The Name That Soap contest is now closed. In no particular order, the top contenders are;
1)Spring Renewal/Renew/Renewal
2)Morning Dew /Dew Drop
3)Summer Rain

Remember, this soap has a grapefruit, lavender, and eucalyptus scent, and is colored with Nettle, French Green Clay, and Spirulina.

Please let me know what you think by casting a vote for the number you like best! If you have a preference for an alternative that is listed by that number, by all means, feel free to let me know that too!  The Winner will be posted tomorrow!

What's Workin' Wednesday-Products Not in the Shop

I have many products that have yet to make their way to my Etsy store front. Of those, there are at least 50 soap batches and probably a good 8 to 10 other products waiting for me to find the time to add. I have the products already made, in fact, most have been staples in my inventory for years, but right now they only get sold to the people who know about them and to those who visit with me in person. So today I would like to share a few of these lessor known products with you.

Now this first one is actually already in the Unique Garden Essences store front, but it was recently reformulated and renamed, so here it is. It is a facial/eye serum that I have named "Go Away". Go away is a blend of of vegetable and plant oils, including meadowfoam, sea buckthorn, jojoba and others. Each ingredient, including the proprietary essential oil blend, has been chosen for the properties it will contribute to the blend. A little of this oil in your daily facial care regimen and I believe that you will soon detect a noticeable, healthy difference in your skin tone. These oils are purported to not only rejuvenate the skin, but to regenerate damaged skin cells, and decrease the signs of aging.


This next product is such a fun and kitschy one. I began making them because I enjoyed them myself, but I was basically coerced into continuing to make them and to offer them for sale in the shop by several of my friends and long term clients.  What am I talking about?

The cupcake bath bomb, of course! Look how cute they turn out! The sprinkles are actually tiny jojoba beads. They come in a multitude of colors and really look like the candies used to decorate the edible cupcakes!

I can't tell you how many people  thought they hit the jackpot, at my last craft show, when the afternoon hunger pains set in! Lol

The next product I'd like to introduce to you is one of my favorites. Why? Because I originally made it for a friends' grandson, and later for my own!  It is Baby Bum and Body Balm. This balm is herbal infused greatness that is equally wonderful for chapped, reddened faces as it is for the private area, in between diaper changes. In fact, this balm is perfect for all sensitive skin, even when you aren't a baby! 

And the final product for today's What's Workin' Wednesday is an Air Diffuser.

This cute, 6 oz. diffuser is cut glass. The cork seal has a shrink band to keep it secure in transit. Once home and ready to use, all that you need to do is to remove the cork, place the reeds into the bottle, and find a nice place to set it, where its beauty will add to your decor. The fragrances can be colored or left clear, and the scents are as varied as the minutes of the day. While I usually take a few different fragrances to a show, these can be ordered in just about any scent desired. Packaged nicely, these also make great gifts! 

There are some more products for me to show you, but we will look at those next week. There will be solid perfumes, lotions, body mousse, whipped shea and more to look forward too!  Even a whipped soap, including a shaving soap for Dads, Hubbies and Gals alike! All next What's Workin' Wednesday! 

Before you go  take a look at these recently completed (special ordered) gift sets.  Made in a variety of styles and price ranges, they are always fun to work on and even more fun to watch the recipient open! 

Make it Yourself- Baby Balm

This past weekend I was at a show and was approached by a Grandma who needed some type of balm for her two year old Grandson's terrible skin. Fortunately I make a wonderful Baby Bum and Body Balm, so she was able to get that, but for those of you that want to make your own, here is a recipe for you to try! While it is not the same one I sell, it is a good one.

You will need;
1 cup olive oil
3 Tbs. dried lavender
1 Tbs. dried calendula
1 Tbs  rose petals or 3 Tbs dried rose petals
4 vitamin E capsules
1 1/2 tsp. jojoba oil*
8 Tbs. beeswax
4 drops lavender EO (optional)

You will need to grind 3 tablespoons of dried lavender, 1 tablespoon of dried calendula, and 1 tablespoon of rose petals (make sure that you use organic roses, ones not sprayed with pesticides or aroma enhancing chemicals. Know that most florists carry chemically treated roses!) into a powder, then place in a pan and cover with 1 cup of olive oil (do not use the extra virgin). Simmer the oil, making sure not to boil it or burn it, for at least an hour and a half. Remove from heat and strain the oil through a coffee filter, throwing away the botanical particles. Put your oil back into the pan and add in 8 tablespoons of beeswax, stirring until melted. Once the beeswax is melted, add in 1 1/2 teaspoons of jojoba oil and 4 drops of lavender essential oil (you may omit the EO if you want), then at the very last, puncture the vitamin E caps and squeeze the oil out and into the pan. Stir well.

