The Highs and The Lows – Which Essential Oils to Use

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Amazon USA      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK


The Highs and The Lows – Which Essential Oils to Use

ENERGY!

ENERGY!

In Sydney the past week we have had stinking hot days with thunderstorms in the afternoon. Pretty much everyday, and it’s been really full on too.

Thunder!

Lightening!

Rain!

Hail!

More Rain!

Apparently it’s due to slow moving low pressure troughs. OK.

So I was thinking it’s the same in life. One moment it’s sunny, bright, happy and beachy; the next it’s an explosion of emotional energy just like thunder.  Anger, anguish, uncertainty, pain, sadness …. and so much more.

Happy!

Happy!

Essential Oils for The High Times

Since you’re already feeling so wonderful about everything essential oils can help ground you, or even add to the good vibes.

If you’re a bit on the manic side you may need essential oils to even you out, and help you feel more connected to the earth:

Patchouli – peace, connection to Mother Earth

Vetiver – calming, grounding, cooling

Bergamot – clear headedness

Cedarwood Virginian – smooth your energy, slow down

Lavender – strength and solidarity

Nourish your body with a beautiful oil blend - pic via redbookmag.com

Nourish your body with a beautiful oil blend – pic via redbookmag.com

I’d recommend a body oil to even out your energetic surges, and keep you hydrated, smooth and soft.

Nourishing Body Oil Blend

For a coat of your body use 3 teaspoons of carrier oil in a little dish and, add 7 – 8 drops of essential oil. It’s always best to patch test first, before you apply all over.

***** Always put the drops of essential oil into the bottle or dish first, then add the carrier oil. It gives the scents time to create a synergistic fusion.

For a 50ml bottle of oil add 25 drops and see my articles “Ratios for Blending Essential Oils – A Reminder of the Basics” and “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3”

“Tall Tree”

You can get all rustley and fun but stay connected to the ground so you don’t fly away –

Bergamot                  4 drops

Lavender                   2 drops

Cedarwood Virginian  2 drops


Not going anywhere ...

Not going anywhere …

Essential Oils for The Low Times

Depression. Sadness. Grief. Heaviness. Lack. Despair.

These emotions are hard to deal with and I know if you are feeling them, then it’s highly likely you won’t have the energy to treat yourself with an oil. But I’m going list them anyway.

Basil – open up your mind

Lemon – refresh and reload your energy

Geranium – cheeriness, happiness

Palmarosa – flexibility

Cypress – away from ego into spirit

For you, all you have to do is open up a bottle and have a sniff.

Take a huge whiff to change your focus in seconds - but don't overdo it!

Take a huge whiff to change your focus in seconds – but don’t overdo it!

Essential oils are your scented support system. Love them and use them ad be transformed!

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

copryright SR Banks 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out some pics of the Sydney storms here.

Dalbergia sissoo I MUST Have You!

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Amazon USA      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK


 Dalbergia sissoo I MUST Have You!

The gorgeous tree Dalbergia sissoo - pic via www.mswn.com

The gorgeous tree Dalbergia sissoo – pic via http://www.mswn.com

While searching for supplies of Rosewood essential oil – Aniba roseaodora, I found this!

Called Indian Rosewood, it

“is an evergreen rosewood tree, also known as sisu, sheesham, tahli, Tali and also Irugudujava. It is native to the Indian Subcontinent and Southern Iran. In Persian, it is called Jag. It is the state tree of Punjab state (India) and the provincial tree of Punjab province (Pakistan).” Wikipedia

I’m a bit excited because I didn’t know an essential oil was produced from this tree and it’s the first essential oil that I know of that comes from a plant in the “Fabaceae” family and the Dalbergia genus. This family is the legume or pea family of trees, and is the 3rd largest family of plants on earth. It is found in tropical and subtropical climates and is widely distributed in Pakistan and India, Iraq, Afghanistan and even Kenya and Tanzania.

 

The leaf and pod of Sissoo

The leaf and pod of Sissoo

The scent is quite similar to Rosewood, and what makes this essential oil so important is that Aniba roseaodora is still under threat, and supplies of the oil and wood are severely limited. To read more about Rosewood see my article “Rosewood – A Story of Ecology and Conservation”. While we are waiting for sustainable Rosewood trees to mature, this Indian Rosewood can be the savior.

