Make Your Own Spa Gifts

Or Pamper Yourself

By Johanna Pedranti Aromatherapist

http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/ http://naturallysports.com

Homemade Spa Products Make Great Gifts Most Spa products in the stores contain harmful chemicals, but fortunately it is very easy to make your own natural and safe Spa products at home. Essential oils, massage oils, bath salts and glycerine and a few more things can go a long way when you make your own products. I like to make healing bath salts and put it in fancy glass jars and tie a ribbon around it. Or you

can make simple glycerin soaps in different shapes, or add essential oils to un-scented soap to make personalized and healing soaps. Or why not treat your loved ones to some luxurious perfume or massage blends? Esssential Oils Essential oils have unique properties that are enhanced by each other. It means that they work in synergy and are more powerful when they are mixed with each other. It is important to know that the essential oils are more potent than the herbs, and therefore it is important not to exceed the stated doses. Essentials oils stay more potent for a longer time than herbs. They need to be stored in a cool place and away from light. It is important to purchase good quality to oils because the cheaper versions are often diluted with harmful chemicals or inferior constituents. These chemicals can cause harm to the body. You can find empty bottles and essential oils in many health food stores, and I have until now purchased mine from the same place I buy herbs and supplements from. I am now also a distributor of Young Living Essential Oils. Dead sea salt, Epsom salt, liquid castile soap, cold pressed massage oils, liquid and solid glycerine can also be found in many stores.

Make Healing Bath Gifts Baths Add about 8-12 drops of essential oil or blend to each bath. Baths are one of the most pleasurable ways to use essential oils. You can use essential oils

in a bath to fight colds, revitalize the spirits, or help wash away the stresses of the day. Dispersion is important because most essential oils will float on the surface and may burn the skin. Make sure you blend the essential oils with the dispersion agent before adding it to the bath. Basic Ba th Salt Mine ral Salt Bath Oi l 1/3 cup of Epsom Salt 7-10 essential oils of your choice Or try: Wake Up Bath 3 drops rosemary 2 drops eucalyptus 3 drops lemon Relax bath 5 drops lavender 3 drops ylang ylang 2 drops clary sage 3 drops bergamot Pour the salt mixture in the glass container. Be sure to leave enough space for shaking the mixture. Add the essential oils, put the stopper in the bottle and shake to mix. Adjust the amount of salts and essential oils to fit your bottle. Make sure you use at approximately 8-10 drops of essential oils per bath

½ cup of fine sea salt or dead sea salt ¼ cup borax (a natural mineral) ¼ up baking soda 20-22 essential oils of your choice Or try: 10 drops lavender 6 drops geranium 5 drops pink grapefruit 7 drops bergamot Mix essential oils with the sea salt first. Then add borax and baking soda. This combination will soften the skin and re-mineralize your skin. It is also great for body detoxification. Be sure to soak for at least 15 minutes. Yield: 2 baths

½ cup massage oil 1/8 cup vegetable glycerine 1/8 castile soap 20-22 essential oils of your choice Or try: 8 drops bergamot 6 drops rosemary 3 drops patchouli 3 drops peppermint Combine ingredients in a large, glass -measuring cup for easy mixing and pouring. Mix with the wire whisk until ingredients are thoroughly blended. Store in a container with a narrow neck, so it will be easy to pour into the bath. Use half of this mixture for one bath Plain bath oil: ¼ cup of massage oil 8-12 essential oils

More Bath Blends Here are some more bath blends to choose between, just adjust the amount of drops to the amount of carrier being used.

Winter Blah 1 Grapefruit 6 drops Bergamot 6 drops Lime 6 drops Ginger 4 drops Sandalwood 2 drops Only use 5-6 drops per bath

Winter Blah 2 Grapefruit 8 drops Ginger 4 drops Lemongrass 3 drops Cypress 3 drops Cardamom 1-2 drops

Invigoration Bath Tea tree 3 drops Pink Grapefruit 3 drops Peppermint 1 drop p

Refreshing Bath Bergamot 3 drops Lemon 3 drops Rosemary 1 drop

Relaxing Evening Bath 1 Lavender 3 drops Rose 2 drops r Bergamot 3 drops

Relaxing Evening Bath 2 Sandalwood 3 drops Chamomile 1 drop Ylang Ylang 2 drops

More ideas for baths can be found here: http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/2009/10/make-your-own-spa.html http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/2009/11/now-is-perfect-time-for-bath.html Precautions: Use caution with peppermint, basil, citrus, cinnamon, and thyme. Please read my blog entry about essential oil safety: http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/2009/10/essential-oil-safety-and-how-to.html

