Tag: essential oils

Categories
herbal skincare plant wonder collective

Linden & Lavender Body Wash

Linden makes a lovely, calming, skin replenishing ingredient in botanical recipes in the form of an infused oil! It also complements the scent and properties of lavender infused oil very nicely. I decided to incorporate both into a homemade body wash recipe using simple, natural ingredients!

Homemade herbal recipes that contain water can have a short shelf life, so it’s best to make them in small batches. However, if you make a larger amount of infused oil in advance—infused oils keep longer than water-based products—then it is easy to store the oils in glass jars and mix up batches of the body wash as needed. An additional option is to add a bit of natural preservative, such as leucidal liquid—made from fermented radishes!

Linden & Lavender Body Wash

Materials:

Infused oil—

Double boiler or saucepan

4 pint jars

Dried linden

Dried lavender

Jojoba oil

Sweet almond oil

Body wash—

⅓ cup castile soap

4 Tbsp linden-infused jojoba oil

2 Tbsp lavender-infused almond oil

1 Tbsp raw honey (optional)

⅓ cup water (or less!)

1 tsp leucidal SF complete

40 drops EO (optional):

20 drops lavender

10 drops chamomile

10 drops lemon

Method:

Begin by infusing your herbal oil. Do this by filling one jar about ½ full of dried linden, then filling with jojoba oil until the dried plant material is completely submerged, using a chopstick or wooden spoon handle to remove any air bubbles. Do the same with the dried lavender and sweet almond oil, filling the jar about ⅓ full with the lavender. Place both jars into a saucepan or bottom of a double boiler pan with about 1 ½ to 2 inches of water and place on the stove over low heat for 3-5 hours, watching closely to ensure that it doesn’t get too hot (you don’t want to cook your herbs!) and making sure the plant material stays submerged. Remove from heat and allow to cool once the oils have changed in color from the herbs and smell fragrant. After cooling, strain through a fine mesh strainer with cheesecloth into clean jars. 

To make the body wash, find a soap or body wash pump bottle to repurpose; remove the old label and clean well. Add the castille soap, herb-infused oils, honey if using, and water (decrease amount if you want a thicker body wash; you might also want to add small amounts of water at a time and test the consistency till you reach your preferred thickness). Cap and shake, and you might also want to stir it with a chopstick to ensure the honey is fully incorporated. Then add essential oils and leucidal liquid and shake/stir again. 

Use in the shower or bath, shaking well each time you use. Enjoy the relaxing scent and the nourishing properties of the linden and lavender oils!

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For educational purposes only. Not intended for medical advice. Always consult your physician.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you choose to buy something from a link that I share, I will make a small percentage of the sale *at no extra cost to you*.

Categories
herbal skincare Recipes

Green Goddess Foot Scrub

Sometimes you just need to treat yourself to a pampering session at home. These late spring days when the weather is just starting to warm up enough to wear sandals is the perfect time for a cozy home pedicure! Natural ingredients can make this a luxurious and healthy experience, and when the recipe is quick and easy to whip up, that’s all the better!

Coconut oil makes a great base for skin exfoliators. Its thick and whippy texture and moisturizing properties are the perfect vehicle for a sugar scrub. Add in nourishing and moisturizing sweet almond oil (or another botanical oil of your choice), nourishing French green clay, circulation-boosting ginger, and tea tree oil with its skin (and antifungal) benefits, and you have a recipe fit for a self-care goddess.

Green Goddess Foot Scrub

Materials

½ cup coconut oil

2 Tbsp sweet almond oil

1-3 Tbsp white sugar

1 tsp French green clay

½ tsp dried ginger powder

Optional essential oils:

8-10 drops tea tree oil

4-6 drops ginger oil

Small glass jars

2 small mixing bowls

Spoon

Whisk

Method

Combine the sugar, French green clay, and ginger powder in one small bowl with a whisk. You may choose not to use all of this mixture in your end product; it depends how much grit versus moisturization you prefer in your scrub. 

In the other bowl, combine coconut oil, sweet almond oil, and essential oils, stirring well to combine. Sprinkle in the sugar mixture and stir well, testing the feel with your fingers as you go to decide how much you want to add. 

Spoon into small glass jars for storage. Use this on rough feet before a diy pedicure, or on rough elbows and knees in the shower. This makes a lovely gift, too!

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For educational purposes only. Not intended for medical advice. Always consult your physician.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you choose to buy something from a link that I share, I will make a small percentage of the sale *at no extra cost to you*.