The most information I can find out about the typical analysis of the essential oil of Indian Rosewood is that it is high in linalool, which is found in many plants and essential oils including lavender, basil, cinnamon and palmarosa just to name a few. It usually lends a floral scent to an oil, but of course that is an over simplification. So we can assume this Indian Rosewood is relaxing and could be used in place of traditional Brazilian Rosewood.

The scent is a little spicier than Rosewood, but has very similar sweet, rosey notes too.

The heartwood - pic via wood-database.com

The heartwood – pic via wood-database.com

I’ve also found an interesting database for woods which includes Dalbergia sissoo, which  lists lots of other Dalbergia plants too. Many of the other related species are from tropical climates all over the world. Check it out here.

I have also found an article on the various medicinal uses of the plant which include:

* using the crushed leaf in boiling water to remove dandruff – Pakistan

* leaf juice used for eye and skin ailments in Ayurveda

* again the juice of the leaf proved to be anti-inflammatory and analgesic

Check out more info “DALBERGIA SISSOO DC AN IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANT”.

I am reluctant to give you recipes until I’ve used the oil myself, but in the meantime, get excited! I’m looking forward to talking more about this oil in the future.

Thanks scent lovers!

copryright SR Banks 2014

Is Amber Oil Real?

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Amazon USA      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK


Baltic Amber - from a few different species in the Mediteranean

Baltic Amber – from a few different tree species in the Mediterranean

The other day my client asked me about amber oil. I told her that I’d researched it years ago and that it didn’t seem to be straight forward – and that I’d forgotten everything too, and that I never used it. She had a little sample of resin and it did smell beautiful. So what is her sample, really?

It seems there’s a few stories floating around out there which include –

Ambergris – sperm whale vomit or poo

Liquidambar orientalis – the sap from the tree

Baltic amber or succinite – the hard crystals we know that are used for jewelry

and

Pinus succinefera fossil – fossilised sap

Here’s what I can gather about the truth of Amber oil.

Ambergris

ambergris - I think

ambergris – I think

Ah yes the lovely scent of sperm whale poo and vomit. The ambergris seems to be a secretion in the digestive system of the whale to protect it’s gut from spikey cuttlefish. It is excreted with fecal matter, or regurgitated if the amount is too large to pass.The story goes that this intriguing substance was found around the Atlantic Ocean along the shorelines of many countries including Australia and NZ, Japan, South Africa, The Maldives and other areas in the world. Apparently as it aged, the scent changed to a sweet balsamic, earthy odour and was therefore grabbed and distilled by perfumers to use as a fixative in scents. It can still be found today and is worth a lot of money! If you have a perfume with that listed it would be synthetic. Most modern perfume is synthetic anyway, so don’t panic, there’s no vomit in your fragrance.

Fragrantia.com give a great review of a book called “Floating Gold, A Natural (an Unnnatural) History of Ambergris” by Christopher Kent which goes into great detail about ambergris in all it’s glory.

Liquidambar orientalis

This seems to have more credit in the ‘amber stakes’. The name also has “amber” in it so there’s a bit of a hint (or coincidence). This gorgeous tree is planted all over Sydney and I believe it originates from the Mediterranean region, particularly in Turkey. The trees are referred to generally as “sweet gum” and these forests in Turkey (according to wikipedia) are under threat due to dam building and clearing for agriculture. This oil is also produced in India, and the tree is also native to India.

In English, this oil is known under several names, shortly as Storax to include all sweetgum oils, or as Styrax Levant, Asiatic Storax, Balsam Storax, Liquid Storax, Oriental Sweetgum Oil, or Turkish Sweetgum Oil. …. it is used externally in traditional medicine for abrasions, anxiety, bronchitis, catarrh, coughs, cuts, ringworm, scabies, stress-related conditions and wounds. It is a different product than the benzoin resin produced from tropical trees in the genus Styrax.

Wikipedia

I have never used this oil but now I’m a bit desperate for it. It sounds bloody gorgeous. We had a beautiful liquid amber tree in our backyard when I was growing up. I did a school project on it – if I’d only know it contained a medicinal, scented secret!

