I’ve got a brilliant idea. Make dinner and have an aromatherapy treatment all at the same time. My choice for today is pesto, vegan of course. This classic Italian dish with a vegan twist is made with fresh sweet basil. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is the kind most used for pesto and other European dishes, and the most common basil essential oil.
Buy my 100% natural and organic botanical perfumes, and paperback book here:
Basil takes its name from the latin ’Basileum’ meaning royal.There are many types of basil, which belong to the herb family that includes lavender, mint, thyme, patchouli, marjoram and many others.
Holy Basil, also known as tulsi is from India (Ocimum tenuiflorum), and also makes a great essential oil and is used in Ayurvedic medicine.This holy plant and is dedicated to Vishnu and Krishna.
Thai basil used across South East Asian has the botanical name (Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora) but I’ve never used it as an essential oil. It’s used in Vietnamese cooking too and tops a lovely pho.
Thai Basil from bonappetit.com
So what can basil, and essential oil of basil do for you? Sharp and spicy, basil helps clear the head and open avenues of expression. It is a very powerful clearing oil, particularly effective when used in a vapouriser as an inhalation, or when you are cooking. It is used for mental and physical fatigue and its anti-spasmodic properties make it ideal for treating menstrual problems and digestive disorders. It is also used for
* Sinus congestion, asthma and bronchitis are all soothed by basil.
* Fever can be treated effectively with basil.
* In the middle ages it was prescribed for melancholy and depression.
Vegan pesto from taste.com.au
I love the fact that this modest little herb with a big presence has been around for ages. Literally ages. The old herbs of healers and witches alike are still here because they work. Food is medicine, and always has been.Fantastic. Get cooking. Click here for a really easy and authentic pesto recipe.
Remember, treat yourself first, than everyone else benefits!
The summit is due to start on November 19th and the early bird discount will soon disappear. This fantastic online summit will appeal to all essential oil enthusiasts. Whether you are a dabbler or a seasoned pro I highly recommend you sign up for a full years access so you can listen to all the wonderful talks at your leisure. This summit has a few Australian speakers, and I’m happy to introduce more of them here today …
Buy my 100% natural and organic botanical perfumes, and paperback book here:
GREG TREVENA Australian essential oil specialist (and grower)
Greg Trevena’s journey with Australian essential oils, started back in 1990 when the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission) television channel aired a documentary series called the ‘Bush Tucker Man’. This television series featured a retired Australian soldier who through the shared knowledge of Australian aboriginal people told European Australians about wild Australian plants people could use to survive in the remote and isolated ‘Australian Outback’.
So commenced a journey where Greg learned all he could about Australian native plants and their useful potential.
He started ‘Rainforest Foods’ in 1998, which then introduced him to Lemon Myrtle essential oil (now an approved essential oil in food flavoring). Greg started ‘Refreshed Lemon Myrtle’ in 2000, this brand became established in Australia and then in the USA. Greg sold both brands by late 2009. In 2012 he started ‘Essentially Australia’ a company which has developed the largest range of Australian essential oils in the world.
The most important part of this business, however, is the new Australian essential oil-bearing plants he has rediscovered and which he grows in his own plantation, just out of Byron Bay, an iconic coastal tourist town, which happens to be Australia’s most easterly point.
DEBY ATTERBY Aromatic Medicine Clinician, Clinical Aromatherapist, Reflexologist, Iridologist, Remedial Massage Therapist, Beauty Therapist and Lecturer
In 2002 Deby founded the Aromatic Aromathology Therapies business (AAT) with the express view of providing a forum for Aromatherapists, passionate about their profession and designed to give the opportunity for Aromatherapists on the Gold Coast and in the Northern Rivers district to attend designer workshops in order to maintain their CPE levels in the industry.
Deby is also the owner, editor, and publisher of the Aromatherapy Today International Journal. The journal is distributed worldwide 3 times a year in which she edits/researches and writes/publishes articles on aromatherapy and other aromatic modalities. In each journal, Deby prepares an in-depth profile on an Essential Oil.
During the Aromatica 2017 conference, she launched her new book, HEALTH, Vitality, and Wellbeing – Aromatic Detox & Elimination, now in its second edition. As a result of this publication, she travels interstate and abroad delivering workshops relative to the subjects in her book.