When everything is mixed well, pour into a jar and leave sit until completely cooled. It will thicken as it cools. Once cooled, put the lid on the jar and store out of direct light, keeping from heat fluctuations as well. It should remain good for at least 6-8 months when properly stored.

*If you do not have any jojoba oil and do not want to purchase any (it is extremely expensive right now, when you can find it), you can add in another non-nut carrier oil, such as avocado oil or grapeseed oil, or just use additional olive oil, whichever you prefer.

Teaching Tuesday-

While we have discussed terminology and definitions in the past, today I thought we would revisit a this subject, add a few more, and go into greater depth. It is important to understand what the labels you read really say. 
One of the big "hot buttons" in the Indie movement today is organic materials and ingredients. But do you know what organic really means? When a product is labeled as organic it generally means that it is meeting very specific legal standards. However, just what those standards are will vary, depending upon the   country of origin, and some countries do not regulate it at all (though most do).


While the certification process does vary, all countries that regulate organic products set standards that control all aspects of the organic product. Each stage, every process, and all the various businesses that touch that product in any way have set standards that they must adhere too, in order for that product to maintain its organic status. This means that, from the seed stage all the way through to delivery to the consumer, whether a restaurant for consumption, or a grocery store for sale to the public, those standards must be kept. 


As a general rule of thumb, in the USA and most other countries that regulate organic materials, organic, in relationship to food crops, means that the use of anything synthetic has been avoided. Chemicals, such as pesticides, antibiotics, fertilizers, and genetically modified organisms are not used. Here in the US it also means that the land used to raise the organic crops has been free of chemical use for at least three years, and that there is a physical separation between certified organic plants and the non-certified ones, in order to avoid contamination. The grower is also required to maintain accurate production records, process records, and sales records, and these must be available for Inspectors upon demand. Although Inspectors can, and do, show up unannounced, the needs often outweigh the resources, as with most government offices. Speaking of offices, it is the Department of Agriculture (USDA) that is responsible for setting and maintaining the standards for "organic" here in the USA. They have guidelines for three different levels of labeling of organic products. 
#1. 100% Organic. These products must contain ingredients that are only organically produced, excluding any water or salt. The processing aids must also be all organic, and they cannot be produced using any excluded methods, sewage, sludge or ionizing radiation.
#2. Organic. These products must consist of at least 95% organically produced ingredients, again, excluding water and salt. Any remaining product ingredients must consist of non-agricultural substances that are approved on the National list, including specific non-organically produced agricultural products that are not commercially available in organic form.
#3. Made with Organic Ingredients. These products are to contain at least 70% organic ingredients, and are allowed to list up to three of the organic ingredients or food groups on the principle display panel. Processed products labeled "made with organic ingredients" cannot be produced using excluded methods, sewage sludge, or ionizing radiation. The percentage of organic content and the certifying agent seal or mark may be used on the principle display panel, however the USDA seal cannot be. 
Any product that meets the requirements for either "100% Organic" or "Organic" is allowed to display the terms on their principle contact panel, as well as the USDA seal and the seal(s) of any other certifying agency on their packaging and in advertising. 
So what does this mean to you as a consumer? Well, first off, while you always have legal recourse for false advertising, since "organic" is a regulated term, you have a far better legal leg to stand on. The majority of companies will not risk the wrath of the USDA, so their labeling is going to be accurate. It means that once you know the verbiage, you know exactly what is and is not in your product package. It means that you can feel confident in your product choices. That all being said, unfortunately, this certification process is quite costly and usually only the mega large corporations can afford to pay for the certification process. This does NOT mean though, that Indie businesses cannot follow all of the same principles and guidelines mandated for organic products, food safety and the agricultural processes, as well as all other applicable government guidelines. In then end though, they must label their products as "non-certified organic."  Side by side, product to product, the quality should be the same, the only difference being that one paid for the right to use the term, "certified".