As with Frankincense and Myrrh, the tree is tapped and the sap collected. To produce the oil, the resin then undergoes steam distillation.

Baltic Amber

Baltic Amber with a fossilised insect

Baltic Amber with a fossilised insect

Baltic amber refers to fossilised tree resin from a variety of conifers living around the Scandinavian countries and the Baltic region. The Pinus succinefera is one of these trees and this stone is sometimes referred to as succinite (and also because it contains succinic acid). The Baltic region contains most of the world’s supply of amber which could be between 40 to 60 million years old! Oh dear should we really be digging this up?

So this leads us to the claims that this stone can produce a resin, then an oil.

Pinus succinefera – fossil

Pinus succinefera - the fossil - also possibly Baltic amber

Pinus succinefera – the fossil – also possibly Baltic amber

This fossil relates to the Baltic Amber above. But can the stone produce this oil? How is it extracted? Dry distillation could be used, whereby a solid is heated to produce gasses and materials which are then condensed and collected. Or is Baltic amber just thicker and older that the thin slivers of Pinus succinefera in the pic above?

There are stories of this stone and resin/oil being used by the Romans and Greeks to use medicinally and in rituals. Did they have dry distillation techniques or were they collecting sap of pine trees and distilling it?

So if you’re buying an “amber oil” you’ll want to know what the botanical name is so you can work out what you’ve got.

 

copryright SR Banks 2014

 

 

 

Chakras, Colours and the Oils to Support Them

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Amazon USA      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK


Chakras, Colours and the Oils to Support Them

This post is dedicated to my friend DJ Wayne G

Chakras, their colours and Sanskrit names - pic via www.peacefulmind.com

Chakras, their colours and Sanskrit names – pic via http://www.peacefulmind.com

My friend has been painting his new apartment lots of different colours.  When I asked him if it was too much I realised in that same moment he would reallybenefit from colour therapy. A friend had already commented on his red kitchen cupboards, and how it “would be good for his chakras”, so this post is for Wayne, with some additional essential oils to match.

red

1. Base or Root Chakra/ Muladhara/ Red

Keywords: basic needs met, safety, survival, connect with Mother Earth

Oils:          lavender, patchouli, vetiver

orange 3

2.  Sacral Chakra/Svadisthana/Orange

Keywords: creation of something tangible, sexuality,connecting with another

Oils:           sandalwood, ylang ylang, jasmine

yellow

3. Solar Plexus Chakra/Manipura/Yellow

Keywords: wanting good things for ourselves, confidence in the world

Oils:           black pepper, bergamot, lemongrass, fennel

green

4. Heart Chakra/Anahata/Green

Keywords: love, compassion, empathy

Oils:           rosewood, rose, petitgrain

blue

5. Throat Chakra/Vishudda/Blue

Keywords: truth, expression, creativity

Oils:           sage, ginger, lime, palmarosa

indigo blue

6. Third Eye Chakra/Ajna/Indigo

Keywords: intuition, psychic abilities

Oils:          clary sage, cedarwood, rosemary, black spruce

violet

7. Crown Chakra/Sahasrara/Violet

Keywords: knowledge of the divine, connect to universal intelligence

Oils: basil, frankincense, cypress

 

I have kept the essential oil associations minimal so as not to over-complicate things; but remember when you use your intention with any essential oils and combinations, they can be used for anything you desire.

By infusing your own energy into your oils and your formulations, you are creating your health, and your future so please be mindful when you’re in your scented zone!

Happy blending and remember to use your intention when you are creating your formulas. See my article about intention.

copryright SR Banks 2014

You Are A Healer Too – Did You Know That?

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Amazon USA      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK


You Are A Healer Too – Did You Know That?

What we do every day has far reaching energetic waves

What we do every day has far reaching energetic waves

If you are reading this article you are an integral part of healing the planet, our species and you are directly contributing to the evolution of humanity.

Have you ever hurt yourself, or seen another hurt themselves and are immediately stimulated to put your hands on the cut, bruise, graze or headache?

