Balneotherapy – Let’s Create Our Own Using Essential Oils!

mystic hot springs Utah via thesoakinglife.com

Mystic Hot Springs Utah via thesoakinglife.com

Balneotherapy – what is it?

It encompasses many aspects of bathing including soaking in mineral enriched waters in natural springs (either hot or cold or both); it may also include massage while in a bath and may also have added extras like clays and essential oils. The water may be hot or cold or both.

While it is not hydrotherapy, the title balneotherapy is basically about bathing in water, and all its variations.

Rotorua hot pools enriched with sulphur

Rotorua hot pools enriched with sulphur

There are many amazing natural springs all over the world, including the incredible pools in Rotorua, New Zealand which have a very high sulphur content, and a very high sulphuric scent too. Nature is a wonderful thing, but if we can’t get to a hot spring once a week, I’ve decided that we can create our own balneotherapy treatment schedule. If you don’t have a bath use a bucket and soak your feet and legs instead. It wont be as fabulous but you’ll be amazed at how much difference it can make.

This regime will:

* relax your muscles

* help your body unwind

* soften and improve the look of your skin

* hydrate your body

* increase flow in your lymphatic system to help rid your body of a build up of toxins

* cleanse and balance your energetic body

* allow your mind to release stress

* allow space for change and creation

TIPS:

Don’t make the bath too hot. It’s better to add more hot water if necessary. Soak for 15 minutes minimum.

Sometimes essential oils can sting the skin when mixed with a hot bath. If you find you feel a bit prickly, then smooth a carrier oil like almond, all over your skin (when you get out of the bath) to disperse the essential oil.

3 Week Balneotherapy Course  (In Your own Home)

sea salt

sea salt

Week 1 “DETOX” – 2 baths

Try and have the baths a few days apart but if that wont work just do it whenever you can.

Bath 1

To a bath add 2 cups of sea salt either Dead Sea Salt or Celtic Sea Salt

with

Lavender 6 drops

Juniper    4 drops (add the oils to the salt first)

++++

To a foot bath add 3/4 cup of Dead Sea Salt or Celtic Sea Salt

with

Lavender   3 drop

Juniper      2 drop

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Bath 2

To a bath add 2 cups of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts)

with

Eucalyptus    4 drops

Rosewood    6 drops (add the oils to the salt first)

++++

To a foot bath add 3/4 cup of magnesium sulphate

and

Eucalyptus   2 drop

Rosewood   3 drop

—————————————————————————————————————————————

clay bath or a mud bath?

clay bath or a mud bath?

Week 2 “NURTURE” – 2 baths

Bath 1

To a bath add 1 cup of white clay

with

Rose 3 %  18 drops

Bergamot  4 drops (add the oils to the clay first)

++++

To a foot bath add 1/4 cup of white clay

with

Rose 3%   9 drops

Bergamot  2 drops

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

Bath 2

To a bath add 1 can of coconut milk (high fat)

with

Geranium   6 drops

Marjoram   4 drops (add the oils to the milk first)

++++

To a foot bath add 1/2 can coconut milk

with

Geranium   3 drops

Marjoram   2 drops

—————————————————————————————————————————————

a petal bath - looks great but the cleaning -UGH!

a petal bath – looks great but the cleaning -UGH!

Week 3 “CREATE” – 2 baths

Bath 1

To a bath add a bunch of fresh mixed herbs including coriander, basil, marjoram and thyme. You wont need any essential oils as the oils from the herbs will make an infusion.

To a foot bath add the same bunch, but just a bit less.

** This may be quite stimulating so try not to do it right before bed

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Bath 2

To a bath add a 4 or 5  herbal tea bags. It could be plain chamomile, or a relaxing blended tea. If you have loose leaf tea that’s even better, just put it in a stocking, a piece of fine material or a larger infuser.

To a foot bath add the same as above, but just a bit less (2 teabags should be enough)

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3 weeks of balneotherapy to nurture your body, open your mind and connect with your spirit.

I’m going to do this course and report on my findings. If you’d like to try it I’d love to hear from you.

Good Luck!

