Essential Oils Recipes for Festivus 2017

Posted on December 22, 2017 by suzannerbanks

Festivus is here again and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve created some recipes to stand alongside the key parts to this wonderful day. What is Festivus you may ask? It’s the holiday that crushes Hanukkah and Christmas, allows a coming together of like minds, and gives a day of fun for those who are not religious. Celebrated by George Costanza’s father, Frank, (from the comedy show Seinfeld), let’s embrace this fabulous celebration!

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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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Festivus for the rest of us! pic via www.tshirtbordello.com

Festivus for the rest of us! pic via http://www.tshirtbordello.com

To be more precise it’s the family of the writer of this episode who created Festivus:

Festivus was conceived by editor and author Daniel O’Keefe and was celebrated by his family as early as 1966. In the original O’Keefe tradition, the holiday would take place in response to family tension, “any time from December to May”.^] The phrase, “a Festivus for the rest of us”, also derived from an O’Keefe family event, the death of Daniel O’Keefe’s mother.
Wikipedia

The Festivus Pole pic via festivusweb.com

The Festivus Pole replaces the Christmas tree and stands unadorned:

“Frank Costanza cites its “very high strength-to-weight ratio” as appealing. During Festivus, the pole is displayed unadorned. According to Frank, “I find tinsel distracting.”

Wikipedia

I love the simplicity of the Festivus pole and I’m hoping it can inspire you to simplify this Christmas Here are a couple of blends for yourself, to help to feel less stressed and more streamlined.

Method: 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”

Silver

Lemongrass 3 drops

Cedarwood Virginian 2 drops

Peru Balsam 2 drops

La Verité

Bergamot 5 drops

Geranium 2 drops

Vetiver 1 drop

The Airing of Grievances pic via festivusweb.com

Ah yes the Airing of Grievances, straight after the Festivus dinner, seems a good way to finish off the year and start the new year afresh. Here are a couple of blends for your space to support this difficult yet necessary part of Festivus.

Method: Scent Your Space

In a traditional oil burner with a candle or a diffuser add 25 drops of oil

Release Frustration and Anger

Mandarin 12 drops

Ylang Ylang 6 drops

Marjoram 4 drops

Frankincense 3 drops

Forgive

Orange 10 drops

Palmarosa 8 drops

Lavender 4 drops

Patchouli 3 drops

Feats of Strength! pic via festivusweb.com

The Feats of Strength championship finalises the Festivus celebrations. As depicted above, when the head of the household is pinned to the ground, the day concludes. here are a couple of blends to help you find inner strength this holiday time.

Method: Pure Pulse Point Perfume

In a little dish mix these oils and anoint your pulse points or chakras – 3 drops of essential oils and dilute with a few drops of carrier oil – always patch test first!

Courage and Endurance

Lavender 1 drop

Black Spruce 1 drop

Lime 1 drop

Inner Calm

Melissa 1 drop

Vanilla CO2 1 drop

Indian Rosewood 1 drop

clove oranges – tedious to make and then they went mouldly within a week due to the humidity in Sydney

Whatever you’re doing this Christmas season, whether you celebrate or not, I hope you are able to reflect on the good things life can bring – even if they are very small.

How will you be celebrating and which oils are calling to you?

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

ps this is a reblog from last year

My Fragrant Saigon – Vietnam Blog 1

Posted on July 3, 2017 by suzannerbanks

Hello natural beauties for the next month I’ll be blogging from my phone while I travel Vietnam. Please forgive any typos or mistakes as it’s slightly more difficult doing this from a little device than it is from laptop. I’ll be searching for some fragrant moments for you and here is what I’ve found on my first few days …

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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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The most aromatic moment so far has to be the Vietnamese coffee. The robusta bean is mostly used which is more bitter than the arabica. Coffee culture is a serious thing here and being a diabetic vegan I have to drink it black without sugar – on ice! Iced coffee and iced tea are what most of the locals drink and I’m down with that because it’s soooooo hot! I’m surprised how much I love it!

Ca phe den da (iced black coffee)

So many beautiful teas – literally dried flowers at the Ben Thanh Market

A little star jasmine flower on the streets of Saigon

A Vietnamese orange – the rind smells like a mix of mandarin and orange and the fruit has a mild mandarin flavour.

Incense at the Buddhist Jade Pagoda was absolutely divine

Fragrant Lilies at the jade pagoda

And finally a trip to Villa Royale Antiques and Tea Room for a fragrant jug of Iced Sillver Moon (peach) tea

I’ve loved my first few days in Vietnam in the beautiful city of Saigon.

