DIY Hand Sanitizer with Essential Oils

I use hand sanitizer frequently, but do not love the dry hands or synthetic fragrances they usually are accompanied by.  This is a simple DIY recipe for a moisturizing but very effective hand sanitizer recipe using essential oils.

•    1/4 c. aloe vera gel (I used Lily of the Valley)
•    3/4 c. ethyl alcohol, ethyl rubbing alcohol, or Everclear
•    2 tbs. vegetable glycerin
•    30 drops essential oils*

*Keep in mind that citrus oils like lemon or orange can make the sun more sensitive to the sun, and cinnamon oil can be irritating to the skin, so use them sparingly in this recipe if at all.  I made a few batches of this with different scents that turned out very nicely- any combination of oils will work, depending on your preferences.  My favorite was a spice blend using clove, patchouli, cinnamon and orange (10 drops clove, 10 drops patchouli, three drops cinnamon, and 7 drops orange).

Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.  Pour into a squeeze or pump bottle (a funnel is helpful for this).  This recipe is much more liquidy than the standard antibacterial “gel”, though I used it in an old hand sanitizer pump bottle and it worked fine, even with being so liquid.  I think it would also work well in a spray bottle, though I didn’t have one handy to try it.

Washing hands with soap and water is still the best method for getting ands clean, but this is a good substitute for times when hand washing is not convenient or possible, and your hands will be moisturized and wonderful smelling afterwards.

Holiday Lip Balm with Essential Oils

I am a lip balm fanatic, and love DIY recipes, so this is a great recipe for making a holiday themed lip balm! If you’ve never made lip balm, it’s very simple and economical too- one recipe makes a LOT of lip balm, so it’s perfect for gift giving. We sell all the necessary ingredients and lip balm tubes at the store. You can use your own combinations of essential oils, but one that I really like is with our Christmas Eve essential oil recipe blend.

This recipe made a little over 13 tubes of lip balm.

Ingredients:
1 1oz. bar of beeswax
3 tbs. coconut oil
3 tbs. cocoa butter (or shea butter) 

Essential oils:
25 drops spearmint essential oil
20 drops lavender essential oil
15 drops balsam fir needle essential oil
15 drops vanilla essential oil (optional)

Ingredient note: Previously I’ve used 4 tbs. each of coconut oil and cocoa butter, though I used 3 tbs. this time for a harder, waxier balm.  If you’d prefer a softer lip balm, increase the amounts of coconut and cocoa butter (you may want to add a few extra drops of essential oils as well if increasing the recipe)

Essential oil note: I don't like very strongly flavored/scented lip balms, so if you do you may want to increase the amount of essential oils by a few drops each. 

Directions:
For a complete instructional rundown with pictures, see our lavender vanilla lip balm recipe post.

Prepare your ingredients and open all lip balm containers so the liquid beeswax mixture can be quickly poured and easily filled before it starts to harden.

Melt beeswax in a double boiler.  If you don’t have a double boiler (like me!) you can use a small bowl in a pot of water.  Once the beeswax is melted, add the coconut oil and cocoa butter.

Pure cocoa butter is hard, so I found it easiest to scrape the cocoa butter with a spoon in its jar and then pouring the shavings it into my measuring spoon.

Stir ingredients with a metal spoon until melted.

Once all the ingredients are melted, let cool slightly before adding the essential oils.  If desired, you can separate the recipe into halves before adding the essential oils if you’d like to make more than one flavor.

Note: I would advise using a Pyrex or something with a spout to pout the melted mixture.  I tried using pipettes, but found that just pouring the beeswax mixture into the lip balm tubes was the easiest, since the mixture started solidifying in the pipette before I could fill all the containers.

A New Variety of Eucalyptus Oil

We have a new variety of eucalyptus essential oil that we just started carrying at the store - eucalyptus radiata. The more common form of eucalyptus is eucalyptus globulus, which we’ve always had, but NOW Solutions has released the new radiata species of eucalyptus which we’re thrilled to carry.  

The common eucalyptus globulus is more medicinal smelling, where the new eucalyptus radiata is slightly sweeter.  I have both, but have found myself using the new eucalyptus radiata more frequently.  I’d say the globulus form is better for colds and respiratory issues, where the radiata form is more for a spa experience.

One fantastic way to use eucalyptus oil is in the shower in the morning.  I started using it a month ago, and don’t think I could ever be without it now- it’s so nice.  Try putting a few drops of eucalyptus oil in the bottom of the shower in the morning (I say a few drops, but in honesty I give the bottle a few liberal shakes).  The steam from the shower will combine with the eucalyptus oil, helping to open the sinuses and breathing passages as well as reduce lung inflammation.  Eucalyptus oil is also extremely antibacterial and antimicrobial.  It’s a simple thing to do to make your morning shower more enjoyable- I’d very much recommend trying it- it really helps you to feel refreshed and ready to start the day!

 

Holiday Essential Oil Blend Recipes

The following blends are wonderful room scents to use during the holiday season.  The easiest way to use them is in a diffuser (we have four different essential oil diffusers available at the store) that uses ultrasonic vibrations to create a fine aromatherapy mist.  

These holiday blends can also be used as a room spray with water in an atomizer (we have empty glass spray bottles available at the store) or in lotions or any number of DIY beauty products.

The oil concentrations below are appropriate for a diffuser, though you can increase or decrease the amount of oil based on your preference and how strong you want it to smell.

