Essential Oils |

IN SPEAR-MINT CONDITION

Ahhhh, the fresh scent of mint! There are more than 30 varieties to choose from of this aromatic herb that grows throughout the world, including right here in the U.S.

Spearmint, or Mentha spicata, is mellow, refreshing, with a sweet, sharp, pleasantly pungent flavor backed by hints of lemon. Use this refreshing herb in a variety of dishes to reap the benefits of its rich nutritional profile or to punch up a nice summer salad. The fiber in mint leaves offers many health benefits, including helping to reduce cholesterol levels.

Spearmint can be grown in your yard or simply on your windowsill.

Spearmint can easily be grown in
your own gardening space.

Spearmint has healing qualities as well; it promotes calmness and balance, helping to release emotional blocks. It is useful for balancing dry skin, used as an astringent or antiseptic. Spearmint is an anti-inflammatory.

Spearmint has gray-green or dark green leaves and stems and pink flowers. When choosing spearmint, whether from your grocer, farmers market or your own garden, look for evenly colored, fresh-looking leaves with no signs of wilting or discoloration at the edges.

Store your fresh mint in the refrigerator, where it should keep fresh for several days. Dried mint should be kept in a tightly sealed glass container in a cool, dark and dry place, where it will keep fresh for about nine to twelve months.

A refreshing Mint Julep in the spring and summer months is another way to get your mint!

(Note: Women should avoid spearmint essential oil during pregnancy.)

New Season, New Growth

There is something wonderful about renewed energy, the new growth in the garden, lighter clothing- it brings smiling faces to our landscape.

New to our garden this year is fennel; we just adore fennel and all that it brings. It’s feathery and tall, often called the licorice plant, praised for its medicinal use dating back to ancient Babylon where the seeds were eaten as a digestive aid.

Emotionally stimulating, bringing energy, enlivens self-motivations.

In vapor therapy, fennel oil is used as an appetite stimulant in cases of anorexia, and to boost courage and strength in the face of adversity.

Fennel oil can be used in massage oil or diluted in the bath for helping a bloated stomach, colic, constipation and other digestive problems. It also acts as a diuretic, to remove excess water and to start breaking down cellulite.

Fennel offers ideal skin healing qualities and can be helpful for general skin care, especially for dispersing bruises, livening a dull complexion, clearing oily skin, and fighting wrinkles in mature skin.

Fennel oil can be used as a single note and blends well with geranium, lavender, rose and sandalwood.

*Take precaution: Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) essential oil can over stimulate the nervous system so ingesting the seeds instead would be beneficial.

Here are some wonderful recipes using fennel:

Energy Tea
4 parts Fennel Seed
3 parts Licorice Root
2 parts Yellow Dock Root
1 part Psyllium Seed
1 part Senna
Combine the herbs, prepare a decoction and enjoy the energy flow in.

Respiratory Tonic
4 parts Fennel
4 parts Rose Hips
2 parts Lemongrass
1 part Calendula
1 part Mullein
1 part Clover Flowers

Massage Cellulite Buster Oil Blend
7 drops Juniper Berry
7 drops Lemon
5 drops Basil
5 drops Atlas Cedarwood
7 drops Bitter Orange
5 drops Fennel
5 drops Cypress
5 drops Pink Grapefruit

Adding this blend to your favorite carrier oil helps assist your body in eliminating the toxins and built-up deposits.

Tip of the Day

Many essential oils are very costly, so when making blends we take care not to waste these essences. Here’s a great method for testing out new blends without too much waste:

You’ll need- a blotter or cotton ball, a small Ziplock bag and post-it note or scrap of paper.

Start by adding one drop of each of the oils of your choice to the cotton ball. Jot down on your post-it note the time and name of the oils you are testing out.

Smell the blend and see what is either too strong or not strong enough. Return to the baggy an hour later and sniff again, continue to add one drop at a time (taking notes on your post-it) until you have found the right combination of oils and then let them sit for 24 hours before smelling again.

By using this method you will be sure to knuckle down what is working without wasting oils. At some point you may come up with a scent pallet that is just right. The drops can be thought of in parts and then these parts can be converted into weights.

For example:
3 drops Patchouli = 3 oz Patchouli
2 drops Rose = 2 oz Rose
5 drops Orange = 5 oz Orange

Stay tuned for more tips & tricks…

8 Springtime Essential Oils

Spring is my favorite time of year with the harmony of buds popping on trees, fragrant flowers beginning to bloom, birds singing and folks humming- it just feels good to get outside and begin planting seeds! With spring here, diffusing the right essential oils elevates our space and cleans out the staleness of the season before. Picking oils that are fresh and clean will uplift the body, mind and soul. Citrus oils are wonderful top notes that, when blended with floral and green notes, will enhance the season and brighten up the longer days ahead.

