SUNDAY SCENTS: Tea Tree Essential Oil Uses and Benefits

Tea Tree Oil (Malaleuca alternifolia) has warm, spicy top notes with an undertone of pungent medicinal aromas.  Tea Tree is a small tree or shrub sometimes referred to as paper bark as the bark of the tree is white and papery.  Tea Tree is native to Australia.  The essential oil is steam or water distilled from the leaves and twigs.

Tea Tree essential oil is considered the most “medicinal” of all essential oils.  Studies in the United States, England and Australia have verified the germ fighting abilities of Tea Tree essential oil against bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Health Use Ideas

·         Add 2 to 3 drops tea tree oil into a bath to help boost a poor immune system.

·         Apply 1 drop neat (undiluted) oil to a cold sore immediately upon breakout.

·         Put 3 drops tea tree oil with 2 drops lavender into an essential oil warmer to diffuse into room to help prevent infection.

Beauty Use Ideas

Tea Tree essential oil can be irritating to sensitive skin and has no know properties that would benefit skin care such as toning skin.  Other than the health use ideas listed above, tea tree essential oil should be used in small quantities and rarely applied directly to the skin.

Disclaimer:  I am not a doctor or licensed aromatherapist.  All information contained herein is for informational purposes only.  Please seek professional advice for any condition you may have.

CANDLE ACCESSORIES FOR WEDDING DECORATIONS

Summer wedding season is fully upon us and many women are making final plans.  Table decorations are one of the more important parts of wedding planning.  As more people are planning weddings that combined romance with nature, outdoor wedding and receptions are becoming more common. 

Candles are always a romantic touch to table decorations, but outdoor weddings can pose problems with keeping candles lit.  That is why choosing candle lanterns is a great choice.  Not only can you still have candle light at your reception, but you won’t have problems with keeping the candles lit.  In addition, candle lanterns can actually add to the romantic atmosphere with the intriguing shadows they cast.

Visit www.aromatherapysoothers.com/candle_lamps_and_lanterns.html for a variety of candle lantern choices.

SUNDAY SCENTS: Sandalwood Essential Oil Uses and Benefits

Sandalwood (Santalum album) is a sweetly fragranced small evergreen tree with pinkish flowers.  The essential oil is harvested from the powdered heartwood and major roots and is usually steam or water distilled.  The Mysore region in India is the main producer of sandalwood essential oil.

Sandalwood oil is often diffused in meditation rooms or yoga classes because the aroma has a balancing and grounding effect, helping with concentration.   Sandalwood is also widely used in the perfume industry because of its gentle, sensual fragrance.

Health Use Ideas

·         The “go to” oil of choice for chronic bronchitis, mix 10 drops sandalwood into 5 ounces hot water.  Place in bowl.  Place face over bowl no closer than 12" and cover head with a towel to tent.  Inhale deeply.

·         Mix 2 drops sandalwood per 1 tbsp. carrier oil and massage into kidney area to help relieve urinary tract infections.

·         Put several drops into an oil warmer to diffuse into room to help relieve anxiety.

Beauty Use Ideas

·         Mix 2-3 drops Sandalwood essential oil with a fragrance free moisturizing lotion.  Apply to any part of the body that is excessively dry such as elbows or feet.  Apply once a day, preferably at night.

·         Mix 1 drop Sandalwood with a vegetable carrier oil such as avocado and massage temples with fingertips in circular motion to help relieve migraines.

·         Add 5-10 drops into a warm bath to rejuvenate and tone dry skin.

 To purchase sandalwood fragrance oil now to go: www.aromatherapysoothers.com/diffusers__oils.html

Disclaimer:  I am not a doctor or licensed aromatherapist.  All information contained herein is for informational purposes only.  Please seek professional advice for any condition you may have.

Jolly Jelly Bean Gel Candle

Gel candles are not only aromatic but very festive.    And you don’t have to wait for a special holiday to decorate and create an inviting aromatic environment.

For example, jelly beans are usually considered an Easter time treat.  But the beautiful colors and sweet aroma of the Jolly Jelly Bean candle can be enjoyed year-round.  Decorate a room full of the colors of the rainbow for a baby shower and use the Jolly Jelly Bean candle as centerpieces. 

You can also have a desert party Imagine your child’s birthday party with the festive candles (put up at a safe distance from children) colors.

You could also have a special gathering of friends for an evening desert party.  The Jolly Jelly Bean gel candle could be used as either a gift for the guests or spread through the house.  When they are lit, you will create the festive mood of beautiful candlelight and the sweet aroma of candy, putting everyone in the mood to eat whatever delicious deserts you’ve prepared.

For safety, gel candles should never burn longer than 2 hours at a time.

Purchase this candle:   http://www.aromatherapysoothers.com/gel_candles.html

Essential Oil Skin Care Remedies

It is well known that essential oils have an impact on our emotions and mental state of well-being.  For the most part, that is what essential oils are intended to do.  What many people overlook are the benefits of essential oils in skin care.

Skin is the largest organ of the human body, accounting for approximately 15% of our total body weight.  Therefore, it is important that we treat our skin with the utmost care, giving our skin its rightful attention and a bit of pampering along the way.  Essential oil benefits to the skin range from relieving pain from minor sunburn to rejuvenating skin cells to help improve the tone of mature skin.

It is important to remember that most essential oils must be diluted either in water or a carrier oil before applying to the skin.  Also, some oils are photo toxic, especially citrus oils, meaning the chemical compound of the essential oil can become toxic when exposed to light; therefore avoid sun exposure as much as possible after applying oils to your skin.  Following is a list of some of the more popular essential oils and how they can be used to care for the skin in various way.