You are a healer. You are using a technique referred to as “hands-on-healing’, or Reiki among others. You don’t really need to go to a class or become qualified to use your healing powers (but sometimes it helps to hone skills).

Putting your "hands on' someone will help them move to a better place

Putting your “hands on’ someone will help them move to a better place

Are you practicing peace in your environment?

You are a healer.

peace

peace

Do you meditate?

You are healing yourself and everyone else by connecting to the oneness of the universe. Please keep it up!

aaahhh meditation!

aaahhh meditation!

You are here at this time on this planet, with the ones you love, to make a difference. We need you. Whether you are a teacher, a builder, unemployed or a CEO, we need your inner strength.

We need your compassion and kindness.

We need you to stand up for animal rights. The animals need you.

We need you to evolve within, and then we can all move forward.

You have the power.

Please don’t give up or give in. Be mindful and expand your awareness. Expand your awareness and your consciousness expand.

feel free to be you - on your own

feel free to be you – on your own

Express your individuality and you will excite the building blocks of the universe to spring forth and do the bidding of those who see the truth.

You are a healer whether you know it or not. Practice the healing arts and you will command multidimensions with a single thought.

Add a drop of essential oil and miracles will occur before your very eyes.

Thank you.

copryright SR Banks 2014

Win My New Book!

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Amazon USA      Amazon AU      Amazon UK


Win My New Book!

Revelation! Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Revelation! Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

 

Thanks to all of you for reading some of my articles and keeping aromatherapy alive today!

I love essential oils for the positive outlook they bring to my life.

I love essential oils because their scent is a true connection to nature all around us.

 

Lemon - gorgeous simplicity

Lemon – gorgeous simplicity

 

I love essential oils because they help refine our sense of smell, which means we start accepting healthier information through our noses, and then our brains.

I love essential oils because the plants they come from are our healers.

Ah lovely lavender

Ah lovely lavender

I have 2 copies of my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils to give away.

To enter:

1. Subscribe to my blog

2. Write a 3 word comment (by clicking the little balloon on the top right) about why you love essential oils or how they inspire you eg: “fresh, sensual, natural” or “lime is divine”

3. Winners drawn on my blog on 15th December using random.org

Thank you and good luck my friends. Feel free to share this competition and if you are not a winner this time I’ll do more give-aways in the future so stay tuned.

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

copryright SR Banks 2014

 

Fountain of Youth

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Amazon USA      Amazon AU      Amazon UK


Fountain of Youth

Chapter 12

Another look in between the covers of my book

The fountain of youth fable appears in many cultures but is t real?

The fountain of youth fable appears in many cultures but is it real?

Ahh yes the fountain of youth. Wouldn’t it be great to drink water from a fountain and not only look young, but remain youthful for eternity. Sounds like more of a curse to me, but in everyday life we think of youthfulness as a remedy to all our problems. And usually this youthful glow refers to our skin and how old or young we actually look.

But what about having a youthful mind?

And a youthful spirit?

Well thankfully essential oils can address youthfulness on all levels of our existence.

The beautiful Sophia Loren

The beautiful Sophia Loren

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will have truly defeated age.”

Sophia Loren

 

Thanks Sophia.

1. Use essential oils on your skin

“Physical – oils for the face and body

Some essential oils are known for stimulating cell regeneration and they are deemed cytophylactic. Use these oils to communicate with your skin and help with production of new cells. Other oils have been traditionally used to have a soothing, calming and emollient effect. Oils that have been classified as anti-inflammatory may also hep your skin by their cooling action.”

Suzanne (me)

 

Take a huge whiff to change your focus in seconds - but don't overdo it!

Take a huge whiff to change your focus in seconds – but don’t overdo it!

2. Use essential oils on your mind

Just by using essential oils and making your own potions, you will not only fuel your creative fire, but you’ll also be inhaling essential oils too. Your thinking mind can be eased as the molecules in essential oils are absorbed into some sections of your brain. This action can help with moods, and have a flow-on effect throughout your body with hormones and other chemical messengers.

What we do every day has far reaching energetic waves

We are what we think we are, and how we project ourselves into the world

3. Use essential oils for your spirit

“Using essential oils to by-pass your self-imposed limits is the key to accessing the fountain of youth. Your heart will open to the beauty of life when you are surrounded by the natural scent of essential oil.