Holiday Spice Blend

This blend is one of my favorites for the holidays.  We frequently have it in the diffuser at the store and I always get compliments on it.  Now only does it smell great, but cinnamon, clove, and lemongrass have strong antibacterial qualities and orange oil is fantastic for boosting mood and reducing anxiety.

4 drops cinnamon bark essential oil
3 drops clove essential oil
3 drops orange essential oil
1 drop lemongrass essential oil (optional)

Peace and Harmony Blend

Patchouli is my favorite smelling oil- it's rich and comforting.  It is also an oil that improves with age, so hiding an extra bottle in the back of a drawer is not a bad idea.  Patchouli is also a very calming and centering oil, that combines with the scent and benefits of orange oil wonderfully. 

4 drops patchouli essential oil
4 drops vanilla essential oil
3 drops orange essential oil

Pomander Blend

4 drops orange essential oil
4 drops clove essential oil
2 drops vanilla essential oil (optional)

Yuletide Blend

4 drops balsam fir needle essential oil
4 drops tangerine or orange essential oil
2 drops pine essential oil
1 drops anise essential oil

Christmas Eve Blend

3 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops vanilla essential oil
3 drops balsam fir essential oil
1 drop spearmint essential oil

Royal Peace Blend

Myrrh and frankincense were the gifts brought to the baby Jesus by the wise men.  Myrrh helps to reduce stress and frankincense is purifying and is frequently used in meditation blends, so the combination is perfect for the season as well as anytime you need some extra peace and tranquility.  

4 drops myrrh essential oil
4 drops frankincense essential oil

Enchanted Forest Blend

This combination of oils is very evocative of a winter forest, and is a fantastic Christmas Tree scent.  

5 drops balsam fir needle essential oil
3 drops atlas cedar essential oil
2 drops cedarwood essential oil
2 drops pine needle essential oil

Sweet Relaxation Blend

5 drops lemon essential oil
2 drops patchouli essential oil
1 drop clove essential oil

Candy Cane Blend

4 drops peppermint
5 drops vanilla

Comfort and Relaxation Blend

5 drops vanilla
4 drops lavender

Medicinal Essential Oil Recipe Blends for Cold and Flu Season

Essential oils smell wonderful, but they are more than just a pretty scent- many have very impressive medicinal benefits. Below are some suggestions of essential oil combinations that are particularly helpful during the winter months. 

The amounts below are appropriate for use in an essential oil diffuser, like those we have available at the store, though the same ratios could be used for making a therapeutic balm or an atomizing spray, though you may need to change the quantity of oil depending on how much you’re making.

 

Sinus Blend for Relieving Congestion

Eucalyptus is amazing for opening up the sinuses, and is also extremely effective at killing airborne microbes when used in a diffuser. Camphor is also a great antiviral and antibacterial oil, and its vapors are great at reducing cold symptoms. Peppermint is very soothing and can calm irritated respiratory passages, so it’s a nice addition to this blend. The optional addition of cedarwood can help with calming coughs if they are accompanied by sinus congestion. 

5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
3 drops camphor essential oil*
2 drops peppermint essential oil

For sinus congestion with a cough, add 3 drops of cedarwood essential oil to the above blend.

*Do not use camphor topically on children, or in a diffuser for very young children.

Respiratory Blend to aid in Relieving Coughing and Purify the Lungs

Hyssop is a very purifying oil and is used to help with reducing excess mucus in the respiratory tract. Cedarwood can help to quell coughs and helps to reduce and loosen phlegm in the lungs when inhaled. Frankincense is useful for breathing problems including bronchitis and asthma, and anise helps to calm a cough.

4 drops hyssop essential oil
3 drops cedarwood essential oil
3 drops frankincense essential oil
2 drops anise oil essential oil

Antibacterial Brightening Blend

This is a nice fresh smelling blend which also helps to kill bacteria in the air- bergamot, lemon, and lemongrass also have very potent antibacterial qualities and smell very nice together. It also helps to freshen stale air in a home.

4 drops bergamot essential oil
4 drops lemon essential oil
4 drops lemongrass essential oil

Winter Sleep Blend

Many of us are congested through the colder months of the year, so this blend combines the power of eucalyptus with soothing lavender oil, which has been shown in a number of studies to be a very effective sleep aid.

5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops lavender essential oil

“Thieves Oil” Purifying Blend  

These are the combination of oils traditionally as a purifying blend for illness and immunity.

We have also begun carrying a premixed blend based on the legend of the four thieves called Nature’s Shield at the store. You can read more about the blend here. 

5 drops clove bud essential oil
4 drops lemon essential oil
3 drops cinnamon bark essential oil
2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
1 drops rosemary essential oil

Also on our website:

Disinfecting the Air with Essential Oils

Essential Oil Research Studies and Benefits

Nature's Shield: Our "Thieves Oil" Blend

The Ultimate DIY Sore Throat Spray

This spray is absolutely fantastic for sore throats. Not only does it soothe an irritated throat, it helps to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria.  

¾ cup water  
2 tbs. Braggs raw apple cider vinegar
1 tbs. raw honey
1 tsp. sea salt
4 drops lemon essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil
2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
2 drops clove essential oil
pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
2 bags Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat teabags (optional)

We have amber glass travel size spray bottles at the store which are perfect for this throat spray recipe.