Deby is the Director and Principal of the Aminya Natural Therapies Academy. Her College was the first in Australia to submit and have Government approved, the Advanced Diploma of Aromatic Medicine.
KIM MORRISON Aromatherapist, Holistic Therapist, Founder of Twenty8 Essentials
Kim Morrison set a world record as the youngest female to run 100miles in less than 24 hours. Cliff Young was her mentor throughout and still to this day lives by his ethos that success is 90% mental and 10% physical. She has used her running story as a direct metaphor for life – riding the highs, hitting the walls, pushing through the pain barriers, crossing the line and never, ever giving up! She believes combining your inner power and passion, applying your commitment and having truckloads of self-belief is what distinguishes you as an achiever. It’s about visualizing your dream and going for it – regardless of the feedback you receive or the challenges you face.
As a 5 times best-selling author, aromatherapist of nearly three decades, founder of Twenty8 Essentials, podcast show co-host on Up For A Chat, and a multi-tasking mum and wife, Kim shares the essential tools for self-care, discipline, leadership and teamwork and most of all the art of self-love.
ROBBI ZECK Author, Naturopath, Kinesiologist, Counsellor and Trainer
A naturopath for 38 years and with a background in aromatherapy, kinesiology, and counseling, Robbi is the founder/creator of Aromatic Kinesiology® and author of The Blossoming Heart-Aromatherapy for Healing and Transformation. The Blossoming Heart card deck has recently been published as a companion to this beautiful book.
Robbi’s pioneering work on the psychological benefits of essential oils, using metaphor and the power of smell to integrate emotional experiences is powerfully represented in her beautiful series of workshops.
Established in 1992 Aromatic Kinesiology offers a unique training perspective, exploring aromatherapy from an emotional perspective while focusing on the development of beliefs, skills and emotional openness that lead to a successful, loving and joyful life.
Aromatic Kinesiology® has grown to be nationally and internationally recognized for its emphasis on gentle yet powerful heart-work and personal development. In combining kinesiology and aromatherapy with an inspirational teaching style, this beautiful work has assisted many to step into their dreams and live a life purposefully on track.
atural organic extension of the work Robbi loves was the creation of Aroma Tours with her husband Jim Llewellyn in 1994. Their boutique tour company escorts people to beautiful places where perfumery, aromatic plants, essential oils, wonderful wines, glorious cuisine, fascinating history, and culture can be experienced in exquisite locations. Since its inception, they have shared their journeys with people from all walks of life, from over 30 countries.
As the time for launch comes closer, and the early bird discount will soon disappear, this fantastic online summit will appeal to all essential oil enthusiasts. Whether you are a dabbler or a seasoned pro I highly recommend you sign up for a full years access so you can listen to all the wonderful talks at your leisure. This summit has a few Australian speakers, and I’m happy to introduce them here today …
Buy my 100% natural and organic botanical perfumes, and paperback book here:
NATALIE MILLER Clinical aromatherapist, Educator and Consultant
Natalie’s aromatic journey began many years ago. During her mid 20’s she’d become interested in holistic healing when she fell into a pit of depression. She looked at aromatherapy, crystals, and meditation, but never took them seriously. Instead, she focussed on her career as an educator, gaining a Bachelor of Education and Training, and a Graduate Diploma of Education. In her early 40’s, after falling into another depression pit, she came across two books which changed her view of the world – “You Sexy Mother” (by Jodie Hedley-Ward) and “Like Chocolate for Women” (by Kim Morrison and Fleur Whelligan).
Inspired by these books, Natalie decided to write a “Living Life List” aka a bucket list. One of the many things on the list was to learn aromatherapy. Armed with this inspiration, she enrolled in a two-year Diploma of Aromatherapy course (nothing like jumping in the deep end). At the successful completion of her course, she started her business, combining her past experiences in the adult education, training and coaching arena with her aromatherapy knowledge. Aromatic Insights was born.
