Essential Oil Spotlight: Lemon Oil

For this month's essential oil feature, I wanted to write about lemon essential oil, which is an incredibly useful oil to have around.

First of all, it smells great with its nice, fresh scent. It’s also been shown in two different research studies to help with boosting mood and reducing anxiety.

 It’s nice to use by itself in a diffuser, but also mixes well with rosemary and/or cedarwood. I also like combining it with anise (just one drop of anise since it’s so strong), clove, and patchouli. Lemon oil also combined well with bergamot as a nice, springy blend. Lemon works really well to get rid of odors in the home.

Beyond aromatherapy, lemon oil works fantastic for cleaning, especially for removing stuck on goop and adhesive. I recently had to remove a bunch of stickers from the top of a laptop, which left lots of adhesive behind. Since it was so bad I thought I would have to use Goo Gone (which I don’t love because it has such a chemical smell), but the Goo Gone didn’t really work. I decided to try lemon oil (which in retrospect I should have tried first) and it worked amazingly, cutting through the adhesive and residue almost instantly. I cleaned it again with a vinegar cleanser since if you leave lemon oil on some surfaces or plastic it can damage the finish. I also use it for cleaning around the store anytime there’s something that can’t be cleaned by our regular natural all purpose cleaners.

It’s also inexpensive, at $6.49 for a 1 oz. bottle of pure lemon oil, so I’d definitely recommend picking up a bottle if you don’t have one!

Essential Oil Spotlight: Orange Oil

I wanted to begin a series on some of our favorite oils, so check back each month to read about a one of our favorite essential oils and its benefits!

This month I wanted to write about orange oil, since it’s cheery, which is helpful as winter wears on- the scent of orange oil can definitely help to brighten up a dreary day. Interestingly, smelling orange oil has also shown benefit in several scientific studies to help people with anxiety, including acute anxiety- there’s even a study that found that orange oil helped children’s anxiety during dental procedures, and has even shown to help with the perception of pain in people with injuries. It also just smells great.

Orange is perfect to use in a diffuser by itself, but it also blends really well with other oils, especially spice oils. I love mixing orange with clove, cinnamon, and/or patchouli (I know patchouli can be a divisive scent, but I absolutely love it, and it smells amazing combined with orange).

Beyond aromatherapy, orange oil is great to have on hand for cleaning. A few drops added to a bucket of soapy water helps not only to add scent to your home, but it also helps to cut through grease and grime. Orange oil also works great to remove adhesive residue. Best of all is that it’s extremely inexpensive- a 1oz bottle of 100% pure orange oil (which for me lasts for ages) is only $4.99 at the store, so stop by and see us and start smelling some orange oil!

We’re at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights

Rosemary Oil for Hair Loss and Scalp Health

Rosemary oil is known to promote scalp health and is often used for hair loss. Rosemary oil is said to help to revitalize hair follicles and encourage hair growth, and has even been shown in a small research study to be effective in blocking DHT (the hormone associated with hair loss and pattern baldness).

Hair loss can be a tricky thing, and can have a variety of causes- I certainly don't want to promote rosemary oil as a miracle cure, but it's inexpensive and smells nice, so it doesn't hurt to try. Rosemary may also help with reducing dandruff and itchy scalp.

Rosemary oil (and all essential oils) must be diluted before using topically. Essential oils are very potent oils from plants and when used directly on the skin they may cause irritation. Essential oils should be mixed with a carrier oil or other diluting agent like shampoo or lotion before using on the skin. Also, some people are more sensitive to essential oils than others so I would recommend starting with a small amount to see how your skin reacts.

To use rosemary oil on the scalp, you can use it diluted with shampoo when washing your hair, using roughly 5 drops in the palm of hand combined with shampoo, and then massaged into the scalp.

For a rosemary oil treatment, it can be mixed with a carrier oil like coconut oil and applied to the scalp 30 minutes before shampooing (coconut oil is great for the hair and scalp).

Just remember, use a smaller amount to begin with to make sure your skin doesn't have any problems or reactions. Let us know how it works for you!