·         Bay - Add a few drops to your shampoo to help control dandruff.

·         Bergamot - Add a few drops to an unscented mild lotion to moisturize dry chapped skin.

·         Carrot Seed Oil – To reduce visibility of spider veins, mix 2 drops with 1 tablespoon vegetable carrier oil and massage into affected area once a day, preferably at bed time.

·         Eucalyptus – Apply a few drops to cleanse minor cuts or scraps.

·         Frankincense – To help smooth wrinkles, mix several drops with a vegetable carrier oil and massage face and neck each night before bedtime.

·         Geranium – Get a massage that uses this essential oil.  With its diuretic and stimulating properties, geranium helps to increase circulation and may be a beneficial treatment for cellulite.

·         German Chamomile – Place an undiluted drop on a cold sore at the first sign of an outbreak.

·         Juniper – Treat acne or eczema by diluting 4 drops with a carrier oil and apply to affected areas several times a day.  Juniper is a stimulating essential oil so try to avoid use before bedtime.

·         Lavender – Treat mature, aging, dry, blotchy skin with Lavender floral water (2 – 3 drops lavender per ounce of filtered water).  Lavender’s astringent properties help to tone the skin.

·         Myrtle – Put mixture of 8 drops myrtle and a tablespoon carrier oil wash cloth and place over skin areas affected by shingles to relieve pain.

·         Rose – Relieve swollen tired eyes by mixing several drops rose with cool purified water.  Soak a gauze pad in the floral water and place gauze pads on eyelids and under eyes.  Nhould never apply essential oils directly into your eyes.

·         Tea Tree – Apply a cool tea tree compress to insect bites to relieve pain.

There are many more essential oils with many more uses for skin care than is listed above.  Keep in mind that no matter which essential oil you are using for a particular skin issue, in addition to receiving the benefits to your skin, you will also receive the aromatic benefits to your emotions and psyche.

Disclaimer:  I am not a doctor or licensed aromatherapist.  All information contained herein is for informational purposes only.  Please seek professional advice for any condition you may have.

SUNDAY SCENTS: Neroli Essential Oil Uses and Benefits

Neroli (Citrus bigardia, Citrus aurantium) essential oil, also called orange blossom, is an evergreen tree with dark green leaves, small fruit and white fragrant flowers.  The oils are steam distilled from these deeply scented flowers.   It is said that name is derived from a  17^th century Princess of Nerola, Italy who used this essential oil to perfume her gloves and bath water.

Neroli has a refreshing sweet flowery aroma with spicy notes.  It is one of the most widely used flower fragranced oils in the perfume industry.  Neroli oil is a versatile essential oil to have at hand for the aromatherapy enthusiast.   It is a great “go to” oil for easing tension and anxiety.   The white flowers used to extract the oil used to be common in bridal bouquets because of its ability to relax jittery brides.  Neroli oil also has rejuvenating effect on the skin and speeds up the growth of new cells for people with mature skin.

Complimentary oils include lavender, frankincense, bergamot and jasmine.

Health Use Ideas

·         Neroli has a tranquilizing effect on the nervous system and therefore is good for reducing anxiety and depression.  Diffuse this oil into the air to relieve nervousness and anxiety.

·         For stress relief, mix 2 drops Neroli with a tablespoon of a carrier oil such as sweet almond and massage into the abdomen area or small of the back.

·         Add a few drops into a night time bath to help with insomnia.

Beauty Use Ideas

·         Add a few drops of Neroli to a mild, fragrance free lotion to use for moisturizing you skin.

·         Mix several drops Neroli with a carrier oil and massage your face and neck to firm mature skin.

 Note:  Neroli is known to cause sun sensitivity, so be very careful of sun exposure after using this essential oil on areas of your skin that are exposed to the sun.  You should never use Neroli on your skin without diluting in a carrier oil or a lotion.

 Disclaimer:  I am not a doctor or licensed aromatherapist.  All information contained herein is for informational purposes only.  Please seek professional  advice for any condition you may have.

SUNDAY SCENTS: Frankincense Essential Oil Uses and Benefits

The use of frankincense, also called olibanum, can be traced back more than 5,000 years being used in religious ceremonies, medicine and perfumes.  Today frankincense is prevalent in the perfumery, cosmetic and aromatherapy industries.

Frankincense essential oil is steam distilled from the resin of Boswellia genus of trees, particularly Boswellia serrata and Boswellia carteri.   Some studies indicate that the tree population for harvesting frankincense is declining due to over exploitation.

Therapeutic properties of frankincense range from easing anxiety, stress and nervous tension to improving skin tone.

Health Use Ideas

Frankincense promotes the regeneration of healthy skin cells.  Add a few drops to water when washing cuts to promote healing and reduce scarring.

Add 3 drops Frankincense to two tablespoons jojoba carrier oil and massage chest to help ease asthma and bronchitis.

Beauty Use Ideas

For mature skin, dilute two drops Frankincense oil with one tablespoon vegetable carrier oil such as sweet almond oil, and massage into face each night before bed.  This will help smooth wrinkles and rejuvenate skin.

In a bowl with an opening large enough to cover face, add 1 cup steaming water and 10 drops Frankincense oil.  Cover head with towel and place face close to bowl opening to give yourself a steam facial.  Especially good for oily skin.

Disclaimer:  I am not a doctor or licensed aromatherapist.  All information contained herein is for informational purposes.  Please seek professional medical advice for any condition you may have.