Make Healing Body Gifts Recommended essential oils for the skin: Lavender, geranium, jasmine, neroli, rose, frankincense, helichrysum (immortelle), patchouli, rosemary, tea tree

Essential Oils for Normal Skin: Geranium, ylang ylang, sandalwood, lavender, jasmine, frankincense, patchouli, neroli Essential Oils for Dry Skin: Benzoin, patchouli, German chamomile, geranium Essential Oils for Greasy Skin: Roman chamomile, orange, lemon, lavender, clary sage, ylang ylang, jasmine, neroli, cypress, bergamot Essential Oils for Blemished Skin: Niaouli, geranium, clary sage, eucalyptus lemon, Roman chamomile, German chamomile, lavender, myrrh, thyme linalool Essential Oils for Mature Skin: Carrot seed, immortelle, frankincense, jasmine, lavender, neroli, rosewood, myrrh, patchouli Spritzers are easy to make. The essential oils you choose will decide the properties of your spritzers. You can make calming, invigoration or refreshing spritzers for example. Basic Recipe 2 oz. glass bottle with spritzer/mister top 1 ¾ oz of distilled water 10-30 drops of various essential oils Optional: ¼ teaspoon vodka or Witch Hazel to emulsify the oils and water. It is important with thick oils like myrrh and jasmine. Fill the bottle with water, add oils, and shake before each use. Try these, for stronger, increase the oils. Soothing 4 drops lavender 2 drops geranium 1 drop chamomile

Invigorating 8 drops lemon 4 drops pine 2 drops frankincense

Relaxing 5 drops of bergamot 3 drops marjoram 3 drops lavender

Spicy 2 drops cinnamon 1 drop clove 2 drops mandarin

Citrus 5 drops grapefruit 2 drops mandarin 2 drops lemon

Spicy 2 drops cinnamon 1 drop clove 2 drops mandarin

More Healing Body Gifts Aromatic body oils: Essential oils need to be diluted with massage oil before applied on the skin. Base oils will enhance the absorption of the essential oils. Buy some nice bottles

and print some personalized labels. Here is a chart to make it easier to decide what oils to use: CONDITION CARRIER Acne, oily skin Grape seed, hazelnut Burns, scars, stretchmarks Rosehip (10%), wheatgerm Dermatitis Borage (10), kukui, sunflower Dry, mature skin-face Aloe Vera, camellia Dry, mature skin-body Macademia Eczema Avocado, borage, evening primrose, kukui, olive (45%),

sesame, sweet almond Facial oil-light Camellia, kukui Rheumatism Peanut, safflower, sesame Sun-damaged skin Jojoba, evening primrose Basic Oils: Aromatic Body Oil: 4 ounces carrier oil 50 drops of essential oils Facial Oil: 3 teaspoons carrier 5 drops of essential oils Concentrated Massage Oil: 2 ounces carrier 50 drops Suggestions: Normal Skin Geranium 8 drops Jasmine 4 drops Lavender 16 drops Dilute in 4 oz. of carrier oil

Stress Blend Chamomile 15 drops Neroli 15 drops Lavender 6 drop Rose 6 drops Ylang ylang 6 drops Dilute in 4 oz carrier oil

Sensitive Skin Lemongrass 8 drops Chamomile 6 drops Jasmine absolute 6 drops Rose oil 4 drops Dilute in 2 oz. of carrier

Cellulite Sweeet Almond 1 cup Fennel 10 drops Grapefruit 8 drops Lavender 8 drops Lemongrass 6 drops Cypress 3 drops

Other suggestions for body oils Before sport blends: For stimulation: juniper, eucalyptus, and rosemary For supple, toned muscles: black pepper, ginger,

rosemary, lavender, cypress, juniper, peppermint, grapefruit, orange

To aid in good respiratory for aerobics: eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, geranium

To aid mental preparation before competition: blend of rosemary, lemon, lavender, chamomile

Promote good circulation: rose and palmarosa After sport blends: To soothe and aid aching muscles: eucalyptus, ginger and peppermint

To assist in alleviate stress following competition: lemon, nutmeg, clary sage, orange

Other Suggestions:

Relaxing oils: Bergamot, chamomile, frankincense, lavender, marjoram, Melissa, neroli, patchouli, rose, sandalwood, ylang ylang Stimulating oils: Eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, peppermint, pine, rosemary. Aphrodisiac oils: Jasmine, clary sage, rose, patchouli, sandalwood, ylang ylang Lip Balm 3 tablespoons massage oil with borage 3 tablespoons glycerine 5 vitamin E capsules 1 tablespoon or ½ oz jojoba oil ¼ grated beeswax 3 drops lavender 2 drops tea tree 1 drop peppermint 1 drop myrrh Warm the massage oil. Add the jojoba oil in a double boiler or over very low heat. Add in the beeswax and stir until beeswax is melted. Remove from heat and quickly add vitamin E, glycerine and essential oils. Pour into individual ointment containers. It becomes solid as it cools.