 

copyright suzannerbanks 2013

Softly and Gently with the Chamomiles

Roman chamomile Anthemis nobilis or Chamaemelum nobile

Roman chamomile Anthemis nobilis or Chamaemelum nobile

What a pretty flower! I always loved daisies as a child, and the chamomiles belong to this species called Asteraceae or Compositae. Chamomile is famous for it’s soothing nature and tranquil effects, and is used in both herbal medicine and aromatherapy alike. I’ve always thought of Aromatherapy as a specialist part of herbal medicine, powerful because it insists we use our sense of smell for healing and interacting with the world.

1. Roman Chamomile 

Anthemis nobilis or Chamaemelum nobile

This chamomile has a sweet honey like aroma, and appeals to many people because of this softness. Roman chamomile is usually found in a 3% jojoba blend because of its price. It is often overlooked in favour of German chamomile but please give it a try. It is one of those oils that gives an immediate reaction of bliss.

In aromatherapy Roman chamomile is the one used as an anti-spasmodic treatment, an tonic for unclenching, that may also help the smooth muscle of the gut relax. Also great for muscle spasm and tension and general fatigue and stress.

Best of all, I like to use Roman chamomile as a perfume straight from the bottle. No doubt people will be attracted to you when you wear this oil as you will smell divine and will be radiating a sense of calm and knowingness. Try these recipes

“Floatin’ on a Cloud”

For release of gripping tension and pain in the body make an oil blend with 3 teaspoons of carrier oil and add:

Roman Chamomile 3%      8 drops

Marjoram                           2 drops

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

“Venus”

As a pulse point perfume mix these drops together and anoint your chosen spot –  for attracting and resonating with a goddess-like energy

Roman Chamomile 3 %    3 drops

Rosewood                        2 drops

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

German chamomile - Matricaria chamomilla or Matricaria recutita)

German chamomile – Matricaria chamomilla or Matricaria recutita)

2. German Chamomile

This tiny little flower is a different genus to Roman chamomile and what sets it apart from most oils is its blue colour. During the distillation process, one of the consituents – chamazulene – is changed to give a deep blue hue to the oil. This oil is best used as an anti-inflammatory and works well with lavender in this sense. It is great for stress, anxiety, and any tension in the body. It is a strongly scented herbaceous oil and I would not say this is an oil to use as a perfume. Think BLUE – think COOLING! A good oil for joints and muscles as well as an over thinking mind. German chamomile is more readily found then Roman chamomile and will also be in a 3% jojoba blend. Try these remedies:

“Release”

For a treatment of painful joints make an oil blend with 3 teaspoons of carrier oil, rub over the joint and cover with a bandage. Rest. Add these essential oils to create your treatment:

German chamomile  3%   8 drops

Lavender                          2 drops

Peppermint                       1 drop

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

“Cocoon”

After a stressful day stop your mind from over-processing by mixing the following into a little container and rubbing on your temples and third eye. Remember to put a little of the oil residue inside your nose to gain maximum benefit, and dilute with a few drops of carrier oil.

German Chamomile           2 drops

Orange                               2 drops

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

The chamomiles are your ancient tool for stress release.

Remember to use your intention when you make your blends to give extra power and personality to the formula.  For more information on intention see my article What Do I Mean when I Say “Use Your Intention”?

copyright suzannerbanks 2013

Essential Oil Recipes To Get Yourself from “I’m a Loser” to “Things are Looking Better”

positive attitude via chasingmiracle.com

positive attitude via chasingmiracle.com

Sometimes we are just not positive all the time. That’s life, that’s hormones, that’s being human. Granted some people – like Wayne Dyer for instance – is positive most of the time, but I’m sure he has a moment or two when things aren’t completely rosy. It’s times like this we need to be our own champions of happiness and acceptance. Positive self talk is an important part of survival and a skill that needs to be practised. It’s great when you have someone to talk to about not feeling good about yourself, but that is not always the case. If you can muster up the energy to get some oils out and formulate a gorgeous scent for yourself, you are on the road to altering your perception of reality.

And what is reality anyway?

What is reality? via fusionanomoly.net

What is reality? via fusionanomoly.net

Our realities are a projection of our inner world.

