Memory -Promoting Smells

 

Memory-Promoting Smells

No.1  Ginkgo biloba

Ancient medicine men and savvy shamans have been using leaf extract from the mighty ginkgo biloba tree for hundreds of years to treat a wide variety of conditions, including asthma, bronchitis and fatigue, and while ginkgo’s ability to combat these ailments is well-documented, most medical practitioners now agree that its biggest benefit is how it enhances your memory. According to a recent experiment, participants scored 40% higher on cognitive tests after ingesting a single ginkgo pill. If one pill can make that much of a difference, just imagine what you can accomplish by smelling ginkgo on a regular basis.

No.2  Myrrh

The Three Wise Men clearly knew what they were doing when they brought Jesus a bottle of myrrh to commemorate his birth. Derived from the sacred myrrh plant found in Somalia and Ethiopia, myrrh has been proven to boost memory by stimulating blood circulation and sending a burst of oxygen to the brain. Some mystics even believe myrrh can help you recall past-life experiences.

Did you know that in 2001 Rutgers University scientists identified myrrh compounds that kill cancer cells? They were optimistic that myrhh can be used for the treatment and prevention of prostate and breast cancer. And to assist with the treatment of brain tumors (malignant).

Similar to Frankincense, myrrh contains up to 75% sesquiterpenescompounds that stimulate the part of the brain that controls emotions. It also helps the hypothalamus, pineal and pituitary glands that produce many of the important hormones in the body.

No.3  Spinach

It turns out Popeye had it right all along. New studies have validated the curmudgeonly “Sailor Man’s” diet by proving spinach can protect your brain from oxidative stress. According to Dr. Adam Franklin, a professor and the author of Scents and Sensibility, “Not only is spinach rich in vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids, but it also contains antioxidants and phytonutrients that speed up the brain and protect it from degenerative diseases.” As an added bonus, this leafy green vegetable can also lower your risk of heart disease and, depending on whom you ask, allow you to pummel Bluto to within an inch of his life.

No.4   Sage

It isn’t a mere coincidence that sage is a synonym for “wise.” That’s because this evergreen shrub can actually make you feel more astute by heightening your powers of retention. A study in the scientific journal Nutrition recently lent credence to this claim by documenting how mice injected with sage-leaf extract were better able to retain memories. A subsequent study published in the New England Journal of Pharmacology proved that sage-leaf extract was also effective in reducing cell death in mice. So, take some sage advice and smell a little sage today.

No.5  Frankincense

 

Essential Oil (Boswellia carteri) has anti-depressant and immune stimulating properties. The high sesquiterpenes level stimulates and oxygenates the limbic system of the brain which elevates our mood and helps us relax (overcome stress).

TRPV3 receptor of the brain responsive to Frankincense and this receptor is implicated in mood regulation. Frankincense does not show any adverse side effects.

No.6  Helichrysum

Essential Oil (Helichrysum italicum) is a powerful natural anti-inflammatory. It also improves circulation and may help cleanse the blood.

• Anti Haematoma: The essential oil of Helichrysum helps clear the accumulation of bloods or blood clots which result from a haemorrhage. This can be very helpful to clear blood clots in brain after a brain haemorrhage. These clots often interfere with normal functioning of brain. This oil promotes dissolution or melting away of such clots.

No.7  Sandalwood

 

Essential Oil (Santalum album) has anti-depressant, astringent, aphrodisiac and sedative properties. It is calming and emotionally balancing and is used for depression and stress.

No.8  Cedarwood 

Essential Oil (Cedras atlantica) has anti-infectious, anti-fungal and sedative properties. It stimulates the pineal gland which releases melatonin. It is calming and purifying.

It's very powerful for regenerating arterial walls. It's powerful for the lymphatic system for the simple reason that it increases oxygen flow into the fluid and into the blood fluid through the whole body. It's really a beautiful oil. In order to have brain power and great memory recall and great memory retention, you have got to have good oxygen to the brain. That is really important.

No.9  Melissa or Lemon Balm 

Essential Oil (Melissa officinalis) has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant and relaxant properties. It is calming and uplifting and used for depression.

No.10  Lavender 

Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia) has analgesic and anti-spasmodic properties. It helps relief stress, sore muscles, menstrual cramps and nervous tension in the body.