Any product that contains less than 70% organic ingredients cannot use the term "organic" anywhere on the principle display panel. They can identify the specific ingredients that are organically produced on the ingredient information statement panel (read here, the back label, which us usually the directions/instructions/and fine print panel. I am not going to go into the fines that can be applied if a manufacturer fails to meet growing, distributing or labeling regulations, but suffice it to say that they can be quite substantial. Knowingly providing false label information is a crime and can be very costly.


Having said all of this, one major problem now days, is that there are some home grown businesses that do not have a clue about labeling laws, let alone how to comply with them, or what organic truly means. I know this may sound terrible, but it has always been buyer beware, so it is up to you to question the knowledge base of those you are trusting as experts.


Organic ingredients/materials cost more to produce (largely because of all the compliance issues), so it costs more to purchase products that utilize those organic ingredients. So another major problem is that this provides an opportunity for the unscrupulous to gouge the public. There will always be charlatans that say the magic word ("organic") simply to increase the greenbacks that they can charge. 


It is important to remember that there is no regulation on the phrase "all natural," and that being made with organic ingredients does not ensure that there are no "bad for you" ingredients in that product. The FDA states that "natural" means that the product does not contain any synthetic ingredients, and they also have definitions for "healthy", but there are no restrictions on the use of other truthful labeling claims. Also, these words are often regulated more closely on food products. So "no drugs or growth hormones used", "free range" or "sustainably harvested" label phrasing on foods means nothing, and on other products, means even less. 


I am not saying that everyone lies or all businesses are using key words simply to gouge you. But some are, some do. Actually, I believe that many, if not most  labeling mistakes are made out of simple ignorance. So many of the cottage businesses popping up begin with Aunt Sue making something in her kitchen and then getting hooked on the hobby. Next thing you know, she is selling the product at craft shows to support her hobby costs. Unfortunately, she doesn't spend a lot of time on the legal end of things, or on expanding her knowledge base. And she listens to others who are in the same boat that she is, only she thinks they are experts, so she takes what they say and runs with it. Next thing you know, she is passing this information along, and now she is viewed as the expert by the next, upcoming Aunt Sue business. And so the misinformation grows and is seeded as fact. 


Read, research, and ask questions. You may even find several companies that utilize organic materials, yet do not label that way (on the main panel). Aside from the limited space on small labels, it is sometimes easier to avoid all of the labeling legal issues. So look at everything and ask questions. Of course you could get such a great product from [many of the] Aunt Sue['s], that you won't care about the label. Just beware of the seller who screams all natural and organic, yet cannot tell you their definitions. For more information, check out these two posts. 

Tripod Thursdays- Soaps 1-35

Teaching Tuesdays -Words & Phrases You Need to Know part 2

This past Friday's post began with a rant on companies that "tricked" people with marketing words, and companies that simply didn't understand, or have  knowledge of their own ingredients. Either way, with some education, we can discern pure marketing strategies from proprietors that need more education. So, today's post is a continuation of words and phrases that we need to know more about!


"preservative free" - First of all, preservative free does not mean that the product is chemical free, fragrance free, stabilizer free, emulsifier free, synthetic free, or even sodium laurel sulphate (SLS) free, so it really means little, in and of itself. Then there are the handmade soaps that I have seen, advertising they are preservative free. Since a soap does not (as in never ever) need a preservative, using the phrase "preservative free" is either a marketing strategy simply used to sucker us in, or it shows the sellers' lack of education [about their product]. 


"Eco-Friendly"-This is such a "hot" button term now days, with everyone jumping onto the "save the eco-system" bandwagon. A great wagon to ride, but really, what is "eco-friendly"? What does it mean? There is no government, legally defined, "eco-friendly", so there are no parameters for its use. I have seen many claims of "eco-friendly" products, but what makes the solid deodorant or perfume a more eco-friendly alternative than their spray counterparts (remember, we are comparing to the Indie push sprayers, not the commercial chemical ones). The only possible, non-eco-friendly thing that I could come up with, was that the spray may miss part of its target, and then dissipate in the air. Is that enough to make it a non-eco-friendly choice? And, if it is, why then is the seller offering it along side their solid bars?  