Start by boiling your water.  After boiling, steep the tea bags in the water until it has cooled to slightly above room temperature.  Remove tea bags and mix in honey, sea salt, and cayenne pepper stirring until completely dissolved.  Depending on the type of raw honey you use, you may need to use a whisk to dissolve the honey (the Y.S. Organics Bee Farms raw honey I use is very thick, so I had to whisk it for a while).

Next, add the apple cider vinegar and essential oils, and then pour the mixture into a spray bottle.  

If using this recipe for children, I might recommend making it without the essential oils.  It will still be effective.

Give the bottle a shake each time before spraying.  Enjoy!  It’s fantastic for a sore throat, but is also great to use as a preventative measure.  I love it!  

NOTE: I’ve made two different batches of this recipe, this one, and one that is heavier on the essential oils.  I can’t decide which I prefer.  If you want to make the above throat spray recipe a little stronger, you can increase the essential oils in the recipe to 7 drops lemon oil, and 3 drops each of eucalyptus, peppermint, and clove oils. 

This recipe makes at least three full 2oz. spray bottles.

Nature's Shield Essential Oil Blend

We have a new essential oil blend in stock by NOW Solutions called Nature’s Shield.  It is NOW’s version of the popular “Thieves Oil” blend, which is a mixture of five different essential oils known for their antibacterial and disinfecting properties.  See here for more information on the oil. 

It is inspired by the legend of four 15th-Century thieves that survived the black plague by using a combination of oils to protect themselves against the highly contagious airborne bacteria.  Nature’s Shield is an aromatic mix of cloves, organic lemon oil, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and organic rosemary oil.

We also have a recipe for making your own “Thieves Oil” blend on our website here (it’s at the bottom of the page).
 

Essential Oil Purity and Quality

We carry several different, wonderful  brands of essential oils at Pass Health Foods, including Simplers Botanicals and Aura Cacia; the majority of our oils, however, are from NOW Foods.  

Our oils from NOW Foods are 100% pure and unadulterated and are extremely high quality, while remaining very reasonably priced.  NOW Foods is a local, Illinois based company, which works diligently to ensure quality while remaining affordably priced.

Every one of NOW’s essential oils go through rigorous testing by quality control experts and are verified by both of the following tests:
 
Gas Chromatography (GC)
GC is an "identity" test that is used on complex mixtures to separate and identify individual volatile components through specific analytical columns combined with a carrier gas. This "fingerprint" allows an experienced analytical chemist to positively identify the oil's species.

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
With FTIR, a beam of infrared light is passed through a sample to determine the frequency at which energy is absorbed. It is a highly accurate method that helps reveal and confirm the identity and purity of essential oils. NOW's experienced analytical chemists use this sophisticated tool to check every oil.

For more information on NOW’s essential oil testing, please see this article on their testing methods, and this article on assuring the identity and quality of their essential oils.
 

NOW Foods also has an interesting stance on Food Grade Essential oils and “Therapeutic Grade” oils.  I’ll copy their statements on essential oils below:

Food Grade Essential Oils
We’re often asked if our essential oils are edible, or “food grade”.  All of our citrus oils, and other specific edible oils, are from edible plants. If you recognize the source of these oils as food (i.e. peppermint, oregano, cinnamon bark), then natural extraction methods such as steam distillation and cold pressing do nothing to change this quality, and these methods do not make the oil toxic. However, in order for us to claim an essential oil is food grade we would have to sell the oil as a food product and include a Nutrition Facts panel on the label, as required by law. Brands that claim their essential oils are food grade should display a Nutrition Facts panel on their label.

Our oils are intended for aromatherapy and are labeled as such. Additionally, we include cautionary language created by the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) intended to protect consumers from misuse of the product. Some presumably food grade oils do have specific cautions against internal use that should be followed. Please note that our essential oils are highly concentrated and thus caution should be taken if you consume them. 

"Therapeutic Grade" Essential Oils
Therapeutic-grade essential oils are oils that a third party pharmacopeia or other statutory organization has (supposedly) created monographs for, which can be used by any brand as a measure of quality. We’ve reviewed the information regarding this grade and have concluded that “therapeutic grade” is just a marketing term used by some brands, with no authoritative body or organization behind the term.

At NOW Solutions we take assurance of the quality and purity of our essential oils very seriously. We’ve made long-term investments in the instrumentation and the professional staff necessary to assure the identity, purity and quality of our essential oils, and we work closely with our growers and suppliers to ensure the quality of our raw materials. By ensuring all aspects of essential oil quality we guarantee that what’s on the label is what our customers get in the bottle.

Here is a list of available safely sheets on various NOW essential oils.
 

We Have Three New Essential Oil Diffusers Available

We have three new essential oil diffusers available at the store!  All are ultrasonic oil diffusers which use high-frequency electrical vibrations rather than heat to create an ultra fine, cool aromatherapy mist.  They also help to add moisture to the air, which is especially beneficial as we move into the colder months.   

There’s no heat involved, so there is no danger to children, and once the water is used up they shut off by themselves.  I can’t even say how much I love these diffusers, plus, they use only water and essential oils, so there are no refills to buy. 