Stay tuned for the next episode where I’ll be posting pics from the Mekong Delta and the beachy Nha Trang.

Botanical Perfumery vs Botanical Gin? Archie Rose Distillery Rocks My World

Posted on April 27, 2017 by suzannerbanks

Who knew that perfumery and distilling gin could be similar? Ben from the Archie Rose Distillery, right in the middle of Sydney, takes us on a fragrant (alcoholic) journey.

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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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Archie Rose in Roseberry

We met at the fabulous bar in Roseberry for a pre tour drink. The drinks menu is so big it’s like a little book. The bar serves the gin, vodka, white rye (and soon whiskey) that they distill on site, with some charcuterie plates provided by Black Star pastry next door.

Archie Rise bar – pic taken from website Best International Bar – International Restaurant & Bar Design Awards (London)

Our tour guide Ben managed to cram the entire history of alcohol into our tour while cracking jokes and serving us tastes of the really strong stuff straight from the copper still.

Ben in black on the left, entertaining us with his witty quips and extensive knowledge and passion

Ben likened the blending of gin and the individual distillates to perfumery. I had already seen the signs when I first walked in to the distillery. What really peaked my interest, was the wall of glass measuring equipment housing single botanical distillates. Ooooooooooo …… glass beakers and botanicals!!!

single botanical distillates

How excited was I to see juniper, blood lime, orange and Dorrigo pepper all lined up?

Very, very excited!

The full rack of single botanical distillates for the gin

All these single botanicals are blended to make the gins –

Signature Dry Gin -“fourteen traditional and native botanicals, each uniquely infused and individually distilled in our copper pot still. Perfectly balanced and wonderfully complex, our Signature Dry Gin is accented by native Australian botanicals, including Blood Lime, Dorrigo Pepperleaf, Lemon Myrtle and River Mint. All underpinned with pronounced juniper berry.

This gin is smooth and soft with the beauty of juniper powering through.

cassia, liquorice and ginger – a perfumer’s delight!

Cassia liquorice and ginger take their place in the lineup!

Distiller’s Strength Gin – An overproof gin, packed with fifteen individually distilled botanicals, including fresh pears from Orange in NSW, rose petals, elderflower, pronounced juniper and distilled honey direct from our rooftop beehives. Distinguished, complex and intense, with a higher ABV, Archie Rose Distiller’s Strength is for those who love bigger, bolder flavours.

This beautiful fragrant gin blew my mind. Floral and sweet and bold all at the same time. Could I actually wear this as a perfume?

lemon myrtle, apple and river mint

Lemon myrtle, apple and river mint ….

Limited Edition – Archie Rose x Horisumi

Autumn “In collaboration with acclaimed tattoo artist, Horisumi, Horisumi Autumn is the first in a series of four rare gins, which celebrate the uniqueness of each Japanese season. Inspired by a mutual respect for nature and the hand forged, Horisumi Autumn accentuates the spice-driven notes of red miso, sesame seed and sansho pepper, making for a complex, savoury gin. With an emphasis on deeper, earthy characteristics underpinned by spice, Horisumi Autumn offers gentle warmth as the evenings begin to cool.”

This gin is spicy and warm and I’m in awe of the blender – divine!

tasting trays with little amber bottles of water to add to the straight gin

And as a perfumer and aromatherapist I was so happy to see a little amber bottle with a dropper!

Hey guess what? You can be a perfumer and gin blender yourself with Archie Rose. Simply go to the website and either choose to have a Gin Blending Experience (a class on site) or just create your own gin on the website right here!

This distillery house is pure class. They respect the plants they are working with and their passion is infused in every cask, every bottle, and every drink.

Check out Archie Rose https://archierose.com.au/

This is not a sponsored post – I just loved everything about it!

Justice – A Tarot Card Reading with Essential Oils

Posted on December 4, 2013 by suzannerbanks

Justice – XI from the Rider-Waite deck

Justice is number 11 in the major arcana and speaks for itself really. It looks a lot like the Hierophant and also The Emperor. This is the last article about essential oils and the major arcana so be on the lookout next year for a free e-book to download!

The Emperor – IV from the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck

The Hierophant – V in the Rider-Waite Deck

It’s a card about balance and justice for all, and if this card shows up in a reading it could mean many things. This could be a time for you to be making a decision that involves others and you are called upon to be fair and just. It’s important here to use your life experience, your mind (the double-edged sword) and your intuition (the scales). Use all the tools at your disposal to bring about the right outcome.