Rosemary & Lavender :

essential oils affect cognition and mood in 144 healthy adults. These findings indicate that the olfactory properties of these essential oils can produce objective effects on cognitive performance, as well as subjective effects on mood. Moss M, Cook J, Wesnes K, Duckett P. Human Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, Division of Psychology, Northumberland Building, University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK. mark.moss@unn.ac.uk

Inhalation of lavender, ylang ylang, and bergamot essential oils reduced psychological stress response as indicated by reduced serum cortisol levels. (Hwang 1123)

No.11 Blue Cypress 

Essential Oil (Callitris intratropica) has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, insect repellent, and sedative properties. It is a stimulant to the amygdala, pineal gland, pituitary gland and hypothalamus.

No.12   Rosemary

Research has found the essential oil from rosemary helps long-term memory and alertness

Sniffing Rosemary Can Increase Memory By 75%

Rosemary oil is wonderful for stimulating the mind, enhancing clarity, relieving stiffness of joints, stimulating healthy hair growth, improving mental awareness as well as improving memory

Rosemary oil has a pronounced action on the brain and the central nervous system and is wonderful for clearing the mind and mental awareness, while having excellent brain stimulant properties, as well as improving memory

Shakespeare was right in saying rosemary can improve your memory

Smelling rosemary 'may improve memory'

9th April 2013 - Smelling essential oil from the herb rosemary could improve memory, according to a small study by the University of Northumbria.

Researchers say their findings may have implications for treating people with memory problems in future.

Rosemary facts

Rosemary was already thought to improve memory by the ancient Greeks and, according to the Herb Society, has been seen as a symbol of love and loyalty and to ward off evil spirits.

These days it is used as an ingredient in cooking and as a moth repellent. It is also used as an ingredient in some traditional herbal remedies, including ones to help with coughs and sore throats and the discomfort of cystitis in women.

Rosemary smell study

To conduct the experiment, drops of rosemary essential oil were wafted around a room before the participants came in.

66 healthy adults took part and were randomly sent to the rosemary room, or a room with no scent.

Both groups were given memory tests, including finding objects they'd seen being hidden earlier. They were scored depending on how much help or prompting they needed to finish the tasks.

They were also given questionnaires to assess their mood. Blood tests were also given to see whether a compound linked to rosemary and memory had entered the bloodstream.

There was no link between the participant's mood and memory, which the researchers suggest means performance was not influenced by changes in alertness or arousal.

Rosemary study results

The people who'd been in the rosemary scented room did better in the memory tests and tests to see if they remembered to carry out tasks on time. In a statement, one of the researchers, Dr Mark Moss, says this could prove useful in everyday life: "For example when someone needs to remember to post a birthday card or to take medication at a particular time."

Another of the Northumbria researchers, Jemma McCready, says it is too soon to say whether rosemary might help people with impaired memory: "Remembering when and where to go and for what reasons underpins everything we do, and we all suffer minor failings that can be frustrating and sometimes dangerous. Further research is needed to investigate if this treatment is useful for older adults who have experienced memory decline." 

The new results were presented to the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society in Harrogate, rather than appearing in a peer reviewed journal.

However, the findings back up the team's earlier research published last year in in Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. A small study involving 20 people suggested that the scent of rosemary oil may improve speed and accuracy when performing certain mental tasks.

Essential Oils for psychological support :

· Peppermint

· Lemon

· Lavender

· Bergamot

· Basil

· Lemongrass

· Sandalwood

· Frankincense

· Rose

· Jasmine

· Rosemary

  “Coming to our Senses: Incorporating Brain Research Findings into Classroom Instructions.” Educational Digest November 2009

 Essential oils to boost learning:

· Memory and cognitive functioning is reinforced by using aroma
· Peppermint and lemon energized
· One study showed that groups were able to solve puzzles 30% faster than control group
· Chamomile and pine were good for performance jitters before exams
· Pine has been used in London’s Heathrow Airport to ease travelers going through customs.
· College students exposed to lemon performed word construction and decoding tasks better than unexposed group.
· Another study showed floral aromas were associated with doubling the speed of learning.
• Cinnamon
• Beta-amyloid plaques are one of the trademarks of Alzheimer's disease. The other is tangles in the brain made of tau proteins that can cause brain cells to die.
• Emerging research from the University of California at Santa Barbara reveals that two compounds in cinnamon -- proanthocyanidins and cinnamaldehyde -- may inactivate these tau proteins.
• While this research is still in its infancy, a sprinkle of cinnamon on your oatmeal or yogurt certainly couldn't hurt.

