With the occurrence of the full moon that just happened to be a Blue Super Moon that would be fully eclipsed, I found the gift of these blood oranges no small gift. Because I learn by doing, I decided to pull out my small still and do a distillation the same day we had a full blue super blood moon on January 31st, 2018.
This month I thought it would be a handy to have a list of resources that are all about Rose absolutes or essential oils. All of the resources listed are from well qualified aromatherapists or vintage aromatherapists with over 30 years experience. Enjoy this "Rose essential oils & Rose Absolute - a path to learning more."
The flu. It is hitting hard this year. But are essential oils the answer? I mean, really? There are some that might say no, absolutely, and others that just don’t know enough to feel comfortable commenting. But here's what you need to know about essential oils and the flu virus.
In January 2018 I offered you a “Behind the Scenes” look at what happening here at Be Kind Botanicals. Sometimes it included the anticipation of new arrivals, how I selected new essential oils, deciding which third-party lab to use for an essential oil that I may be interested in, and other important tasks.
If you know me and how much I strive to really get to know my distillers, you know along the way I have asked a million questions. Some I have even had the ability to get to know their entire family. While others, I conduct interviews and exchange emails with. Here I share an interview with my Italian Citrus distiller.
Recently, a FaceBook post has raised many concerns about essential oils and their use around animals. Yes, there are absolutely some essential oils that are quite toxic to animals. Yes, there are some animals that require more considerations than others. Using essential oils around animals is ok. However, when it comes to using essential oils, balance and consideration for our fur babies are important!
Have you ever compared a dark myrrh to a light colored myrrh essential oil? The difference is pretty astounding! I have ALWAYS used a dark colored myrrh and then I received our newest batch and I wondered... Dark Myrrh essential oil versus light Myrrh essential oil - why the difference?
Who else aside from me absolutely loves walking into a house filled with the aromas of mulled cider, or baked goods? The aromas of warmed candied oranges, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and vanilla are a type of “Welcome on in!” music to my nose! So, let's chat about hosting aromatic holiday festivities.
Around this time every year, decorations for a festive Halloween are raised, farmers prepare the final harvest of the year, and many more prepare for Samhain or Day of the Dead. If you are not familiar with Samhain, I encourage you to learn more about it. There are many different interpretations of it and ways of celebrating it with essential oils
Acne isn't fun. Especially at 40. But, here I am and I am going to make the best of it and share my four favorite hydrosols that I use to keep my complexion looking the way it does.
With all the recent talk of DIY skincare and the use of "therapeutic grade" essential oils, it is important to note that while many recipes are phenomenal recipes and smell amazing there are also some risks. The recipes are everywhere! I do not want to discourage you from trying to make these type of recipes, but I do want you to use some guidelines for essential oils when making any DIY recipe.
It's time to bring to light those that are rarely considered. Their needs are rarely thought of because they sometimes are viewed as just doing their job. They sometimes even view others needs as more important than theirs and are the first to skip a hot meal, a break, and sometimes will work endless hours upon their feet…. All to help others. So let's talk about how to support devastation volunteers with essential oils.
Today I am writing to you from a place that I do not find myself very often. A place that finds me feeling raw, vulnerable, and exhausted. While I am not afraid of this place I am still very cautious of how I explore it. Here I share a few essential oils for the weary heart.
If you have never been to a conference, you, my friend are missing out! There is so much to see, touch, feel, smell, learn, and do that it can be overwhelming. When I attended my first conference, there were a few things I wish I would have known beforehand. If you are about to attend your first conference this guide is will help.
I don’t know about you, but I LOVE traveling. When traveling, I always bring aromatics with me. When flying there are a few important things you need to know to have an enjoyable flying experience for yourself as well as those around you.
Using or even blending Patchouli can be a challenge, especially if you do not like the aroma of it! Patchouli has some really amazing potential uses. If you are interested in wanting find out more about it and how you can reap its benefits but not be sick to your stomach, consider staying with me for a few moments.
In this post, I am sharing several essential oil spotlights designed to help you learn and use the below essential oils with more confidence. If you click on the image you are interested in, it will take you to a page where you can learn more about it.
This post is not going to be my typical post, but I am feeling compelled to share something very personal and intimate with you – my essential oil meditation experience from earlier today. I will be honest, I am not the best at trying to get my daily meditations in although the last few weeks I have been getting much better! Hopefully, it will help you, too.
How often is it that you hear someone talking about therapeutic grade, clinical grade, or food grade essential oils? If you have ever gone to an essential oil class hosted by a friend, family member, or friend of a friend you probably have heard these terms.
I used to swear by essential oil dilution charts after finishing my basic aromatherapy certification program. I even went as far to tell others they were wrong with their dilution rates. Oh how I was WRONG - I found out why dilution charts don't always work.
All too often I am asked about if essential oils can be ingested. The answer is not such a black and white one. Let me explain by offering some valuable information.
Have ever heard someone say something about the energetics of an essential oil? Or perhaps you have heard someone say something about needing to be “grounded.” If you are curious about this, stay with me because grounding is something I personally need and practice daily. And yes, I do use essential oils to help with this at times.
Once, I was excited and devastated all in less than 30 seconds… I was pretty upset and at a loss, so of course I needed to get it out. I do this by writing. This is all about the essential oil analysis that had me excited and devastated.
With the coming of the Spring Equinox, I find myself drawn to creating. Whether it is creating that perfect new blend or writing the pull is there. Today, I'm focusing on inspiring creativity with essential oils.
