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit"

 

Two different approaches, each worth trying.