Some great brain foods Link:

http://knowingyourself1.blogspot.in/2014/04/some-great-brain-foods.html

Vibrational Frequency and the Subtle Energy Nature of Essential Oils

There is a subtle bio-energy that flows through all organic life. It goes by many names and is sometimes referred to as Chi or life force. This energy is expressed as an electromagnetic vibrational frequency – and pure essential oils have the highest frequencies of any measured natural substance.

What is vibrational frequency? And why do we care about it?

A review of our grade school science lessons reminds us that everything vibrates. Every atom in the universe has a specific vibratory or periodic motion. Each periodic motion has a frequency (the number of oscillations per second) that can be measured in Hertz. Every element in the Periodic Table has a specific vibratory frequency.

Most plants (and animals) use enzymes to break down molecular components during their life processes. And each of these enzymes has a unique crystalline form with a specific vibratory frequency.

The vibrational frequency of an oil reflects the integrity of these elements and enzymes embodied within its substance –its bio-energy or life force and its original intent. This factors into an oil’s potential therapeutic value.

Measuring Vibrational Frequencies

During his work with plants, soil, and water in his agricultural projects, Bruce Tainio of Tainio Technology invented and built a machine called a BT3 Frequency Monitoring System. This device – modified and perfected over the years - used a highly sensitive sensor to measure bio-electrical frequencies of plant nutrients and essential oils.

To summarize how it worked - As a Hertzian wave is generated and travels out from its source, it transfers energy to the objects it passes through. The frequency monitor’s sensor measures the nano voltage of that wave, using the predominant frequency in the megahertz range, filtering out the lower and higher ranges. The BT3 measures the composite frequency of the vibratory emissions in electrical voltage – MHz - of the elements and enzymes remaining in the oils.

See - www.coherentresources.com/bt3_monitor.php Although Tainio no longer produces the BT3 Monitor for reasons noted on the website, the findings gleaned from his research conducted over the years with this device are remarkable.

For example, here are the average frequencies of some of the therapeutic grade essential oils that have been measured:

• Rose (Rosa damascene).....................320 MHz
• Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)........118 MHz
• Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha)................105 MHz
• Blue Chamomile (Matricaria recutita).....105 MHz
• Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma)............98 MHz
• Aloes/Sandalwood (Santalum album)......96 MHz
• Angelica (Angelica archangelica)...........85 MHz
• Peppermint (Mentha peperita)..............78 MHz
• Galbanum (Ferula gummosa).................56 MHz
• Basil (Ocimum basilicum)......................52 MHz

The measured frequencies of essential oils begin at 52 MHz, the frequency of basil oil, and go as high as 320 MHz — the frequency of rose oil. For comparison, fresh produce has a frequency up to 15 MHz, dry herbs from 12 to 22 MHz, and fresh herbs from 20 to 27 MHz. Processed and canned foods have no measurable frequency whatsoever.

Human Electrical Frequencies and Fields

Dr. Robert O. Becker, in his book The Body Electric, tells us that the human body has an electrical frequency, and also that much about a person's health can be determined by its frequency levels.

In addition to his plant studies, Tainio developed a way to use his machine to measure human electrical vibrational frequency by taking readings on various points of the body and averaging those numbers together. His measurements indicate that the daytime frequency of a healthy human body vibrates in the range of 62 to 68 MHz.

Intriguing as Tainio’s research is, its foundation may have been laid in the early years of the 20th century by Dr. Royal R. Rife, M.D. (1888-1971). Dr. Rife conducted research with a machine he developed called a “frequency generator” that applies currents of specific frequencies to the body. He concluded that every disease has a specific frequency.

According to Dr. Rife every cell, tissue and organ has its own vibratory resonance. Working with his frequency generator, he found that specific frequencies would destroy a cancer cell or a virus. His research demonstrated that certain frequencies could prevent the development of disease, and that others would neutralize disease.