"Hypoallergenic"- We all need to understand the definition of this phrase because could impact our health. This label does not mean that the product will not cause an allergy. By definition, "hypo" means "less than", so a hypoallergenic product is "less likely" to cause an allergic reaction, but there is still the possibility of one. It means that the maker of the product has either reduced, or removed ingredients, such as fragrances or preservatives (in jewelry this would likely mean nickel), that tend to cause allergies. Phrases like, "non-irritating", "allergy tested", "dermatologist tested" are all well and good, but they have no industry standard either, so they do not offer any guarantee against an allergic reaction either!


"Not tested on animals"- This one always makes me smile. Who would/could test on animals besides a large corporation? Even if the Indie business wanted too, they just don't have the resources, and in most cases, the education, to do this. Can you envision your local soap-maker going out into the woods to  capture raccoons so that they could test their soaps? 
The other aspect to using this claim, is that, while they can correctly say they have never tested on an animal, how can they be sure that none of their ingredients ever have? Ingredients come from all over the world, and unfortunately, this includes many places that are not known for their ethical behavior.  


"Prevents stretch marks" is another phrase that gets me going. This is not a medically/physically proven statement. Stretch marks are caused by your skin, and as such, have to do with your genetics. Some women do not get stretch marks at all, but that is due to the fact that her skin reacts well to expansion.  Look at your Mother, if she has stretch marks from her pregnancy, or from a rapid or large weight gain, then you will be more prone/likely to get them as well. While a lotion or cream will help to alleviate the itchy, uncomfortable feeling that accompanies the rapid skin expansion of pregnancy, it will not diminish your chances of getting the stretch marks. So use the oils, lotions, and creams to help you feel better, but do not expect them to alter genetics! 


"Does not contain any surfactants, which are detergents that the big commercial companies use"- I have seen this on a few Indie soaping and lotion sites. A "surfactant" is not necessarily a detergent! According to Wikipedia, "surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid, the interfacial tension between two liquids, or that between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants may act as wetting agents, detergents, emulsifiers, foaming agents and dispersants." 
We all know that oil and water does not mix, so haven't you ever wondered how lotion/soap makers get that to happen? They add a surfactant, that;s how. By necessity, you need to have a surfactant to get the oil and the water to mix and stay together. So, while a detergent could be a surfactant, not all surfactants are detergents!


"Organic" is probably the hottest, hot button today, but it is a legally defined phrase in many countries, of which the USA is one. The certification process varies from country to country, but all involve the setting of standards which  control everything having to do with the product. Each stage, every process, and all businesses that have anything to do with the product, has a set of standards which must be followed. These standards extend all the way from the seed stage to its final destination, be it a grocery store for resale, or a restaurant for consumption. 

Basically, "organic", when related to our crops, means that the use of anything synthetic has been avoided. Chemicals like pesticides, antibiotics, fertilizers, and genetically modified organisms are not used. Additionally, the land used to raise organic crops has been free of chemical use for at least three years, and a physical separation is maintained between the certified [organic] plants and the non-certified ones in order to avoid contamination. Additionally, the grower is required to maintain  accurate records, with regard to their production, the production process, and their sales. Also, Inspectors can, and do, show up unannounced to inspect the property and crops.  

In the USA, these standards are set by the USDA, the Department of Agriculture. There are three different levels of labeling for organic products;



1. 100% organic-These products must contain (excluding water and salt) ingredients that are only organically produced. The processing aids must also be all organic, and they cannot be produced using any excluded methods, sewage sludge, or ionizing radiation.

2. Organic products must consist of at least 95% organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt). Any remaining product ingredients 
must consist of nonagricultural substances that are approved on the National List, including specific non-organically produced agricultural products that are not commercially available in organic form.

Any product that meets the requirements for either 100% organic or organic  may display the terms on their principal contact panel. Additionally, the USDA seal and the seal of the involved certifying agents may also appear on the product packages and in advertisements. 

3. Made With Organic Ingredients are products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients. These products are also allowed to list up to three of the organic ingredients or food groups on the principal display panel. 

Processed products labeled “made with organic ingredients” cannot be produced using excluded methods, sewage sludge, or ionizing radiation. The 

percentage of organic content and the certifying agent seal or mark may be used on the principal display panel. However, the USDA seal cannot be.

There are certified [organic] and non-certified [organic] food crop producers. Because the certification process is so costly, many of the farmers simply cannot afford to become certified, however, they still follow the same regulations for food safety and agricultural processes, as well as all of the other applicable government guidelines. Their products will be labeled "non-certified organic". The quality should be the same, the only difference being that they did not pay for the certification process. 