Categories
wheel of the year

Spring Equinox Diffuser + Botanical Scents

One of the simple and practical ways I like to mark the turning of the Wheel of the Year with intention is aroma. Botanical simmer pots, handmade herbal candles, or special essential oil blends diffused in my home help refresh stagnant energy and set renewed intentions going into the next season. 

This Ostara / Spring Equinox, I was struck with the idea to craft a cute little passive diffuser for essential oils that is simple, fun to make (with kids or at a friends tea party or craft night!), and captures a bit of the essence of spring in more ways than one. 

First, find a sweet little saucer or dessert plate at your local thrift shop—I have collected many as they are endlessly useful. You’ll also need a hot glue gun, dried moss, wooden craft mushrooms (or get more creative than me and make your own from natural clay), and crystals to adorn if you’d like. Decide how you’d like to lay out the arrangement, and glue on the mushrooms first, pressing as the glue cools to adhere it well. Then add glue to the plate and tuck moss around to give it a springtime forest floor look. Finally, tuck any crystals where you’d like them. You can always get creative and put your own spin on it, adding items like dried flowers, acorns, etc!

Then you are all set to add drops of essential oils to diffuse in your home, to set the mood and your intentions for spring! Here are some springtime favorites of mine:

Ylang-ylang: for sweetness and peace

Geranium: for beauty and grace

Benzoin resin: for comfort and joy

Lavender: for calm and protection

Rose: for love and magic

Bergamot: for health and energy

Mint: for refreshing and clearing

What are your favorite botanical oils for spring? What intentions do you connect them with?

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For educational purposes only. Not intended for medical advice. Always consult your physician.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you choose to buy something from a link that I share, I will make a small percentage of the sale *at no extra cost to you*.

Categories
herbal skincare willow & sage

Spring Floral Perfume Oil

There are few better ways to celebrate the delicate blooms of springtime than with a lovely tea party. A tea party in a flower garden? Even better. Or perhaps you can conjure up the feeling of such an occasion with a natural perfume oil incorporating the scents of spring blossoms. 

This recipe combines lavender-infused almond oil with some lovely essential oils: geranium, lemon, ylang ylang, and ho wood. This combination of scents is dreamy and floral, with hints of tart citrus and sweet earthiness. It’s nourishing to the skin and has a lovely calming effect. 

These mini perfume oil rollers would make sweet gifts at a flower garden tea party of your own. 

You Will Need:

To Make:

To make the lavender-infused oil, fill a pint jar about three-quarters full with dried lavender buds. Pour sweet almond oil to cover flowers, leaving about 1 inch of headspace in the jar. Use a chopstick or the handle of a wooden spoon to push the plant material into the oil so it is fully submerged. Cover with a coffee filter or cheesecloth and secure with a rubber band. Allow to infuse for four to six weeks, then strain out the lavender buds and put the remaining oil in a clean jar. Add 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil to extend the shelf life of this oil. 

To make a perfume roller, fill a 5 ml roller bottle about halfway with lavender-infused almond oil. Add a pinch of dried lavender buds if you’d like. Add 3 drops of geranium essential oil, 2 drops of lemon essential oil, 1 drop of ylang ylang essential oil, and 1 drop of ho wood essential oil. (If you have sensitive skin, you can adjust and use less of the essential oils. If you want a stronger scent for aromatherapy, you can add 1-2 more drops of each oil.) Fill the remaining space in the bottle with more of the lavender-almond oil, leaving a little headspace for the roller. Insert the roller and screw on the cap, giving the bottle a swirl to mix the oils in. 

Store any unused portion of the lavender-almond oil in a cool dark space. 

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This recipe can be found in the spring 2024 issue of Willow & Sage magazine!

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For educational purposes only. Not intended for medical advice. Always consult your physician.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you choose to buy something from a link that I share, I will make a small percentage of the sale *at no extra cost to you*.

Categories
Herbs and Herbalism

Damiana + Herbs for Headache Relief

I am lucky to not have chronic headache issues, which I know so many people have! But I do still sometimes deal with clusters of headaches, especially stress-related and cycle-related ones. And I’ve recently been ill and have experienced some unpleasant headaches associated with that. (Such a bad cold and flu season this year!) When those problems arise, herbs can absolutely help.

