Vanilla Infused Shea Coconut Body Butter Ingredients 6.6 ounces Shea butter 3.3 ounces Coconut 1/4 cup (1.715 oz) Vanilla infused jojoba oil (to learn how to make: vanilla bean infusion) 1/4 cup (1.91 oz) Avocado oil 1 tsp (.145 oz) Sea buckthorn co2 extract (optional: don't worry if you don't have this. Add in calendula herbal oil or simply more avocado oil.) *All ingredients certified organic. Essential oils: I put three different 'scents' in different jars, as follows: Cardamom: 12-15 drops Cardamom in each jar (made 3 jars) Neroli: 6-7 drops Neroli READ MORE
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An Aromatic Cooling Summer Gel
Summer Cooling Gel For: Sunburn / Heat rash / Hives / Inflamed Skin Ingredients: 1/2 cup aloe vera gel 1 tbsp German chamomile hydrosol 1 tbsp Witch hazel hydrosol 1.5 tbsp plantain/chickweed herbal oil (*can use calendula or just plantain herbal oil too) 5 drops German chamomile essential oil 7-10 drops Lavender essential oil Steps to make: 1. In a glass measuring cup or bowl combine aloe vera gel, hydrosols and herbal oil together. Use a stainless steel whisk to mix ingredients. 2. Add essential oils and whisk until well combined. 3. Apply to READ MORE
Hydrosols for Itchy Skin
Over the past week I have been dealing with various batches of poison ivy on my skin. I have quite an allergy to the plant so I also have some hives on my neck in response to the poison ivy rashes on my arms, stomach and legs. I had been using a clay combination to dry out the poison ivy patches and have now moved into using hydrosols to soothe the skin and relieve itching! Witch hazel and German chamomile hydrosols are incredibly beneficial in soothing the skin and relieving the itch. To use: Simply apply some hydrosol/s onto a cotton pad or paper towel and gently rub areas of skin READ MORE
Essential Oils to deter Wasps!
WASPS! A few days ago I was looking out my kitchen window as I was doing the dishes and I noticed a few wasps hanging around and then disappearing under the wood railings of the deck. I thought, I bet the peppermint and/or lemongrass would prevent them from building their nest there. So I grabbed our sprayer bottle and filled it with 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water (about 8 ounces in total) and then added about 4-5mls of peppermint and 4-5mls of lemongrass (did not really measure, just wanted to make it really strong), gave it a good shake and went outside to see where their nest was. Sure READ MORE
Hibiscus Rose Sugar Scrub
A great cooling sugar scrub for the Summer months on into Autumn! Ingredients: 1 cup Brown sugar 1/2 cup Cane sugar 1/2 tsp Cardamom seed (finely ground) 1/2 cup Dried Rose petals 1/2 cup Dried Hibiscus petals 1/2 cup Vanilla infused jojoba oil 1/4 cup Calendula oil Instructions to make: 1. Measure out all ingredients and place in individual bowls. 2. Grind Rose petals and Hibiscus flowers into a fine powder. Use a coffee grinder devoted to plants! 3. Using a mortar and pestle, grind dried cardamom seeds. 4. Combine brown sugar, cane sugar, ground READ MORE
Shea butter
The Beauty of Shea Butter Butyrospermum parkii syn. Vitellaria paradoxa Therapeutic Benefits: Emollient Anti-inflammatory Moisturizing Anti-irritant Skin protective UV protective Nourishes the skin Improves elasticity Indicated for: Eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, dry skin, dry cracked feet or hands, dry cuticles READ MORE
All Natural Mosquito Repellent Recipe
Our Favorite All Natural Mosquito Repellent Recipe for Natural Mosquito Repellent 20 drops Patchouli 15 drops Cedarwood 15 drops Lemongrass 10 drops Geranium 15 drops Peppermint 2 ounces of Spring or Distilled water How to make: Combine all ingredients in a 2 ounce spritzer bottle (either glass or aluminum). Shake well. It is now ready for use! How to Use: Shake before using. For natural mosquito repellents, you need to spray liberally all over. Just be sure to close your eyes when spraying hair and/or neck. You can reapply as needed, approx. every 2-4 hours READ MORE
5 Essential Oils, Many Blends
I was blessed to receive 5 essential oils from a new company recently. As I opened the package and began reviewing (experiencing) these new essential oils, I was first struck by the energetic clarity and vibrancy of these essential oils. They have a presence that is quite beautiful. I know the company can supply GC/MS reports on each of these oils yet most important to me was their energetic vibration, so to speak. The chemistry can come later. The five essential oils I received include: Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Frankincense READ MORE
Spring Plantain Herbal Infusion
It's finally spring and all around there are cleavers, violet flowers, chickweed, plantain and a few other early spring medicinal plants in the area around us. I am sure if you look around your yard or in a field yet to be touched by modern day 'weed killers' you will stumble upon plantain. Today we (my son and I) harvested plantain. We will use this infused oil for a variety of summertime salves. Plantain is a wonderful herb to infuse and use in salves for insect bites, wound healing and inflamed skin conditions. Plantain Plantago lanceolata, P. major, or P. media Other READ MORE
Cottonwood Herbal Oil
Cottonwood Populus balsamifera This is one of my all time favorite resin buds to infuse. The infused oil smells incredible and is highly beneficial in salves, gels, or massage oils for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Can be used at a 10 - 25% dilution with other carrier oils such as jojoba or other herbal oils such as arnica or St. John's wort. Other common names: Balsam poplar Botanical family: Salicaceae Botanical description: Cottonwood/Balsam poplar is a tree that can grow up to 30-100 feet tall. The tree has deep grey and yellow-grey, furrowed bark, and READ MORE