So when you need to change your reality here are some great oil blends to help you on the path of least resistance.

Body Oils 

In 3 teaspoons of carrier oil add the following drops. If you want to make a bottle follow my article here for the correct ratios  Aromatherapy – It’s as Easy as 1 2 3.

To improve thoughts like “I’m a fat, ugly, loser” try

“I AM Alive, Yay”

Ylang Ylang    3 drops (help release anger and frustration, get sexy)

Mandarin        4 drops (innocence of life, happiness)

Fennel            1 drop (love yourself, be kind to yourself)

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

To improve thoughts like “I never get it right, she is so successful, look what they have”

“Free Spirit”

Cinnamon                  2 drops (inspires loving what you do for work)

Cedarwood Virginian  2 drops (connect to your spirit)

Lemongrass               4 drops (stimulates energy in the etheric body and physical body)

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

To improve thoughts like “I feel alone, I’m lonely, I want a partner” try

“OOO So HOT Right Now”

Sandalwood             1 drop (spirituality, sacred sexuality, tap into kundalini energy)

Rosewood               3 drops (flow of love and giving and receiving in the heart chakra)

Pink Grapefruit         4 drops (sparkle, cleanse old unwanted feelings)

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

Pure Pulse Point Perfumes

Anoint your chakras, or pulse points with the pure essential oil. Use the energy of the oil and the scent to transform your funk. Place a few drops into a container, dilute with a few drops of carrier oil, mix with your finger and anoint. Always place a tiny residue under your nose for the scent to go to work on your mind.

To improve feelings of deep regret and unhappiness try

“One Moment in Time”

Nutmeg       1 drop (mysticism, open your mind)

Lime            1 drop (happiness, my uniqueness is my forte)

Lemon         1 drop (refresh, reload new feelings)

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

To improve feelings of sadness, grief in any form and emotional pain try

“Breathe In, Breathe Out”

Marjoram             1 drop (relief, calming)

Rose Geranium    1 drop (happiness, joy, fun)

Juniper                 1 drop (release watery emotions)

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

To improve feelings of loss, not fitting in and not understanding life try

“I Share My Cells with an Elephant”

Spikenard                1 drop (spiritual knowledge of where you are in the universe)

Neroli in 3% jojoba   3 drops (immortality, fountain of youth, stress relief)

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

The most powerful ingredient when blending your oils is the subtle power of intention. When you place your intention, into your oil formula, you will create a masterpiece of healing through scent. For more information on intention see my article ( What Do I Mean when I Say “Use Your Intention”?

Remember to treat yourself first and then everyone will benefit.

copyright suzannerbanks 2013

Essential Oil Recipes for the Gentleman

Hello natural beauties! It’s not only presumptuous, but very outdated to suggest that a particular oil or scent is more suited to a woman or a man. I have male friends who love geranium and woman clients who don’t like lavender. It comes down to (as always) preference, and that’s why there are so many perfumes and colognes in the world. There must be an infinite number of scent combinations possible with and infinite number of personal preferences …

 

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Buy my 100% natural and organic botanical perfumes, and paperback book here: suzannerbanks.com.au

Digital downloads of my book Revelation! Reveal your Destiny with Essentials Oils:

Barnes & Noble      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK

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When I’m talking about essential oils, it’s not just about the scent but the therapeutic properties too. In my previous post “Electrifying Essential Oil Body Blends – for the Ladies” I create some wonderful oil blends specifically for women. In this article I will do the same for men. Hope you enjoy it.

 

smooth skin

 

Face Moisturiser and After Shave

The last thing you need after shaving with a razor is an alcohol filled splash. You have just taken off the hair and at least a layer of skin, so it’s best to go with soft creams and oils. Even if you don’t shave, using oils on your face with enhance the appearance of your skin, keep it hydrated and make you smell gorgeous. Some people even use oil in place of shaving cream, and it can work well. Oil will then be left on your skin and in your pores and extra moisturising may not even be necessary.