Grab any essential oil you can and take a big sniff to activate the part of you that knows infinity.”

Suzanne (me)

Essential oils can make you happier

Essential oils can make you happier

So my beautiful people to find out ore about how essential oils can help you stay youthful click on one of the links below.

Amazon USA      Amazon AU      Amazon UK

Thanks everyone.

copryright SR Banks

My Top 5 Oils for Brides – Part 2 (A Fresh Look, 2014)

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Amazon USA      Amazon AU      Amazon UK


My Top 5 Oils for Brides – Part 2 (A Fresh Look, 2014)

 

a beautiful Indian bride

a beautiful bride

In my article My Top 5 Oils for Brides – Part 1 (New Edition 2014) I talk about what oils are best for the pending nuptials. Here’s a recap –

Neroli

Rose

Lavender

Geranium

Frankincense

But how do you use the oils?

We all know every wedding is different and each bride and groom are unique, but the one thing they all have in common is that they all want a memorable experience for them and their guests. Whether it be a simple beach wedding or a lavish affair at a glamourous venue with hundreds of guests, the bride will have some organising to do.

Unfortunately the oils won’t do everything but they will support you on your journey from fiancé to wife.

a happy beach wedding

a happy beach wedding

Essential oils will give emotional support and a scented burst of clarity and calm during the process. You could either use lots of different kinds of oils or pick a couple and make a combination that becomes your signature scent. So let’s look at the best 2 ways to use your oils.

1. Nourishing Body Oil

I recommend making a bottle of your chosen oil blend to use daily as a moisturiser, and more importantly as a connection to your spirit and a tonic to your mind. You will start your day off by paying attention to yourself, centering your mind and preparing for what is to come. And – your skin will look and feel totally amazing! I use oil on my skin every day and it works – my skin feels wonderful and looks good too! When your bottle is finished you can make another combo or stay with the same blend.

Alternatively for one coat of your body use 3 teaspoons of carrier oil in a little dish and, add 7 – 8 drops of essential oil. It’s always best to patch test first, before you apply all over.

***** Always put the drops of essential oil into the bottle or dish first, then add the carrier oil. It gives the scents time to create a synergistic fusion.

For a 50ml bottle of oil add 25 drops and see my articles “Ratios for Blending Essential Oils – A Reminder of the Basics” and “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3”

“Heart”

To keep the flow of energy in your heart chakra while planning your wedding

– for a 50ml bottle –

Rosewood    10 drops

Lavender       5 drops

Rose  3%      20 drops * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

 

When making a daily blend of essential oil this often takes up time and is the first thing to be put on hold when you are juggling work, your private life and creating your perfect wedding. Consider making a bottle so it’s on hand every morning.


 

“Cool, Calm and Collected”

To breathe deeply and keep anxiety at bay

– to make a blend enough for one day –

Frankincense                       3 drops

Cardamom                          1 drop

Roman Chamomile  3%       9 drops  * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba


“Strength and Courage”

– to make a blend enough for one day –

Geranium                       3 drops

Neroli 3%                       7 drops * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

Vetiver                            1 drop


 

Any bottle with an atomiser top will do!

Any bottle with an atomiser top will do!

 

2. Personal Aura Cleansing Mist & Room Mist

In a 50ml mist bottle filled with water add 25 drops of oil

(depending on the packaging you have, you may need to use a little alcohol -like vodka- at the bottom of your bottle first, so the oils disperse into smaller drops to prevent clogging the atomiser top. I’ve found sometimes it works just with water, and sometimes it doesn’t – very annoying!)

This is a great portable way to keep an aromatherapy treatment with you. It is simply essential oils in an atomiser bottle filled with water. There is no need to use any emulsification agents,just shake before you mist. It can be used to refresh your face, cleanse and protect your aura, give your brain a boost and will make you smell like a natural goddess.