Processed products that contain less than 70% organic ingredients cannot use the term organic anywhere on the principal display panel. They cam, however, 
identify the specific ingredients that are organically produced on the ingredients statement information panel.



A civil penalty of up to $11,000 can be levied on any person who knowingly sells, or labels as organic, a product that is not produced and handled in 
accordance with the National Organic Program's regulations.




And remember (see last Friday's post) that "all natural" and "made with organic ingredients" does not ensure you that there are no "bad for you" ingredients in that product! According to the FDA, "natural" means that the product does not contain any synthetic or artificial ingredients, and to be labeled "healthy" means that the product meets certain criteria which limits the amount of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, and also includes specific amounts of various vitamins, minerals and nutrients. So again, you could have an all natural product that is not healthy, by the FDA's healthy standards. For instance, you could have an organic ice cream that is also high in saturated fats, therefore, unhealthy.



Any product labeled as organic must identify each organically produced ingredient in the ingredient statement on the information panel.The name of the certifying agent of the final product must be displayed on the information panel. The address of the certifying agent of the final product may be displayed on the information panel.


Be aware, there are no restrictions on use of other truthful labeling claims such as “no drugs or growth hormones used,” “free range,” or “sustainably harvested.” 

In the end, I hope that you will recognize that a company can do a great job of being "eco-friendly" without necessarily having the certification for being organic. Likewise, I hope that you also can see that words and labels alone do not make a truth or a good product. In the midst of some ill-informed, lack-luster shops, there are a lot of amazing companies out there, doing their best to bring quality products to the marketplace. It is our responsibility as consumers, to research and to seek out these companies!

Frankly Speaking Friday

As you have probably already surmised, I love organic ingredients. The problem is that everything is very expensive these days, and organic choices are even more than their regular counterparts. This is true with food, as well as the herbs and essential oils that are needed for cosmetic/beauty ingredients. Just to give you an idea, a regular lavender essential oil (lavandula angustifolia) runs about $8.00 per ounce, while the organic one is $10-$12 per ounce. This is one reason why I maintained such a large garden at my old house. Actually, having that large garden with so much lavender in it was how/why I got started making Unique Garden Essences products, but I won't bore you with that story again. If you want to read it, you can go here.

At any rate, no matter how you look at it, living, especially trying to live healthily, costs us mo' money. So the question then becomes, how do we combat this? Well, I scrimp, save, utilize coupons and the price matching policies, and whatever else I can do for myself, rather than purchasing things that are full price. To this end, I shop sales, buy Christmas gifts in the summer, buy birthday gifts after Christmas, and of course I get up at unGodly hours to get the black Friday prices for special items.

In the food and herb department, I can, I freeze and I dehydrate a LOT of herbs, fruits and vegetables. It's amazing, because when I was young, I hated working in the garden. To me, it was not good tasting food, it was just the thing(s) that kept me home working instead of away and out riding, so I was quite resentful. And helping Mom during canning season was an even bigger pain in my hiney! Now, however, I feel privileged to have been exposed to that way of life, and I find myself wishing that I had the time and the ability to do more. But I don't, so I try do what I can.

If I need some herb that I no longer grow, first I try to find a friend that has it. If that fails, (during the spring and summer) I may purchase it from the Farmer's market or, when it is not available from the farmer's market, I buy it [fresh] in the organic section of the local warehouse type store, or the local superstore. I purchase it fresh so that I know it is organic and grown without pesticide usage. When cooking I prefer fresh, but I dehydrate the leftovers for later use. Actually, so that I will have plenty in the winter, I dehydrate the majority of my summer, outside crops. Even my year-round, indoor harvests are frequently found in the dehydrator, as I hate spoilage as much as I hate running out of things, so I like to make sure that I have a lot stored. Of course I like to use recycled containers for that storage. The drink mix containers are excellent for storing dried herbs. *They should be airtight and out of sunlight.