“Shaken, Not Stirred”

This blend is for the face and even one teaspoon will last a few days. In a little dish add one teaspoon of oil (apricot kernel oil, rosehip oil, camelia oil, almond oil) and then add a total of 3 drops:

Lemongrass                  1 drop

Cedarwood Atlas          1 drop

Lavender                       1 drop

Dip your fingers in to mix the formula, then use a few drops, rub between fingers and apply to your face. Less is best to start with then use more as required


“Resistance is Futile”

A blend to tap into your positive powers and smell divine at the same time. In one teaspoon of oil add a total of 3 drops::

Sandalwood   1 drop

Orange           2 drops


“Recovery”

A blend to help your skin after drinking or lack of sleep. In one teaspoon of oil adda total of 3 drops::

Bergamot      2 drops

Patchouli       1 drop


 

Body Oil and Natural Scent

There are lots of men who are into natural products and it’s easy to create natural scent. Similar to how the face moisturiser is made, you can also make oils for your body and use these like a cream -all over your body, or simply use a bit on your arms, chest and neck in place of cologne. Here are a few recipes designed for the body:

 

treat your body well!

“I’m Pumped”

An after gym oil for all over your body. You don’t need to use much, just smooth the oil between your palms first. The more hair you have the more oil you will have to use because the hair follicle will absorb a lot!

In 4 teaspoons of oil (this time use a heavier oil like sunflower, almond, grapeseed or even olive) add a total of 10 drops:

Rosemary    3 drops

Lemon         6 drops

Marjoram     1 drop


“I’m Getting My Suave On”

For a night out….

In 4 teaspoons of oil (this time use a heavier oil like sunflower, almond, grapeseed or even olive) add a total of 10 drops:

Grapefruit                   8 drops

Cedarwood Virginian  1 drop

Ylang Ylang                1 drop


“Sun’s Out Guns Out”

To make your skin look, feel and smell amazing!

In 4 teaspoons of oil (this time use a heavier oil like sunflower, almond, grapeseed or even olive) add a total of 10 drops:

Australian sandalwood   5 drops

Petitgrain                       3 drops

Palmarosa                     2 drops

 

Natural scents for everyone!

 

Natural scents are wonderful for everyone! A man’s skin will benefit from the therapeutic properties of essential oils: skin renewal and hydration, easing muscle tension, easing stress, keeping the mind alert and general well-being.

And always consider the meta physical properties too: awakening the soul, stimulating happiness, connecting to the universe and your purpose in life.

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

 

copyright suzannerbanks 2013

Essential Oils from Herbs are Spectacular!

oh lovely peppermint!

oh lovely peppermint!

The Lamiacae family of plants groups together lots of great herbs we know and use frequently. It used to be called the Labiatae family (and sometimes still is), but I’m glad we’ve upgraded the name!

You may never have guessed it but these plants, that make wonderful aromatic oils, belong together:

Basil

Clary Sage

Hyssop

Lavender

Melissa (lemon balm)

Marjoram

Oregano

Peppermint

Patchouli

Sage

Spearmint

Thyme

So when you smell lavender, even though the flowering tops are used in the distillation process (as well as other parts of the plant), it really is a herb. Try smelling hints of marjoram in the oil and it can give you a very different opinion of it.

thyme

thyme

Thyme and oregano also have those marjoram notes too, even though they are very strong oils and less user-friendly than marjoram in massage and skincare.

Hyssop has a spicy scent, and once again very herbaceous. It smells similar to sage, lavender and marjoram.

Basil is quite distinct, but two or three seconds into a good long whiff, you will also detect hints of the other herbs.

Clary Sage is a very heady oil and quite different to Sage – but you can almost smell a little hyssop in there.

patchouli - looks a bit like mint

patchouli – looks a bit like mint

Patchouli is another oil that tends to stand out in this group as it has very individual notes. The earthiness however, connects a little bit to the sages, and even thyme.

melissa - can you see the similarity in the leaves of all these herbs?

melissa – can you see the similarity in the leaves of all these herbs?

Melissa is a premium oil and is the only lemon scented herb of the group. It is a lot more subtle than other lemon scented oils like lemongrass, may chang and lemon scented tea tree. I would definitely consider it to be quite special and very talented.