It could mean that you are one of the people having to accept a decision that has been made that affects you directly. Are you in the midst of a court case, a challenge or a dispute that requires mediation? You must accept this decision and carry on with your life.

A decision has been made

Perhaps this card is letting you know that you are in this place in your life because you have made good decisions throughout your journey. Maybe you are rising to a position of authority and this card is telling you to always remain fair, just and kind.

Anyway you get the drift! Kindness, fairness, good decisions, use your mind and your heart in all you do.

What essential oils could we use to embody this card?

? pic via biodagar.com

1. Open The Bottle and Take a Huge Whiff

Rosewood – flow of love in the heart chakra

Rosemary – stimulate your mind and memory

Basil – open your crown chakra to the wisdom of the universe

Ylang Ylang – release frustration and anger toward others and yourself

Classic oil burner with a twist pic via top3.com.au

2. Scent Your Space

In a traditional oil burner with a candle or a diffuser add 25 drops of oil –

What better way to help you make big decisions than to vapourise oils in your space?

“Heart and Mind”

Blend these two areas of power –

Rosemary 8 drops

Palmarosa 8 drops

Orange 9 drops

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“Empathy”

Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes –

Lime 10 drops

Petitgrain 10 drops

Geranium 5 drops

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“Flow of Energy”

Ask the universe to help you get the right flow going –

Cardamom 5 drops

Pink Grapefruit 20 drops

Lemongrass 5 drops

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

3. 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.

***** 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”

“Ok Concentrate….”

Be clear in your mind by waking up your body too –

Ginger 3 drops

Lemon 4 drops

Basil 1 drop

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“Made with Love”

Use your heart’s intelligence –

Rose 3% 6 drops * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

Cedarwood Atlas 3 drops

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

Aussie Blue Sky – Aussie Blue Cypress

Posted on December 6, 2012 by suzannerbanks

Sydney summer sky

You’d be forgiven for thinking that the blue pic above, was just a picture of blue. I took this, this afternoon lying on Maroubra beach – it’s a picture of a clear blue Sydney summer sky! I felt so fortunate today. I’d just finished doing the last of the Chopra Centre 21 Day Meditation Challenge about abundance and as I opened my eyes this is what I saw.

The feeling of freedom was overwhelming.

Then I thought “cypress”.

Then I thought “Australian blue cypress”. Callitris intratropica.

This oil is not very well-known but its absolutely stunning. It comes from the trees that grow in the Northern Territory, the wood and bark being resistant to insects. It is native to the area of the mainland and also the Tiwi Islands. The Tiwis’s are Melville and Bathurst Islands and they have a magic and special energy. It is claimed that the islanders have been living here for at least 20,000 years or more. Just like our other indigenous peoples, these civilisations have actually been around for much, much longer.

The trees grown in sustainable plantations and have various uses, one being the essential oil that is distilled from the wood.

Australian Blue Cypress sneakily borrowed from griffith.edu.au

The blue colour comes from the active ingredient “Guaiazulene” which is similar to “chamazulene” in German Chamomile. This is the anti-inflammatory component of the oil, and one of the most obvious. It is dark blue, almost inky and has a spicy, woody fragrance. It’s is quite thick and heavy too. I remember being at a conference years ago and someone presented this oil as wonderful for lung infections. Any kind of disorder that requires cooling and soothing could be used with Blue Cypress. It still isn’t really classified as an essential oil as the regulating body in Australia hasn’t recognised it’s therapeutic qualities yet.

Australian Blue Cypress is a more expensive oil as the yield is quite low, and it takes a long time to distill.

I sometimes use it as a grounding, centering treatment when a client is overwhelmed or heated up with stress. It is powerful. I always say all oils go with all oils, but this cypress lends itself to lighter sweeter oils like lemon, orange, geranium, rose geranium, rose and anything you can think of really.

If you ever see it, it is worth a try. What about 1 drop on your wrists as a connection to the mysterious, wondrous time of the last world age.

suzannerbanks

scent . intention . consciousness . essential oils

Tag Archives: orange

Essential Oils Recipes for Festivus 2017

My Fragrant Saigon – Vietnam Blog 1

Botanical Perfumery vs Botanical Gin? Archie Rose Distillery Rocks My World

Justice – A Tarot Card Reading with Essential Oils

Aussie Blue Sky – Aussie Blue Cypress

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