I have several favorite herbal allies to lean on in this circumstance, usually brewing them in tea, and damiana is the star of the show. Though perhaps better known as an aphrodisiac herb, damiana is amazing to relieve tension headaches and that pressure and pounding sensation in the head. It is my headache secret weapon and always in my headache tea blends! I love its warm (but not too warm) soothing, tension-relieving, and pain modulation and easing.

Other herbs I rely on for headache teas:

Meadowsweet– cooling, astringent, eases stabbing pain, high in salicylic acid (aspirin!)

Mint– cooling, antispasmodic, nutritious, pain-relieving, uplifting and relaxing

Lavender– soothing, relaxing, gentle, pain-relieving and aromatic 

Cramp bark– gentle, pain-relieving, spasm easing, muscle tension relieving

Skullcap & Passionflower– sleep aiding, nerve & tension easing, soothing

If you use essential oils, an oil roller or balm using peppermint and lavender oils mixed with a carrier oil is a great remedy, too. Roll or rub this on your temples, the back of your neck, or wherever your headaches tend to be concentrated. (Can you tell mine is well-loved? I need to replace that oily label!)

What are your favorite natural headache remedies?

For educational purposes only. Not intended for medical advice. Always consult your physician.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you choose to buy something from a link that I share, I will make a small percentage of the sale *at no extra cost to you*.

Categories
herbal skincare Recipes

Orange, Coffee and Rose Oil Aromatherapy & Eye Serum Roller

We’re in the thick of winter, and it is a time to cozy up with both bright, invigorating aromas to bring a spark of sunshine, and rich, earthy scents for grounding and comfort. Orange and coffee both certainly fit those descriptions!

Orange’s sweetness and tartness give a vibrant boost during the dreary winter. Not only is it a potent reminder of the sun, boosting our mood just like the sun’s rays, but it provides antioxidant and antibacterial benefits that can aid skin. This makes it ideal in both skin and aromatherapy treatments.

Coffee is a botanical that energizes from the inside out. The caffeine in coffee can be invigorating and rejuvenating in skincare, especially tired and delicate under-eye skin. Use an under eye serum with coffee to brighten, awaken, and de-puff. 

The scents and properties of orange and coffee pair excellently with rose, cardamom, and jojoba oil. So excellently, in fact, that this botanical-infused oil roller can also double as an aromatherapy perfume oil. Jojoba is nourishing and moisturizing, as is rose. While the scent of sweet orange essential oil enhances the uplifting and awakening scent of coffee, cardamom adds a spiciness that imparts earthy complexity. You’ll feel a calming and joyous energy every time you inhale this lovely and luxurious oil. (It would also make a sweet gift or treat to yourself for Valentine’s Day!)

Materials

Directions

To make the rose-infused oil, fill a pint jar about three-quarters full with dried rose petals. Pour jojoba oil to cover petals, leaving about 1 inch of headspace in the jar. Use a chopstick or the handle of a wooden spoon to push the petals into the oil so they are fully submerged. Cover with a coffee filter or cheesecloth and secure with a rubber band. Allow to infuse for four to six weeks, then strain out the rose petals and put the remaining oil in a clean jar. Add 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil to extend the shelf life of this oil. 

To make an aromatherapy / eye serum roller, fill a 10 ml roller bottle about halfway with rose-infused jojoba oil. Add 5 drops of coffee essential oil, 5 drops of sweet orange essential oil, and 3 drops of cardamom essential oil. (If you have sensitive skin and plan to use this as an eye serum, you can adjust and use less of the essential oils. If you want a stronger scent for aromatherapy, you can add about 3 more drops of each oil.) Fill the remaining space in the bottle with more of the rose-jojoba oil, leaving a little headspace for the roller. Insert the roller and screw on the cap, giving the bottle a swirl to mix the oils in. 

Store any unused portion of the rose-jojoba oil in a cool, dark space. 

For educational purposes only. Not intended for medical advice. Always consult your physician.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you choose to buy something from a link that I share, I will make a small percentage of the sale *at no extra cost to you*.

Categories
Craft Hygge

Pine Impression Clay Ornaments

I wanted to share a fun winter craft with you today: simple, sweet pine needle impression clay ornaments!

I know these are not a new idea, but I’ve been meaning to make some for a while, and I am excited with how they turned out. They are a lovely activity for kids to make, or perhaps a gathering of friends on a wine or tea night!  

And if you live in an apartment where you can’t have a live Christmas tree, or perhaps another reason prevents you, you can forage for pine branches at a local park to take home and make this craft and then apply some drops of pine essential oil to the backs to bring fresh pine scent to your home. (Orange, clove, and cinnamon essential oils would also be fitting and traditional midwinter scents to add!) It’s an accessible way to bring the goodness of pine indoors!