Bjorn Nordenstrom, a radiologist from Stockholm, Sweden, discovered in the early 1980s that, by putting an electrode inside a tumor and running a milliamp of DC current through the electrode, he could dissolve a cancer tumor and stop its growth. He also found that the human body had electropositive and electronegative energy fields.

Studies conducted in 1992 by Tainio Technology, as an independent division of Eastern State University in Cheny, Washington, reinforce the findings of these earlier researchers. Tainio and colleagues determined that when a person's frequency drops below the optimum healthy range, the immune system is compromised. Findings supported by this research indicate that:

• Human cells can start to change (mutate) when their frequency drops below 62MHz.
• 58 MHz is the frequency of your body when you have a cold or the flu.
• When candida is present within your body, you vibrate at a frequency of 55MHz.
• 52 MHz is the frequency of a body with Epstein-Barr virus present.
• 42 MHz is the frequency of a body wherein cancer can appear.
• When the death process begins - the frequency has been measured at 20 MHz.

Effects of Outside Influences on Body Frequency

The study of frequencies raises an important question – how do the frequencies of substances found in our environment affect our personal frequency? Based on his studies, researcher Nikola Tesla said that, if we could eliminate certain outside frequencies that interfered in our bodies, we would have greater resistance toward disease.

Pathogens have a low frequency. Pollutants - both particulate and radiation (EMF) - lower a healthy frequency. Processed and canned food having a frequency of zero can greatly diminish a person's own frequency.

Even thoughts and feelings have a vibratory quality that forms a measurable frequency. A negative mental state can lower a person's frequency by 10-12 MHz.

Likewise, a substance or influencing factor - such as thoughts, emotions, and frequency devices - in our internal and external environments can also serve toraise our frequencies. For example, a positive mental attitude, prayer or meditation can raise it by 10-15 MHz.

A substance with a higher frequency can raise a lower frequency due to the principle of entrainment - the tendency for two oscillating bodies to lock into phase so that they vibrate in harmony. This principle is key to understanding the effect essential oils can have on our personal electromagnetic frequency.

However, different types of frequencies can have a chaotic or a harmonizing effect on our own systems. When something vibrates at many dissonant frequencies, it produces “chaotic or incoherent frequencies.” (David Stewart,The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple).

For example, all of the electrical devices in your home – lamps, television, radio, phone, microwave – emit electromagnetic vibrational frequencies that are incoherent and chaotic. Their effect is to fracture the human electrical field.

By contrast, Dr. Rife’s frequency generator and most naturally occurring substances –including essential oils – have coherent frequencies that resonate harmoniously with the electrical field of the human body. 

The Healing Process and the Subtle Energy Nature of Essential Oils

The human body vibrating within its normal vibratory range between 62 and 68 MHz is considered in a state of health. But energy disturbances in the subtle bodies will actually precede the appearance of disease and illness in the physical body.

The normally harmonious coherent frequencies of the body easily go out of “tune” when a person experiences physical or emotional stress. A blockage of the flow of life energy – characterized by inflammation, irritation and illness – can result. When the human frequency range drops below the norm of 62 megahertz, this is when abnormal processes can begin to develop.

When disease and illness are present, they may manifest as chemical imbalances. But underlying this is an electromagnetic imbalance that has altered the specific vibrational frequencies of molecules, cells, tissues and organs within the body.

Properly “retuning” the body to its original frequency brings it into balance and restores its natural harmonic resonance – illness either doesn’t manifest or is resolved.

Dr. Richard Gerber MD, author of Vibrational Medicine, tells us that one of the best ways we can change dysfunctional patterns in our energy bodies is to administer therapeutic doses of “frequency-specific subtle energy in the form of vibrational medicines.”

And researcher Jim Oschman, PhD, who wrote Energy Medicine, refers to natural substances from the plant kingdom he calls “energetic pharmacology” (as distinguished from chemical pharmacology). Therapeutic grade essential oils produce coherent frequencies that are naturally tuned to the health of our bodies. Pharmaceuticals and synthetic oils do not.

