Herbal Blessing: ESSENTIAL OILS

November is National Fragrance Month and essential oils are the best way to experience natural scents. Essential oils are the concentrated aromatic essences of plants created in nature and suited for aromatherapy, while fragrance oils are a synthetic blend of aromatic chemicals that only duplicate the smell but have no therapeutic benefits, but good for crafts and potpourri. Because essential oils are concentrated, do not apply undiluted directly onto the skin, dilute with a carrier oil such as olive oil and always follow the directions using the exact amount and no more.

These are my favorites:

Lavender - oil has a sweet, balsamic, floral aroma.
Aromatherapy benefits: balancing, soothing, normalizing, calming, relaxing, healing

Peppermint – oil has a strong, sweet, menthol aroma.
Aromatherapy benefits: vitalizing, refreshing, cooling

Rosemary – oil has a strong, fresh, camphor aroma.
Aromatherapy benefits: clarifying, invigorating.

Sweet Orange - oil has a lively, fruity, sweet aroma.
Aromatherapy benefits: cheering, refreshing, uplifting

These are my favorite blends:

THERAPUTIC SPA
A Refreshing Blend
2 drops Rosemary essential oil
2 drops Lavender essential oil
1 drops Peppermint essential oil

CITRUS & ROSEMARY
An Uplifting Blend
3 drops Sweet Orange essential oil
2 drops Rosemary essential oil

Create some of these aromatherapy products as a blessing to keep on hand for visitors this holiday season:

AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE BARS
Heat 3 ounces beeswax, 3 ounces almond oil and 3 ounces shea butter in a double boiler over low heat just until melted. Remove from heat. Add 5 drops essential oil (individual or blends) when mixture has cooled slightly. Pour into soap molds and cool until hardened, approximately 2 hours. Place in freezer for a few minutes before popping bars out of molds. To use, rub massage bar onto the skin — the warmth of the skin immediately melts the bar.

AROMATHERAPY BATH KISSES
These lusciously scented "kisses" are a bath time luxury. Melt one ounce cocoa butter and 2/3 ounce shea butter in a microwave, then add 1/3 ounce sweet almond oil and 5 drops of essential oil (individual or blends). Pour into small candy molds and place in the freezer for 20 minutes. Remove from molds. Place one or two “kisses” into hot bath water. Store the rest in a zip lock bag in the freezer.

AROMA SPRAY
First, choose your favorite essential oil or blend. Add 1/2 oz. of Witch Hazel extract (alcohol distilled) into a 4oz spray bottle, fill with bottled or spring water and add 5 drops essential oil(s). Attach spray pump and shake the container vigorously. The oils may separate a little bit, but if the Witch Hazel extract is doing its job, there should be very little separation. Shake well before each use.