Our new diffusers are truly unique.  The first (which is my favorite) is a genuine bamboo wood diffuser.  It is absolutely gorgeous and matches wonderfully with any décor.  The second is interesting because it has two vents to direct the aromatherapy vapor in two different directions, so it’s good for large spaces.  Both of these diffusers have settings to run continuously or intermittently (cycling on and off), and can run up to 16 hours on the intermittent setting.

Our third diffuser is a USB diffuser that plugs into a laptop, so it’s great for offices, college dorms, and traveling.

All three of our diffusers are extremely easy to fill and clean.

You can read more about our new diffusers here:

Ultrasonic Bamboo Wood Diffuser

Ultrasonic Dual Mist Oil Diffuser

Ultrasonic USB Oil Diffuser

I honestly cannot recommend these diffusers enough, and they're a fantastic way to enjoy the benefits of essential oils in your home.

Fall Five Essential Oil Blend

These are my favorite smelling essential oils, and while I do use them in the diffuser all year long, they are very comforting and “fall smelling”, so I call them the “Fall Five”.  They are wonderful together (I usually do one part each) or in any combination.  I’ll post a few recipes below.
 

The Ultimate “Fall Five”

One Part Each of the NOW Foods Brand:

• Orange essential oil

• Clove essential oil

• Patchouli essential oil

• Cinnamon Bark essential oil (cinnamon cassia can be substituted if preferred it is less expensive, but it has less of a pure cinnamon scent)

• Vanilla essential oil (you can add more vanilla if desired- I usually do- since it our vanilla mixed with a carrier oil so is not as strong as the pure essential oils above)

 
Many people ask if we have premade blends, but we like to offer mostly individual oils so you can create your own blends.  Even using the “Fall Five” oils, you can make it a little different every day depending on how you feel.  If you want it to smell a little spicier, add more clove and cinnamon; for a creamier blend, add more patchouli and vanilla; for a brighter, cheery fall blend, add more orange oil.                              
 
A few other amazing blends using the “Fall Five” Oils

• Comfort Blend: orange, patchouli, and vanilla essential oils
• Spice Blend: cinnamon bark, clove, and vanilla oils
• Pomander Blend: orange and clove essential oils
• Peace blend: patchouli and vanilla essential oils
• Orange Spice: orange, cinnamon bark, and vanilla essential oils

I use this blend of oils primarily in my diffuser, but they are also fantastic as a part of a massage oil or added to unscented lotion or shampoo.

All our NOW Foods essential oils are 20% off this month.

DIY Sugar Scrub with Essential Oils

This sugar scrub couldn’t be easier, and you can make it right now with items from the kitchen. What could be better?

The basic recipe:

1 part sugar (white or brown, I prefer to use white)
1 part oil*
Essential oils

*You can use any oil you have in the house.  I often make it with olive oil since I always have some in the house, but I’ve also used coconut, grapeseed, and almond oil with wonderful results

You can use any essential oils you like in this recipe.  I frequently will use lavender since I love it, but I’ve used many different oils with good results. The best thing about this scrub is you can't really have a bad result!

The quantity you make will determine the amount of essential oils used.  If I mix ¼ cup of oil and sugar, I will usually add about 10-15 drops of essential oils, though you can make it stronger or weaker to your preferences.

Take care in using cinnamon oil.  If you do decide to use it in a scrub, do so sparingly since it can be irritating to skin.  Citrus oils would probably be a good idea to avoid in a facial scrub since they can increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun.

If using as a facial scrub, I will frequently add in tea tree oil since it has antibacterial and astringent properties.  Some other great essential oil ideas are below.  

•    Sandalwood and/or frankincense for dry skin and wrinkles
•    Grapefruit oil for reducing the appearance of cellulite
•    Juniper for oily skin
•    Sweet orange for reducing the appearance of cellulite- massage from ankle to thigh which will help the lymphatic system
•    Tea tree oil for acne

I always have a batch of this scrub in the house, since it’s so simple to make!

Homemade Natural Deodorant with Essential Oils

This is a simple homemade deodorant recipe that uses basic ingredients (most of which you may even have in your pantry).  It's easy to make and works really well for controlling odor.

•    1/4 cup corn starch or arrowroot powder (we have non GMO cornstarch at the store)
•    1/4 cup baking soda
•    3 Tbs. coconut oil
•    ½ a 1 oz bar of beeswax
•    9 drops tea tree oil
•    9 drops of other essential oils*

This recipe uses tea tree oil, which is naturally antibacterial.  Feel free to use whichever oil you prefer for the second essential oil- lavender, sandalwood, bergamot, patchouli, or whichever oils you prefer.  I used patchouli (since I love it).  This is a lightly scented deodorant, so if you would like it to be stronger, increase the amounts of essential oils.  

The first thing to do is to prepare your materials (we sell empty deodorant containers at the health food store).  

Many deodorant recipes recommend grating beeswax before melting, but I feel like this is an unnecessary step, that just makes more of a mess to clean up.  Cut your bar in half and melt in a double boiler (or a bowl resting over a small pan of water).  I’m saving the other half of my beeswax bar to make another batch of lip balm.

Once melted, add the coconut oil and stir until it has melted and combined with the melted beeswax.

Combine the remaining ingredients except the essential oils and mix well.  Once the mixture has cooled somewhat, add the oils and stir to combine.

Spoon the melted mixture in your deodorant container and let cool.  I needed to spoon in a bit at a time, and then tap the deodorant container on the counter to make the mixture go all the way to the bottom so I was able to fill my container up all the way.