“Mother Earth Energy”

To keep a sense of worldliness and compassion on those crazy days –

Frankincense       10 drops

Bergamot           10 drops

Patchouli              5 drops


 

“I’ve Got the Power”

When you need strength and fortitude, with a smile –

Geranium                 10 drops

Lemon                      7 drops

Lavender                   5 drops

Cinnamon                  3 drops


 

“I’m Loving Every Minute of this Journey”

Enjoy the process –

Rose Geranium     8 drops

Orange                12 drops

Peru Balsam          5 drops


 

Remember to treat your self first then everyone will benefit.

 

copryright SR Banks

Space Cleansing and Protection

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Amazon USA      Amazon AU      Amazon UK


Chapter 11

Space Cleansing and Protection

Another look in between the covers of my book

Cedar smudge sticks - pic via www.livingwild.org

Cedar smudge sticks – pic via http://www.livingwild.org

Space cleansing has been traditionally accompanied by herbs and a smoking technique called “smudging”. This has been employed by many indigenous people throughout the world using sage, tea tree and other raw materials.

Essential oils can do the same thing in an easier way and also give you a bubble of protection from negativity.

A personal mist is easy to make! pic via ebay.com.au

A personal mist is easy to make! pic via ebay.com.au

The easiest way to surround and protect yourself is to create a mist with some oils and carry it with you wherever you go. Mist yourself, your car and your work space for an immediate cleanse, and an energetic seal that indicates this is your space, divinely scented.

My tips to make a mist:

In a 50ml mist bottle filled with water add 25 drops of oil

(depending on the packaging you have, you may need to use a little alcohol -like vodka- at the bottom of your bottle first, so the oils disperse into smaller drops to prevent clogging the atomiser top. I’ve found sometimes it works just with water, and sometimes it doesn’t – very annoying!)

Throw some essential oils into your bucket and mop your floors

Throw some essential oils into your bucket and mop your floors

And of course if you add essential oils to your house cleaning regime you have the added benefits of an aromatherapy treatment too. The essential oils go to work to help stagnating energy disappear, leaving you with a fresh, clean vibe and scent.

Here are some oils I recommend you use:

“Juniper

spontaneous lightness

I’ve always used juniper to release negative, watery, emotions. When you can let go of emotions and energy that do not serve your highest good. it is easier to find a more positive vibe…. If you want a champion of “protection” juniper will not let you down. Juniper has the sent of sophistication.”

 

 

tea tree

tea tree

“Tea Tree

purifying

 

Tea tree is brilliant for removing bacteria and other impurities from your environment and most people equate tea tree with this action….. There is noting subtle about tea tree, but don’t be hesitant to use it in a diffuser or sample it and take it with you in your bag….. If you feel like you need a sturdy force of purity in your space try tea tree with some softer oils to make your potion pleasing as well as powerful.”

 

As a quick method of personal protection put a couple of drops of essential oils in your palms, rub them together, then smoothe down your energetic field with the oil (it will look as thought you are stroking nothing, with your hands about 10cm from your actual body).

Voila! Instant recalibration!

To find out which other essential oils can help you cleanse your space and add a little protection from the outside, click on one of the links below.

Amazon USA      Amazon AU      Amazon UK

Thanks everyone.

copryright SR Banks

 

My Top 5 Oils For Brides – Part 1 (A Fresh Look, 2014)

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Amazon USA      Amazon AU      Amazon UK


My Top 5 Oils For Brides – Part 1 (A Fresh Look 2014)

 

aaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!

aaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!

 

Essential oils are great for anybody to use but there are some stand-out oils for brides.

Why?

The wedding planning can be stressful and it can also take up a lot of time. Of course it’s different for everyone, and whether you have a casual beach wedding or a party in a 5 star resort, you do have to think about a lot of fine details. You are also entering into a contract with your partner, and quite possibly changing your life forever. You are entering a new phase of your life too, with lots of new family members you are required to be nice to. There can be many issues surrounding your wedding and marriage, and essential oils can be your scented support system on the journey.

Essential oils not only smell beautiful, they can help minimise stress, and help you focus on the things that really matter – like your health and happiness rather than the seating plan, or the boyfriend of your friend who you don’t really like but have to invite anyway. You get the drift.

