This is such a wonderful, fresh, clean essential oil, but did you know it is also a SOLVENT - as are other citrus essential oils. I use it to dissolve grease, dirt and grime - as well as cleaning the label glue off of recycled bottles. So - what I'm saying here is this is not something you want to put in your water every day as some companies recommend. Your liver will thank you if you don't. It makes a very good - and very healthy - addition to any of your cleaning products, use in a diffuser, and even add it to your massage oil or cream. It has so many benefits, BUT it is also a phototoxic oil, meaning that if you use this topically, don't go out into direct sunlight or a sunbed for 12 to 24 hours because it can cause a slight reaction to a severe burn. Dilutions are important. Essential oils are concentrated extracts from plant material - many times concentrated from that slice of lemon you put in your glass of ice tea. We only purchase and sell certified organic citrus oils. Why? Because citrus oils (most anyway) are not steam distilled as are other essential oils, but are cold-pressed from the RIND. Yes - and that is where the pesticides and herbicides are most concentrated.

Another thing to consider with citrus oils - they oxidize and this can alter fairly quickly the important chemistry of the particular essential oil. Which is why we buy only fresh citrus oils from our supplier. We keep all of our citrus oils refrigerated and suggest you do the same. All essential oils should be stored tightly closed, leave the top off only long enough to drop the oils into whatever you are diluting it with, and keep in dark glass containers. We ask that you not remove the safety dropper cap supplied and keep them out of reach of children. It's alway a good idea to write the date on the bottle that you have received and opened the essential oil in order to keep track of the age of the oil.

Immune Enhancer blend - newly reformulated to be even more effective. This blend contains clove and cinnamon, both of which are high in the chemical constitutent Eugenol which is an anticoagulant. That means they thin the blood, so should not be used with anyone who is presently on other blood thinners, either pharmaceuticals such as Coumadin or Plavix, over-the-counter, or supplement such as Nattokinase. Also do not use prior to or immediately following surgery. Keep all essential oil bottles tightly closed when not in use, leave dropper cap in place, and keep out of reach of children or pets. DO NOT USE THIS BLEND UNDILUTED. INTENDED FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY.

This blend can be used as simply as placing a couple drops onto a tissue and sniffing the aroma-therapy. They are very effective when used in our ultrasonic diffuser that is adequately described here. This blend also contains some oils known to be skin irritants; however, this blend when diluted can safely and effectively be used as a chest rub, back rub or foot rub. I don't recommend this blend as a full massage blend. As little as 2 drops in one ounce of carrier vegetable oil is sufficient.  We also find it very effective to use this, or any of our blends or oils, in our personal nasal inhaler soon to be added to the website. These are very convenient as they are the size of a lip balm and can be carried easily in your pocket or purse.

See our Essential Oil Database (currently under construction) and our Disclaimer page for more information.

Cypress essential oil

At first glance you would assume that this oil would be a good addition to any asthma-type blend. However further research indicates that at higher concentrations the inhaled essential oil can be an irritant and should be used with caution and knowledge if using for asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.)

Avoid with estrogen dependent cancers, avoid if pregnant and some sources recommend to avoid with hypertension (high blood pressure.) Otherwise, non-toxic, non-irritant or non-sensitizing to the skin. Always use essential oils diluted with carrier oil or other pertinent ingredients.

Cold and Flu #2 Blend

Is for those who are on blood thinners or prior to or after surgery. We have formulated this blend for those who may be on blood thinners or are getting ready for or have recently had surgery. Although this blend contains cinnamon leaf, which contains a large percentage of the chemical constituent Eugenol and is a potent blood thinner, we have reduced the percentage of cinnamon leaf and have completely left off clove bud and clove leaf, both of which also contain a high percentage of Eugenol. We believe this makes this blend a much better choice for anyone on blood thinners such as aspirin, Nattokinase, Coumadin, or Plavix. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Asthma sufferers - please take note. Although the research shows that Eucalyptus globulus is an effective essential oil for you, please note that when using this blend, the single oil or any blend containing Eucalytpus, be mindful that you do not directly inhale the oil as it may elicit a cough reflex which could trigger an asthma attack. We have also formulated our Breathe Easy blend which is also very effective for inflammation and lung discomfort experienced by asthma sufferers, but not as effective in fighting cold and flu bacteria and viruses.