Stop by and see us at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights, we have a great selection of 100% pure essential oils for reasonable prices, and have a kind, knowledgeable staff.

We love essential oil diffusers

This month I wanted to write about essential oil diffusers and how great they are. I’ve had a diffuser for years, but hadn’t used it in a while, but several weeks ago I noticed it in a cabinet and dug it out, and it’s been so nice using it!

Our essential oil diffusers just use tap water and a few drops of essential oils. They’re simple to use- just fill to the inner line with water and then drop in your essential oils. They turn off automatically when they’ve used up all the water so they’re really hassle-free. It’s a really nice way to scent your home naturally, plus it helps to add a bit of moisture to the air. I’ve been using the Now blend Woodland Walk most days and I really love it, since it’s a nice, fresh, outdoorsy scent that makes me think of spring in the forest.

Stop by the store this month to see our diffusers and maybe pick out a new essential oil blend to try. Some other nice spring oils are bergamot, lemongrass, lime, and tangerine. Essential oils can really make your home feel more pleasant, without adding chemicals to the air. 

A Staff Favorite: Eucalyptus Oil

I wanted to write about Eucalyptus, since it’s so fantastic for using during the winter. Smelling eucalyptus helps to open the sinuses, but research has also found that when sprayed or diffused into the air it actually helps to kill bacteria and microbes in the air. It’s fantastic in a diffuser, but if you don’t have one, adding several drops to a pot of simmering water on the stove is a great idea to get eucalyptus oil into the air and also to add a bit more moisture to the air. It’s also very refreshing when used in the shower and can be really invigorating. Be sure to stop by this month to pick some up, a bottle of eucalyptus oil is inexpensive and lasts a long time!

We’re at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights and have a great selection of 100% pure (and reasonably priced!) essential oils.

DIY Holiday Gifts with Essential Oils

This month we wanted to share some of our favorite DIY recipes that make wonderful holiday gifts! In addition to a large selection of high quality, pure essential oils, we also have a great selection of DIY beauty supplies and ingredients available at the store.

Shea Butter & Vitamin E Lip Balm

DIY Beard Oil

Dog and Cat Foot Pad Protectant Salve

Essential Oil Room Spray Recipe

DIY “Poo-Pourri” Copycat Recipe

We have many more great DIY recipes on our Health and Beauty Blog, found here. We also have several new essential oil bracelets on sale for $5 each that make wonderful stocking stuffers!

Stay Healthy with Essential Oils: Benefits Backed with Scientific Research

Unfortunately the cold November weather this month heralds the true beginning of cold and flu season. Essential oils are a nice way to scent the home naturally, but did you know that many essential oils have real, scientifically documented benefits?  Certain oils, like eucalyptus, have actually been shown to kill airborne bacteria and viruses when diffused into the air. 

See the article linked below for more information on antimicrobial essential oils and specific links to research studies:

Disinfecting the Air with Essential Oils

Additionally, these articles from our website may be helpful for preventing illness and helping to manage symptoms if you do get sick:

Medicinal Essential Oil Recipes for Cold and Flu Season

Nature's Shield: Our "Thieves Oil" Blend

Also, for more information on scientific research on various essential oils, see this article on our website:

Essential Oil Research Studies and Benefits

How to Use Neem Oil for Healthy Hair and Scalp

The oil from the neem tree has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for thousands due to its healing properties. In Hindu texts, neem is referred to as the plant that “cures all ailments and ills” and has its roots in the Sanskrit word meaning “bestower of good health”.

Neem oil is a potent source of beneficial oils and is astringent, antibacterial, and antifungal. It also helps to boost circulation and repels lice and mites.

Neem oil can be beneficial to the skin and hair, and is often used to rejuvenate hair growth as well as to combat a variety of problems of the scalp including psoriasis and eczema, scalp irritation, and dryness and dandruff. Massaging neem oil into the scalp before bed or a few hours before washing can make a big difference in the overall health of the scalp.
Neem oil can also help with the overall condition of the hair, since neem is rich in essential fatty acids, which help to nourish dry and damaged hair. 

