Cinnamon leaf essential oil (Cinnamonum verum)

Description coming soon and you will find more indepth information and research references in our Essential Oil Database (under construction.)

This is one of my all-time favorites for skin care and it is in all of our facial products – all of them! Why? It’s not a cheap oil, but it has a long and illustrious reputation of being a cell regenerator. Known to be a popular skin care ingredient where it “displays a distinct revitalizing effect on skin suffering from lack of tone.” – Kurt Schnaubelt. The oil is obtained from the steam distillation of the wild carrot. This carrot is not to be confused with the cultivated carrot that we eat regularly (or you should!) It has, in some of the literature, been referred to as Queen Anne’s Lace and the flowery, white lacy tops are what is distilled into the essential oil. I grew up where Queen Anne’s Lace was a weed. It has a woody, earthy aroma that some find objectionable, but the amount needed for skin care products doesn’t come through in the final product – but the effect it has on your skin will come through. Check out the Benefits tab for additional information. Take a look also at the benefits of Carrot Oil, which we also use extensively in our facial products.

Melaleuca leucadendron = cajeputi – would be the another name for this oil. Cajeput, or Caju-puti, as it is called in Malaysia means white wood, since it’s wood is – well – white. This particular oil is steam distilled from fresh leaves and twigs of the paperbark tree. This oil is penetrating, a bit camphorous with a slightly medicinal odor, not unlike and related to other members of the Melaleuca group, such as eucaplytus, clove, niaouli and the familiar tea tree. Valued for is medicinal properties, the leaves of this tree are used by the indigenous population for respiratory and muscular problems. In Europe the oil is used in herbal medicines for its warming properties. This oil is occasionally used as a flavor component in food products and soft drinks. It has also been used as a freshening fragrance in soaps, detergents, cosmetics and some perfumes.

I don't remember for sure what gave me the motivation to formulate an effective insect repellent. I know the chiggers would pretty much eat me alive if I even stepped outside to put water in the dog's water bowl. But I think the final impetus was the summer the flies caused a sore on Abby's nose that until just this year resulted in a scar. It has finally healed, but I remember quite clearly the helpless feeling I had when I saw the flies congregating on her nose. I had to DO something. It was at that time, that I began to do research into what essential oils would work against these invaders yet still smell good and be safe. I tested many different blends, used Neem oil which does work but frankly stinks. I didn't want that for us. There is a story to be read elsewhere of how we received an order from Bell South for a "big" order to be used on their line workers after Katrina. It was then that I knew all those years of research would not only help Abby, but others as well. 

We are limited in the things we can proclaim about our products due to FDA and EPA laws and regulations. It costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to have your products proclaim the EPA registration number - not yet for us. But we have been able to formulate a product that falls within their "safe" list and has proven ingredients that are well-known for their ability to deter and repel mosquitoes, chiggers, flies, fleas and ticks. We offer this essential oil blend for those who want to add it to their own carrier - such as distilled water.

We have many testimonials of how well our blend works and would love to hear from you as well.

A lot of research and testing went into the formulating of this blend. We have quite a few customers with allergy and asthma issues. Asthma, in particular, requires a more gentle touch so that the automatic strong cough reflex is not elicited, which can happen with some cold and flu type blends. We believe and have found that this blend works effectively to calm the cough reflex and the tight feeling of inflamed and irritated lungs. I remember quite clearly my experience with this blend after running what seemed like forever in the Denver airport to catch a short connection. We ran from one gate to another and we were both out of shape. By the time we made it to our seats, the flight had been waiting on us (surprisingly enough) and the air was stagnant in the cabin of the plane. My chest hurt from the over-exertion and I truly could not take a deep breath. I was coughing uncontrollably and was seriously about to grab for the oxygen bag. I remembered that I had the Breathe Easy in my purse and grabbed for it, just opened the bottle and felt immediate relief. True story. If you are familiar with Young Living blends - this is much like their RC blend, but much more reasonably priced with unadulterated or undiluted oils.

An essential oil that is steam distilled from the berries that turn from red to black as they mature. Not to be confused with cayenne pepper or paprika, black and white pepper have been used for over 4,000 years for medicinal and culinary purposes. In Greece, it is reported, the plant was used against intermittent fever, which was believed to probably have been malaria. In several different sources, there is the story that the mendicant (refers to begging or dependent upon charitable donations) monks of India would travel great distances daily and relied on approximately 7 to 9 grains of pepper a day to give them “remarkable endurance”. Black pepper essential oil is also used in perfumery to acquire different and unique fragrances.

Essential Oil of Bergamot Calabrian (Citrus bergamia) 

is a cold pressed oil and comes from the rind peel of the fruit of a citrus tree that bears a fruit that resembles a cross between an orange and a grapefruit (according to some sources.) Ours is from an area in Italy called Calabria and from what I've read Calabria is the only place in the world where the climate is just right for bergamot oranges to grow naturally. I only can repeat what I've read, but I haven't seen any contradictions concerning this. I looked it up because I was curious and found pictures of groves of bergamot orange trees that grow along the Calabrian coastline. Some say they are a cross between an orange and grapefruit, others say they are a natural cross between lime and a sour orange. I rather think this Calabrian that we offer seems more like a cross between an orange and lime. It is by far superior in it's sweet, tart, freshness, with a hint of floral.

Bergamot essential oil is not to be confused with the herb bergamot or bee balm (Monarda didyma). And just for the record, while searching for an appropriate picture for our blog on this oil, 99% of the pictures represented were the Monarda or bee balm flower. The aroma of the oil from this fruit is light and fruity, yet has a warm spicey floral note. In fact, it is said that the bergamot fruit was developed for its scent and has now been used in perfumery since the 18th century. I have received some samples that had a sharp, unpleasant note to them, but ours is warm and one of my favorites. Our latest supply is one of the best I've sampled yet. It reminds me of one of my favorite perfumes, an inexpensive one that I used to buy as a teenager called Muguet des Bois, or Lily of the Valley. Bergamot is NOT Lily of the Valley, but has the same qualities of lightness with a floral note. I particularly like the way Kristen Leigh Bell in her book, "Holistic Aromatherapy for Pets" describes bergamot. She says, "Bergamot is a citrus oil that combines the toning, strengthening and balancing effects of the monoterpene alcohols with the soothing, relaxing and uplifting qualities of the monoterpene hydrocarbons." You can see more about the monoterpenes in the detailed version of our description. Berganot essential oil has many benefits and wonderful properties, which is why we are so fond of it, but it also carries with it a significant caution – please see Benefits/Usage tab and for a detailed description of the benefits of this oil, see our Essential Oil Database or our blog article.