Month: November 2011

Essential Oils have many uses and there are many ways to use them. Depending on what you are trying to achieve with the essential oil will depend on how you use it.

Some of the ways you can use Essential Oils include Skin and Body care as in Body lotions, Facial Creams, Floral Waters and Hair Care such as in shampoos and hair conditioners. For relaxation you can use essential oils in the Bath or Shower by adding a few drops to the water or through products like bath salts, bath bombs or in home made Soap. For your health in Massage, Steam Inhalations, Vapourisation/Diffusions and Compresses, Jacuzzis and Saunas. And for Cleaning by adding a few drops to your dishwashing water whilst washing dishes, in your laundry tub or clothes dryer or in air freshners.

Yes it is now that time of year to start thinking of Christmas Gift Ideas. There are so many things you can do, but below are a couple of simple gift ideas you can make with your kids. They will love getting their hands dirty, mixing the ingredients together and packing them for their friends and family. What a great way the kids can be involved in Christmas Gift Giving.

Bath Salts

• Epsom Salt, Dead Sea Salt or Rock Salt
• Essential Oil of your choice, e.g. Lavender, Rose, Sandalwood.
• Food Colour
• Rubber Gloves and Apron

Make sure you put on your rubber gloves and apron first. Make a base of Salts, you can use a mix of different Salts for different textures. Then add a few drops of colour at a time and mix together with your hands. When the colour is consistant throughout add your essential oils and mix again thoroughly. Put into Bags or Glass containers decorate with ribbons.

Bath Bombs

• Bicarb Soda
• Citric Acid
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Essential Oil of your choice, e.g. Lavender, Orange, Geranium
• Food Colour
• Rubber Gloves and Apron
• Plastic Moulds

Make sure you put on your rubber gloves and apron first. Mix 4 part of Bicarb Soda to 1 part Citric Acid; add a few drops of sweet almond oil and mix until clumps together; add food colour and essential oil, working quickly mix together so that it does not fizz. Mould with your hands or put into a pre oiled mould. If using moulds leave to set for 24 hours, but then take out to fully dry for at least a week. Wrap in clear cellophane and tie with colourful ribbons.

Essential Oils are a great additive to a simple cake recipe. Especially if you do not have fresh ingredients at hand, you can change a simple cake into an Orange, Lemon or Lavender Cake. Be creative, but be sure not to add more than 3-4 drops of essential oil.

Basic Sweet Orange Essential Oil Cake

• 2 Cups Self Raising Flour
• 3/4 Cup Castor Sugar
• 125gm Softened Butter
• 2 Eggs
• 2/3 Cup Milk
• 2-3 Drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Preheat oven to 180 degrees;

Cream Butter and Sugar in Electric Mixer;

Add eggs one at a time;

Add rest of ingredients and mix for 2 minutes;

Pour into prepared tin;

Bake for 30 minutes until cooked.