As with any essential oil or new product, we ask that you do a patch test on the inner aspect of your elbow by putting a drop of oil that has been diluted in your choice of vegetable oil onto your skin, cover it with a bandaid and wait 24 hrs to see if you have any redness, itching or inflammatory reaction. The oils in this blend are inherently skin irritants, so they must be properly diluted prior to use. Our recommendation is 1 to 2 drops from the dropper cap bottle to 1 oz or 3 tsp of vegetable oil. This oil may be added directly to your ultrasonic diffuser and we recommend 5 to 10 drops per 24 hours.

This blend and our regular Cold and Flu blends are very beneficial for cold and flu symptoms. We like to use them as chest rubs, back rubs and foot rubs. Did you know that your feet are one of the best places to put your essential oil mixture for the best absorption? It's true. Cover your chest, back and/or feet after applying for enhanced absorption and reduced evaporation of the oils. You can use any vegetable oil you choose. Please do not use occluding oils such as animal-based oils, lanolin, vasoline, or mineral oil. These will not allow for good absorption of the essential oils. We also highly recommend that topical application be augmented with the use of the ultrasonic diffuser.

As as always, please see our disclaimer here.

 Clove Bud (Zyzgium aromaticum) Essential Oil

As the long list of properties indicated, it is quite obvious that clove bud essential oil would be a good one to keep around the house. It works very well when added to other essential oils. See our recipes below (under construction - sorry). 

STRONG CAUTIONS:

This particular oil due to its high level of Eugenol is a skin sensitizer, it will be a skin irritant if not diluted properly, and it is an anti-coagulant and should not be used by anyone currently taking any other blood thinners, and before or after surgery. The anti-coagulant/anti-thrombotic properties can be very helpful for vascular issues however. Always consult your health professional and/or certified aromatherapy professional. Keep out of reach of children!! We provide our oils with a safety dropper cap - please leave that on. An oral dose of 5 to 10 ml for a child as young as 2 can result in acute liver damage or death.

Carrot Seed Essential Oil

An easy do-it-yourself way to incorporate the antiwrinkle, cell-renewing properties of this essential oil is mix the following blend into any of your favorite unscented cream (our unscented hand & body cream would be good for this purpose.)

Add to 8 oz of cream or your favorite carrier oil. See our carrier oil benefits page to help you decide which one to use for your skin type.

5 drops Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) essential oil
5 drops Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) essential oil
5 drops Carrot Seed (Daucus carota) essential oil
5 drops Rosemary, ct Verbenone (Rosmarinus officinalis)
5 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
5 drops Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)

Safety or Cautions: Carrot seed essential oil is considered to be non-toxic, and non skin-sensitizing. As with all oils, this oil must be diluted with a carrier prior to use. Please check the link to the individual essential oils noted in the recipe for safety/usage information. See our Essential Oil Database for more information.

Cajeput (Melaleuca cajeput), also known as Melaleuca leucadendron

For an in-depth discussion of the properties and benefits of this Cajeput essential oil, please visit our growing Essential Oil Database.

Cajeput was not one of the oils in my original aromatherapy certification class, so it was a few years before I actually became acquainted with it. I love it now for so many reasons. It has the same familiar aroma to me as our Stay Awake Blend, which is a blend of Rosemary, Eucalyptus, and Peppermint. I could have just used Cajeput! It has been described as penetrating, camphorous and medicinal. I don't think medicinal, but that is such a subjective term. I will be making a soap with it after testing a little bit more. 