The intention of this healing process is to provide the correct frequency that will bring the body back to a state of coherence, to a state of equilibrium. Terry Friedman, in his book, Freedom Through Health tells us that raising our vibrational frequency aids in “restoring health to the body, clarity to the mind and attunement to the spirit.”

By applying an essential oil with a particular frequency to the human body – through the principle of entrainment - the oil’s higher frequency will raise the vibratory quality of that individual. When several oils are blended together, each having a different MHz frequency, a frequency will emerge that may be higher or lower than the various components. The therapeutic properties create special vibrational remedies capable of healing or rebalancing the body/mind/soul/spirit.

And because each oil has a specific frequency, and our organs and body systems and the nutrients needed to maintain optimum health each have their specific frequencies, the oil's electrical affinity to these components of our bodies will enhance and support these organs and body systems, and will aid in the assimilation of nutrients.

Essential oils in the higher frequency ranges tend to influence the emotions. EOs in the lower frequencies have more effect on structural and physical changes, including cells, hormones, and bones, as well as viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

Essential oils don’t resonate with the toxins in our bodies. This incompatibility is what helps eliminate the toxins from our systems. Neither do they resonate with negative emotions. So they can help dislodge forgotten traumas by surfacing them in our consciousness where we can deal with them and let them go.

Clinical research shows that essential oils have the highest frequency of any natural substance known to man, creating an environment in which disease, bacteria, virus, fungus, etc., cannot live. I believe that the chemistry and frequencies of essential oils have the ability to help man maintain the optimal frequency to the extent that disease cannot exist.

Gary Young of Young Living Essential Oils

The beauty of using therapeutic grade essential oils to restore coherent healthy vibrational frequencies to the body is that they are:

• Affordable
• Accessible
• Effective
• Versatile

Essential oils offer us a natural way to restore our body's healthy electromagnetic vibrational frequency. The elegance of their holism allows for easy functionality in our daily lives. Their constant subtle presence gently resonates with our body’s electrical fields aiding and restoring harmonic health and well-being on all levels. 

How To Make Your Own Perfume

As well as jewellery making I like to dabble in the art of cosmetics. I have very sensitive skin and I find homemade products don't tend to react with me like some shop bought products.

A last summer I read an article in Making magazine about making your own perfume and since then I have been hooked on making fragrances. I find smells are wonderful at bringing back memories. Last summer El and I made some perfumes. The main fragrance note mine was jasmine and now when I smell it I think of us crafting away on a hot sunny day. I was 39 weeks pregnant and we had a great time making perfume and friendship bracelets. A few days later I gave birth to my little girl.

I made a new blend for the last few weeks of winter and the coming of spring. I was going for a warm, light floral fragrance and I am pleased with it. This is the great thing about making your own scent you can make something that suits you exactly.

This is how I make perfume.

You will need:

25ml perfume bottle
Perfumer's Alcohol
Essential oils - about 3 or 4
Pipette or measuring syringe (you can get small ones from the pharmacist to give medicine to children which are ideal) 
Cotton wool
Paper plates
Pen 

All my perfume supplies come from Plush Folly.

Choosing essential oils

There are many essential oils to choose from. A good place to start is the base notes directory. They have listed most famous brand perfumes and the essential oils used in them, listing some of the top, middle and base notes. I am a Chanel fan so when I started I looked at my favourites and picked oils from a few different fragrances. I didn't want make a copy of a famous brand, I wanted make something unique.

Top notes are the first scents you smell. They last for about 5 - 30 minutes and make up about 20% - 40% of the blend

Middle notes or the "heart" of the fragrance. They begin to unfold after about 10 - 30 minutes. They make up everything from 40% - 80% to the scent

Base notes linger longer than the other notes and develop after 30 minutes. They make up 10% - 25%. 

For this perfume I chose mandarin (top), frangipani (middle), jasmine (bottom) and amber (bottom)

Dilutant

 I have tried making perfume following suggestions to use vodka and haven't found the results to be very satisfying.  The fragrance fades very quickly. I have started using perfumer's alcohol and the results have been great. It contains additives that boost the staying the fragrance and as it is not that expensive I think it is worth it. 

Instructions

1. First you have to decide on the ratio of oils in your blend. Place a ball of cotton wool on a paper plate. I used several plates. Add one drop of your top note on to each cotton wool ball. Write down on the paper plate the name of the oil and mark how many drops you added.

