Category: Aromatherapy

Favorite Essential Oil Diffusor Blends for Winter

12/25/2016

Winter scene with a blue sky and snow covered trees.

Winter can be a challenging season, but it is also a peaceful time with an opportunity for rest and inward reflection. I find that creating a feeling of coziness helps me savor winter. I love lighting beeswax candles and gazing out the window at the majestic, quiet trees.

Inhalation of essential oils reduces stress, promotes relaxation, and supports a healthy immune system. Diffusing also helps lift the winter blues.

I hope you enjoy trying out these Winter essential oil diffusor recipes!

Gingerbread Manor
5 drops of ginger
2 drops of clove bud
2 drops of cinnamon bark
1 drop of black pepper

Citrus Bliss
5 drops of red mandarin
3 drops of pink grapefruit
2 drops of tangerine

Winter Immune Support
(for healthy adults only)
4 drops of sweet orange
3 drops of ravintsara
2 drops of elemi
1 drop of clove bud

Joyful & Energizing
(for healthy adults only)
7 drops of pink grapefruit
3 drops of holy basil (tulsi)

Heart Opening
5 drops of bergamot
3 drops of rose
2 drops of patchouli

Do you have a favorite essential oil or blend for Winter?
Feel free to share in the comments below!

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Aromatherapy Tips for Travel

9/7/2016

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If you're traveling soon, don't forget about the benefits of aromatherapy for your trip!

If you're traveling by plane, it's helpful to know that most essential oils cans be taken with you in your carry on luggage. I have traveled with 5 and 15ml bottles with no problem. Larger aromatherapy blends can be stored in your suitcase; I recommend wrapping the blends in bubble wrap and then placing them inside a ziplock bag.

Here are some of the essential oils & aromatherapy blends that I like to travel with:

Essential Oils:

Lavender - Aids sleep and soothes anxiety. Also fantastic for bug bites.
Fennel - Supports healthy digestion. (Not suitable for all individuals, so check with a qualified aromatherapist).
Saro - A powerful, anti-infectious oil that provides amazing immune support.
Helichrysum - In case of minor injuries and accidents, helichrysum saves the day! This versatile oil also soothes emotional distress and upsets.
Geranium - Helpful for jet lag and restores emotional equilibrium.
Tea Tree - Disinfects small cuts and scrapes.

Do you have questions about how to safely and effectively use these essential oils?
Feel free to contact me.

I also suggest trying one of my ready-made aromatherapy blends below:

Aromatherapy Blends:

Cooling Summer Gel - Useful for a multitude of ailments including bug bites, mild sunburns, aching muscles, headaches, anxiety, and insomnia.

Herbal Remedies:

Gin Gins - Ginger candies that are excellent for soothing an upset stomach.
Fennel seeds - If you don't have fennel essential oil, fennel seeds are easy to slip into a ziplock bag. I chew on a few seeds after dining out and they're very helpful for keeping my stomach settled and happy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Reader,

Which essential oils and aromatherapy blends do you use while traveling?

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7 Reasons to Attend the 2016 NAHA Aromatherapy Conference

7/25/2016

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1. Visit a new state. This year the conference will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Temperatures in October range from the mid 60's to mid 70's, making for ideal autumn weather. The conference will take place from Oct. 20-23, 2016 at the University of Utah Conference Center.

2. Experience the art and science of essential oil distillation. Eric Scott Bresselsmith from House of Aromatics will be leading a live distillation workshop!

3. Visit the Red Butte Botanical Gardens. Located on-site at the University of Utah campus, the Red Butte Garden is one of the top attractions in Salt Lake City. Visit their Fragrance Garden while you're there.

4. Fall in love with aromatherapy. Whether you're brand new to aromatherapy or you're a seasoned pro, there's always fresh inspiration at a NAHA aromatherapy conference. The top experts from all over the world will be there, including Robert Tisserand, Jade Shutes, Gabriel Mojay, and more.

5. Smell hundreds of essential oils from all over the world. Find a few you love? Take them home! You'll discover exotic essential oils that you never even knew existed.

