DIY Chest Rub

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This DIY Chest Rub recipe is one you will want to make to have on hand at all times. Use it before a workout, during the winter months, or before taking a flight. It can also be applied to your little one’s chest just before bedtime to promote a restful night’s sleep.

Each ingredient is in the mixture for a specific reason. The ravintsara in this recipe has an uplifting eucalyptus/camphor aroma, which supports the respiratory system and brings cooling relief. Studies show that lavender promotes a restful night’s sleep. Frankincense has been shown to be good for the skin, as well as aromatically pleasing. Beeswax is included in this recipe to help solidify the balm.

DIY Chest Rub

Ingredients

3 tablespoons beeswax pellets

1/3 cup organic coconut oil (non-fractionated)

20 drops ravintsara essential oil

10 drops lavender essential oil

8 drops frankincense essential oil

Instructions

  1. Place beeswax and coconut oil in a double boiler over low heat. Stir frequently just until melted.
  2. Allow the mixture to cool slightly, then carefully add essential oils while stirring gently. If the mixture starts to solidify, simply warm the saucepan over low heat until the mixture becomes liquid again.
  3. Now, carefully pour the mixture into a glass jar and allow it to solidify overnight. You can speed up this process by placing the jar in the refrigerator for a few hours. Once solid, store your chest rub at room temperature.

How to Use

Apply chest rub liberally and enjoy the refreshing aroma. Apply as often as needed. Avoid applying to any broken skin.

For even more seasonal support, check out this Change of Season Spray!

For even more education about essential oils, supplements, and wellness, check out my book, Essentials: 75 Answers to Common Questions About Essential Oils and Supplements. While you’re at it, come on over and 

Seed Essential Oils for the New Moon

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Phases of the Moon are Great Times to Make Changes in Your Routine

New moons provide a time for rebirth and renewal. This makes it a great time to use essential oils that are distilled from seeds because they also represent birth, growth, and renewal.

Whether you have a special meditation, journal prompts, plant a new seed, or smudge your home with sage, rituals around the time of the new moon are common. Let’s talk about integrating seed essential oils into your new moon rituals.

Which ones Should I Choose?

There are plenty of essential oils that are ideal for use during the new moon, but I like to use oils that are distilled from seeds during this phase. I choose seed oils because since the seeds are also symbolic of rebirth and renewal, the energy of the new moon matches the energy of the seed oils.

Seeds give life to plants and are responsible for reproduction. The seed pod protects the life within, making seeds protected and perfectly contained life forms. They also represent faith.

In aromatherapy, essential oils derived from seeds are used for emotional growth and releasing emotional trauma, especially those surrounding birth and reproduction. They are also great essential oils for when you are embarking on new projects, when energy feels blocked, or when your energy field needs protection.

Here are Some Seed Essential Oils for the New Moon

Fennel Seed Oil

Fennel seed essential oil has a licorice aroma and is great for supporting digestion. Place a drop on the stomach after eating, or create an easy tummy roll on with 2 drops each of fennel, peppermint, and ginger, diluted in fractionated coconut oil.

Carrot Seed Oil

Carrot seed essential oil has a earthy, grounding aroma that is great for supporting the appearance of the skin. Dilute a couple drops of it in fractionated coconut oil for a great addition to your beauty routine. Apply to your face in the morning before heading out into the sun.

Cardamom Seed Oil

This essential oil is great for enhancing mental clarity and clear breathing. The spicy aroma blends well with clove, cinnamon, and orange essential oils. Turn on the diffuser with 3 drops of each of those oils and focus your intention for renewal and growth during this new moon season.

Cardamom is also great for hair and skin. Combine with lavender and create a lip balm, or add a few drops to this daily hair tonic.

Dill Seed Oil

Dill seed essential oil smells bright, vibrant, and herbaceous. This oil is great to add to summer salads alongside fresh dill. Add a few drops to a potato salad or to an pasta salad to liven up the flavor.

What are your favorite essential oils for the new moon?

Comment below and let us know your favorite essential oils or rituals for the new moon!

Want to read more about one of my favorite renewal protocols? Come check out this post on the castor oil pack!

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Acceptance Perfume

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It’s so easy to use essential oils as a personal perfume. Most of the time I simply apply an oil directly on my skin and enjoy the fragrance. But sometimes you may want a traditional spray perfume. I love that I can make a simple acceptance perfume using essential oils and bypass all the chemicals of commercial perfumes.

Furthermore, it’s nice to know that those oils don’t just smell nice, they are actually filled with molecules that benefit my body. This Acceptance Perfume spray is no exception. Spritz this on when you need a boost of confidence or when adapting to a new job, school, or any other challenging change. Read more about this blend and how essential oils benefit our emotional well-being in my Acceptance blog.

Let’s Make Some Acceptance Perfume!

You can easily modify this recipe using other essential oils of your choosing. This one combines geranium, blue tansy, and lavender. These three blends not only smell lightly sweet and lovely together, but they may just help you get through the next challenging phase or adjustment.

The vodka in this recipe allows the essential oils to mix with the water. You may use only distilled water if you prefer, but make sure you gently shake your perfume to combine before each use. Use caution when using this recipe around children or anyone who struggles with alcoholism. Definitely substitute distilled water for the vodka if you plan to use with either of these populations.

Ingredients

8 drops geranium essential oil blend

5 drops blue tansy essential oil blend

3 drops lavender essential oil blend

2 mL vodka

2 mL distilled water

Instructions

  1. Add essential oils to a 5-mL personal atomizer.
  2. Add 50/50 vodka/distilled water to top it off.
  3. Gently roll the bottle to combine. Excessive shaking is not necessary.
  4. Spritz and embrace change!

Check out this post for 4 more essential oil perfume recipes.

Want even more great health and wellness education and tips? Come on over and !

DIY Itch Stick

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Nothing is more annoying than pesky bugs and the itchy bumps they leave behind. Try this recipe for a homemade DIY Itch Stick to help sooth the bites from those outdoor annoyances.

Here’s the Itch Stick Recipe

This recipe includes ravintsara, lavender, and Purification essential oils. This study shows lavender’s efficacy for treating allergic skin reactions by inhibiting histamine release. The eucalyptol in ravintsara provides cooling relief to itchy bites. Terpinen-4-ol, a compound found in tea tree oil, has been shown to act as an antiseptic. Lastly, frankincense essential oil is conditioning to the skin.

Ingredients

1.5 tablespoons organic coconut oil (not fractionated)

1 tablespoon beeswax pellets (about 1/2 an ounce)

10 drops lavender essential oil

10 drops ravintsara essential oil

6 drops tea tree essential oil

8 drops frankincense essential oil

Instructions

  1. Place beeswax and coconut oil in a double boiler over low heat. Stir frequently just until melted.
  2. Allow the mixture to cool slightly, then carefully add essential oils while stirring gently. If the mixture starts to solidify, simply warm the saucepan over low heat until liquid again.
  3. Using a small funnel, carefully pour the mixture into empty lip balm containers. Allow them to solidify overnight.

Apply this balm to any bug bites or other itchy areas. Avoid areas where skin is broken. Be careful not to leave your itch stick in the sun, a hot car, or anywhere else where it may melt.

Bugs come with the rise it heat, so while you’re getting rid of the itch, make this cooling spray to keep your horses and livestock comfortable.