To make the ornaments, roll air-dry clay into 1-inch balls and then press flat into discs with a book or container lid. Or, if you’re fancier than me, you can roll out the clay and use cookie cutters for neater and more uniform ornaments. (Mine are “rustic,” ha!) Then press sprigs of pine needles into the clay to form an impression and poke a hole for ribbon or string. Make sure the ornaments aren’t stuck onto your work surface (waxed paper might help here). Leave them to dry overnight, then the next day paint with watercolor to emphasize the look of the pine sprigs. I used watercolor brush pens and water with a small paintbrush to thin and spread out the paint pigment. 

Once dry, string ribbon or twine through so they can be hung on a tree, drawer knobs, stocking hooks, or even used as gift tags. They can also be used as drawer or car fresheners! 

These simple little ornaments aren’t fancy, but they are cheery and fun to make, give you a chance to do some fun winter foraging with kids or friends, and bring a bit of natural pine into your holiday decorating. 

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you choose to buy something from a link that I share, I will make a small percentage of the sale *at no extra cost to you*.

Categories
herbal skincare Herbs and Herbalism plant wonder collective

Butterfly Pea Lip Balm

Due to its nourishing skin benefits and its striking blue hue, I decided to try out making butterfly pea flower lip balm! Butterfly pea flower has long been used in Southeast Asia in beauty and skin products, but is just starting to gain notice more broadly. This versatile plant has many applications inside and out, and this is a fun and portable one!

There are a number of ways you can tailor diy lip balm to your texture preferences and skin needs. You could infuse dried butterfly pea flowers in oil (the oil won’t be blue), try different base oils and essential oils, use more or less of the powder, etc. Here is how I made this batch:

Melt and combine beeswax, shea butter, sweet almond oil, and butterfly pea powder in a double boiler over low heat, stirring very well with a wooden chopstick to help combine the ingredients and dissolve the powder. 

Remove from heat and stir in essential oils well. (Omit them if sensitive skin is an issue.) Pour into lip balm tubes (or tins) and allow to cool and harden for a few hours. (You can speed this process up by placing them in the fridge.) 

This lip balm has a pretty light blue color in the tube, but looks clear on the lips. (You could experiment with adding more powder if you want more color.) It is silky soft, incredibly moisturizing, and healing & conditioning for the lips. You could also use this lip balm on the go for other skin issues like dry, cracked knuckles in the colder months!

This recipe was shared as a part of Butterfly Pea Flower month at the Plant Wonder Collective! If you’d like to support the work of PWC, please consider joining our Study Circle on Patreon for exclusive recipes, articles, digital downloads and printables for the plant of the month. We appreciate you being on this learning journey with us!

For educational purposes only. Not intended for medical advice. Always consult your physician.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you choose to buy something from a link that I share, I will make a small percentage of the sale *at no extra cost to you*.

Categories
herbal skincare Hygge Recipes

Happy Vibes Perfume & Aromatherapy Oil

A few friends close in heart but far geographically exchanged holiday gifts recently. It was so much fun to send homemade gifts to each other! Some were gifts that we had made to give to friends and family for the holiday season, but I wanted to include something that made me think of them specifically.

So I created us each a Happy Vibes essential oil perfume / aromatherapy roller to convey the joy I get from our friendship!

The scent is very reminiscent of orange blossom: floral, sweet, creamy and citrusy, with a touch of green. Uplifting and happy! Just like our friendships. The intention infused in the making of these rollers conveys that joy each time I apply a bit to my wrists and experience the scent!

Would you like to make some of your own rollers for friends who make you feel happy vibes?

You Will Need:

To Make:

To make a perfume roller, fill a 5 ml roller bottle about halfway with jojoba oil. Add 4 drops of ylang ylang essential oil, 3 drops of benzoin essential oil, 2 drops of tangerine essential oil, and 2 drops of cypress essential oil. (If you have sensitive skin, you can adjust and use less of the essential oils. If you want a stronger scent for aromatherapy, you can add 1-2 more drops of each oil.) Fill the remaining space in the bottle with more of the jojoba oil, leaving a little headspace for the roller. Insert the roller and screw on the cap, giving the bottle a swirl to mix the oils in.

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*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you choose to buy something from a link that I share, I will make a small percentage of the sale *at no extra cost to you*.