Recently there was a lot of discussion about Certificate of Analysis (COA) and gas chromatography/mass spectronomy (GC/MS) analysis. It lead to questioning which is better - A "COA" or a GC/MS analysis for essential oils?
Last week I took some time to share some information specifically about the research on the essential oil component trans-anethole ((E)-anethole). So let's talk about fennel & other essential oils with (E)-anethole, shall we?
With an essential oil, it is important to consider the synergy of the components in the oil. However, to really understand some of the why and how of an essential oil we can look at specific chemical components found within the oil. Here we'll look at the essential oil component spotlight: (E)-Anethole.
I took a short poll before the weekend to see what you are all really interested and just like myself, I found several of you really interested in the chemistry. Here I share with you essential oils: the perfect synergy of magic & chemical constituents.
All around the world social media has bridged gaps between towns, states, countries, and continent as far as sharing information. In the aromatherapy industry, the sharing of information from experts, trained professionals, home users, and enthusiasts can be seen as a positive and negative. So what's the deal with regards to aromatheray on social media then?
Have you ever heard someone say that their company has a licensed aromatherapist? What about a certified aromatherapist? Registered aromatherapist? Clinical aromatherapist? What's the deal with the aromatherapy titles & certifications?
Have you ever heard someone say, before you buy essential oils, go research them? I know I used to say it ALL the time. But what does it mean to research an essential oil?
As some of you may know, body oils are easy to use as moisturizers either in the bath or applied directly to the skin. They can also be used as massage oils depending on the oils used to make them! Better yet, you can make your own.
Have you ever been on Pinterest or even Facebook and found a great DIY recipe that you just knew you could do? I know I have. Here's an important question when it comes to DIY and knowing your limits...do you know yours?
Vanilla - the aphrodisiac of gods and goddesses. It is used as food flavoring primarily but over time, I have seen several variations of this wonderful plant for the world of aromatherapy. This includes CO2's, essential oils, and solvent extracts. It is time to clarify things for you so you can make a truly informed decision.
It is that time of year when individuals start showing symptoms of colds and other viruses that often affect the upper respiratory system. While many individuals might useessential oils, they may not know which ones to use or how to use them safely. Here, I share a few safe essential oils to help with your cold and also how to properly use the steam inhalation method.
Thanks to the internet, we have lots of information at our fingertips. With the ease of finding information and so many individuals now using essential oils, safety has never been more important. So what do you need to know about first aid & essential oils?
Have you ever heard someone say “our essential oils are so pure they don’t have a shelf life?” I have and unfortunately, this is not accurate information. So do essential oils have a shelf life?
A well-known and respected analytical chemist in the aromatherapy industry, Dr. Pappas, presented information regarding Ho Wood essential oil early this week. With his information presented, so also began the great debate about Ho Wood.
During my journey of ongoing self-study, I was introduced to yet another form of natural healing. A very knowledgeable aromatherapist shared an image of a wonderful honey infusion that had me asking, “What is that?” And so began my love affair - all for the love of honey!
It is not hard to see how trendy essential oils have become. It is also not hard to miss all the recipes floating around the various social media outlets that tout blending one blend with another blend and sometimes a few single oils. Here is something to think about though. Do you really need all of those essential oils to create a blend that will work for your purpose?
Who loves a great lip balm? I know I do! Did you know they're actually quite easy to make and require only two basic ingredients? That's right! Here,you'll find a very easy and fun DIY Vanilla Lip Balmrecipe you can use any time of year.
“Focus!” “Pay attention!” How often do you find yourself saying this at the beginning of the school year? I'm sure you desperately want to help your kid(s) do as well as they can in school. Thankfully, there are a few ways to support their mental focus and memory.
For a very long time, I have researched and tried to learn as much as I can about cosmetic formulations for my business. When I have been able to, I have even blogged about it. Let's be realistic though. There's actually a big difference between cosmetic formulation and DIY recipes.
Who loves a fantastic moisturizing body butter that is great for the skin? I know I do! I have been using this anhydrous recipe for a while and wanted to take an opportunity to share it with you because I love it that much. I am also including a blend of essential oils that are skin soothing.
Did you know there is a way to enjoy your essential oils via inhalation without diffusing? There is! However, not everyone is familiar with all of the nuances because of the trendiness and perhaps the marketing approach used by larger companies to use diffusers.
Over the last couple years I have found myself more involved in the process of harvesting plant matter for the various plants that I offer as essential oils. I have to admit, while I find much of the information fascinating and amazing, some I have found to be quite worrisome. Enter: Roman Chamomile crops & concerns...
It is that time of year again where teachers, parents, and students are anxious, stressed, and emotions are flying high. Everyone has some kind of emotional memory or even current emotions on going back to school. Everyone also deals with these emotions differently.
As some of you may know, body oils are easy to use as moisturizers either in the bath or applied directly to the skin. They can also be used as massage oils depending on the oils used to make them! Better yet, you can make your own.
A well-known and respected analytical chemist in the aromatherapy industry, Dr. Pappas, presented information regarding Ho Wood essential oil early this week. With his information presented, so also began the great debate about Ho Wood.
Over the last couple years I have found myself more involved in the process of harvesting plant matter for the various plants that I offer as essential oils. I have to admit, while I find much of the information fascinating and amazing, some I have found to be quite worrisome. Enter: Roman Chamomile crops & concerns...