6. Take a post-conference workshop. This year's topics include Aromatic Medicine and Alchemy and Medicine for the Soul.

7. Make new friends. Making new friends is inevitable at a NAHA conference; the community is warm, kind, and inclusive. Be sure to say hello if you see me there - I'd truly love to meet you!

To learn more about the conference, visit: nahaconference.com

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Favorite Essential Oil Diffusor Blends for Summer

7/17/2016

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As summer unfolds, we start to become aware that it won't last forever. Take a moment to savor the unique beauty of the season. Immerse your senses in its radiance.

Lately, the temperatures have been soaring and I appreciate some good downtime indoors.
I invite you to curl up with a good book, iced hibiscus tea, and your favorite essential oil diffusor.
Listen to the cicadas sing as these diffusor blends unfurl their ephemeral aromas . . .

Summer Stillness
7 drops of lavender
2 drops of roman chamomile
1 drop of vetiver

Garden Dreams
4 drops of lime
2 drops of basil
3 drops clary sage
1 drop of spearmint

Pacify Pitta
4 drops of geranium
2 drops of vetiver
4 drops of lime

Sunset Meditation
2 drops of sandalwood
2 drops of myrrh
6 drops red mandarin

Spirit Wing
1 drop of everlasting
2 drops of neroli
7 drops of lemon

Do you have a favorite essential oil or blend for Summer?
Feel free to share in the comments below!

10 Comments

Favorite Essential Oil Diffusor Blends for Spring

2/15/2016

6 Comments

I know we're not there yet, but I'm dreaming of spring and wanted to share a few of my favorite diffusor recipes. I invite you to take this time in winter to collect a few essential oils and your favorite candlelit diffusor. Notice your spirits lift as you transform an ordinary room into a sensuous, serene, healing space.

I hope you enjoy these diffusor blends!

Awakening of Spring
5 drops of lavender
2 drops of geranium
3 drops of clary sage

Refresh
3 drops of peppermint
7 drops of lavender

Move Kapha & Stimulate the Mind
3 drops of ginger
4 drops of lemon
3 drops of rosemary

Spring Slumber
5 drops of lavender
2 drops of Roman chamomile
3 drops mandarin

Happily Ever After
1 drop of neroli
3 drops of petitgrain
4 drops of sweet orange
2 drops of rosewood

Do you have a favorite essential oil or blend for Spring?
Feel free to share in the comments below!

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7 Luscious Essential Oils for Love

1/28/2016

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7 of My Favorite Essential Oils for Love:

Cardamom ~ Warm and gently spicy. Balances the autonomic nervous system. Its heavenly aroma reminds us of life's true abundance.
Jasmine ~ A euphoric oil that reawakens passion. Technically an absolute, not an essential oil. There are many varieties of jasmine - jasmine sambac is one of my favorites.
Mandarin ~ Opulent citrus with a floral undertone. Eases stress and moodiness. Restores optimism and enhances creativity.
Neroli ~ A precious and beloved scent also known as bitter orange flower. Promotes a lightness of being.
Patchouli ~ A rich, earthy, sensual oil that is emotionally balancing and has anti-depressant properties.
Rose - "Queen of Flowers." A gentle tonic for the heart. Beautifies the skin. Helps heal deep emotional wounds.
Sandalwood ~ Stills the mind. Connects us to the divinity deep within ourselves.

Is there someone special you'd like to pamper this Valentine's Day? (Including you)!

Warm Comforts Spritzer is a heavenly chocolate fix laced with warm spices and patchouli.

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Natural Winter Skin Care

12/3/2015

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I'm so excited to introduce you to our newest guest blogger, Camille Leinbach.
Camille is an holistic skincare expert and owner of Autumn Moon Aesthetics.
I hope you enjoy her insights!

When the winter’s glorious chill sets in, it often brings about a new set of skin care concerns. When the temperature begins to drop, spending more time in indoor forced-air heat can quickly dehydrate your skin. Going outside into the cold causes skin to quickly lose moisture to the air. It is a recipe for dry, itchy, flaky, unhappy skin.