If you’re using one of the empty deodorant containers we sell at Pass Health Foods, be sure to put the seal in the bottom before you start filling the container.

Let your deodorant sit overnight before using so it has enough time to solidify and harden.

NOTE: This deodorant is thicker than conventional deodorant.  I found the best way to use it was to roll a bit on and then rub the excess in.  Since it is a little thicker than conventional deodorant it should also help with controlling wetness somewhat, due to the cornstarch.  

Homemade Lip Balm: Lavender Vanilla and Vanilla Rose

This recipe makes a LOT, and can be easily halved.  It made a total of seven lip balm tubes, seven small lip balm containers, and one full 1 oz jar.  We have all sorts of empty containers available at the store for doing DIY health and beauty.

Ingredients:

1 1oz. bar of beeswax
4 tbs. coconut oil
4 tbs. cocoa butter  
Essential oils 

Directions:

Prepare your ingredients and open all lip balm containers so the liquid beeswax mixture can be quickly poured and easily filled.

Melt beeswax in a double boiler.  If you don’t have a double boiler (like me!) you can use a small bowl in a pot of water.  Once the beeswax is melted, add the coconut oil and cocoa butter.

Pure cocoa butter is hard, so I found it easiest to scrape the cocoa butter with a spoon in its jar and then pouring the shavings it into my measuring spoon.

Stir ingredients with a metal spoon until melted.

Once all the ingredients were melted, I separated the recipe in two halves so I could try two different flavors.  This isn’t necessary, though I’m happy I did.  I would advise using a pyrex or something with a spout.  I tried using pipettes, but found that just pouring the beeswax mixture into the lip balm tubes was the easiest, since the mixture started solidifying in the pipette before I could fill all the containers.

For each recipe half I used the following amounts of oil:

I don't like very strongly flavored/scented lip balms, so if you do you may want to increase the amount of essential oils by a few drops each.

Vanilla Lavender
15 drops NOW vanilla blend
10 drops NOW lavender

Vanilla Rose
15 drops NOW vanilla blend
25 drops NOW rose blend

I wanted to make unique flavors that weren’t commercially available.  I really love them both!

Next time I will try adding lemongrass or bergamot oils, though I would reduce the amount of total drops since the NOW vanilla and rose blends are mixed with a carrier oil, so they isn’t as strong as a pure essential oil.  

I will absolutely be making this recipe again.  I am a lip balm fiend, and go through lip balm very quickly (partially since I’m always forgetting them in my pockets before I put them through the washer/dryer.  I would very much recommend trying it!

Simplers Botanicals Organic Essential Oil Blends

We’ve started carrying new organic essential oil blends by Simplers Organics.  I’ve been really impressed with the quality of these essential oils and how clean and beautiful they smell.  

All of the essential oil blends featured below are on sale this June for 20% off.

Blissful and Bright

Blissful and Bright is one of my favorite blends.  It’s cheery and uplifting and is great for a quick mood boost.

Ingredients: Citrus bergamia (Bergamot) Oil*, Citrus x paradisii (Grapefruit) Oil*, Citrus sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil*, Salvia sclarea (Clary Sage) Oil*, Citrus aurantium (Neroli) Oil*, Boswellia carterii (Frankincense) Oil*, Elettaria cardamomum (Cardamom) Oil*.
 

Calm Within

Calm Within is a fantastic blend for stress and nervousness.  It’s a very soothing and grounding oil.

Ingredients: Lavendula angustifolia (Lavender) Oil*, Citrus sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil*, Citrus aurantium (Neroli) Oil*, Vetiveria zizanoides (Vetiver) OIl*, Pelargonium x asperum (Rose Geranium) Oil*, Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang) Oil*. 
 

Deep Restful Sleep

This is a wonderfully relaxing sleep blend that can help soothe the body and quiet the mind.

Ingredients: Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) Oil*, Citrus reticulata (Mandarin) Oil*, Chamaemelum nobile (Roman Chamomile) Oil*, Origanum majorana (Sweet Marjoram) Oil*, Boswellia carterii (Frankincense) Oil*. 
 

Focused and Aware

This is a very effective blend for mental exhaustion, and can help to reduce feelings of stress and fatigue.

Ingredients: Citrus limon (Lemon) Oil*, Abies balsamea (Balsam Fir) Oil*, Elettaria cardamomum (Cardamom) Oil*, Ocimum basilicum (Sweet Basil) Oil*, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) Oil*, Mentha x piperita (Peppermint) Oil*.
 

Fortify and Protect

Fortify and Protect is a great wellness blend, and is useful for cleansing and detoxifying the environment.

Ingredients: Citrus x paradisii (Grapefruit) Oil*, Origanum majorana (Sweet Marjoram) Oil*, Eucalyptus radiata (Eucalyptus) Oil*, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) Oil*, Citrus sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil*, Melaleuca alternifola (Tea Tree) Oil*, Ocimum sanctum (Holy Basil) Oil*, Syzygium aromaticum (Clove) Bud Oil*.
 

Simplers Botanicals also have organic essential oil blends made specifically for topical use:

Sinus Oil 

This blend is formulated for respiratory issues and can open and soothe the sinuses.

Ingredients: Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalyptus) Oil*, Rosmarinus officinalis cineol (Rosemary) Oil*, Inula graveolens (Inula) Oil*. *Certified Organic

Yeast Aid

This blend helps to soothe itching from yeast overgrowth.