SALVATORE BATTAGLIA Aromatherapy Educator, Author, Herbalist
Salvatore Battaglia has been passionate about natural therapies for most of his life. He holds qualifications in natural therapies, herbal medicine, acupuncture, and aromatherapy. Salvatore’s dedication to aromatherapy has seen him hold positions in professional associations within Australia and government committees to ensure that the educational standards of professional aromatherapy are maintained and improved. Salvatore has been teaching aromatherapy since 1988. He is the author of The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy which was first published in 1994. This book is an internationally acclaimed textbook for the study of aromatherapy and has been translated into Japanese and Korean.
In 2018, Salvatore completed the third edition of the book. In 2016 he was made an Honorary member of the International Federation of Aromatherapists (IFA) for long-standing commitment to aromatherapy. He is the founder and co-owner of Perfect Potion whose purpose is to naturally enhance people’s lives. He shares his passion and love of the world, natural therapies and aromatherapy with his wife, Carolyn Stubbin and his beagle, Charlie.
MARK WEBB BSc., Author, Educator, Aromatic Medicine Practitioner, Formulations Chemist, Reiki Master
Mark Webb has a Bachelor’s degree in Science majoring in Biochemistry, Plant Physiology & IT followed up with Diplomas in Massage (Remedial, Lymphatic), Aromatherapy and additional studies in Aromatic and Herbal Medicine.
He is the author of “Bush Sense – Australian Essential Oils & Aromatic Compounds” and is extremely passionate about the aromatic plants of his home – Australia – and how they can be better used within the Aromatic Therapies space. The long awaited 2nd edition of “Bush Sense” will be released in the first quarter of 2019. He’s worked in the biotech industry conducting research and development using aromatics to formulate dose forms and applications for clinical trials for some fairly serious conditions & diseases, including Avian Influenza and Dengue Fever.
Mark is a formulation and cosmetic chemist who consults internationally across a wide variety of industries including aromatics (terpenes, EOs, CO2s), the newly emerging Hemp and Cannabis industries (Endocannabinoids), cosmetics & personal care, food & beverage, nutraceuticals & pharmaceuticals.
He’s a passionate educator to thousands of students internationally over the past two decades of many topics including all aspects of the aromatic world including – aromatic chemistry & pharmacology, toxicology, internal & external dose forms & application methods, Australian aromatics, aromatic prescribing techniques, the aromatic toolkit or “materia medica” and CO2 Extracts.
He can be contacted for further information on aromatic sourcing, education opportunities, new product formulation, and development or for a personal consultation at – mark@aromamedix.com.
Suzanne is a botanical perfumer from Australia and author of “Revelation! Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils”. She has been a qualified Aromatherapist for over 20 years and continues to write her blog “suzannerbanks.blog”, and sometimes even has time to post a video on Youtube too. During her time working with natural essential oils and extracts, Suzanne has had a wide variety of scented experiences: producing aromatic experiences for major Sydney events, corporate events and retreats including an intensive week meditation retreat with Deepak Chopra – “Seduction of Spirit”.
All this has culminated in her unique botanical perfumes, which are a reflection of Suzanne’s love for the divine scents of nature. Suzanne believes we need to simplify our life and reduce the amount of artificial chemicals in our environment. And what a better way to start than to use all natural botanical perfumes? She continues to practice relaxing, healing Aromatherapy treatments and has had the honour to treat a long list of clients including Kylie Minogue, Louise L. Hay, and Doreen Virtue.
Hello natural beauties I hope all is well in your world. Time keeps rolling on and we will soon find ourselves walking into a new season, unless you live in a tropical climate where its delicious all year round. Some of us love the winters, some of us love the summer, and some love the in-betweens. I’m a summer lover so anytime it’s getting warmer I’m happy. Here are a few recipes for your new season …
Ah yes the promise of spring is in the air! And my skin is looking dry and scaly from covering up all winter, having hot showers and being in heated environments. Here are a few recipes to bring yourself back to life:
**** Spring Body Oil
.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.
After a good skin scrub with a body puff or your favourite scrub, lather yourself in this “Spring Has Sprung” blend:
Orange 4 drops
Rosemary 2 drops
Peru Balsam 3 drops
**** Spring Clay Face Mask
I Usually add 1 or 2 drops of oil to 2 teaspoons of clay, and add water, floral water or hydrosol. Keep the mask on for 5 minutes then rinse off with cool water. Mist with a hydrosol or floral water and moisturise.