Cajeput essential oil is distilled from the fresh leaves and twigs of the paperbark tree according to most sources. It has a long history of being used successfully to combat colds, flu and chronic arthritis. It was apparently also prescribed for cholera. It has been said that this particular oil would be the one to grab for immediately at the onset of any respiratory infections accompanied with aches, pains, chills and congestion. I usually know when my immune system is fighting off a "bug" when I get a sore, scratchy throat. I've found that our Cold & Flu blend with some raw honey has always, and I do seriously mean always, stopped it in its tracks. I would imagine that cajeput alone would do the same thing. It contains a high percentage (although in the literature there was a wide range of "typical" chemical constituents for this essential oil, particularly in the amount of 1,8-cineole.) We can assume though that it consists mainly of 1,8-cineole, followed by a-pinene  and b-pinene. 

The other amazing property of this Cajeput essential oil is it's ability to clear the mind and, therefore, I think would be a wonderful oil to put in your diffuser or your nasal inhalers (coming soon to Wingsets). 

Safety/Cautions: From my research, it appears that this oil is non-toxic and nonsensitizing; however, may irritate skin if used in high concentrations. One should use care and caution during pregnancy.

IMPORTANT: All of our products are for external use only.

We also suggest you have a good working knowledge of the use of essential oils or consult with an aromatherapy professional prior to use. In addition, Essential Oils must be properly diluted before use in order to avoid any damages to property or adverse physical effects (including injury or bodily harm). Please read our Disclaimer before using our products.

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) essential oil

Bergamot is by far one of my favorite essential oils. If I feel anxious or pushed to meet a deadline, but need to focus - I reach for bergamot and/or geranium, but I particularly like the bergamot if I'm feeling "hot" either mentally or physically. It has so many amazing qualities that you can find detailed in our expanding essential oil database. 

In particular the chemical constituents in this oil attribute to it's calming and sedative properties. Predominately you will find the monoterpene (d-limonene), monoterpenol (linalol) and the ester (linalyl acetate). The percentages of each of these constituents will differ from batch to batch due to the many variables involved in growing and distilling the plants. These three, however, should be the predominant features in any Bergamot essential oil.  Linalool (you'll see it spelled linalol also) provides the antibacterial as well as the sedating, relaxing properties to this oil. Linalyl acetate is also known to provide very relaxing properties, which is also one of the constituents seen in Lavender essential oil and why high altitude lavender has the most relaxing properties. The monoterpene, d-limonene, according to Kurt Schnaubelt in his book, Advanced Aromatherapy, has anti-viral properties. Other sources recommend Bergamot for issues related to the herpes virus. The d-limonene also contributes significant anti-inflammatory properties to this oil. Buyer beware - according to Kurt Schnaubelt, this is one oil that is often adulterated in the marketplace, which is why we so carefully source ours.

Highly phototoxic if not used according to guidelines. Bergamot is one of those oils that the IFRA recommends to not exceed 0.4% in "stay-on" products, which would include a massage oil or a body cream. Bergamot is a particularly nice perfume as a stand-alone oil and, therefore, should be diluted prior to use. This percentage would equate to approximately one drop of the oil to one ounce of a carrier oil. When used in a diffuser, 2 to 4 drops would suffice. The safety issues are more related to the skin and direct UV light. We previously carried a bergapten-free oil which is rectified to remove the phototoxic qualities, but the last sample we received just didn't hit the mark that we strive for. I recently received the sample of the oil we have now which is not bergapten-free and does carry the issues of phototoxicity, but it smells truly wonderful.

A few of our favorite uses for this oil:

Can be added to a face mask for acne due to its antiseptic and astringent properties or add to your regular bottle of shampoo and conditioner if you have oily hair. The literature also recommends this essential oil for eczema. I'm having my daughter test this new shipment to see how her eczema responds to it.

Body powder (deodorizing and refreshing)

2 parts tapioca starch (or cornstarch, organic preferred)
1/2 part orrisroot (fragrance fixative, easily found at health food stores)
1 part baking soda
1 part zinc oxide (deodorizing due to antibacterial properties)
Bergamot essential oil - using the dilution of 0.4%, which would be approximately 1 drop per 1 ounce of powder.
Lovely and uplifting, refreshing powder. Can be placed in a shaker bottle (we will be carrying these) or just a glass jar with a tight lid.