The mints are very different and spearmint often gets a bad wrap because of its use in toothpaste and gums. Some people find it hard to relate to as an essential oil but I love it in mists and use it in skincare too. It’s great to use when peppermint is too strong for an oil blend for the body, and when you want a herb that’s sweet and light.

This lovely Lamiacae family deserves our praise and thanks for serving us for thousands of years. And now we have the beautiful aromatic oils they provide, yay for us!

We live in a scented paradise!

Peru Balsam – I LOVE you!

Myroxylon balsamum - Peru or Tolu Balsam (pic sneakily borrowed Fragrantica)

Myroxylon balsamum – Peru or Tolu Balsam (pic sneakily borrowed Fragrantica)

I placed an order with one of my suppliers the other day and was upset to find they will no longer stock peru balsam essential oil. The customer service operator said there has been a lot of negative publicity lately about the oil as a skin irritant, and that it was used more in perfumery. Yeah! That’s why I want it! I want it for the scent. So I’ll be looking for this stunning oil from somewhere else and hope I can find a lovely one.

This beautiful oil, is like a combination of benzoin and vanilla. (Benzoin tincture is the red liquid used for cuts and abrasions and other skin issues that need an anti-bacterial wash. It was often in the first aid kit for wound healing, and has been used for hundreds of years. It was also called Friars Balsam and is also a resin like Peru Balsam, but comes from the Styrax family. It is also used in perfumery and comes from Indonesia and other parts of Asia).

Peru Balsam is sweet and soft and has warming stimulating properties reportedly to be a great treatment for skin conditions. I suppose over-use of the oil can lead to the opposite effect – skin irritations.  I have never seen any negative results from using this oil and actually love to use it as a perfume. It’s fantastic for vapourising to act as a soothing agent to stress, and add some sweetness and healing energy into the room. It is like a balm for the soul and when you take a deep whiff, it’s almost like you can smell a protective honeycomb, multi-dimensional energy field.

peru balsam resin

peru balsam resin

So apparently it’s not used in Aromatherapy as much as it is used in perfumery. It hails from Central and South America and although it isn’t native to Peru, it was shipped to Europe from Lima in Peru in the 1600’s for perfumery, medicine and food flavouring.

In my practice I use Peru Balsam when I feel nurturing and protection is required. It goes well with orange and in fact this blend is a favourite of one of my clients. I use this on myself as a perfume straight from the bottle and also blend it with other oils for a body oil blend.

Here are a couple of recipes;

Sweet Unicorn Dreams

25 drops in a vapuouriser to sweeten the air, de-stress and to help avoid bad dreams

Peru Balsam 12 drops

Orange          9 drops

Marjoram       4 drops

Skin of Silk

8 drops in 3 teaspoons of carrier oil for a body oil

Peru Balsam    4 drops

Lavender          3 drops

Patchouli          1 drop

Knight in Shining Armour

25 drops in a 50ml mist bottle topped up with water for use as a space cleansing and protection mist

Peru Balsam  10 drops

Lime                8 drops

Rosewood       6 drops

Vetiver             1 drop

I don’t think we need to be afraid of the potentially sensitising nature of this oil, but perhaps use caution and don’t use it with kids. The old adage “everything in moderation” works well for us here as it does in everyday life.

Remember to treat yourself first and then everyone will benefit!

Are there any Aromatherapists out there who use Peru Balsam, and also those who don’t? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section, don’t be shy.

A Recipe for Recovery and How to Choose Oils

Recovery Formula

Recovery Formula

I visited a friend today, and when he opened the door I said “emergency aromatherapy”. He is recovering from an operation and this was my first visit. Naturally I took my essential oil case, which accompanies me to all my clients homes and a few places in between. This has most of my essential oils, 2 styles of empty bottles for making bespoke aromatherapy formulas in, a towel, labels, pens, a hair clip, a few different kinds of carrier oils and some tissues. And a liniment. Prepared for anything I reckon! Oh – and a lip balm.