Neroli 3% in jojoba 5 drops in yellow or pink clay * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba
add
Orange blossom water and blend to a smooth paste
Magnolia in Sydney
**** Easy Spring Perfume
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!
Jasmine 3% in jojoba 4 drops * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba
Petitgrain 2 drops
More beautiful roses from my recent trip to New Zealand
Moving Into Autumn – The Northern Hemisphere
Moving into Autumn you may still be quite warm with late summer lingering on. Time to hydrate and moisturise your skin after the sun.
**** Autumn Body Oil
.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.
Try a long soak in a warm bath then lavish this blend all over yourself:
Lavender 2 drops
Geranium 2 drops
Mandarin 4 drops
**** Autumn Face Hydration
Facial Oil Treatment
Mix one or two drops of essential oil in one teaspoon of carrier oil. You can warm the oil slightly first if desired – it will be very relaxing! Massage your face and rest for 10 minutes. You can also place a cool or warm wet facecloth on your face as a compress over the oil mask. Remove excess oil with a tissue or cloth if necessary.
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!
Atlas cedarwood 1 drop
Ylang Ylang 1 drop
May chang 1 drop
bliss with roses
Get blending my friends and let me know how you go!
Hello natural beauties I hope you’re all well and happy, and enjoying all the beautiful essential oils available. This past week I’ve been in Bali and although it’s winter I still managed to snap some pretty flowers. I’m also excited to tell you about an international symposium on essential oils, with the focus on how to be more confidant in blending. There will be many great talks and I highly recommend you check it out. I did my interview with the accomplished English author and Aromatherapist Elizabeth Ashley, in a lovely garden in Bali (until it got too windy).
On this winter solstice in the southern hemisphere, and the summer solstice up north, now is a time of change. You are needed to save the world. Can you do it?
Can you feel it? There’s a buzz in the air. Sometimes it’s positive and sometimes it’s negative, but undoubtedly, there’s a level of tangible electricity.
Everyone I meet has a different opinion on the state of the world, but there is one common thread, and that is, that there is something changing. You’re right. There are a lot of things changing, and they have been for many years and now we are finally noticing the signs. We can connect with someone on the opposite side of the world without having met them. We can do this through breakthroughs in technology, which are available to more and more people on Earth. We can topple governments and create change at a grassroots level like never before. It is quite amazing. It is futuristic and very sci-fi. The future is here and if you think time is going fast now, it will only appear to be going faster as we expand in the space-time continuum. We are speeding up exponentially, driven by technology but when will our next spiritual evolutionary jump be?
Caught on camera somewhere in Sydney
My secret to the evolution of human consciousness in our time on this planet is lavender oil. Essential oils represent a link to our past, and a beacon for the future, as they are simple agents of change. They are healers of our collective psyche, and panaceas of our individual worlds. A drop of lavender on your wrist, at the bottom of the shower, in the bath or cleaning your bench tops, could start a wave of solidarity, leading to a critical mass jump to the next level of evolution. How? The molecules within a drop of essential oil move through the spaces in our mind to our souls, allowing miracles to unfold. They slip through matter in waveform, and work their secret magic.
Ah lovely lavender
My simplistic formula for our rise to the next level of humanity is one drop of lavender oil.
Lavender will always be stylish!
I know you’re reaching out to your fellow earth dwellers, on a one-to-one basis, exchanging information and love. We don’t need to be controlled by hierarchies of terror. Just love. And that’s what you are doing now if you are reading this, writing your own blog, running your own business, donating to charities, interacting on social media, or going out into your community in the flesh. This is a time of co-operation not competition. Essential oils can help us change focus in a matter of seconds, so when you get bogged down in life’s daily ups and downs, crack open that bottle of lavender oil and take a huge whiff.
Exhale.
Continue.
fun with amber glass and essential oils
If everyone could experience a drop of lavender oil each day, we may be able to breakthrough the limitations we have come to believe actually exist. We allow our limitations to flourish with a collective agreement about how life “is”. Inhale one drop of lavender, exhale love, limitation, change, spiritual expansion and the power of oneness.