The only drawback to neem is that it has a slightly odd or medicinal smell (it personally reminds me of peanuts). If you dislike the natural smell of neem, you can add a small amount of essential oils to the neem oil before applying to the hair (which will also enhance its benefit). For dry and damaged hair, try sandalwood or geranium oil; for encouraging hair growth try atlas cedar, juniper berry, cedarwood, or lavender; for oily hair and scalp try patchouli, rosemary, or ylang ylang.

One more note about neem oil- at room temperature (especially when it’s on the colder side) neem can begin to turn solid, so when you open a bottle, you may see tiny chunks of oil on the dropper. It doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the oil, it’s just what it naturally does. If you find your neem oil beginning to solidify around the dropper or cap, just run the bottle under warm water for a minute and it should be fine.

I’ll also link another article below that you may find beneficial:

How to Use Hair Oils for Gorgeous Hair

Be Well!
 

Lemon Oil: A Miracle Cleaner for Stubborn Dirt

I wanted to share about my new secret cleaning weapon- lemon essential oil.  Essential oils are great as an ingredient in homemade cleaning products (usually combined with vinegar, baking soda, or a little castile soap), but I wanted to say how amazed I’ve been lately on using a few drops of straight lemon essential oil on stubborn stains and dirt- things that I’d tried everything else on without success.

If you have any adhesive residue, a couple drops of lemon oil removes it in seconds.  I’ve even used it on stubborn scuff marks and old scratches, that had been cleaned with other products without success, and a bit of straight lemon oil (and a little elbow grease) made them look better than I ever thought possible.  

I even spilled some of a medicine for my daughter’s fish tank on a table, which was dark blue and seemed very much like ink.  I tried wiping it up with a wet towel or glass cleaner, but it seemed to be soaked in to the finish of the table and wasn’t going anywhere.  I thought of lemon oil and was worried it might ruin the finish on the table, but thought even if it did, I thought it would be better than the dark blue blotches I’d made.  A few drops of lemon oil took the inky blue stains right out of the table, and the shine on the table didn’t look like it had any damage!

I’ve been using lemon oil all the time now on stubborn dirt and stains around the house, and I really can’t recommend it enough!  

Straight essential oils are very strong, so be sure to wash your hands well after using or use cleaning gloves.  Also, since lemon oil is so potent, I’d recommend testing a patch on surfaces first to see if it damages the finish.

Generally, essential oils are best as part of an ingredient in a homemade cleaning solution (here is a link to a site with a lot of great simple recipes for making household cleansers with lemon oil), but for those times when nothing else works, a few drops of straight lemon essential oil can work like a miracle!

A New Amazing Brand of Certified Organic Essential Oils: Simplers Botanicals

We have a line of essential oils by Simplers Botanicals that we're super excited about. Part of why I love them is that they have the largest selection of USDA certified organic oils of any other brand available anywhere.

I’ve been working to get this brand into the store for ages, but our distributor for a long time could never get display racks; well, we finally got our hands on some and starting in April we will have the Simplers Botanicals oils available.

The main reason that I was so excited to carry them in the store is that they seriously smell amazing. Amazing. The majority of the oils I have in my home and use on a regular basis are by NOW or Aura Cacia, and I do think those brands have great oils, I have nothing bad to say about them. I do, however, have a few precious bottles of the Simplers Botanicals organic oils and have to say, that I think they are the best oils I’ve ever smelled. For example, their lavender and sweet orange oils (two of my favorites) have to be smelled to be believed, they smell absolutely wonderful.

We have fourteen new single oils by Simplers that we’ve started with to carry in the store (we can special order anything from their full line however) and eleven blends, and all but three are USDA certified organic, as it is not available in a non-organic source (even their non-organic oils are wild crafted and ethically harvested). 

Simplers is very careful about where it supplies its oils from, using only the best artesian distillers around the world. See this article on the Simplers Botanicals website for more information on their sources used around the world.

With being such high-quality oils- and I would truly venture to say that there isn’t a better quality of essential oil made by another company available anywhere- one may expect that they would be prohibitively expensive, but that isn’t the case. As many essential oil aficionados know, not all oils cost the same. 

