Blog Category: Essential Oils

Long winter nights are perfect for romantic and detoxifying bath soaks. Organic bentonite clay, rose petals, and essential oils are an amazing infusion!

If you love DIY recipes, then read on for one of my absolute favorites that will give you that spa escape relaxation without the price tag!

Fun Facts:

Organic rose petals are an amazing addition to your favorite DIY essential oil-infused creations such as hot tea, face masks, and of course, detox baths. Healing bentonite clay is also a wonderful addition to detox bath salts to increase the therapeutic and cleansing benefits.

I hope you enjoy this detox recipe as much as I do, and remember, this DIY is perfect for gifting, self care, or adding a touch of beauty to your bathroom.

Serenity & Sea Rose Rose Detox Bath + Foot Salts

Ingredients:

•    Geranium Essential Oil
•    Frankincense Essential Oil
•    Epsom Salt
•    Bentonite Clay

•    Organic Food-Grade Rose Petals
•    Baking Soda (optional)

If you don't have those essential oils on hand, some other excellent options to choose from are Young Living’s proprietary Seed to Seal Premium blends Stress Away, Lavender, or Valor essential oil.  It's totally okay to change it up to fit your desires. My rule of thumb is: the best oil to use is the oil you have. 

Directions:

1)    Pour Epsom salts into a medium-sized bowl. (Pro-tip: Choose a glass or wooden bowl/spoon, not metal.)

2)    Add essential oils to the bowl. I recommend 3-4 drops of oil per cup of Epsom salts.

3)    Mix in bentonite clay. (Use ¼ cup of bentonite clay per cup of epsom salt.)

4)    Sprinkle in organic food-grade rose petals.

5)    Mix all ingredients together until blended well.

6)    Use 1 T. - 1/2 cup in a bath and store the remainder in a pretty jar.

7)    Fill your tub as hot as you can tolerate, add detox bath salts, and soak for at least 20 minutes.

8)    Enjoy a large glass of water before and after a detox bath to make sure you stay hydrated.

*This is not a medical recommendation. Consult your doctor if you have a medical condition before taking a detox bath.

I’d love to hear how much you love this recipe! Share your comment below.

Be well,

Nicole

No matter which side of the mask debate you’re on, we can all agree on one of the downsides . . .

Even if you brush and floss like the Tooth Fairy, within just a few minutes of wearing a face trap, your mouth can feel stale. That’s likely from breathing in freshly exhaled carbon dioxide instead of fresh air.  But it doesn’t have to be that way—there’s a better way to wear a mask.

I‘ve been adding essential oils to the inside of mine. I use a blend of Peppermint, Ravintsara, Eucalyptus, Lemon, and Wintergreen to create a cooling sensation for the mouth and throat.  The naturally occurring constituents eucalyptol, menthol, and methyl salicylate give the extra bonus of helping me breathe deeper. It’s like an effervescent breeze through a grove of eucalyptus trees.

The easiest way to apply these oils is to use the pre-blended Raven essential oil. This blend has long been known for the chilly, minty experience it creates when applied topically, inhaled, or diffused. We love to make DIY chest rubs with Raven in the winter season for that same reason—with zero harsh chemicals!

So naturally, Raven is the perfect blend of oils to make a Mask Refresher Spray. It’s small enough to carry in a purse or backpack, and it will even make it through airport security. My family has found that just a few sprays helps us to be less irritable while doing what we need to do.

Here‘s what you’ll need to make your own.

5 ml perfume spray bottle

10-15 drops Raven essential oil blend

1/4 t. witch hazel

Distilled water

Directions: drop oils into the bottle. Add witch hazel, then fill almost to the top with distilled water. Spray the inside of your mask liberally as needed.

You could also make your Mask Refresher Spray with different oils based on your family’s needs. Try Lavender or Peace and Calming when you’re feeling anxious, Peppermint when your tummy feels off, or Thieves anytime you need those powerhouse molecules inside your body.

If you’ve been drinking coffee or you haven‘t had an opportunity to brush your teeth after lunch, put a drop of Peppermint Vitality oil on your tongue. 

Ready to get your own oils? Contact me below!

Be oily and be well,

Nicole

For me, Mother‘s Day is the official beginning of gardening season. Each year, my gift includes a dozen or more varieties of flowers and green plants to adorn the pots scattered about my outdoor living spaces. My husband knows that getting my hands in the dirt makes me happy and that nightly watering is a much-needed getaway for my mind and soul.

There was a time when I used some pretty harsh chemicals on my flowers to keep them looking beautiful and to keep the bad guys away. However, once I started growing my own herbs, I decided I had to make a shift because what I put on my plants would end up in our bodies once we consumed them, leading to bio-accumulation of toxins that are linked to many chronic diseases.

After a bit of research, I discovered that those synthetic chemicals aren't just harmful to our families, but they're also responsible for the decline in our pollinator population. Although some fruits such as peppers self pollinate, not every plant does that.  Lots of them need the help of cross pollination between male and female plants, and our pollinating friends--the bees and butterflies--are crucial to the process. So instead of using harsh chemicals that can repel or harm our pollinators, I've discovered a way to actually ATTRACT them to our gardens.

Think about it this way . . . pollinators are attracted to the smell of flowers.  Luckily, many wonderful essential oils are distilled from . . . flowers! As it turns out, you can create this simple spray using essential oils to spritz on the flowering buds of your garden to encourage pollinators to come in and get the job done.

And while you may want to attract the bees and butterflies to your garden, other insects can totally ruin your garden plans. From eating your plants to taking a bite out of you, they can can really dampen your gardening dreams. I've created a free Gardening + Oils guide with recipes to help you with that and other aspects of gardening naturally, including unwanted growth, keeping pets away from your plants, and even companion planting.  I've even got a free gardening journal that you'll love to get your green thumbs on. 

If you don't have your own essential oils, it's time! Click the link below to set up a time to chat.

Be oily and be well,

Nicole