10 Body Oil Recipes for Seasonal Change

Posted on August 26, 2015 by suzannerbanks

There’s nothing like a nourishing essential oil blend for your body, to soften your skin, cover you with energetic protection and generally keep your spirits up. And there’s no better time than now of course, as we move from one season to the next.

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

Barnes & Noble Booktopia AU Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as an ebook and paperback

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Body oils make lovely legs

As per usual here is my spiel on making a body oil:

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”

I took this gorgeous pic in Sydney on the weekend

Winter to Spring

This is a time to wake your body up, shed winter skin and get moving! Smell the sweet flowers and get happy ….

1. Spring Vibin’

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

Orange 4 drops

Ginger 1 drop

2. Leg Warmer Upperer and Getting Ready for Summer Legs

Rosemary 2 drops

Lemon 4 drops

Cypress 2 drops

3. Sprouting Soul

Petitgrain 3 drops

Lavender 3 drops

Patchouli 2 drops

4. A love of Blossoms

Mandarin 4 drops

Geranium 2 drops

Ylang Ylang 1 drop

5. Signs of Abundance

Palmarosa 4 drops

Australian Sandalwood 2 drops

Black pepper 1 drop

Do you have a cold autumn or a warm autumn?

Summer to Autumn

A time of lingering summer memories, cooling down and appreciating your life.

1. Gee That Was Fun!

Lemongrass 3 drops

Juniper 2 drops

Cedarwood Virginian 2 drops

2. What’s the Plan Now?

Bergamot 4 drops

Lavender 2 drops

Indian Rosewood 2 drops

3. Winding Down

Roman chamomile 3% 12 drops * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

Marjoram 2 drops

Lime 1 drop

4. The Colours of Happiness

Pink Grapefruit 7 drops

Vetiver 1 drop

5. Memories

Rose 3% 9 drops

Rose Geranium 3 drops

Rosemary 1 drop

Yellow roses for happiness and friendship

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

Check out my YouTube channel too, thanks.

Must-Have Mid Season Essential Oils!

Posted on August 5, 2015 by suzannerbanks

Time marches on and so do the seasons. I’m getting excited because all around my neighbourhood in Sydney I can see the jasmine blossoms building strength, until one day soon, their beautiful, scented little white flowers will tell me it’s getting warmer. Phew!

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

Barnes & Noble Booktopia AU Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as an ebook and paperback

***************************************************************************************************************

Jasmine in Sydney

And if you’re in summer it’s probably peaking right now and you’re feeling warm and lovely and happy. There’s nothing like late summer on a beach in Mexico, or in a park in Europe savouring the long lingering summer light. I’m envious of all of you northerners right now.

Remember for us, everything happens in summer. Well there’s summer for starters, Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and finishing of with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Then it’s winter.

Just winter.

So you’ll understand my excitement when I see the jasmine getting read to bloom.

I took this pic in Mexico last year

Mid to Late Summer Essential Oils

Lavender

If you’ve had a bit of sun over the past couple of months lavender will help your skin heal and regenerate. The perfect after sun oil, lavender is also the perfect first aid kit in a bottle. Make sure you dilute it in the right proportions before you coat your body with this grounding, centering and calming oil.

Palmarosa

This mildly rose scented grass (like lemongrass) is great for skin renewal too, and allows you to be flexible and flowing in your attitudes. If you haven’t already warmed up this summer, palmarosa with help your mind unwind and open up to new adventures – there’s still plenty more spontaneity to be had this summer.

Peppermint

Lovely peppermint is a cooling oil, but take care if you are using it on your body as it can be sensitising. The best way to cool down with peppermint is to put a few drops into the shower and let the beautiful aroma surround and cool you. Breathe in deeply and enjoy your scented summer.

Brrrrrrr

Mid to Late Winter Oils

Rosemary

Warm up and get the circulation going! Rosemary can help fatigued muscles feel better, and generally stimulate your mind so you can dream up the best spring and summer possible. It is also an oil of remembering to help us tune into our multi-dimensional existence, and to prepare us for the abundance of summer.