Ingredients: Olea europaea (Olive Fruit) Oil*, Calendula officinalis (Calendula flowers)*, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) Oil*, Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil*, Tanacetum annuum (Moroccan Blue Chamomile) Oil*, Thymus vulgaris linalol (Thyme) Oil*, Helichrysum italicum (Helichrysum) Oil*.
 

Scar Oil

This topical blend is formulated to help in reducing the appearance of scars.

Ingredients: Olea europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Calendula officinalis (Calendula flowers)*. Rosa canina or rubiginosa (Rose Hip) Seed Oil*, Argania spinosa (Argan) Seed Oil*, Calophyllum inophyllum (Tamanu) Oil*, Helichrysum italicum (Helichrysum) Oil*, Artemisia herba alba (Mugwort) Oil, Salvia officinalis (Sage) Oil*, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) Oil*. *Certified Organic
 

New Blank Essential Oil Inhalers

We are now selling blank essential oil inhalers which essential oils can be added to.  They’re great to carry with you since unlike essential oil bottles, there’s no risk of spillage.
Each inhaler has a cotton center which essential oils are applied to (15 drops is a general recommendation).  It’s an amazing way to use essential oils on the go, and is particularly wonderful since they are completely customizable.

Some ideas are:

Eucalyptus oil for sinus congestion
Lavender oil for relaxation and stress
Bergamot oil for anxiety
Peppermint oil for concentration
Orange oil for a mood boost
Rose oil for reducing blood pressure

For more ideas, here is a list of essential oil studies and benefits for variety of different uses.
 

Carrier Oil & DIY Beauty Availability List

We have started carrying a large selection of carrier oils, jars, bottles, and other things to help make your own beauty products to go with out extensive collection of essential oils.  

10 ml clear glass rollerbottles
10 ml frosted cobalt blue rollerbottles
1 oz. amber glass dropper bottles
2 oz. amber glass fine mist atomizers

empty essential oil inhalers
pipettes
empty lip balm tubes
5 gram plastic jars
1 oz. plastic jars
3 oz. glass jars

empty deoderant containers

cosmetic grade, triple filtered beeswax
shea butter
cocoa butter
lanolin
aloe vera jelly
zinc oxide powder

sweet almond oil
apricot oil
avocado oil
castor oil
coconut oil
grapeseed oil
jojoba oil
hemp seed oil

liquid lanolin
vegetable glycerine
rosewater

Here is our essential oil availability list

Disinfecting the Air with Essential Oils

There are a variety of essential oils that have antibacterial and antiviral properties, though most of the research that has been done on essential oils is on direct contact with bacteria or viruses, which doesn’t necessarily translate into true benefits for essential oil users.

In our research at the store, we have come across several essential oils which have been documented in scientific studies to reduce and kill airborne bacteria and viruses when diffused into the air.

Here is a study which found that tea tree and eucalyptus essential oils killed airborne influenza viruses when diffused into the air.

Here is a study which tested essential oils against 6 common respiratory pathogens. The findings reported that cinnamon bark oil and lemongrass oil significantly disinfected the air when diffused into the air. It’s a long article, so there’s a good table here which summarizes the results.

This is an impressive study on antibiotic resistant bacteria including MRSA and the results of diffusing essential oils of geranium and lemongrass into the air.

This is a study on the benefits of eucalyptus oil inhalation against airborne tuberculosis bacteria.

This is another study on eucalyptus oil which reports on its broad spectrum antimicrobial action, as well as its benefits for inhalation on respiratory problems like bronchitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 
 

Summary
So let me break it down. This isn’t to say that all the oils listed below don’t have both antibacterial and antiviral properties, but rather is a summary of the scientific research available on the disinfectant action of essential oils when used in a diffuser.

Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil: Antibacterial
Eucalyptus Essential Oil: Antiviral and Antibacterial
Geranium Essential Oil: Antibacterial
Lemongrass Essential Oil: Antibacterial
Tea tree Essential Oil: Antiviral

We carry several full lines of 100% pure essential oils, and testers of each so you can test what each of the different essential oils smells like. We also carry a large selection of different essential oil diffusers at the store. Our diffusers use nothing but tap water and essential oils and turn off automatically when all the water is used up. I can’t recommend them enough, they're a perfect way to use essential oils in the home in a way that lasts for many hours (most of our diffusers are able to run continuously for seven to eight hours without being refilled).

Suggested blends
Lemongrass is wonderful and fresh smelling and blends well with other oils. Tea tree is a potent medicinal aromatherapy oil, but I’m not in love with the scent (it’s not terrible, just not my favorite). Its scent mixes well with other oils which mask its medicinal odor, so it can be added to any of the blends below. I use the blends below in my home on a regular basis:

Lemongrass + Cinnamon Bark
Lemongrass + Eucalyptus + Tea Tree (this is the strongest antimicrobial combination)
Lemongrass + Geranium
Eucalyptus + Geranium
Eucalyptus + Tea Tree
Eucalyptus + Lavender (this is a fantastic blend for sleep)

In particular, we recommend the NOW brand of essential oils. NOW Foods is a local company in Illinois that has very reasonably priced essential oils while remaining of extremely high quality. Here is an article from our blog on the extensive research NOW conducts on its oils to ensure quality and potency.