Make Your Own Ointments and Cream. My other moisturising cream recipe Emulsifying wax 20 g Coconut oil 20 ml Almond oil 40 ml Purified water 90 ml Melt the wax in a double boiler and beat in the oils. Bring the water to the same temperature in a separate bowl. Remove both oils from the heat and slowly stir in the water into the wax mixture. Add 1-5 % essential oils to the mixture. Ideas: For o lder a nd dr i er sk in: use wheat germ oil, avocado oil and infused carrot oils as a base. Mature s kin: carrot seed, everlasting, frankincense, jasmine, lavender, neroli, rose, sandalwood, rosewood, myrrh, patchouli, Carr ier o i ls : evening primrose, rosehip, wheat germ, Dry s kin: German chamomile, jasmine, neroli, rose, geranium, lavender, ylang ylang, sandalwood Carr ier o i ls : avocado, wheat germ, sweet almond, apricot kernel, jojoba, evening primrose, infused carrot oil Oily s kin: bergamot, cedarwood, cypress, lavender, lemon, geranium, juniper, myrtle, palmarosa, tea tree, sandalwood Car rie r o i l s : apricot kernel, jojoba Norma l s kin: German chamomile, geranium, lavender, rose, neroli, palmarosa, rosewood, ylang ylang Carr ier o i ls : almost any oil can be used. Use sweet almond, apricot kernel, jojoba. Sens it ive sk in : lavender, neroli, everlasting, yarrow, german chamomile. Carr ier o i ls : evening primrose, jojoba, apricot kernel, and infused calendula.. Use only 1% dilution and use anti-inflammatory oils like lavender, neroli, german chamomile, and everlasting. Combinat io n s kin: geranium. Palmarosa, sandalwood, lavender, neroli. Carr ier o i ls : apricot kernel, jojoba or evening primrose oil

Standard Quantities for ointments 1 oz. (25 g) beeswax to 4fl.oz (100 ml) vegetable oil Essential oils: use 20-30 drops for this amount. If the skin is very sensitive, use only 10 drops

1. Place the beeswax and oil in a glass bowl over a saucepan of water. Bring the water to a boil and simmer until the wax has melted into the oil. Remove from the heat

2. Stir continually as the oil/wax mixture cools and stiffens; essential oils may be added at this stage, as recommended, and stirred into the mixture.

3. Pour or spoon into a small, clean ointment jars, seal and store. This may keep for a few months under good conditions, but should be made in small amounts as needed.

A soothing antiseptic blend can be made from tea tree oil and infused calendula. To moisten, soothe and protect dry irritated skin conditions like eczema, dry chapped skin or lips, use infused calendula, infused carrot seed oil, myrrh and German chamomile in an ointment.

More Healing Body Gifts Fizzing, Refreshing, Green Bath Bombs ½ cup citric acid 1 cup baking soda 5 capsules Super Algae (NSP) 1/3 cup vegetable oil Approximately 30 drops of essential oils. Or try this recipe: 15 drops lavender 10 drops thyme linalool 8 drops pine Put the citric acid in a glass bowl and stir out any lumps. A wire whisk works well for this but don’t inhale any dust. Add baking soda and Algae and mix again. Mix together essential oils and vegetable oils. Add to the dry ingredients and mix. You might want to use your hands. Make sure the mixture will form into small balls. If small balls are hard to shape, add more oil or spritz the mixture with water. Pack the mixture into soap molds, and then release your bombs onto wax paper. This is the easiest ways to form your bombs. You can also form them into balls using your hands or mold them with cookie cutters. Allow them to dry on wax paper fo24 to 48 hours. Use 2 or 3 per bath. Citrus Body Polish 3 tablespoons jojoba oil 1 teaspoon massage oil 3 tablespoons unscented castile soap 1 teaspoon Sunshine Concentrate 4 tablespoons fine sea salt 3 teaspoons coarse salt 25 drops bergamot 20 drops lemon 15 drops pink grapefruit Gently stir together the soap and the oils. Blend the essential oils with the salt and add to the blend. Apply the blend all over the body before turning on the water in the shower. Enough for 2 applications.

Make Your Own Perfume Gifts Every essential oil has it own fragrance characteristics. Blending one or more essential oils together can produce much more pleasant fragrances than when you just use single essential oils.