In my first round of adding drops of oil I tried a few different combinations. (I tried without the amber and with juniper berry.)

2. Use this method to try different combinations of oils. I had several different ratios. Once you have a few different combinations place the balls into separate glass jars and leave them for an hour. (Make sure you place the jars back on the plates otherwise you won't know which one is which!)

3. After an hour smell each cotton wool ball and decide which one you like the best. Repeat if you think another combination could be better. My final combination was

mandarin oil      II
frangipani oil     II
jasmine oil         I
amber oil           I
            =           6 drops in total 

4. Now the maths part... I am making 25ml of perfume. A perfume is 80% perfumer's alcohol and 20% essential oils. My perfume is going to consist of 20ml of perfumer's alcohol (the 80%) and 5ml of essential oils (the other 20%).

To work out the ratio of oils. I have 6 drops to my oil mixture and to increase to this to 5ml. Divide the amount required by the drops you used.

5(ml) / 6 (drops)  = 0.83

Each drop scaled up equals 0.8ml (approx)

To make my perfume blend I need

mandarin oil    1.6ml
frangipani oil   1.6ml
jasmine oil       0.8ml
amber oil          0.8ml
           =           4.8ml (nearly 5ml, close enough. I add a few more drops of frangipani) 

5. Add the oils and the perfumer's alcohol to your perfume bottle.

6. Leave your bottle in a dark place and shake every day for a week. By the end of the week your perfume will have matured and is ready to wear.

I am really pleased with this blend. The first aroma is the mandarin which is sweet and citrusy, not as sharp as lemon or grapefruit. This gradually subsides to the exotic smell of frangipani through to the base note scent of jasmine and amber. The frangipani and jasmine are fairly similiar, the amber tones these down and adds some warmth to the blend. This is perfect for the last few weeks of winter warm but with a hint of spring.

I think nearer the summer I will be making something with a fresher, greener scent.

Until next time

Nikki x

If you’re concerned about the chemicals lurking in commercial perfumes and would like an all natural option, then this post is for you! Make your own perfume at home with just vodka and essential oils and save tons of money in the process! And it’s surprisingly easy.

I have quite the memory for scents. To this day, I will get a whiff of a man’s cologne and instantly remember an old boyfriend who used to wear the same scent. Maybe that’s why I was so enamored with the movie, “Perfume: Story of  Murderer.” Ever seen it? The first time the Mr. and I saw it was when we were living in France, which is where the movie takes place, and that added to its magic. It is such a good, twisted story with dark romance – all about a very misguided young man whose only talent in the world is his incredible nose and he uses it to make perfume. Those were the days when perfume was actually made from the steam distillation of flowers (which is how essential oils are made) with no added chemicals or ingredients. It was real, natural, botanical perfume.

Now that I’ve been getting rid of toxins in our lives to everything from cleaning supplies, to lotion, toshampoo, to laundry detergent, perfume was the next thing on the list. So, I’ve lost my long-time love of perfume (been wearing it since I was a teenager and now I’m, well, in my very early thirties (smile)). I had to create one I’d like just as much as what I used to spend half a weeks’ worth of groceries on – and now I have!

Chemicals In Store-Bought Perfumes

According to this article from Scientific American, perfumes contain petrochemcials, which are chemicals derived from petroleum or natural gas, and many other hazardous synthetic chemicals. Take one of my old favorite perfumes – J’Adore by Christian Dior. The EWG (Environmental Working Group) gives it a 7 rating out of 10 for toxicity, with moderate concerns for cancer and high concerns for endocrine disruption (which effects breast cancer, thyroid, hormones and more). Eek, not good! According to this article from the EWG,

A new analysis reveals that top-selling fragrance products—from Britney Spears’ Curious and Hannah Montana Secret Celebrity to Calvin Klein Eternity and Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce —contain a dozen or more secret chemicals not listed on labels, multiple chemicals that can trigger allergic reactions or disrupt hormones, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety by the beauty industry’s self-policing review panels.