Essential oils work in an holistic way with your own energy, emotions and thoughts to provide a connection to the divine spirit within you.

orange blossom = neroli

orange blossom = neroli

1. Neroli

Neroli is a traditional oil for brides as it’s best qualities are those of relieving anxiety and tension – the flowers were strewn over the marital bed to ease tension, and included in the wedding bouquet to help you stay calm. The word Neroli comes from the name of an Italian princess who brought the oil into popular culture a few hundred years ago, so it’s actually quite a new oil to the field of Aromatherapy. Many oils and tinctures of plants have been around for thousands of years, and this is how we know they work.

Neroli is a wonderful oil to use as a perfume straight from the bottle from the moment your wedding fever kicks in. Use it when you are stressed about something not going the way you want it, or simply as a scent to help you cope with any mild anxiety. it is a beautiful scent to wear on your wedding day to give you a stunning, floral perfume and support your emotions and the butterflies in your stomach. This oil is an expensive oil and usually comes already diluted in jojoba to lower costs. The label will say “Neroli oil in 3% Jojoba and you can see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba.

Men tend to love this oil too, as it has a bitterness about it even though it’s a floral oil. If your man is stressing try some bergamot in place of neroli to relieve stress! A drop on his solar plexus chakra wouldn’t go astray on the big day.

 

 

the beautiful rose

the beautiful rose

2. Rose

Rose oil is the oil of Cleopatra – the oil of queens. It is sometimes referred to as the Queen of Oils too! Rose is the oil of loving yourself, and others. Whatever you think a Queen embodies – then so does this oil. Not only wonderful for skin, and as a regulator for heat, rose oil will bring a sense of calm and inner strength. This really is a woman’s oil. It is the essence of femininity and strength, of subtlety and fortitude.

Use rose oil during your lead-up to the wedding to help you stay centered and loving.

As for Neroli, rose will often already be diluted in 3% jojoba. Use it a perfume straight from the bottle, use it in your skincare regime in some rosehip oil and even give some the other women in your life who support you. Nurture yourself with rose oil.

 

lavender is spectacular

lavender is spectacular

3. Lavender

Lavender is the oil of calming, soothing and grounding. It brings all your scattered energy together. Lavender can be used to help induce sleep, to use in a bath when you a feeling overwhelmed, and to vapourise around you when you need to make difficult decisions. if you could only have one oil in your life, I suggest it would be lavender, as it has so many uses. It is the perfect first aid all because it helps cuts and wounds heal, helps burns lose their sting and is perfect for shock. Take some lavender with you to the wedding and have a huge sniff straight from the bottle to give you a blast of solidarity. Share it amongst the bridesmaids and if anyone has a headache a drop on the temples will aid the pain.

 

Geranium in my street

Geranium in my street

4. Geranium

This oil is made from the flower and it very definitely a strong floral oil! Geranium is another good oil for skincare -face and body. It is an oil of happiness and playfulness and is bright and full. I use geranium oil when I feel I need a boost, and when I need a bit of stability in my emotions. It’s great for brides who are quite emotional and teary and will help you as you plan your wedding –  when you need help looking for the fun and joy in the process. It’s easy to get bogged down in the “doing” of the wedding but it’s just as important to enjoy and be present in this process too. Have fun with geranium oil and it’s floral cheeriness.

 

frankincense resin - the oil is steam distilled from this

frankincense resin – the oil is steam distilled from this

5. Frankincense

Frankincense is the oil of breathing deeply. By taking deep, slow breaths you will automatically relax. Vapourise frankincense oil in your home for relaxation and as an oil to help you connect more deeply with your spirit. Traditionally used in the Catholic church to inspire the congregation reach a meditative and spiritual state, it is also used as a symbol of faithfulness to God, and in worship rituals. This oil is also good in skincare and is particularly indicated for more mature or dry skins. Once again add some of this stunning oil into your rosehip oil and use a a facial moisturiser. I use rosehip everyday on my face and I couldnt recommend anything better and more simple. When you add some essential oils to it, it becomes a powerful softening and nourishing treatment.

Stay tuned for My Top 5 Oils for Brides – Part 2 (Revised Edition 2014) for recipes and a more detailed description of how to use them.

Remember to treat yourself first , then everyone will benefit.

copryright SR Banks