I have a wonderful dehydrator, with seven different layers/shelves. I use it to dehydrate fruit to eat as chips, except bananas, for some reason my bananas never come out right!, And also to grind and use in scrubs. I dehydrate herbs for teas, both the bath and the drinking kind, for poultices, for cooking, and for various skin & beauty product recipes. The dehydrator is a great tool to have. While I generally only dry one product at a time, I do mix them when I have small batches and when I know that the scents will work well together. Some of my favorite blends are lavender and sage, lavender and rosemary, lavender and eucalyptus, and any citrus with sage, chamomile, rosemary or eucalyptus. The aroma waifing throughout the house when the dehydrator is in use is like a large potpourri stewing or several of those scent plug in deals! The only smell that I wasn't that crazy about, was the venison smell when my Son used the dehydrator to make his jerky,.....but generally speaking, the scents that fill your home are great!

dried & ground orange peel, dried sage, rosemary, and eucalyptus.

Some More Food You Can Use

A few weeks back I did a couple of posts on foods that you could use for your beauty care. I inadvertently left the following recipe sitting on my draft board, so here you go, one more! Sage Cucumber Potato Ice Cubes 1/4 small raw potato, peeled 1/2 medium-sized cucumber, peeled 2 Tbs sage infusion, cooled* *to make a sage infusion you take 1/4 cup sage (fresh or dried) and pour 1 cup almost boiling water over it, allow to steep for about 30 min. then strain. Throw out the sage and store the "tea" aka infusion in the refrigerator in a glass jar, covered. This will remain good for about 2 months.* Slice the potato into chunks then mash into pieces in a food processor to get them as fine as possible. Use the food processor to puree the peeled cucumber very briefly. You don't want to over process it. Then strain the excess juice. The whole thing will be runny, but preserve the more pulpy part.Now mix the potato, cucumber and tea together and pour into an empty ice cube tray. Freeze.Next time your eyes are puffy, red and/or sore, pop out one of these ice cubes and place it over the eyes. Leave it on for 2-3 minutes, or you may just dab them on, if leaving it lay on bothers you. When finished, rinse your eyelids off & pat dry. You'll see the difference! The cubes will remain good, in the freezer for 2 months. Also, for another, quicker, easier remedy, you can throw a few slices of cucumber or 2 teaspoons in the freezer before you get into the shower in the morning. After you've gotten out of the shower & dressed, place the frosted spoons or the cucumber slices on your eyelids. Sit back and relax for 10 minutes.The cool of the spoons reduces puffiness, while the cucumber actually possess a natural ingredient that helps to sooth irritated skin.

I am Jazzed on Essential Oils

I have joined with several other bloggers to help advertise for each other during this holiday shopping season. An experiment of sorts, thought of by the owner of neat-o-stuff. So, today the featured shop is - www.maryzoom.etsy.com
Please check her out! Sunday is going to be the feature day for Unique Garden, so be on the look out!

*The majority of this post has been deleted due to my impending book

ESSENTIAL OILS

-GINGER essential oil is a hot, spicy, and sweet fragrance. While not an irritant, in high concentrations it can be. It is also slightly phototoxic, so avoid use on the face and neck, and on babies and children. make sure that you use a low dilution rate, no more than 1%.



-GRAPEFRUIT has a citrusy, floral, and fruity scent. Grapefruit should not be used while pregnant. It is generally nonirritating, however some people are sensitive, so use with caution.


-HYSSOP essential oil is a sweet, yet camphoraceous scent, with warm adn spicy notes. This oil is moderately toxic due to the pinocamphone content and has caused a few reactions in some individuals, so use with caution. It should only be used in moderation. It should be avoided in pregnancy and by epileptics. It is also contraindicated in cases of high blood pressure.

-JASMINE has a very intense, rich, warm, floral scent with a tea-like undertone. ...... its use during pregnancy is not recommended. Although generally a non-irritant, some people have reported allergic reactions.



-JUNIPER has a fresh, clear, slightly woody scent. ..... be avoided during pregnancy and by people with kidney problems ......

The Essentials of Essential Oils

As previously discussed, herbs, flowers, spices, and shrubs and their essential oils have been used for centuries to treat various ailments. Used in the proper form, administered by a knowledgeable herbalist, maladies of all types have been relieved or even cured by essential oils. In deed, these oils are used to treat just about everything that modern day drugs do.