Juniper

Release excess fluid in your body and joints with juniper essential oil. It is a wonderful oil for releasing negativity, so if you tend to get a bit sad during winter because of lack of light, this is your oil. It’s fresh, clean scent can lighten the vibe of any house or space, including your mind.

Sandalwood

Whether you choose Mysore (Indian) sandalwood or Australian sandalwood, this spiritual oil can help you focus within. Take time this winter to meditate – the perfect accompaniment to a cold day or night. Winter is a time of planting ideas that can come to fruition over summer so don’t delay in creating your life.

Essential oils can help support you mentally, physically, emotionally and energetically if you allow them too. You can create a scented paradise for your self and your loved ones, creating life long memories and rituals.

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

Check out my YouTube channel too, thanks.

New Year – New Energy – Which Essential Oils?

Posted on January 7, 2015 by suzannerbanks

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

Amazon USA Booktopia AU Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as a Kindle and Paperback

New Year – New Energy – Which Essential Oils?

So here we are, 2015! It’s definitely the present but sounds like the future. It’s going to be a great year of fun, working together, and loving life. So which essential oils can we use to embellish our clean, crisp new year energy?

Hmmmmmmmm. I’m going to split this into 3 sections, with 3 oils in each:

1. Northern Hemisphere

2. Southern Hemisphere

3. Equatorial

It’s winter for you

1. Northern Hemisphere

Brrrr it’s winter for you, so the oils that I’m sending to you are those which will be comforting, warming and loving.

Cinnamon – best to use this in the atmosphere rather than on your skin because it can really burn. It’s an oil of sweetness and loving what you do, and a spice that is loved by so many people. Used in herbal formulas the spice can help to increase metabolism and even help breakdown glucose in the blood a little bit faster; so it’s interesting that it’s often used in baking. This is a wonderful oil to use in your space to invite a new depth of your place in this world – your dharma. What is your true purpose?

Rosemary – warm up your feet and entire body with an oil blend made with rosemary oil. It is also the oil of remembering and there’s no better time than in winter to remember the good times, while you’re tucked away from the cold. It is a stimulating and refreshing oil and inspires us to look at the beautiful flow of abundance in our lives. Be grateful for what you have NOW, and energetically create your new plans.

Cedarwood Virginian – dissolve the barriers from last year to start the new year with a clean slate. This comforting oil can be used in body blends so well and is also great for soothing coughs and colds. This is also a wonderful oil to help with the answers to your questions of purpose in life. For you this winter, starting 2015, we need you to be absolutely committed to your spiritual and human purpose. This is evolution.

I took this pic the other day

2. Southern Hemisphere

Yay it’s summer for us! Beach, gin and tonics, beach, swimming, really hot, beach.It’s our turn to celebrate and be out in the sun (with sunscreen on). We can relax and enjoy life. No need to think about the future too much – just be present.

Geranium – happiness and cheeriness. Perfect for a body oil blend or in a space scenting blend this floral oil of happiness reminds us we can feel good about life and enjoy every minute. It emanates colour, fun and joy – so be happy!

Vetiver – the oil of tranquility and abundance this oil is great to use to help remove heat from the body and to cool us down in the humid summer evenings. This very strong oil should be used sparingly and 1 drop around the body is enough. A couple of drops on a wet cloth, placed in front of a fan or a window can scent the entire house with the cool, earthy tones to help slip into a vibration of peacefulness and trusting.

Basil – expansive and refreshing basil oil will help open our minds to the wonderful opportunities for 2015. Basil oil can help strengthen our affirmations and resolutions for 2015 and will give us confidence. Whiff straight from the bottle or add to a space scenting blend to connect to universal intelligence.

The Equator – pic via commons.wikimedia.org

3. Equatorial

You’re in the middle and hold us together. Whether you’re north or south of this mid line, it’s a bit milder and the seasons are not necessarily as pronounced. Your new year is one of balance and happiness where you can look forward to a 2015 full of laughter and warmth. Your oils are those which can add both introspection and celebration to your new year.

Sandalwood Indian – a classic oil for spirituality this oil gives deep meaning to the times when you can take a moment to look within. It can help raise your energetic vibration from the base of your spine right up to your crown chakra and can help you move through any thing holding you back from 2014. Perfect just to whiff straight from the bottle.