Here are some other articles from our health blog on essential oils which you may find beneficial:

Essential Oil Research Studies and Benefits

Nature's Shield: Our "Thieves Oil" Blend

Medicinal Essential Oil Recipes for Cold and Flu Season

Essential Oil Research Studies and Benefits

I am a big fan of essential oils and using a diffuser, but in the past my love for them was pretty much because they make such nice, natural room scents.  It’s a wonderful thing to have a great smelling house just using essential oils, without that horrible artificial air freshener scent.

In my research however, I’ve found a large body of clinical research on the scientifically verified benefits of essential oils.

I’ll copy a few of the studies from Pub Med below:

Lavender oil improves sleep quality

 

Bergamot reduces anxiety

 

Orange oil reduces anxiety in children

 

Lavender, chamomile, and neroli essential oil reduces anxiety and improves sleep quality

 

Alzheimer’s patients were found to have improved cognitive function using aromatherapy: lemon and rosemary oils in the morning and lavender and orange oils in the evening.

 

Rose oil causes significant decreases in systolic blood pressure and made subjects more calm and relaxed when compared with the placebo group.

 

Peppermint, basil, and helichrysum essential oils reduce mental fatigue and burnout

 

Lavender oil reduces anxiety in patients before surgery

 

Bergamot oil reduces stress, heart rate, and lowers blood pressure

 

Lavender and rosemary essential oils reduce test taking stress

 

Many essential oils can kill airborne bacteria when diffused into the air, particularly cinnamon bark, cinnamon cassia, thyme, clove, peru balsam, and tea tree oil.

 

Eucalyptus oil inhalation reduces tuberculosis

 

Eucalyptus oil has antibacterial effects against many bacteria including tuberculosis and MRSA

All of the studies referenced above use aromatherapy with essential oils by breathing them in- diffusers are great for that.  We sell two different great ones at the store by NOW Foods.

All the oils we sell state that they are for external use only on the bottles.  The essential oils we have are 100% pure, with no additives, but are sold for external use only as a precautionary measure since there are a number of oils which are toxic, some extremely so.  Wintergreen oil, for example, is extremely poisonous and one teaspoon of such oil could kill a child.

I don’t mean to sound alarmist or be an essential oil fear monger, but it is vitally important to treat essential oils with care.  Many people equate them as the same thing when used for internal use as drinking a cup of herbal tea, when they are emphatically not the same thing.  For example, one drop of peppermint oil in water would be the equivalent of 28 cups of peppermint tea, and one drop of lemon oil is equal to an entire pound of lemons.  They are very potent plant compounds.  That being said, they can be very effective.  

Aromatherapy is particularly wonderful since diffused essential oils impart benefits without interacting with medications.

Oils for winter health:

There are also a number of essential oils which can be helpful during the winter for illness.  Most of the information below is from the book The A to Z of Essential Oils by E. Jay Bowles.  All of the uses below are for inhalation through a diffuser.

• Anise can help with reducing bronchial constriction.
• Cedarwood can help with reducing coughing.
• Eucalyptus can help to aid in breathing and reducing lung congestion by working to expel excess mucus.  It also has antibacterial properties.
• Frankincense can help to break down mucus and is beneficial for a congested respiratory system. 
• Lemon has energizing properties and is also an antibacterial and antifungal properties.
• Tea tree oil has potent antibacterial properties and can help with respiratory infections.

Oils beneficial for skin (when mixed with a carrier oil- jojoba is the one we’d recommend):

• Frankincense for dry skin and wrinkles
• Grapefruit oil for reducing the appearance of cellulite.
• Juniper for oily skin
• Lime for shaving rashes and acne
• Sweet orange for reducing the appearance of cellulite- massage from ankle to thigh which will help the lymphatic system
• Tea tree oil for acne

We are continuing our december essential oil sale, so During the month of January all our essential oil diffusers and NOW Foods essential oils will be on sale for 20% off.

 

Also on our health blog:

OUR STORE'S ESSENTIAL OIL AVAILABILITY LIST AND INFORMATION ON DIFFUSERS

ESSENTIAL OIL SAFETY AND BENEFITS

HOLIDAY ESSENTIAL OIL RECIPES AND DIY GIFTS USING ESSENTIAL OILS

 

Holiday Essential Oil Recipes and DIY Gift Recipes using Essential Oils

We carry two ultrasonic essential oil diffusers by NOW Foods (here’s one, here’s the other) at the store and I love them.  We do sell some premade oil blends at the store, but my favorite thing to do is to mix essential oil blends to make a great room scent.

Here are some favorites (you can add more or less oil depending on your preference and how strong you want the scent to be).  Each can be used in a diffuser or a bath.

