Birch Hill Happenings Aromatherapy

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Birch Hill Happenings Aromatherapy, LLC Newsletter Vol 137

October 14, 2010

In this issue:
PHYSICAL & EMOTIONAL
For Beginners to the Advanced - using Essential oils in Aromatherapy
HOLIDAY GIFTS
RECIPES to Try

Physical Ailment & Emotional

Health Conditions and EO’s that might help

by Penny Keay

This Article has been up dated and is now located on the this page. How can Essential Oils Help me with my health?

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HOLIDAY GIFTS

How Much Essential Oil to do I use making my Personalized products and Gifts?

by Penny Keay

I know it is Mid October but before long you will be busy making those personal gifts we all like to make for our friends and relatives.

Again, it is a wonderful and fun way to introduce them to essential oils. Soon they will see why you enjoy the wonderful benefits these precious oils provide. And you get to have fun along the way too.

We are often asked how much essential oil to add to unscented lotions, shampoos, and massage oils. Also about how much to add to other liquids where they are applied to the body or used into the air (Spray misting).

The general rule of thumb in aromatherapy is to use a 2% dilution of essential oils when added to any finished product that is to be applied to the skin. Of course there are exceptions.

The simple thing to remember about adding essential oil to your final product is if the final product is going to remain on the skin or will it be washed off.

Any essential oils in the blend should be about a 1- 2% dilution or less if it will be left on the skin such as in a lotion or cream or body spray. If used on a baby or the elderly reduce the dilution to .5% to 1%.

If your blend is going to be used in a product that will be washed off or rinsed away, you can blend it stronger – up to a 5-10% dilution.

Products that are washed off or rinsed away include: Shampoos, Hair Conditioners, & Shower gel. Again, though if you are using it on a child less then 5 years or the elderly reduce the dilution to 2-5%.

Lotions or products used on and left on the skin such as toners and massage oils should only be blended in a 1- 2% dilution, again less if used on babies or the elderly.

Here are some general guidelines that are easier than having to do the percentage calculations. Remember these are guidelines and usually will give your finished product a nice scent.

Although the particular essential oils used in the blend may need to be adjusted. Some essential oils such as Peppermint are very strong and you may only need a drop or two to make a wonderful smelling blend. Others are much softer and may end up being the bulk of the percentage of your blend.

The suggested amounts of essential oils to use in most base products are:

• Mixed with Massage oils

– 6 drops per ounce of carrier base. This is about 1% dilution - you can triple the drops per ounce to make a 3% dilution but do be careful as 3% is a fairly strong blend for a general massage.

• Shampoo, Conditioner or Shower Gel

– 10-12 drops per ounce of product base. Because this will be ‘washed’ off you will see that you can increase the amount of essential oils used in these types of products.

• Mixed with Lotions and creams

- 6 drops per ounce of carrier base. This is about 1% dilution and makes a nice light scent because this is something that is left on. Remember use less if for babies or the elderly

• Added to Distilled water, toner or astringent bases

for use on the skin of the face – 2-3 drops per ounce of liquid.

You don’t want this to be very strong as these are typically left on until your face dries. And too much oil that close to your nose may be over powering. (This might be too strong for some folks – you might only need 1 drop per ounce)

• Used in a Facial Steam

– no more than 5 drops to 2 cups of hot water.

• Room spray

– added to distilled water or our Room spray base – Varies with the essential oils used but not unusual to be as high as 50 or more drops per 4 ounces of water. Make sure you use an emulsifier to help keep your essential oils in suspension in water based liquids.

• Linen spray

– added to distilled water or Linen Spray base – Again, since this is usually a bed pillow or bed sheet you will want to keep the dilution or concentration lower. You don’t want to have the scent too strong for sleeping. Use about 10-12 drops per ounce of liquid.

• Body spray

– Keep the percentage to 1%. Use only 20-24 drops per 4 ounces of liquid base.

• Bath salts

– very popular this time of year. Again this one is figured a little different – it is based on the Per Bath amount. Most folks add about ½- 1 cup of bath salt blend to the tub.

You have to make sure your directions are clear to the recipient of your bath salts especially if you are making them a ‘jar’ full of Bath Salts.

The rule is that in a bath tub you should use no more than a combined total of 8 drops of essential oils to the tub. If they are to add ½ cup of Bath salt then your blend should contain 8 drops of essential oils.

But if you want them to use 1 cup of bath salts then the Bath Salt needs to again be blended so that the 1 cup of bath salts would contain just 8 drops of essential oils.

Personally I like more Salt in my Tub – since we have an extra large tub and to stay within the recommended guidelines I use my Bath Salt Base blend (it’s just a wonderful blend of Sea Salt, Epsom salt and Sodium bicarbonate) and just add upto the 8 drops of pure essential oils to my tub.

My favorite: Calming Blend of course. Unless I’m under the weather – then it’s 4 drops of Four Robbers blend and 4 drops of Pure Cleansing blend in a nice hot tub!

Hope this will help you decide on how much to use in your blends. As always, if you should develop any kind of irritation, then you should discontinue use and reformulate your recipe for next time.

Also for beginners - start with a little – just a couple drops of essential oils and only add more to your blends as needed. You can always add more to a formulation but it’s really tough to take it out!

Last but not least – WRITE YOUR FORMULATIONS down!! This is a must so you don’t have to repeat your experimentations later! Happy Blending!

For more recipes – see our Recipes Files or page through the Book - "Aromatherapy Recipes using Pure Essential oils Volume 1” by Penny Keay


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Recipes to try

Let’s Get Busy – a Stimulating Blend

Spruce needle – 10 drops
Lime– 10 drops
Frankincense – 10 drops

Blend in a glass bottle. Then use in a Personal inhaler or diffuse in the room. This blend is good to help you be more productive and creative.


Need to get Some Rest Blend

Mandarin – 15 drops
Ylang-Ylang – 10 drops
Sandalwood – 5 drops
Amyris – 5 drops

Blend in a glass bottle then use in a Terra Cotta Disc placed near the head of your bed. This can be used in a relaxing bath, just put 6-8 drops in the tub as it is filling. Don’t forget to add some Bath Salts too.


Think Clearly – Refreshing Room Spray

Peppermint – 20 drops
Spruce needle – 20 drops
Eucalyptus citriodora – 5 drops
Lime– 5 drops
Rosemary– 5 drops
Polysorbate 20 emulsifier – 1 teaspoonful
Room Spray Base or Distilled water – 2 oz

Blend essential oils in a 100 ml Glass Beaker then add the emulsifier. Stir and blend well.

Then add your Room spray or distilled water. Stir again well then pour into your Spray or misting bottle. Shake well before spraying the room.


It Smells like Autumn

Cassia – 3 drops
Clove bud – 1 drop
Orange – 3 drops
Tangerine – 2 drops

Blend in a glass bottle and diffuse in a Ceramic Tealight diffusersor other Tea light diffuser.

Remember to use a soy wax tart in your diffuser to keep your essential oils from burning and to protect your tealight diffuser from breakage.


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All the products listed in the article are available at our Shopping Site - see link below.

© 2010, 2015 Penny Keay All rights reserved Worldwide.
Please do not use my information without my permission.

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