Lavender – solidarity and strength, lavender can be the one oil that can bring your thoughts, feelings and actions together. Lavender can be used for just about any issues whether physical, mental or spiritual. Perfect for a body blend lavender will nourish your skin and your soul.

Bergamot – happiness and bringing a sense of calm, bergamot is a beautiful oil to help you see the possibilities for this year. Remove any anxiety you may have about the future and just breathe! Mix a couple of drops with some carrier oil and anoint your wrists and heart to lift anything that could be holding you back.

For another new year article check this out: 2015! The Universal Number of 8! and also stay tuned for my Chinese Year of the Goat post in mid February.

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

Fountain of Youth

Posted on November 3, 2014 by suzannerbanks

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

“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!

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

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.

There’s More Than One Eucalyptus Oil!

Posted on September 3, 2014 by suzannerbanks

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

Amazon USA Amazon AU Amazon UK

There’s More Than One Eucalyptus Oil!

Eucalyptus globulus - pic via www.wildseedtasmania.com.au

Eucalyptus globulus – pic via http://www.wildseedtasmania.com.au

I love Eucalyptus!

1. Eucalyptus globulus

This eucalyptus tree – the “blue gum” – is the one most used to produce the essential oil. According to Wikipedia it’s also called the Tasmanian Blue Gum or Southern Blue Gum too. You are probably going to get Eucalyptus globulus when you buy eucalyptus oil. This oil is sharp, strong, clean and fresh and is the classic, most identifiable eucalyptus scent.This oil has been produced for nearly a century and the main production now comes from China. There are many of these trees in the USA too and other warm climates. The tree is easily able to adapt, and because of this it has been the most planted eucalyptus tree in the world.

Eucalyptus radiata

2. Eucalyptus radiata

This is also called the “narrow-leaved peppermint gum” and there seem to be quite a few chemotypes (different scents). I buy this as my everyday eucalyptus oil, as it’s a bit milder and sweeter in scent than the globulus. It still has the same amazing qualities of globulus, and in fact all the eucalypts (as with the melaleucas – see my post “All the Australian Melaleucas”, share similar properties. I recommend trying this lovely oil next time you need some eucalyptus oil.

Eucalyptus polybractea

3. Eucalyptus polybractea

This is the ‘Blue mallee’ tree. The oil from this tree has a high cineole content (1,8-cineole is one of the particular active ingredients in eucalyptus tree), which gives it a camphorous and pungent scent. Penetrating and sharp, it is less likely to be found when searching for “eucalyptus oil”, but I have bought blue mallee oil from supermarkets here in Australia and it’s inexpensive and gorgeous. I think there is one brand I found in a supermarket that’s also organic. Even looking at these three pictures it’s hard to distinguish the difference in the look of the leaves and flowers.

Eucalyptus citriodora

4. Eucalyptus citriodora

Yep if you guessed lemon scented you’d be right. It has a citronella/lemon scent, a bit like lemon tea tree, but not really. It is high in citronellal and that would explain the scent. It is a warm, almost herbaceous lemon scent and has different shaped leaves to the others discussed so far. I don’t really use this oil although I do carry it in my kit. I would probably use a classic eucalyptus with another lemon scented oil if I need that combination.

Eucalyptus dives

5. Eucalyptus dives

This eucalyptus tree is also used to distill essential oils, but I don’t really use this one a lot either. In fact I don’t think I even have any. Its common name is “broad-leaved peppermint” (radiata was called narrow-leaved peppermint). It has a couple of chemotypes that produce oils and once again the constituents are particular to its type but include the 1,8-cineole, common to all eucalypts. I can’t describe the scent as I can’t remember the last time I used it or smelled it. It is however used for its high piperitone content which gives it a pepperminty-camphorous scent.

Eucalyptus piperita

6. Eucalyptus piperita

Wikipedia claims this is called “Sydney peppermint” but I’ve never heard that. Can’t say I ever smelled the oil either but this one is also high in piperitone too. I’ve never looked for it for sale but I’m sure someone makes it. The English phyto-chemist H. G. Smith who moved here in the late 1800’s, wrote a paper on the volatile oil of Eucalyptus piperita and also wrote a book with his colleague on the Eucalypts of Australia.

