Monday, April 20, 2009

Essential Oils & Herbal Healing

Essential Oils & Herbal Healing & Cosmetic Herbal Recipes

I have started to produce my own herbal skin care products, herbal soaps and various other beauty products including tailor made fragrances and cosmetics.

I wanted to start all of this from scratch, right down to growing and harvesting my own herbs from my own garden. I found it rather difficult at first to find the information i needed to get started. I reviewed so many websites and all the info i found was either not useful, not put out in layman’s terms or just incomplete. I have since collected various literature, plants, and recipes that i use for my own products.

I have created some wonderful recipes that are simple and easy to make in your own kitchen, and you don't even have to go to all the trouble i went to in planting the seeds, seedlings and plants in your garden. None of the time-consuming harvesting, distilling and drying is necessary for you, though i must admit i got a great kick out of achieving all this. Most of the products you will need to start out with are easily available from your nearest herbal store or health shop. All of this has really gotten my creative juices flowing!

Carriers Oils, Essential Oils, Shower Gel Bases and Soap Bases are readily available, and all you have to do is make them your own by selecting the perfect combination of fragrances and scents for you.

Over the next few days, i will be compiling a list of simple recipes to add to this blog for you to try at home: Let me know how it goes and if you have any trouble, i'll be happy to help!


Some Great Websites that have helped me:


Essentia Products: http://essential-oils.co.za

Premier Packaging: http://www.premierpackaging.co.za



Bath Salts Recipe:


Basic Bath Salts -

Salt (of your choice - either epsom, sea or kosher Salt - or a combination of all)

Baking Soda (Bicarbonate of Soda) - Very softening for the skin

Essential Oil of your Choice

Food Colouring - for a bit of zest, optional


Directions: Pour all of the above into a bowl, mix thoroughly, and place in a jar ready to liven up your bath.


Lip Balm Recipe


1/4 Cup Sweet Almond Oil (Or other carrier oil of your choice - personally i prefer Calendula)

7g - to 14g Beeswax

Flavour Oil (Please note that the flavourant you choose must be oil based or it won't mix)


Place the Carrier oil in a bowl over warm water in a pot, heat it gently, slowly adding the beeswax. Once all the beeswax has melted, the easist way to check the consistensy of your lip balm is to take a tablespoon of it and place it into the fridge. Once it has cooled, check that it suits your preferences. If necessary add more carrier oil to soften, or more beeswax to harden. Once happy with the result add the falvour oil and place into small jars to set.


Hand & Body Lotions


Juniper (woodsy and sunlight body lotion)

50ml Base body lotion (use a scentless aqueous based, non-allergenic cream if you can't find a base cream)

8 Drops Juniper Essential Oil

4 Drops Rose Otto Essential Oil

4 Drops Sandalwood Essential oil

6 Drops Cedarwood Oil

(Warning, Juniper is not to be used during pregnancy, or for people with kidney problems)


Rose Hand Cream

90ml Base body lotion (use a scentless aqueous based, non-allergenic cream if you can't find a base cream)

15 Drops Rose Essential Oil


Soothing Massage Cream

90ml Base Cream

24 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

24 Drops Sage Essential Oil

24 Drops Jasmine Essential Oil


Massage Oil Mixes


Tired Limbs Massage Oil

50ml Grapeseed Oil

5 Teaspoons Tissue Oil/ Vitamin E Oil

5 Drops Juniper Essential Oil

5 Drops Cypress Essential Oil

5 Drops Frankinsense Essential Oil

5 Drops Rose Otto/ Rose Geranium Essential Oil

(Warning, Juniper is not to be used during pregnancy, or for people with kidney problems)


Cellulite Massage Oil

10ml Diluted Juniper Oil

2 Drops Geranium Essential Oil

2 Drops Lemon Essential Oil

(Warning, Juniper is not to be used during pregnancy, or for people with kidney problems)


Detox Body Massage Oil

50ml Grapeseed Oil

10 Drops Juniper Essential Oil

10 Drops Lemon Essence

5 Drops Roe Otto/ Rose Geranium Essential Oil

(Warning, Juniper is not to be used during pregnancy, or for people with kidney problems)


Essential Oil Mixes / Burner and Bath Drops


Sensual Oil Blend

12 Drops Rose Essential Oil

12 Drops Jasmine Essential Oil

12 Drops Sage Essential Oil

15ml Gapeseed Oil

Place in a Oil Dropper Bottle


Zesty Oil Blend

12 Drops Lemon Essential Oil

12 Drops Mandarin Essential Oil

12 Drops Melissa Essential Oil

15ml Grapeseed Oil

Place in a Oil Dropper Bottle


Meditation Oil Blend

12 Drops Palmarosa Essential Oil

12 Drops Neroli Essentail Oil

12 Drops Bergamot Essential Oil

Place in a Oil Dropper Bottle


Face Masks


Carrot & Juniper Face Mask

2 Small Carrots, peeled, bioled and mashed

2-3 Tsp Brewers Yeast Powder

1-2 tsp Natural Yogurt

5ml Juniper Essential Oil


Use enough Brewers Yeast & Yogurt to make the paste thick enough. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes.