15:
Keep skin clean and clear
I have been a fitness instructor for 17 years and it is not uncommon for me to teach more than one class in a day. I am sweating constantly and need to maintain a healthy skin care regime! I have found that a good antibacterial anti acne cleanser is very important in preventing breakouts from all that constant sweating. I love the following recipe because of it’s energizing kick, but even better it helps keep my skin looking healthy and free of breakouts.This energizing anti bacterial foaming cleanser is great for oily to normal skin types and is perfect for use in the shower or bath. This cleanser is a great acne fighter if you are prone to break outs on the back and chest. The recipe can also be made into a spray mist that is perfect for on the go fitness buffs after that quick shower at the gym!
Ingredients
- 3 teaspoons almond oil
- 10 drops Tea tree (antiseptic, antifungal, antibacterial)
- 15 drops Lavender (anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, calming)
- 10 drops Bergamot (antiseptic, antidepressant, acne fighter)
- 8 drops Lemon (astringent, detoxifying, disinfectant, energizing)
- 8 drops Petitgrain (stress relief, muscle relaxant, maintains healthy skin PH balance, reduces oil production in skin)
Method
- Combine all ingredients together into a 250 ml bottle of unscented escents Paraben Free Wash and bubble.
- Shake before each use.
- To make into a spray, combine the above ingredients (minus the almond oil) and mix into an Escents unscented aroma mist base. Use as a foot and body spray after a shower, or as a light mist refresher during the hot summer day to prevent over heating and clogged pores.
This recipe was provided by one of our retail managers, thanks for sharing!
10:
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is an extremely versatile oil and is great to have around the house. It not only eases muscle and joint pain, helps coughs and kills bacteria, it can be used for almost anything.
Here are some tips and tricks for Eucalyptus oil.
- Freshen the air. Diffuse Eucalyptus during and just after times of illness to clear the air and freshen the space. To do this yourself use up to 6 drops in a diffuser. Chinese herbalists often used Eucalyptus as “sick room” oil in this way.
- Remove sticker/decal residue from glass with a few drops on a cloth and scrub away.
- Freshen laundry. Add 1-2 teaspoonfuls of Eucalyptus oil to your load of wash for a fresh scent along with the anti-microbial benefits.
- Remove paint, grease and ink from clothes. Use a few drops on a cloth to rub the area.
- Mix up a bug repellent for plants. Add half a teaspoon of oil to half a liter of water and spray on plants.
- Use as a stainless steel cleaner. Drop a few drops on a cloth and scrub away.
- Make a room air freshener. Mix a quarter of a teaspoon or 15 drops of eucalyptus oil with a half teaspoon of vodka, place in an atomizer/spray bottle and add 2 cups of water. This should be quite subtle, so you may need to add more.
04:
Asthma Relief Recipe
You may have noticed that spring seems to have started early….very early and a lot of people are subsequently experiencing allergies and breathing difficulties. I have had many people ask about which oils are good for asthma specifically and so this week I wanted to show our Asthma Blend. I have heard very positive feedback about it, and find it is a great clearing blend for general respiration as well.
ASTHMA BLEND - DIFFUSER
16 drops – Hyssop
10 drops – Chamomile Blue (wild)
22 drops – Frankincense
22 drops – Niaouli
10 drops – Cypress
How it works: Using oils that are highly beneficial to the respiratory system as well as calming, this blend deepens breath and can ward -off, reduce and lessen the severity of an attack
About the oils:
- Hyssop is known to treat asthma, coughs and bronchitis it also reduces anxiety
- Chamomile Blue reduces nervous tension and stress and it is anti-inflammatory
- Frankincense deepens breathing and regulates mucous secretion
- Niaouli is recommended for asthma and respiratory infections and clears the head
- Cypress is an excellent remedy for asthma; it purifies and cleanses the system
Usage:
N.B. For Asthmatics : It is beneficial to inhale this blend immediately before using your puffer at the onset of an attack. This will create “muscle memory” to the extent that when you smell this scent your lungs are opened to receive breath. This can reduce the need and frequency for your inhaler.
-Blend this into a 5ml amber bottle and use in a diffuser
-Blend allotted drops into an unscented roll-on to have on hand and use as needed
-Place 3 drops of this pure oil blend on a tissue and inhale as required
Hope that you enjoy this recipe.
Michelle at Commercial Drive Store & Spa
24:
aromatherapy for pregnancy
I am a mother of two toddlers that keep me pretty busy! During my first pregnancy I was very ill, morning sickness for months on end, leg cramps that would last 10 minutes, headaches and feeling exhausted, as this was before I discovered the power of essential oils to heal and cure ailments. I was lucky enough to be working at Escents during my second pregnancy. Every time I had a pregnancy related issue I would look up cures in our on site recipe binder or I would use the great recipes in the Fragrant Pharmacy by Valeri Ann Worwood. These recipes helped me and I thought I would share the three top recipes’ that saved me from discomfort and pain.
MORNING SICKNESS
Spearmint saves the day! Drop two drop onto your pillow and/or into your diffuser when you go to bed. After 3 days your morning sickness will be cured. During the day I would put two drops onto a tissue and inhale to ease off nausea! I had morning sickness for less than a week.
Spearmint eases the digestive system, relieving vomiting, constipation and nausea.
LEG CRAMPS
I used lotion and rubbed on my legs every night when I got home from work after working 8hours on my feet. I only had one night with leg cramps because the next day I found this recipe and used it diligently.
5 drops of geranium
10 drops of lavender
2 drops of cypress
Blend into 50 ml of any unscented carrier oil
-Geranium eases tension, stress and is very healing.
-Lavender has a calming scent which makes it an excellent tonic for the nerves and helps in treating migraines, headaches, anxiety, depression, nervous tension and emotional stress.
-Cypress is helpful in relieving muscular spasms in limbs. It also induces a calming, relaxing and sedating effect on the mind and the body.
EXHAUSTION
I put this into an unscented roll-on base so I have it with me at all times. During the last trimester I felt tired and fatigued. This recipe gave me the energy I needed to get through my day at work or to play with my toddler who was running around the house while I wanted to sleep.
10 drops of Lavender
10 drops of Grapefruit
10 drops of Coriander
-Lavender is a refreshing aroma which removes nervous exhaustion and restlessness and increases mental activity.
-Grapefruit uplifting effect on the mood and helps with stress and depression. It is used with great success to combat muscle fatigue and stiffness while stimulating the lymphatic system and thereby clearing the body of toxins.
-Coriander is beneficial for relieving stress, anxiety and insomnia.
My second pregnancy was so much easier than my first due to all the aromatherapy I did. This when the power of essentials oils really hit me! Now every time I feel ill I look to essentials for relief!
By Jessica Leavitt
19:
After Shave Balm Recipe
Here is a recipe to add to your DIY bath and body product book! Commercial after shave products are typically very high in chemical additives and alcohol so we find this recipe is commonly asked for at the Escents Commercial Drive Location. Escents used to pre-blend an After Shave Balm but it has since been discontinued due to small production runs. However, fret not! This recipe is easy to blend and works beautifully to freshen skin, prevent in-grown hairs and moisturize skin. Thanks again to Michelle for submitting this must-try recipe.
10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
2 drops Spearmint Essential Oil
2 drops Lemon Essential Oil
About the oils:
Lavender is used here for its ability to quickly heal skin, prevent scarring and soothe chapped, dry or itchy patches. Spearmint adds a refreshing and cooling sensation and tones the skin. Lemon is a strong astringent that will reduce inflammation and help prevent in-grown hairs
How to use:
This recipe can be blended into the 60ml Unscented Face Cream and applied after the skin is shaved and washed/rinsed free from shaving cream. For an extra light and ultra cooling effect multiply the reciepe by 2.5 and blend into a 100ml Comfrey Gel base.