Gingerbread:
3 drops cinnamon bark  
2 drops clove  
2 drops ginger
2 drops vanilla
1 drop nutmeg oil

Holiday Cookies:
6 drops vanilla 
1 drop tangerine

Candy Cane:
3 drops peppermint
4 drops vanilla

Comfort and Relaxation:
4 drops vanilla 
4 drops lavender

Pomander:
4 drops orange
4 drops clove
2 drops vanilla

Peace and Harmony:
4 drops patchouli
4 drops vanilla
3 drops orange

Yuletide:
4 drops balsam fir needle
4 drops tangerine
2 drops pine
1 drops anise

Peace on Earth:
4 drops vanilla
3 drops sandalwood
3 drops frankincense
2 drops cedarwood

Holiday Spice:
4 drops cinnamon bark
3 drops clove
3 drops orange
1 drop lemongrass

Under the Mistletoe:
4 drops vanilla
3 drops balsam fir
2 drops juniper berry

Holiday Spirit:
4 drops anise
3 drops lemon
3 drops frankincense

Christmas Eve:
3 drops lavender
3 drops vanilla
3 drops balsam fir
1 drop spearmint

Christmas Tree 
This one is also great mixed in a spray bottle with water and sprayed on an artificial Christmas tree.
5 drops balsam fir
3 drops pine
2 drops cedarwood
2 drops juniper berry

I think of the above recipes my favorites are Peace on Earth, Pomander, Comfort and Relaxation, and Peace and Harmony.  I really can't recommend diffusing oils in your home enough!  

I also came across a webpage* with a DIY "Thieves Oil" Recipe (Antibacterial Oil Blend):
80 drops clove bud oil
70 drops lemon oil
40 drops cinnamon oil
30 drops eucalyptus oil  
20 drops rosemary oil
20 – 40 drops total other oils of choice, including melaleuca (tea tree), frankincense, lavender, etc. (optional)

The above recipe makes enough for an entire bottle, but could be put in a diffuser at the amounts below:

5 drops clove bud oil
4 drops lemon oil
3 drops cinnamon oil
2 drops eucalyptus oil  
1 drops rosemary oil

*In the webpage linked above, the author recommends drinking the above blend, which Pass Health Foods absolutely does not recommend.  No essential oils should be taken internally.  More more information on essential oil safety, read our blog post here.
 

Essential oil blends can make a variety of amazing homemade gifts; here are a few great ones:

Peppermint Citrus Sugar Scrub
 

Bath Fizzies
 

Homemade Bath Salts
 

Cinnamon Vanilla Sugar Scrub
 

Homemade Body Butter
 

DIY Hand Sanitizer
 

Also on our health blog:

Our Store's Essential Oil Availability List and Information on Diffusers

Essential Oil Safety and Benefits

Product Spotlight: Essential Oils

Aromatherapy is incredibly popular right now, which is a wonderful thing.  Essential oils have been used therapeutically for over 6,000 years.  Our sense of smell if very powerful, and is can even be used to influence the parts of the brain that control emotion and memory.

With essential oils it is very important to be careful with their use.  Even though they are a natural product, they are very concentrated plant oils.  They should never be ingested, since there are a number of essential oils which are toxic if taken internally; in fact, the International Federation of Aromatherapists states that “No Aromatherapist shall use essential oils for internal ingestion or internal application, nor shall any Aromatherapist advocate or promote such use of essential oils”.

There are many people who are selling essential oils lately, who are not certified Aromatherapists, that recommend drinking various essential oils.  Even if an essential oil says it’s “food grade” or “therapeutic grade” on the bottle, it should not be taken internally.  There is actually no such official grading system for essential oils, and those terms actually mean nothing beyond being used as an marketing technique.  Either an oil is 100% essential oil or it isn’t, and just because something says its 100% essential oil does not mean its safe to consume.

I do love essential oils however, as a room scent. to inhale, use as massage oils, or to add to lotions or other topical products and preparations.  Most, if not all, essential oils should be diluted with a carrier oil (jojoba, grapeseed or almond oil are a few examples) before applying to the skin, since many essential oils are too strong to be put on directly and can cause burning or irritation if put on undiluted.  Essential oils are also wonderful to use as room scents in a diffuser.  We just started carrying ultrasonic essential oil diffusers  and I love them.  They use just water and a few drops of essential oils to scent a room for several hours (plus they turn off automatically).

At Pass Health Foods, we carry essential oils from the companies Aura Cacia and NOW Foods, both of which are high quality products.

I’ll list a few of my favorite oils below and some of their uses:

Lavender Oil

Lavender is wonderfully relaxing and makes a great oil to use for sleep.  Using in a diffuser at bedtime is a great idea, or even sprinkling a few drops on a pillowcase or tissue next to your bed.  We also have lavender essential oil sprays at the store as well, which can be spritzed on the skin or used as a room spray.  I also use vinegar mixed with lavender for cleaning (I’m not a huge fan of the smell of vinegar, but the lavender makes it smell better and is great for deodorizing the dishwasher or sinks).

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint is another oil that everyone should have.  It has been researched with positive results for helping with memory (on students studying for a test for example), as well as concentration and for reducing fatigue.  Inhaling peppermint oil can also help with nausea.  Mice are also said to detest peppermint oil, and we have a number of customers who have had luck with putting drops of peppermint oil on cotton balls and placing it around the house or garage to repel rodents naturally.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is naturally antibacterial and antifungal.  It’s great for making your own cleaning products or natural disinfectants (the highlighted links have recipes).   Tea tree is also great for nail fungus and can be put (diluted) on the skin to help with acne (we also have a number of prepared beauty products available with tea tree oil).   NOW Foods also has an oil blend of tea tree and lavender oil at the store.

Orange Oil

Orange Oil is wonderfully cheering.  Sprinkling a few drops in the shower is a great way to start the day in a good mood.

There are tons more essential oils, but I’ve only listed a few of my favorites.  Stop by the store since we have testers available of all our essential oils, so you can see what each smells like.

We also have started carrying small, empty roller bottles to make your own essential oil blends.