Sorry, more bad news. And I learned that second-hand scents are also harmful. Some of the chemicals even make their way into fat tissue and breast milk – NOT good for our babies. To me the scariest part is companies do not have to divulge all of the ingredients in their perfumes to protect their trade secrets, so consumers cannot find out what exactly they are getting into.

So, let’s get to the fun part! This is the same ratio of essential oils I’ve used in my homemade room deodorizer recipe. I just can’t get enough of the scent – I’m crazy about cedarwood and orange these days! I’ve also made a blend similar to the one in my homemade bath salts recipe.

How To Make Your Own Perfume : 2

• 100 proof Vodka - please read my note below about this OR water OR a carrier oil (like jojoba, olive, grapeseed, etc.)
• Your favorite essential oils
• Glass spray bottle (essential oils will eat plastic)
  I got my bottle at my local natural foods store, but Amazon sells lots of adorable, vintage-style perfume bottles like this one..

Note about vodka: 100 proof is best to fully dissolve the essential oils, but all we can find at the liquor store is 80 proof, so I do have to shake it up before each use. My husband likes when I’m in a perfume mood so he can take a swig every now and then! If you use water or a carrier oil, you will also have to shake the bottle before each use.

Choosing your favorite blend of essential oils…

is really very different for each person – one oil might smell completely different from person to person as it reacts with your skin, so experiment and find a few you like! To do it correctly, you need 3 notes – top, middle and base. The top note is experienced first, then the middle, then the base. Each essential oil evaporates at different rates, so it takes knowledge of each rate to create a proper perfume – it’s really quite an art! I’m just a beginner at it myself, but am learning a lot as I go. To read more about it, see this article from Aroma Web where they list all the top, middle and base notes. I suggest choosing one from each category to start!

Essential Oils are Powerful…

and should be used sparingly as perfume/cologne. Some are not safe to be used on the skin.

So, here are some blends I really like!

Make with 2 tablespoons of vodka or water, for larger quantities you may want to add more oils.

Forest Fairies Blend

• 40 drops orange essential oil
• 20 drops cedarwood oil
• 10 drops peppermint oil
• 5 drops rosemary oil

Romantic Flower Garden

• 20 drops Orange Essential Oil
• 5 drops Lavender Essential Oil
• 10 drops Patchouli Essential Oil
• 10 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
• 5 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
• 5 drops Bergamot Essential Oil

Mountain Rose Herbs has a great post about how to make perfume from actual herbs, plants and flowers if you’d like to go that route.

DIY LUXURY SOLID PERFUMES

by April MacKinnon of Anointment Natural Skin Care

Seeing the green of spring crop up all around me is putting a new bounce in my step.  I’m looking forward to shedding layers of winter clothes and sprucing up my wardrobe and look!  Inspired by the aromas of freshly mowed grass and lilacs in bloom, here is a tutorial for a little do-it-yourself luxury – solid perfume.  Solid perfumes can be customized to any taste using essential oil blends or fragrance oils.  My personal preference is to use high quality essential oils.

To make your own solid perfumes you will need:

• Coconut oil (available in health food stores) or another carrier oil such as extra virgin olive oil or sweet almond oil.
• Beeswax
• Measuring spoons
• A small pot
• Essential oils or fragrance oils of your choice
• A small bowl for mixing essential oils
• Small jars or tins for your completed product (you can re-use a lip balm tin, cosmetic jar, or purchase new ones.
• Medicine dropper

{Essential oils above from New Directions Aromatics: lavender, vanilla & ylang ylang}

1. If you are using a combination of essential oils, mix these in a small bowl. I used:

• 10 drops vanilla
• 10 drops lavender
• 5 drops sweet orange
• 5 drops ylang ylang

This made a floral, slightly earthy scent

2. In a small pot over medium heat combine 1 teaspoon each beeswax and coconut oil.  Stir until melted.

3. Add 10-15 drops of your essential oils and mix gently.

4. Pour into small jars, allow to set.

This recipe makes about 6 g of final product.  Apply a small amount to inner wrists or at the nape of the neck. 

Caution: citrus oils (orange, mandarin, tangerine, petitgrain, bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, lime) will cause your skin to burn faster in the sun.  Please be aware of this when mixing and applying your solid perfume.

Bonus tip:
Create a combination of lavender and peppermint and apply to temples to help relieve headache pain.