Here are a few tips to keep your skin naturally healthy and moisturized in cold weather:

Drink plenty of water, coconut water and herbal teas to help keep your skin hydrated. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies to also increase hydration in your body.
Try to avoid caffeinated drinks, as they dry out your skin. If you must have your coffee in the morning (and, believe me, I understand!), drink an extra glass of water for each cup.
Try to avoid alcohol, as it also dehydrates your skin.
When headed outside, cover your skin as much as possible with clothing. Cover any areas of exposed skin with a thick, natural lotion to prevent moisture loss.
Apply lip balm frequently throughout the day, especially before you go outside.
Keep baths and showers short and warm (not hot). Hot water dries skin out by stripping your skin of its natural oils.
Gently exfoliate dry skin with a brush, loofah or exfoliating gloves prior to getting into the bath or shower. Dry, flaky skin needs to be removed from the surface of skin to allow products to work more effectively. Be SUPER gentle if your skin is overly sensitive, and perform this treatment only a few times a week.
Avoid cleansing your entire body every day, especially with a foaming soap or body wash, as they can strip your skin of precious oils. Skip a day of sudsing, or wash only those most important bits daily.
Try replacing your regular body wash with 1 part honey to 1 part oil (jojoba or coconut is lovely) a few times a week in place of your regular body cleanser. You can also wash damp skin with a simple body scrub made of a bit of oil added to organic sugar to make a paste.
Apply oils and lotions immediately after showering or bathing, while your skin is still damp, to capture moisture and seal it into your skin.
Layer your products to protect skin from loss of precious moisture to the elements - start with a layer of oil, followed by a rich lotion or body butter.

Helpful Ingredients for Dry Skin:

Oils like olive, coconut, hazelnut, grapeseed, jojoba, sesame and sunflower work to replace lost moisture, while being easily absorbed into skin.
Humectants like honey and vegetable glycerin help to pull moisture from the air into your skin.
Oils like rosehip seed and carrot seed help to increase cell regeneration, repairing damaged tissues.
Products containing beeswax add a breathable, protective layer to skin that helps to retain moisture.
Products containing aromatic essential oils like helichrysum, patchouli, lavender, ylang ylang and sandalwood help to soothe and heal dry, itchy skin. Gilded Camellia™, an aromatic facial oil available in the Autumn Moon Etsy Boutique, is ideal for supporting healthy, moist skin.
Aloe soothes, heals and stops itching. Look for 100% pure aloe, as many packaged aloe products actually contain fillers, dyes and added fragrances.
Herbs like calendula, chamomile and lavender are soothing, healing and anti-inflammatory for dry, irritated skin. A nice oil infused with these plants is a great treat for dry skin.
Herbs like rose, licorice, marshmallow and chickweed are cooling and demulcent (they form a soothing, protective layer on dry skin). Try using an infusion of one or more of these in place of your usual toner. Keep your infusion refrigerated and use within 48 hours for freshness.

I hope this offers some easy, helpful ways to hydrate, repair and protect your skin during these upcoming months.

Stay cozy, warm and soft!

Camille

Camille Leinbach, owner of Autumn Moon Aesthetics, is a holistic aesthetician, aromatherapist and herbalist with over 15 years experience in the skin care industry. Visit her at www.plantglamour.com for more natural skin care tips and artisan botanical skin care and cosmetics.

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The Alchemical Garden

11/22/2015

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Believer or disbeliever,
No matter who You are,
No matter what Your ambitions
Forget!

Have you heard about the
alchemists?
Forget!
Use Your imagination,
Be attentive.

Alchemy, as presented in the
garden, is the transformation of
the soul
through grace and initiative
science. It is presented not
as the "black magic" of old but
as an essential tool of an era
when
being a great scientist also
meant being a great philosopher,
so
intertwined were the two
pursuits.

~ Sign at the Alchemical Garden at
Mas de la Brune in Provence, France.

I invite you to discover my alchemical, limited edition creation: Visions in the Garden
Featuring Vetiver, Rose, Tomato Leaf, Jasmine, Mimosa Olessance from France, and more.