11:
Thieves Blend has become one of the most requested blends during the cold season. During the Black Plague in year 1413 in Europe, four thieves were charged for robbing the dying victims and the dead. When given leniency of their charges, the thieves revealed the recipe that protected them from infection. That recipe is now called the Thieves Blend. True story! Out of curiosity, I tried it on my hands, ears, and temples and in my aromatherapy diffuser just to see if it can keep the flu I seem to get annually at bay. Surprisingly, it did! I was healthy throughout the winter! Here is the recipe and how it works:
Thieves Blend
40 drops - Clove Bud
35 drops - Lemon
20 drops - Cinnamon
15 drops - Eucalyptus Globulus
10 drops - Rosemary
About the Oils:
Clove Bud is used here for its anti-septic and anti-infectious properties in infectious diseases.
Lemon is good for bringing down fevers and flu and also boosting immune system.
Cinnamon is a very powerful anti-septic, which helps with fighting against infections and flu. It eases colds and influenza.
Eucalyptus Globulus boosts the immune system and it also cools and deodorized the body.
Rosemary is used as a Hepatic, which helps to combat fever.
How to Use:
1. Using the Escents Unscented Aroma Mist as a base, spray on body, clothes, linens and living space.
2. In an Unscented Roll-on to apply on hand, ears, and temples.
3. Put 3-6 drops in any aromatherapy diffuser.
Thank you to Jenny from the Escents Broadway Team for sending in such a classic recipe!
11:
Aromatherapy Quit Smoking Recipe
Many customers come into the store this time of year intent on successfully tackling those new year’s resolutions. Now that government regulatory agencies are finally behind communicating the extensive harms involved with smoking, there is no excuse not to make this year the year you quit! This stop-smoking blend is used to ease the discomfort of quitting smoking. It is effective for those fully committed and truly ready to quit smoking. This blend of oils benefits the nervous system, eases respiratory discomfort and offers grounding.
10 drops Clary Sage Essential Oil
5 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
4 drops Rosewood Essential Oil
About the oils:
Clary Sage is beneficial here as it is an anti-depressant and also has aphrodisiac qualities. It calms nerves as and has sedative properties; relieving nervous tension, migraines and stress. It also benefits circulation, muscles and joints and reduces high blood pressure and muscular aches and pains. Clay Sage is also a respiratory aid and recommended to treat asthma and throat infections.
Rosemary is a highly beneficial oil for the respiratory system and is commonly used to treat asthma, colds, and bronchitis. Rosemary is an aide to the nervous system and treats headaches, mental fatigue, nervous exhaustion, hypertension and stress. Thereby offering support towards the ill effects of a system withdrawing from nicotine.
Rosewood, a beautiful and grounding oil which bolsters the immune system and treats the nervous system helping with nausea, nervous tension and stress related conditions. Rosewood is also noted as an anti-depressant , cellular stimulant and aphrodisiac.
How to Use:
This recipe can be doubled and added into an unscented roll-on or tripled and added into an unscented aroma mist. The roll on should be applied to the pulse points as well as along the hairline. The aroma mist can be sprayed in your living space and body throughout the day as needed. The recipe may also be used as is, diluted in filtered water, and used in any aromatherapy diffuser.
08:
Natural Cure for Smelly Feet
Just like a million other people, I too experience some unpleasant odor coming from my shoes now and then. There is a great recipe that I use to get rid any unsavory aromas coming from my shoes, but want also to share a story on what not to do. About a week ago, I deodorized my shoes with an amazing blend we have made up in the store. And it works great for me and my smelly shoes.