Eucalyptus smithii

7. Eucalyptus smithii

This is the “gully gum” also found in South Africa where this is the main eucalyptus for oil production. It was named after Mr Smith (from the paragraph above) and is quite high in 1,8-cineole. It has that classic eucalyptus scent and all the qualities you would expect:

*decongestant

*astringent

*analgesic

*anti-septic

*expectorant

and the list goes on. It’s typically used for colds, flu, coughs and many respiratory complaints and is warming and refreshing.

Get some eucalyptus oil in your house NOW! It has a simple yet very strong message –

“cleanse, clarify, open your mind”

Essential Oils for Summer Wellness

Posted on June 23, 2014 by suzannerbanks

Summer is helped by essential oils

As promised, here’s a summer guide to essential oils for all my northern hemisphere buddies. There are lots of cooling oils and these can be used so well in summer to take the heat off your skin and cool down your energetic flow.

Lavender is the most versatile essential oil we have and it can be used all through the year

1. Lavender

Why?

* perfect for sunburn when diluted with a carrier oil. Lavender is great for all burns and I apply a drop direct for a small heat burn coming from the toaster or stove or anything you can think of

* takes the itch or sting out of an insect bite

* helps relax you and may help induce sleep on a hot summer’s night

* brings solidarity and strength so you can get all the summer fun things you want squished into a day

The divine scent of the rose is not the only thing it has going for it

2. Rose

Why?

* wonderful for cooling the body in an oil, and even rosewater has cooling effects and that’s why in Indian cuisine you can drink a rosewater lassi, made not only for the beautiful taste but for helping the body deal with heat – delicious! Remember NOT to drink the essential oil though.

* it’s a self-nurturing oil so remember to treat your self first and then everyone will benefit – just like Cleopatra did!

* great for a facial oil if you’ve had a bit too much sun (for all the reasons above)

* usually comes (in retail) in a 3% blend in jojoba ready to use direct on your skin as a perfume (see my article on 3% blends in jojoba for more info)

Hairy vetiver root that makes the essential oil

3. Vetiver

Why?

* called the “Oil of Tranquility” in India this oil is not only very grounding and calming, it is also another oil that can be used to cool the body down

* only use a drop or two in any formula as it is so strong it can take over any of the other oils you have used

* wonderful to cool down over-heated kids throwing tantrums – use a drop on yourself and cuddle your child as they begin to settle

Bergamot – pic via globalhealingcenter.com

4. Bergamot

Why?

* this oil has a fresh summery citrus scent and can help release tension and anxiety

* wonderful for a body oil blend to nourish your skin, but only use AFTER sun not before, as it has some photo toxic properties

* brings an aura of cool and calm

A jasmine blossom in Sydney

5. Jasmine

Why?

* enhances summer sensuality

* brings a beautiful feminine scent to your aura and helps confidence in your sexuality – wear it as a scent when you go out for a dance and watch your magic unfold

* usually comes (in retail) in a 3% blend in jojoba ready to use direct on your skin as a perfume (see my article on 3% blends in jojoba for more info)

Delicious lemongrass

6. Lemongrass

Why?

* a great insect repellent either for cleaning, vapourising or wearing on your body in an oil blend

* lemon myrtle and citronella can also be used in place of lemongrass to ward off the biters

* gives a fresh boost to your energy if you are lagging in the heat

If you have a few people in your home, especially if you have kids, I recommend you diffuse oils in your home at night during summer, not only to create a lovely scented atmosphere, but to lend a little bit of cooling anti-bacterial magic to the mix. When using essential oils, remember they exist to not only help you create a wonderful feeling, but they can help you feel a little better, more comfortable and a little cooler too.

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

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

suzannerbanks

scent . intention . consciousness . essential oils

Tag Archives: essential oils for cooling the body

10 Body Oil Recipes for Seasonal Change

Must-Have Mid Season Essential Oils!

New Year – New Energy – Which Essential Oils?

Fountain of Youth

There’s More Than One Eucalyptus Oil!

Essential Oils for Summer Wellness

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