Of course, as with any drug, they can also be dangerous, therefore ingestion should only be attempted under the care of a knowledgeable professional. Before you begin using essential oils for any treatment you should make sure that you are purchasing from a reputable dealer, that their oils are of the highest quality, and that you are fully informed of any potential adverse interactions. Essential oils are highly concentrated and should only be used either diluted, or by the drop. Prior to use you should always perform a patch test. That is, use a very small amount of the oil on a small patch of skin and check fro irritation. If irritation occurs, thoroughly wash the area with soap and water . You can then try again with a more diluted version or simply not use at all. Some oils, mainly the citrus family and cassia (which is cinnamon bark) are to be used with the utmost of caution. While cinnamon bark is beneficial as a skin conditioner and an anti-inflammatory, it can also be very irritating to the skin. Therefore the amount used in any skin care recipe becomes very critical. An inexperienced bath and body creator may be inclined, which would be a huge mistake, of adding essential oils to scent, when they should be added for their benefit first and foremost! Whether adding for benefit or scent the creator must be cognizant of the essential oil to dilutant ratio. The safest recipes and most effective aromatherapy formulas are blended at a 2 1/2% concentration rate. This means that there will be 15 drops or less of essential oil per quart or liter of carrier oil. If you have seen the cost of some essential oils, this fact is actually a small plus!

While here, this may be a good time to mention that essential oils can be very pricey. You do not want to skimp and get the cheap one just because it is cheap. To illustrate my point take lavender for exampkle. Lavender comes in a mix called 40/42. It is a mixture of lavenders (Lavendula spp.), largely from Spain, that is steam distilled. One of the plusses for it is that is the least expensive lavender essential oil (eo) that you can buy. It is also the most floral smelling lavender, and the most consistantly lavender smelling one. Most people think of this scent when they think of lavender, because of this, it is often the lavender of choice for soaps, candles, perfumes and cosmetics. The issue, however, is that it is also the least therapeutic of lavender essential oils. So if you are looking for the therapeutic value found in lavender EO, you need to look for lavendula latifolia aka spike lavender, which is actually used in some pharmacutical applications, or lavendula angustifolia, aka Bulgarian lavender which is the prized lavender for perfumery. So, if you are making something that you just want to smell like lavender, buy all means use the 40/42. But, if you are counting on the therapeutic benefits to work, or marketing your products as theapeutic grade or aromatherapy quality, you will need to purchase the more expensive types. In this instance you will get what you pay for. By the same token, your favorite organic bath and body product maker may be using the 40/42 to save themselves money. In this instance you will be the one cheated out of the therapeutic benefits of lavender. If the bath and body maker is not knowledgeable, and sadly many are not, they will think they are saving money and making a sound business decision, when in fact, they are negating the main reason for their product. When you are in doubt, read their product descriptions and their company biography. Ask questions. Know what you are making and know what you are buying! At Unique Garden Essences, http://UniqueGardenEssences.com , I only use the highest queality, therapeutic grade, mostly food safe, essential oils. I believe in the healing powers of natural plants and once you experience them you will too!

While I certainly do not consider myself to be qualified to offer instruction on ingestion of oils, after many years of study, I can help you to navigate the what oil is for what path. There are many oils and some are more recognizable than others, but all can easily be found on line and from many health food stores. Additionally, many craft supply shops are now offering essential oils also. You should always start with a small bottle if you cannot sniff before you buy, so you won't be saddled with something that is not what you had in mind. You do need to understand though, that EO's are highly concentrated and that means they are stronger that you are use to. Also, if you are making a blend to treat a specific ailment, the scent is not what you should be focused on anyway. These next few posts will detail many of the EO's and what their uses and properties are. Remember that some properties can only be accessed by inhalation, some by dermal application, and some by ingestion. Of course some can also be accessed by multiple methods, this is just an overview for general knowledge.


*The majority of this post has been deleted due to my impending book

ESSENTIAL OILS

-Ajowan EO is from India and is a lot like thyme, with a herbacious, spicy scent.

-Allspice ... It is a powerful, spicy, sweet and warm fragrance. I.... Its use should be avoided during pregnancy.






-Amyris .... has a musty, warm, woodsy scent. 


-Angelica Root or Seed ..... It has a sharp, almost biting scent of green stems with peppery overtones. ....This is NOT to be used during pregnancy or by diabetics. Some materials I have read say that the seed oil users should avoid sun exposure, but not all sources noted this. Since I am not sure of the accuracy of this statement, I would error on the side of caution.



-Anniseed ... has a warm, sweet, spicy and licorice like scent. ..... acts as a narcotic and slows down circulation in large quantities, which can lead to cerebral disorers. It should NOT be used during pregnancy.