Perfume: (Put in a 2 oz sprayer bottle if using vodka, a roller ball if using a carrier oil)

1 tsp vodka or 1 tsp carrier oil (such as almond oil or olive oil)
8 drops of lavender essential oil
2 drops of rose absolute or rose otto
4 drops of bergamot essential oil
8 drops of vanilla essential oil
1 drop of ylang-ylang essential oil

Safety/Cautions: Bergamot contains furocoumarins, notably bergapten, which causes skin sensitization and skin pigmentation when exposed to direct UV light for up to 12 hours. It can and has caused severe burns when used on sensitive skin that is subsequently exposed to sunlight or sunbed rays. The maximum concentration for most oils in concentration with a carrier is somewhere around 5%, but the IFRA recommends Bergamot to not exceed 0.4% in products that will not be washed off. We follow those guidelines in our products that contain Bergamot.
Avoid in cases of liver problems. Not for use when pregnant or nursing. Possible skin irritant – dilute well.

Bay Rum Essential Oil

Synergistic recipe for Back Pain: (from Aromatherapy Solutions by Veronica Sibley)

Bay Rum 2 drops
Clove 1 drop
Lemon 2 drops

Sunflower oil 15 mls (1/2 ounce)
Hypericum oil 15 drops

According to Veronica Sibley in her excellent book, Aromatherapy Solutions, she notes that this synergy works because of the following properties of each of these oils:

Bay Rum - Helps nerve-end pain with a warming effect where there is "coldness within the muscles."
Clove - Has "pain relieving properties affecting the nerve end pathways."
Lemon - Is a "superb tonic to the circulatory system, cleansing the body of waste, and works well with neuralgic pain."

Now, she doesn't state specifically the botanical names for the oils in this recipe which would be helpful. The lemon is not a problem, but there are different types of "bay" essential oil. We believe since she profiles Bay Rum (Pimenta racemosa) later in the book that's the one she is referring to. Also clove is available as the oil from the bud, bark and leaf. We are assuming she means clove bud. Both clove and bay rum can be very irritating to the skin if not diluted properly so test this recipe as you go and possibly do a patch test prior to applying over a large area such as your back. I think it sounds like a winner though and will try it on my foot where I had a neuroma surgically removed that has left me with a high degree of nerve pain. CAUTION: Both Bay Rum and Clove Bud are anticoagulants and should not be used by anyone who is taking blood thinning medication such as Coumadin.

For additional in-depth information about Bay Rum essential oil look at our Essential Oil Database. We would also recommend our Spicey Muscle Oil for any nerve pain or back pain issues - already blended and ready to go. And for additional recipes using essential oils, take a look at our Aromatherapy Recipes section. We will be adding to that almost daily.

Safety/Cautions: Bay Rum should be used in moderation due to the high levels of eugenol content, as mentioned above, and can be a mucous membrane irritant. We repeat, use caution if taking any anticoagulant drugs such as aspirin, heparin or Coumadin. We have been using this particular essential oil more and more as we discover new and practical ways to use it other than just the fact it smells so wonderful and is a favorite for many. Bay Rum should never be taken orally.

 Handmade, hand-cut Magnolia Soap

Okay - this is probably what I would classify as a "girly-girly" soap. It smells like the flower and it has no coloring or other ingredients other than the shea butter, coconut and olive oil. This is why it's so smooth and silky. And like all of our soaps is very moisturizing and luxurious with lots of lather. Please keep in a soap dish with good drainage. It's pure white - well, creamy white. We don't have to use Titanium Dioxide that most soapmakers use to make their soaps white - why you ask? Because we use a very high (33%) percentage of shea butter and coconut oil - both of which are naturally creamy white and, of course, very good for moisturizing your skin and enhancing the general overall health of your skin.