Hello natural beauties! I hope you’re well and immersed in some beautiful scents wherever you are. Are you starting to refine your sense of smell, and are eliminating synthetic fragrance from your life? This can be anything from harsh household cleaners, to laundry products right through to skincare and of course your perfume. There’s a way to learn about natural perfume making and if you’re in Sydney you’ll have a chance in a few weeks ….
Hello natural beauties and botanical scent lovers all over the world! Here’s an excerpt from my book on essential oils and aromatherapy. This is the third week of 3, quoting little sections in “Revelation! Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils”. Week 3 – Do Essential Oils Work on Our Souls? Read on to find out ….
Essential oils work via the brain, which acts as a processor of data, through the spaces between our molecules and atoms, and into our etheric body and spirit. Cosmologists and physicists say that our molecules, like the universe itself, are made up of 99.999% space. SO as we delves deeper into each molecule, to see electrons, neutrons and atoms buzzing around at super-high speed, we are also seeing a reflection of the universe at large. When we view the two together (understanding the fundamental oneness of the universe and us), we allow the soul to be revealed in full flight and acknowledge the essence of spirituality.
Flowering tarragon
I use essential oils to enhance my experience of spirit. It’s that part of ourselves that exists in no particular place inside our mind or body. It is the immeasurable, yet quietly powerful part of ourselves know as the soul. We cannot separate this part of ourselves from our bodies and mind, and it has been difficult to prove the soul’s existence in a scientific sense (unless you are Deepak Chopra – he’s so brilliant he seems to be able to do it!)
Roses by me
The use of essential oils to penetrate the soul goes beyond trying to get you to believe they work. There is something delicious and haunting about scent and the way it soaks into our very essence – it is a depth of knowingness that essential oils can form a link between physicality and spirituality. The soul is universal and is eternally connected to divine intelligence – without the constraints of time or location.
The more you use essential oils the more comfortable you will feel about them.
The more at ease you are with these oils the more likely you will be to rely on your intuition.
The more you rely on your intuition, the stronger you will connect to your true self.
The more these connections are used the more confident you become in your environment.
The better you feel about yourself in your world, the more you will be able to turn your true desires into your destiny, by allowing more of the real you to be revealed.
The more you live and breathe your true purpose in life, the more you will shine from within. Your light will become joy. When others benefit from your joy you are living your destiny, and acknowledging your true spiritual nature. Easy.
My wonderful book
Our soul = The Universe
+
Essential oils,
allows us to
transcend the body and mind – essential oils working via the brain into our etheric body and other dimensions in the space-time continuum
activate universal consciousness within us
inspire living with heightened awareness, helping to reveal more of the real essence within us “the real you”, without earthly limits
entice our souls to reveal the path of our destiny, and the reason we are here
Thanks for reading my friends!
Have essential oils helped your spirit?
Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.
Hello natural beauties and scent lovers from all over the world! I absolutely love juniper and often go through stages of wanting and needing it all the time. It’s crisp, clean and fresh and in aromatherapy is used as an astringent for oily skin, to help with joint pain and rheumatism, as a diuretic and can be seen as a gentle detoxifier. I often use juniper to cleanse and release heavy, watery emotions. It’s made from the gorgeous purple berries of the juniper bush – Juniperus communis.
And of course juniper’s real claim to fame is its integral part in gin. I have been known to accidentally ask for a “juniper and tonic” once (possibly twice) before.
There’s one thing for sure, this oil has a distinct and delightful scent, and here are some Australian perfumers and “noses” to give you their 3 word buzz on this unique oil.
So I’ll give you an extra hint – this oil is fantastic for lightening up your mood and detoxifying from negativity. It is cleansing and clearing and great to use in a perfume or oil blend to bring a sense of clarification. It is clean and crisp and blends well with so many other oils.
Hello natural beauties! Happy New Year. I’ve taken a few weeks off writing and I’ve been enjoying the Sydney summer. I hope you’re going well wherever you are. What do you want more of this year? Which oils are for you? Read on my friends, to discover your perfect good luck oil for you this year.
suzannerbanks 