Here are some guidelines to consider if you want to blend your own perfume: 1. The ratio of top, middle and base notes. 2. The fragrance family and characteristics. 3. The aroma intensity.

A quick blending guide line: Top notes: 3 drops Middle notes: 2 drops Base notes: 1 drop The top notes are the most pungent and volatile. They act quickly and disappear quickly, and their first impression only lasts for about 30 minutes. They stimulate and uplift. The middle notes are more stable. Their scent unfolds anywhere from one hour to three hours after application. They soothe and balance the body, and they round out a blend with softer tones. Base notes are the least volatile and may be used as fixatives in a blend, holding in the fragrance longer than a blend without a base note. They are heavier and thicker than other oils, and are generally relaxing. Base notes are deep, warm, sensuous, and often sweet-smelling. Top Notes Middle Notes Base Notes Citrus Bergamot Grapefruit Lemon Mandarin

Green Pine Rosemary Sweet Thyme Clary Sage Marjoram

Resin/Wood Frankincense Myrrh Sandalwood

Green Tea Tree Peppermint* Eucalyptus*

Floral Rose** Geranium Chamomile Lavender Neroli**

Floral Ylang Ylang ** Jasmine**

Spice Tea Tree Peppermint* Eucalyptus*

Spice Clove Cinnamon**

Earth Patchouli

* Top to Middle * * Middle to Base or Base to Middle

Perfume Blends Here are some blends you can try. Create your own blends to suit your mood. Put in a roll on bottle and apply.

Neroli and Citrus Perfume

Jasmine Perfume Frankincense and Pine Fragrance

Fortifying

6 drops mandarin 6 drops bergamot 2 drops neroli 0.5 oz. massage oil, depending on desired strength

2 drops jasmine 4 drops sandalwood 2 drops ylang ylang 0.5 oz. massage oil

6 drops lemon 1 to 2 drops geranium 3 drops pine 2 to 3 drops frankincense 0.5 oz. massage oil

4 drops lavender 4 drops bergamot 2 drops patchouli 0.5 oz. massage oil

Sensual Stress relief Self Confidence 2 drops ylang ylang 2 drops geranium 2 drops sandalwood 0.5 oz. massage oil

3 drops lavender 2 drops bergamot 1 drop Roman Chamomile 0.5 oz. massage oil

1 drop jasmine 1 drop rose I drop ylang ylang 3 drops thyme linalool 10 ml massage oil Put in roll on bottle and apply throughout the day as perfume.

Make Your Own Soap Making your own soap gives you the power to customize it to fit your needs without any harmful additives. Herbal infusions can be added for healing purposes and it will also give it a nice color.

Quick Glycerin Soaps Other Glycerin Soaps Infusions and other stuff to add to the soaps

Lavender-Peppermint Soap 4 ounces clear solid glycerin (usually about 3 cubes) 15 drops lavender 5 drops peppermint soap molds. Melt glycerin in the microwave (about 40 seconds) or in a double boiler. Pour hot glycerine into the soap molds. Allow it to cool slightly before adding the essential oils. Citrus Soap Follow the recipe above, but substitute these essential oils for lavender and peppermint. 6 drops lemon 10 drops bergamot 10 drops grapefruit 4 drops mandarin

Lavender-Rosemary Soap 3 cups glycerin soap base ¼ infusion of lavender flowers and rosemary leaves (see the right for instructions) 1 ½ teaspoon lavender oil ½ teaspoon rosemary oil 1 teaspoon pulverized dried rosemary (optional) Melt the glycerin. Combine the melted glycerin and herbs Stir until blended, then pour into molds and cool. Tea Tree Antiseptic Soap 2 cups glycerin soap base 2 tablespoons tea tree oil Melt the glycerin. Let it cool slightly and add the essential oil. Pour into molds and let cool.

Herbal infusion Teas made by pouring hot water over fresh, or dried plant parts. 3 tablespoons of dried or fresh herbs per cup of water, steeped ten minutes. It is best not to use chlorinated water. I use distilled or purified water. Other stuff Almond meal, oatmeal, pulverized herbs, coffee, powdered seaweed.