Spiritual Properties of the Above Essences:

Vetiver ~ A root oil that aids those who feel too sensitive to outside forces. Instills strength and confidence.
Rose ~ A sacred oil that eases grief and sorrow. Enhances your connection to love, creativity, beauty, and the arts. Restores trust and self compassion.
Tomato Leaf ~ A rare essence with a wonderful, verdant aroma. Protects from negative influences. Inspires hope, passion, and belief in oneself.
Jasmine ~ A voluptuously warm aroma that promotes joy, euphoria, and sensuality. Beautifying and enhances intuition.
Mimosa ~ Fresh, sparkling, crystalline scent that aides creativity and joy. Associated with protection, purification, and prophetic dreams.

To bring a touch of grace and transformative magic into your life . . . Visions in the Garden.

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Favorite Fall Essential Oil Diffusor Blends

10/14/2015

6 Comments

Now that Fall is here and we settle into more home oriented activities, I love using an essential oil diffusor to create a warm and cozy atmosphere. Inhalation of essential oils can reduce stress, promote relaxation, and helps support a healthy immune system.

I hope you enjoy trying out these Fall essential oil diffusor recipes!

Spice Hunting
2 drops of cinnamon
5 drops of vanilla in jojoba
3 drops of clove

Pomander
7 drops of sweet orange
3 drops of clove

Warm & Stimulating
4 drops of black pepper
6 drops of rosemary

Mountain Air
4 drops of fir
6 drops of black spruce

Autumn Abundance
5 drops of lemon
2 drops of ginger
3 drops of cardamom

Purifying & Grounding
1 drop of vetiver
5 drops of palo santo
4 drops of juniper

Heartwarming Woods
5 drops of cypress
2 drops of neroli
3 drops of ginger

Do you have a favorite essential oil or blend for Fall?
Feel free to share in the comments below!

6 Comments

Healthy Seasonal Living ~ Indian Summer Aromatherapy

7/26/2015

8 Comments

Photography by Sandra Marie

Late Summer is considered to be a fifth season in the Five Element Theory of Chinese Medicine.
It begins in late August (3rd week) and ends at the Autumn Equinox (Sept. 23rd).

This short, still season is a transition point between the hot, outgoing days of Summer and the focus and inner reflection of Fall.

Late Summer is associated with the Earth element, which corresponds to digestion and nourishment. It is an important time for centering and grounding. Instead of resisting change, aim to cultivate adaptability, relaxation, and faith.

A Few Indian Summer Health Tips:

~ Drink chamomile tea, which soothes the stomach and helps calm the nervous system.
~ Relax, sit, and savor a meal. Eat in a serene environment in an unhurried manner.
Light a candle to accompany your meal.
~ As the weather cools, you may want to incorporate some warming foods that support the Earth element. Foods like ginger, squash, pumpkin, fennel, and mustard greens help your digestive system.
- The Earth element corresponds to community, so make sure to savor the last days of summer with family and friends.

A Few of My Favorite Essential Oils for Indian Summer:

Cardamom ~ Warming and comforting. Restores an "appetite for life." Cardamom has been utilized to support digestion for thousands of years.

Cedarwood ~ Fortifying and strengthening. Steadies the mind during times of change.
Coriander ~ A joyful oil that promotes creativity and a sense of peace. Supports healthy digestion.

Frankincense ~ A deeply spiritual oil that is beneficial for meditation, contemplation, and prayer. Nourishes the skin and has pain relieving properties.
Mandarin ~ Refreshing, cleansing, and uplifting. Eases tension and supports a healthy nervous system.
Mandarin Petitgrain ~ Made from the leaves and twigs of the Mandarin tree. Strongly relaxing and soothes muscle cramps.
Neroli ~ Also known as Orange Blossom. Exquisite scent and emotionally nourishing.
Patchouli - Grounding and soothing; brings balance to difficult moods.
Sandalwood ~ A mesmerizing, sweet-woody oil. Eases obsessive worry and promotes peace and insight.

Ylang Ylang ~ Exotic, sweet aroma that releases inhibitions and encourages feelings of euphoria.

If you're interested in more seasonal wisdom for Indian Summer, take a peek at my newest offering; Indian Summer Aromatherapy.

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To learn more about the conference, visit: nahaconference.com​

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To learn more about the conference, visit: nahaconference.com