To make some of their more expensive, 100% pure essential oils more affordable, they are sold in smaller quantities; for example, their incredibly fragrant Moroccan blue chamomile oil is packaged in a smaller, 2ml quantity, to be able to be sold at a more reasonable price. So this month, I would very much recommend stopping by to sniff these amazing new oils (we have testers of each available), I think you’ll love them, I know I do! 

Currently, we have the following essential oils by Simplers Botanicals available in the store.  

All are 100% pure and undiluted by carrier oils. These are all true “therapeutic grade” essential oils.

Bergamot Oil (Certified Organic)

Clove Bud Oil (Certified Organic)

Eucalyptus Globulus Oil (Certified Organic)

Frankincense Oil

Geranium Oil (Certified Organic)

Lavender Oil (Certified Organic)

Lemon Oil (Certified Organic)

Orange, Sweet Oil (Certified Organic)

Patchouli Oil

Peppermint Oil (Certified Organic)

Rose Absolute Oil

Sandalwood, Australian Oil (Certified Organic)

Tea Tree Oil (Certified Organic)

Turmeric Oil (Certified Organic)

Essential Oils Blends

Blissful and Bright Oil (Certified Organic Oil Blend)

Breathe Here Now Oil (Certified Organic Oil Blend)

Calm Within Oil (Certified Organic Oil Blend)

Deep Restful Sleep Oil (Certified Organic Oil Blend)

Detox and Renew Oil (Certified Organic Oil Blend)

Focused and Aware Oil (Certified Organic Oil Blend)

Fortify and Protect (Certified Organic Oil Blend)

Mind Body Meditation (Certified Organic Oil Blend)

Purify Air and Home (Certified Organic Oil Blend)

Women’s Rhythm and Flow (Certified Organic Oil Blend)

Sinus Oil (Certified Organic Oil Blend)

 

New Essential Oil Bracelets

We have just received a shipment of new lava rock essential oil bracelets. Each bracelet has fifteen lava rock beads, which absorb essential oils and gently diffuse the scent throughout the day. Lava rock is made from cooled volcanic magma, and wearing the beads can feel very grounding. The seven rainbow beads represent the seven chakras in the body and also represent the beauty, promise, and diversity of our world, in one harmonious whole.

We’re in love with these bracelets, and asa Valentine’s gift for our lovely customers, we are offering these bracelets on sale for only $5 each while supplies last. They make a perfect gift for yourself or a loved one.

To apply the essential oils, massage one drop of oil per bead (as many as you choosedepending on how potent of a scent you’re looking for). It’s a simple and beautiful way to get the benefits of essential oils. Some of our favorites that we’ve been using are lavender for relaxation, orange for positive mood, and rosemary and lemon for enhancing memory.

Essential Oil Spotlight: Cedarwood

I wanted to mention an oil that we’ve been using a lot lately at our house- cedarwood essential oil.  Cedarwood is a very grounding oil, and is wonderful for helping to ease coughing and loosen phlegm.  My daughter has had a cough that she brought home from school and I’ve been adding several drops of cedarwood along with some eucalyptus oil to the essential oil diffuser in her room, and I think it really helped to calm her coughing so she could sleep.  My daughter also loves the scent (she says it smells like summer).

Cedarwood is known for its relaxing effects, and has been traditionally used for reducing tension and stress as well as calming the emotions, helping one to achieve a peaceful state of mind.

Cedarwood oil is also wonderful for the skin since it has antiseptic and astringent properties.  I frequently add it to the DIY sugar scrub that I use on my face.  It can also be used mixed with jojoba oil as a nighttime moisturizing facial treatment.  Cedarwood is often used by women to help with controlling hormonal acne.

Interestingly, cedarwood has even been studied with impressive results for increasing hair growth in people with alopecia when used topically on the scalp.  When using essential oils on the skin, always be sure to dilute them with a carrier oil first, since straight essential oils can cause skin irritation.

Note: Pregnant women should not use cedarwood, and essential oils of any kind should not be used with children under 2.