Natural Aloe Shower Gel ¼ cup Sunshine concentrate (or unscented castile soap, reduce the amount of essential oils by half) 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel 1 teaspoon jojoba oil 23 drops lavender 25 drops pink grapefruit 10 drops mandarin 3 drops myrrh 3 drops frankincense Combine ingredients in a glass bowl and mix well. You can color this mixture bright yellow to orange with a b-complex capsule. Pour mixture into a plastic bottle with a squeeze top

Essential oils are safe to use as long as you follow the recommended dosage and research the contraindications before you use them. Essential oils are more potent than the herbs so less amount is needed in order to achieve the desired effect. Never use the oils undiluted on the skin. The only exceptions are tea tree and lavender, which can be used in tiny amounts on stings, wounds or a small burn. When it comes to children it is extra important to follow the recommended dosages since too much essential oil can produce over stimulation. It is also important not to use the same essential oils more than one week at a time, so if longer time is needed just alternate with other essential oils. Oils like eucalyptus should never be applied in the face. Don’t use essential oils undiluted on the skin. I highly recommend that you do your research when you use essential oils to make sure you know the contraindications of the oils you use. Some essential oils have low therapeutic margin, which means that the dividing line between therapeutic dose and a harmful dose is very small. These oils needs to be avoided orally and used with caution. I actually don't recommend anyone to use essential oils orally unless you have consulted with professionals educated in essential oil safety. Extra care is required when taking an essential oil orally since a higher amount of the oil would reach the circulation, and the liver would receive a large dose via the portal circulation, which takes its blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver. Almost all of the reported cases of poisoning by essential oils have occurred by self-dosing of small quantities of undiluted essential oils. Some oils need to be avoided in pregnancy, some oils can be toxic if not correct dosage or duration is used, and other essential oils are contraindicated in specific illnesses. Essential oils should not be used at all in the first trimester. The quality vary among the different brands, and there is a chance that you come across oils diluted with harmful substances. It is very important to choose good quality essential oils for aromatherapy since many are diluted with harmful substances and they are of inferior quality Some oils are known skin irritants and therefore it is important to conduct a skin patch test before you use essential oils. This is especially important if you have a history of allergies, asthma, or rashes. Some oils that may irritate the skins are: Anise, Basil, Bay, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Cedarwood, Clove Bud, Clove Leaf, Cajuput, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Oregano, Peppermint, and Thyme A skin patch test can be conducted with a carrier oil or with undiluted essential oil. A skin patch test should be conducted when using oils listed as potential sensitizers or irritants. As mentioned above individuals with allergies or asthma should always conduct a skin patch test before applying any essential oils. Always use the recommended dose when conducting the skin patch test.

When conducting a skin patch test using essential oils diluted in carrier oils you first wash and dry the forearm, then apply essential oil blend enough to moisten the arm. Cover the applied area with sterile gauze and leave for 24 hours If signs of irritation are shown, remove the gauze and avoid using that particular oil in the future. When testing an undiluted essential oil, you wash the arm with unscented vegetable soap and dry before applying the oil. Add one drop of oil in the crook of the arm and close the arm, and open and close the arm again after five minutes. If any irritation is noticeable the applied area can be washed with cotton dipped in milk or vegetable oil. Or simply wash with soap and water. Oils not recommended in pregnancy are: Anise seed, basil, birch, cedarwood, clary sage, cypress, fennel, jasmine, juniper, sweet marjoram, myrrh, peppermint, rosemary, sage and thyme. Essential oils not to be used by people prone to epilepsy are: clary sage, cajuput, eucalyptus, Fennel, hyssop, lavender (lavandula stoechas), rosemary, sage and thyme Essential oils not to be used by people with high blood pressure are: Cypress, cajuput, eucalyptus, Hyssop, rosemary, sage and thyme Essential oils not to be used by people with asthma: camphor, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, yarrow Essential oils not to be used by people with hypotension: Clary sage and marjoram Essential oils not to be used by people with liver disease are: clove bud and clove leaf, garlic, oregano, sassafras, thyme, vetiver. Essential oils not to be used by people with stomach and intestinal ulcers: Cinnamon bark Essential oils not to be used by people with estrogen dependent cancer: Anise, basil and fennel Essential oils that should not be used on the skin at all: Ajowan, cinnamon bark, cassia, clove leaf, clove bud, elecampane, oregano, pine (dwarf)

Essential oils which should be used with caution on the skin: basil (all varieties), cinnamon leaf, fir needle(Siberian), lemongrass, lemon, verbena, melissa, orange, peppermint, red and wild thyme. Once again, please look into the contraindications of the essential oils you are using. Consult with your physician if you have existing medical conditions. Feel free to contact me if you are not sure about the oils. More aromatherapy information on my blog:

http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/2009/12/are-holidays-making-you-stressed.html

http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/2009/09/do-you-have-hard-time-at-work.html

http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/2009/10/some-ways-to-use-essential-oils.html

http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/2009/10/make-your-own-spa.html

http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/2009/10/oils-for-skin-care.html

http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/2009/10/massage-and-how-to-dilute-essential.html

http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/2009/11/massage-oils.html http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/2009/10/essential-oils-for-respiratory-and.html