This list is affordable and simple- a way to combine and blend oils that will enhance and make the season come alive.

• Sweet Orange – citrusy, sweet, helps digestion, tissue repair, soothes anxiety and insomnia

• Lemon – clean, fresh, purifying, protects immunity, antiseptic

• Grapefruit – heightening, stimulant, disinfectant, antidepressant, tonic

• Palmarosa – sweet, floral, anti-bacterial, stimulant, anti-fungal, anti-viral

• Peppermint – invigorating, stimulating, helps breathing, relieves congestion and headaches, used for flatulence and colic

• Bergamot – light, uplifting, anti-depressant, helps circulation, stimulates gland secretion

• Ylang Ylang –warmth, grounding, aromatic, promotes balance, emotional healing

• Lavender – settling, floral, promotes relaxation, eases muscle pain, and builds immunity

Uplifting Morning Blend

3 drops Lemon
5 drops Sweet Orange
7 drops Grapefruit
4 drops Palmarosa

Simple Afternoon Pleasure Blend

6 drops Grapefruit
4 drops Bergamot
2 drops Ylang Ylang

Brisk Evening Blend

4 drops Lemon
3 drops Lavender
1 drop Peppermint

Always take safety precautions before applying any oil making sure they are appropriate to use. Dilute oils before use, a good rule to follow: less is more. Citrus oils may be photo-toxic, take care even though they are blended in carrier oil they can be an irritant and harmful when outside in the sun. These are recommended uses for topical and aromatic enjoyment and are not meant to be ingested.

Facial Oil Fanatic

I remember back in the day, putting baby oil on so I could tan, dabbing my acne with Oxy pads and rubbing alcohol to dry it out, using Neutrogena as a cleanser and Nivea for a moisturizer. Wow, I was a hot mess! My skin never felt nice with all that stuff I was doing. It wasn’t until years later that I realized that simple is better; a natural bar of soap and facial oil-not a lotion or cream- is what my faced longed for.

Creams contain some oil, but not nearly enough to make a big difference. Oils are lipophilic (meaning they pass through the lipid layer of the skin) preventing water loss and plumping skin with moisture more effectively.

So, forget about the oil-free hullabaloo-your skin welcomes natural oils! Not all oils are the same, however, dry skin needs oil that will hydrate and oilier skin needs a lighter consistency. There is an oil for every skin type. It may take a bit to understand them, but once you do you will surely enjoy the benefits of glowing skin and the savings in your pocketbook.

See what the Huffington Post has to say about this new facial oil craze.

Tips for your Skin Type:

Oily skin: Grape seed oil with Tea tree, Cypress and Bergamot essential oil.

Aging skin: Argan, Carrot seed, Borage, or Rosehip oil with a drop of Vitamin E and Geranium, Ylang Ylang or Patchouli essential oil.

Dry skin: Olive oil with Clary Sage or Lavender essential oil.

Acne prone: Grapeseed or Safflower oil with Cedarwood, Lemon, Peppermint, Tea tree or Thyme essential oil.

Sensitive skin: Sweet Almond or Jojoba oil with Jasmine, Lavender or Geranium essential oil.

Use a light coconut oil for protection against wind and cold.

Improve and soothe your face with a dab, gently pat your skin, there is no need to rub, it will absorb naturally.

If you want to learn more about the science behind which oil works best for your skin type in an easy to understand way-check out this post by Dawn Michelle of MinimalistBeauty.com.

Essential Oils for Cold Relief

Colds can strike any time of the year. Try these tips and essential oils to treat those pesky cold and flu symptoms in a natural and holistic way…

The soles of your feet are full of sweat glands and can absorb the healing properties of essential oils. Whether you are using in a bath, inhaler or a massage always mix essential oils with a carrier oil of your choice – see our carrier oil blog for more information pertaining to formulating and blending techniques.

1. Cinnamon and Clove – provides heat for those that are suffering with the chills.
2. Eucalyptus (Radiata) – an expectorant to help open the lungs and help breathability.
3. Ginger – Stomach issues such as nausea, cleanses internally.
4. Lemon – Cleanses and is a good source of vitamin C, mix with any of the oils for an added relief.
5. Marjoram and Oregano – aids in anti-fungal, anti-septic and anti-viral needs.
6. Pine – powerful respiratory and immunity builder
7. Rose – to help flush your system of mucus that has built up and is needs to be released.
8. Sage – as a defense fighting against disease, bacteria, viruses and fungi.
9. Tea Tree – a must have for sinus infections – it is a strong anti-fungal, a little goes a long way so don’t use too much.
10. Thyme – added to Rosemary and Eucalyptus make for a powerful decongestant.