Use 100ml Unscented Aroma Mist
To the above base, add the following:
20 drops of tea tree
10 drops of lemongrass
10 peppermint
10 drops of lavender
That was the right thing to do. Here is my story on what not to do… The other day we where trying to prepare for our annual inventory. Due to being so busy I forgot that week to add my “makes shoes not smell” spray into my shoes. I was sitting down at the computer entering data for the inventory when all of a sudden I got a wiff of some unpleasant odor coming from my shoes. I tried to ignore it, but the smell was over powering and also distracting. Embarrassing as that was of course, I really did not want to take my shoes off for obvious reasons. Instead, I grabbed a vile of 100% pure lemongrass and put a couple of drops on the side of my shoes. Wow instant gratification. The smell was gone and I could focus on my inventory count once again.
Until that night…
When I got home that night I took my shoes off and was amazed on how much I could still smell the lemongrass. Sat on the sofa and my fiancée commented on it as well. “Wow you smell lemony”, he commented. Later on that night when we where getting ready to go to bed, I noticed something on my foot when I took my socks off. Where I dropped the lemongrass in the shoes, the skin that was exposed to that bore now 2 large brown/yellowish spots. I went into the bathroom to scrub my feet but to no avail. I managed to stain my feet. I had to go wedding dress shopping the next day with 2 large brown spots on my feet!! Lemongrass is a 100% pure essential oil and should not be used directly on the skin. This just served as a reminder and I sure learned my lesson the hard way. I would definitely recommend Nina’s Wonder Spray rather than the pure lemongrass. Thanks Nina from Escents Park Royal for this great recipe!
05:
DIY Facial Mask
Why not invite some friends over and whip up your own spa experience at home? Great company, chick-flicks, popcorn & a rejuvenating facial mask… what better way to spend a cold Friday night in the middle of winter? Chelsea from Escents Coquitlam submitted this easy DIY recipe for a refreshing, uplifting facial mask that anyone can easily make at home.
1 large strawberry
1 tablespoon of yogurt
1 drop rosemary essential oil
2 drops lavender essential oil
1 teaspoon of cosmetic clay
Mash the strawberry with the yogurt. Add the essential oils and clay to the mixture. If you have dry skin, add ½ teaspoon of almond or jojoba oil to the mix. Clean face and apply. Wait for 20 minutes then wash off with warm water. The strawberries and yogurt with help soften the skin and Lavender and Rosemary will stimulate cell renewal. Enjoy!
29:
Immunity Booster
This week, Michelle from Escents Commercial Drive submitted this recipe for a natural immunity booster. She had a lingering cold from the holidays and this blend finally shook of her pesky cough. Since then, she has been using this spray around her home and keeps it with her for a little ‘boost’ mid-day. Here is the recipe and how it works:
120 ml Unscented Aroma Mist
8 drops – Lavender essential oil
10 drops – Frankincense essential oil
10 drops – Lemon essential oil
12 drops – Myrtle essential oil
This blend works wonders for a weakened immune system. If you are trying to shake a lingering cold or infection or if you suffer from chronic allergies this is a great mist to have on hand.
About the Oils:
The oils for this blend are combined to balance and boost your immune system.
- Lavender is used here for its’ anti-septic qualities and its ability to treat bronchitis, sore throats, coughs as well as balance the immune system thus bolstering a weak one or calming an over-reactive system.
- Frankincense commonly used for meditative benefits this popular oil is chosen here for its’ ability to regulate mucus secretion, treat bronchitis and laryngitis and thus ease respiratory difficulty.
- Lemon, like most citrus oils, Lemon is anti-septic and astringent and it is also soothing to the throat.
- Myrtle can be used to treat lung infections and is also beneficial for treating: Asthma, bronchitis, coughs and even tuberculosis. Additionally, it works on the immune system to protect against colds, flus and infectious disease. This oil is antiseptic and astringent, it is also and expectorant and regulator with slightly sedative qualities.
How to Use:
- In a mist this works well blended into our unscented Aroma Mist, to be sprayed on body, linens and clothes as well as in the your living space throughout the day.
- In an unscented roll-on to be applied topically (hairline, temples etc).
- Recipe can be doubled or tripled to work as a pure oil in a 5 ml amber bottle for use in a diffuser or inhalations.
rss feed