My lovely case of oils

My lovely case of oils

I needed to make a formula that would help with scar tissue from the operation, work as an anti-inflammatory on the skin and surrounding tissues, act as a soothing agent for emotional imbalances that come with the invasion of surgery and anesthesia, as a pain relief balm and something that can aid sleep. So basically my formula needed to be repairing, soothing, cooling and calming. There are a lot of oils in my case and an infinite number of combinations. When I say “infinite” I really mean “infinite”. So how do I choose?

My method for Choosing Oils for a treatment:

* open the case

* look at the oils

* breathe deeply

* pick the oils that seems to amplify themselves – it’s almost like they are glowing

* look at the selection then return any that don’t feel right

* consolidate the selection and work out quantities -drops of each oil to go into the formula

You can also do this when you are deciding on what oils to use, even if you are just picking an oil to use direct from the bottle as a perfume. When I first started treating people I used this method. Sometimes I would have no idea why I chose the oils (or they chose the client), so when the client was getting ready to get on the table, I’d wait outside and madly flick through an aromatherapy book.  I’d get a word or two for each oil and when I entered the room I’d say “Your oil blend today is ………… and this is for ………….. and to help you with …………..”. Sometimes I’d just make it up. This is actually called intuition and don’t ever be too scared to use it. It could be the difference between a nice oil blend and a mind-blowing combination!

German chamomile - Matricaria recutita

German chamomile – Matricaria recutita

So my oil blend today was simple and grand! Lavender, Marjoram and German Chamomile. I called it “Recovery Formula” and my intention was to help my friend relax and heal.

Recovery Formula

In 50 mls of carrier oil add

Lavender 8 drops- all purpose healing oil, anti-inflammatory and cell regenerating

Marjoram 8 drops- relief, pain relief, relief from sadness, sedating

German chamomile in jojoba 15 drops – strong anti-inflammatory especially when used with lavender

I actually made my formula stronger but for your information and guidance it’s better to stick with the official blending quantities.

Use your intuition (borrowed from eventexperts.com.au)

Use your intuition (borrowed from eventexperts.com.au)

Remember to use your intuition and your intention when choosing oils for your oil blend and when deciding on how many drops of each to use. Intuition is like a muscle – the more you use it, trust it, rely on it – the stronger it will become.

Christmas Essential Oil Blends

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


Christmas Essential Oil Blends

The North and the South

The North and the South

Christmas may be famous for snowflakes and reindeer, but believe it or not people it’s a HOT Christmas for some. And oh how we love to go to the beach and do summery things at Christmas in Australia. I’ve created a few blends for you according to your place in the world

Here are some great essential oil recipes for scenting your space on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Southern Hemisphere

sneakily borrowed from silver-mg.com

sneakily borrowed from silver-mg.com

 

I’m thinking citrus and a little spice. Maybe even some indigenous trees.

All blends are for a vapouriser or “oil burner”.

Buzz Off – a blend for an outdoor celebration, to keep away the little biters

Lemongrass       10 drops

Lavender            10 drops

Peppermint         5 drops

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Chill –  a cooling and relaxing blend

Lemon               10 drops

Tea Tree              5 drops

Petitgrain           10 drops

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Aaahhhhh Summer! – sparkly and fun

Lime                  10 drops

Orange               10 drops

Cinnamon            5 drops

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Northern Hemisphere

All I Want for Christmas .....

All I Want for Christmas …..

 

I’m thinking herbs and spice.

All blends are for a vapouriser or “oil burner”.

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White Christmas – a classic Christmas scene

Rosemary             5 drops

Orange               12 drops

Nutmeg                5 drops

Myrrh                    3 drops

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All I want for Christmas is Mariah Carey – a fun, uplifting blend

Cinnamon            10 drops

Peru Balsam        10 drops

Mandarin               5 drops

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Mulled Wine – warm and lovely

Marjoram           5 drops

Clove                 5 drops

Lavender           5 drops

Bergamot         10 drops

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Get scenting! I’d love to hear what blends you are making for Christmas. And if you don’t celebrate Christmas, what blends are you creating right now?

Remember to use your intention when you are placing the oils in your vapouriser. What mood do you want to create? How do you want yourself and your guests to feel? See my article about intention.

copryright SR Banks