Note – Some essential oils are not suitable for children or use while pregnant. Also, always do a patch test to make sure you are not allergic to any oil you plan to use.

A few drops of Vitamin E add to these oils’ healing abilities.

Just a reminder when suffering with cold and flu symptoms, it is best to eliminate all dairy and sugars to help speed the recovery process.

Abbey Brown’s Top 10 Essential Oils for Fall

1) Seasonal depression got you down? Use Clary Sage in a diffuser or bath

2) Mmm…Halloween candy, pumpkin pie, turkey…Suppress your appetite with Peppermint.

3) Who isn’t congested right now?? Eucalyptus vaporized or in the shower

4) Unwelcomed guests tend to move in when the weather gets cold. Repel bugs with Tea Tree on cotton balls or in a spray.

5) We can’t resist the spicy scents of fall. Warm some Clove oil for that just baked scent throughout your home.

6) If you’re unlucky enough to catch a cold or flu this season, pick up a massage oil with Grapefruit to ease your swollen throat glands.

7) For fever relief try Chamomile in a bath.

8) As always, Lavender has many uses including soothing dry or chapped lips and dandruff.

9) Oh no! The kids brought home lice from school! Rosemary essential oil will do the trick!

10) Ground yourself and enjoy the season with a Cedarwood body oil.

Happy Fall!

Spotlight on Lavender Essential Oil

There is so much to talk about when it comes to Lavender that we will revisit this plant often, so let’s get the pallet started and if it indeed sparks the interest we will talk about it more.

With over 20 types of Lavender out there to chose from it can be a bit confusing deciding which one is the right fit for me. Quality and price determines for most of us but then there is just so many still so the nose is your best bet. Decide to use your favorite Lavender essential based on what your nose tell you. If one variety is too sharp then a more suitable softer Bulgarian may be your choice. Always look at the Common name and then the Latin to confirm you are getting the same variation. Lavender grows in many places around the globe, in high elevations providing a wild crafted and different species are grown as near to us as Door County.

Lavender Essential Oil in Skin Care

Lavender products are one of the most sought after by our customers. Almost every variety of products we make we offer in lavender from Soaps, Shea Butters, Milk Baths, Face Serums, Body Oils, Whipped Butters, and more!

Lavender essential oil is gentle, but powerful. Using face oils or facial soaps with lavender essential oils can be a valuable natural treatment to those with acne prone skin. The oil is an antibacterial and can even help with scarring left from previous acne outbreaks. Lavender essential oils have also been used for many years to help heal cuts, wounds, and minor burns. In these cases you can use the oil “neat” or undiluted. And those of us with sensitive skin, eczema, psoriasis, or even a sunburn -don’t feel like you have to go through life using unscented or “dull” skincare products! Lavender essential oil is your friend. Add this oil to your unscented products or buy natural products using pure essential oils to keep your skin safe, soothed, and relaxed.

Using Lavender Essential Oil at Home

Lavender essential oil is a natural insect repellent, disliked by fleas, moths, mosquitoes, flies and other insects. Placing a few drops on cotton balls in your drawers and closets repels moths and insects while keeping your clothes and linens smelling fresh.

The antibacterial and antiviral properties of lavender make it a great essential oil to have on hand for home cleaning purposes. Fill a spray bottle with water and add a few drops of lavender essential oil. This is an easy all-purpose spray that you can use all over the home- as a room spray, fabric refresher, to clean your bathroom and kitchen surfaces, even spray it on yourself before going outside to repel insects. You can use a few drops directly on a cloth to disinfect door knobs and handles throughout the house that might be harboring germs, especially during flu season.

Freshen and deodorize your laundry by adding a couple drops of lavender essential oil to your dryer sheet or a wet cloth.

Lavender essential oil is calming, soothing, relaxing and mood stabilizing. This makes it a go-to oil for diffusing into the air via open air diffusers, oil burners, or candles. Try it in your office, bedroom, and living spaces to enhance relaxation.

Want to treat the family to some fried chicken, but dread the lingering odor left in your kitchen? Try this after clean-up: Boil a small pot of water then add a few drops of lavender essential oil. This trick cleans the air and eliminates cooking odors

Check this out: Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm on Washington Island.