Categories
herbal skincare Herbs and Herbalism

Beauty in Bloom!

I am extremely late to be posting this, but…I wanted to share about a publication I contributed two articles to! I am so excited to have had the opportunity to contribute to this gorgeous publication.

“Beauty in Bloom” is a collaborative effort of 18 herbalists sharing 30+ recipes and DIY projects to help you with herbal self care and natural beauty from the inside out.

Holistic Beauty Glow-Up

At the heart of Beauty in Bloom lies the mission to redefine beauty as a holistic, interconnected experience beyond skin-deep. We believe in the power of the plants to nourish, heal, and elevate our well-being, and this belief has fueled the creation of our publication.

Beauty in Bloom is more than a beauty guide; it celebrates the synergy between humanity and nature. Our mission is to inspire you to embrace beauty practices that enhance your external radiance and honor the earth.

You’ll learn how to make your own skincare and hair care products and health remedies from herbalists and holistic health professionals, Including:

  • Healing Psoriasis Holistically- Tips & Tricks to support psoriasis
  • Cold Sore Care- Holistically formulate Herbal Salve & Tea Infusions for Cold Sores
  • DIY Magnesium Oil- For Sore Muscles & Nervous System
  • Gut Loving Mocktail- Mocktails for IBS, GERD, Bloating and Digestive Issues
  • DIY Herbal Cream Making and Cream Recipe
  • DIY Calendula + Olive Oil Lotion Bars
  • DIY Green Tea + Matcha Bath Soak
  • DIY Nettle + Sage Hair Rinse
  • Dina Charya- Dive into 6 Ayurveda self-care practices
  • Hibiscus Tinted Lip Balm Recipe- Avoid toxic chemicals in most colored lip products and make a nourishing one from commonly found herbs.
  • DIY Rendering Tallow for Skin Health
  • How a Nutrient-Dense Diet Can Cultivate Beauty From Within
  • Nurturing Your Skin’s Guardian- The Acid Mantle and Tending To Skin Health
  • Herbal Glow Gycerite Recipe for Glowing Skin
  • Thyme- Herbal Spotlight on Thyme and The Benefits for Skin Health
  • Held By The Earth- Self-Care and Connecting to Natural Medicines as a Birthright
  • Sacred Blood- Rituals for Menstrual Cycle Stages
  • Herbal Allies for The Lymphatic System
  • Kakuda Plum- Ingredient Spotlight and Skin Care Uses
  • Skin Care Formulation with Australian Lemon Myrtle and sandalwood
  • German New Medicine- Knowing Patterns for Wellness and Healthy Skin
  • Mallow Succus- Using Mallow for Hair Rinse and Body Nourishment
  • Chamomile- Creating Healing Serums for Skin
  • Supporting the Nervous System for Healthy Skin
  • From Head to Toe- Self-Care Practices and a DIY Spa Day from home
  • The Fragrance Dilemma- Toxic Phthalates and the Impact on Skin & Endocrine Systems

All of the projects are easy to make and use commonly found herbs, flowers, oils, and other natural ingredients. No fancy equipment or previous experience is required! “Beauty in Bloom” is packed with basic formulas to make your own one-of-a-kind creations. Going organic has never been easier or more affordable. With the wisdom of 18 Herbalists, “Beauty in Bloom” empowers you to use local, natural ingredients to make something beautiful, effective, and good for you and your family.

Choose your path to “Beauty in Bloom”:

📖 Printed Petals: Immerse yourself in the tangible beauty of “Beauty in Bloom.” Click [here] to order your printed copy and receive a carefully crafted guide delivered to your doorstep.

🌐 Digital Bloom: Dive into the world of “Beauty in Bloom” instantly. Click [here] to secure your digital copy now. Access over 30 recipes and formulas for DIY skincare and holistic well-being from the comfort of your digital device.

What to Expect in Beauty in Bloom:

DIY Herbal Formulas: Unleash your creativity with over 30 recipes and formulas for homemade body lotions, skin creams, herbal medicines, and more.

Educational Insights: Dive deep into topics like Ayurveda, hormonal balance, and the benefits of natural ingredients, guided by herbalists and holistic health professionals.

Empowering You: “Beauty in Bloom” is more than a publication; it’s your companion on the path to self-empowerment, enabling you to take charge of your beauty and well-being.

Join us in redefining beauty as a holistic experience that begins within and blooms into a radiant, harmonious existence.

Let the beauty revolution begin!