Essential oils are natural extracts generally extracted by distillation, often by using steam from various parts of plants. The extracted oils are highly concentrated and can be used in a number of ways. The earliest recorded mention of producing essential oils was between the years of 1188–1248, by an Andalusian physician, pharmacist and chemist by the name of Ibn al-Baitar.
Interest in essential oils have increased in popularity with aromatherapy and alternative medicine. Essential oils are used in cosmetics, hygiene products, flavoring food and drinks, and are added to incense and natural cleaning products.
Genius Essential Oil Tricks You Never Knew About
Cleaning With Essential Oils:
Fruit wash:
5 drops of lemon essential oil
1 cup apple cider vinegar
Fill sink with enough water to cover the fruits and vegetables.
If you have pets or small children that will be crawling on the floor, you are going to need to freshen your carpets from time to time. This is a safe and easy way to freshen your carpets.
Carpet freshener
2 cups baking soda
10 drops lemon essential oil (find it here)
10 drops orange or grapefruit essential oil
The cleansing essential oil blend is recommended for cleaning pet smells from carpets
Combine all the ingredients in a mason jar, with a piece of paper secured to the top of the jar with the mason cover. Poke a few holes into the paper for easy sprinkling. Sprinkle onto the carpet and let sit for 15 minutes then vaccine throughly.
Wood cleaner and furniture polishes claim to use real lemons in their products. This polish utilizes the power of pure essential oils to safely and gently get the job done.
Wood polish
1 cup olive, almond or fractionated coconut oil
1/2 cup distilled water
30 drops lemon essential oil (find it here)
10 drops wild orange essential oil
Combine these ingredient into an essential oil spray bottle and shake well. Spray polish onto a microfiber cloth and rub onto the wood surface to clean and polish.
Aerosol oven cleaners are dangerous to inhale because they are composed of various chemicals such as Butane, Monoethanolamine, Diethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether, Sodium Hydroxide, and Diethanolamine (which has been shown to slow down brain development). Cleaning your oven with essential oils can be done with little effort.
Oven cleaning paste
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon Castile soap
10 drops lemon essential oil (find it here)
Combine the ingredients in a bowl and mix to create a paste. Apply the paste with a sponge and let it sit for up to 30 minutes. Wipe clean with a clean sponge and clean water.
Creating A Pleasantly Smelling Environment
Do you have a stinky work boots or a hormonal teenager in the house with stinky shoes? Never mind those carcinogenic aerosol deodorizing sprays, this natural and effective shoe deodorizer will be the answer to your headache.
Shoe deodorizer
2 drops peppermint essential oil
2 drops wild orange essential oil
Add drops of the essential oils onto a paper towel and place the paper towels into the shoes overnight.
People spend a lot of time in their cars because of long commutes to work and for some, after school activities. There are many car air fresheners available for purchase created with synthetic aromas. It is fun and easy to make your own unique freshener using the essential oil of your choice. These air fresheners are also great to hang in your closets or to place in your dresser drawers.
Car air fresheners
Wool felt
Twine
Hole punch
10 drops of an essential oil
Cut the wool felt into any shape you would like. Using a hole punch, punch a hole into the top of your shape and thread the twine through the hole. Tie twine into a knot, add a few drops of essential oil to the felt and hang your essential oil air freshener from your rear view mirror.
2 million dollars is spent annually on candles. Many candles are made with paraffin or paraffin blend. This petroleum derivative is an inexpensive wax which is why it is often utilized by manufacturers. In 2003, the use of lead in candle wicks were banned in the USA but are still used in less expensive imported candles. These candles release a synthetically fragment toxic blend into the air while being burned. You’ll be happy to know I also have a recipe for an essential oil candle.
Mason jar candles
Natural or cotton lamp wicks
Small- to medium-sized mason jars with lids
Gently melted coconut oil
10 drops of orange, lemon, cassia, or white fir essential oil
Add about a 1/2 inch of gently melted coconut oil to the mason jar and then place the candle wick into the center of the jar. Let the coconut oil set a bit to secure the wick into place. If you would like to add natural coloring, dried berries or herbs to the candle, add these to the mason jar now. Then fill the mason jar, almost to the top with coconut oil. Drill a small hole into the top of the mason jar lid. Feed the top of the wick through the drilled hole and tighten the lid onto the mason jar. Let coconut oil set overnight.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reports that, many perfumes, colognes and body sprays typically contain dozens of potentially hazardous synthetic chemicals, some of which are derived from petrochemicals.
According to the EWG test results of various popular perfumes, colognes and body sprays tested: “Among them are chemicals associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety in personal care products.”
Perfume and cologne is easy to blend using essential oils for both men and women.
Perfume blend
3 drops ylang ylang essential oil
2 drops geranium essential oil
1 drop patchouli essential oil
1 drop juniper berry essential oil
Combine these oils into a 10ml glass roller bottle. Fill the bottle almost to the top with fractionated coconut oil. Roll onto the back of the neck, wrists and over your heart. Shake each time before use.
Cologne blend
5 drops cedarwood essential oil
3 drops bergamot essential oil
2 drops sandalwood essential oil
Combine these essential oils into a 10 ml glass roller bottle. Fill the bottle almost to the top with fractionated coconut oil. Roll onto the back of the neck, wrists and over your heart. Shake each time before use.
Our pets are an extension of our family. We hug them and often they will cuddle with us on our furniture and even sleep at the foot of our beds. Essential oils can help our pet to have a pleasant smell without the use of harsh chemicals.
Pet shampoo
1 cup water
1 tablespoon castile soap
1/4 teaspoon vitamin E
3 drops peppermint essential oil
2 drops roman chamomile essential oil
2 drops cleansing blend essential oil
1 drop cedarwood essential oil
Place all the ingredients into a mason jar, replace cover and shake until mixed well. Apply a quarter-sized amount of the shampoo to your pet and scrub vigorously. This is not a thick shampoo, it will be a bit watery in consistency and you may need to apply more for your larger pets. Rinse away the shampoo and enjoy your clean, fresh smelling pet for days to come.
Gardening With Essential Oils
85% of all plant diseases are fungal-related. Rather than using harmful chemicals on the fruits and vegetables you and your family will be eating, try an all-natural, essential oil insect deterrent.
Insect deterrent
10 drops rosemary essential oil
10 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops thyme essential oil
10 drops clove essential oil
Combine these essential oils into a glass spray bottle, shake each time before use. Spray onto any plant, flower or herb that you want to deter insects.
Sources:
Robert Tisserand (1995). Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN 0-443-05260-3.
K.H.C. Baser and G. Buchbauer (2010). Handbook of Essential Oils: Science, Technology and Applications. CRC Press, Boca Raton, London, New York. ISBN 978-1-4200-6315-8.
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/magazine/16-06/st_easyoff
http://www.consumerfinance.gov
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/toxic-perfumes-and-colognes/
