Buggin’ Out on Oils
June 28, 2022
June 28, 2022
What IS that scent? That aroma of ‘bug repellent’? WHY do bug sprays smell like that…. even chemical based candles smell like a citrusy pungent sharp blast?
Eucalyptus citriodora has a very similar scent and is often used in cleaning. It’s better around pets and safer on skin. Citronella is best for adding to candle wax or in a diffuser, less on the skin. Heavily diluted if skin contact.
Patchouli and Lemongrass work on skin in a pinch too. Try dabbing a drop on the backs of your knees and inner elbow as you set up that tent or prepare the back yard for a BBQ. The mosquitoes will avoid you!
“Citronella oil is an essential oil obtained from the leaves and stems of different species of Cymbopogon. The oil is used extensively as a source of perfumery chemicals such as citronellal, citronellol, and geraniol. …Wikipedia”
Keep this variety away from your pets, as it can be toxic as a plant. Use it sparingly around animals and if they remove themselves from the room altogether, let that be a sign it is too intense for them!
This is not an ingestible oil. Besides the fact I think it would taste terrible..
What if you happen to make a bug spray and it goes in your (or child’s mouth)? I don’t think you have to worry. Swish the mouth with some coconut oil and that will immediately change the flavor and remove the oil. Don’t use water!
Here’s a quick spray idea:
1 oz spray bottle
30 mL (1 oz) Geranium or Lavender hydrosol (or distilled water)
6-15 drops Citronella oil
1 tsp vodka or vinegar (w)
Swirl & spray: lawn furniture, tents, sleeping bags, clothing, anything you desire to repel bugs and deter them from your fun!
Peace, love & healthy skin!
Oils for Summer Temps
June 18th, 2022 Blog As summer steams up there are two common ‘problems’. Bug bites and nausea! The bugs love the heat along with our juicy human flesh and blood. Nausea can set in when the external temperature rises. Motion sickness from road trips are common with both children and adults, especially in the mountains on winding roads in arid environments, causing dehydration; which accelerates this form of vertigo. WHAT CAN AN ESSENTIAL OIL DO… (like really do?) If you’ve been reading my blogs, you’ve heard of the olfactory and limbic systems.. How does smell work? Molecules enter through your nose and land high in the nose; from there a nerve cell takes that information and sends it to the brain. The complex nerve cells interact with the molecules and read the information and the brain translates. The Nobel prize was recently awarded to this being proven scientifically. The ‘Olfactory Epithelium' is the spot where millions of nerve endings connect. Aromatic molecules land here and then become decoded. An oil that has been manipulated (adulterated) can be confusing to the limbic system. (when the isolates of components, etc are rearranged for trademark purposes) Essential oils do not go to the brain, the molecules do. Molecules we inhale go into the lungs. The nose inhales and the brain interprets. Inhaling Spearmint oil is a glorious option when dealing with nausea or deep fatigue. It is outstanding when added to a carrier oil for relieving an upset stomach and then applied topically on the belly. Diffusing it with Lavender or Orange is an incredible uplift too! Aromatically, Citronella is a favorite to diffuse and keep bugs at bay… more on that later this month for our second blog post of June. Stay cool and enjoy the heat of summer! peace + love, Somah
Stop The Drama With Your Nose!
May 13, 2022 Blog
We smell with our brains and the brain dictates the body’s response. Be it pain, pleasure, irritation and more, the autonomic nervous system is responsible for interpreting the olfactory.
How can getting NOSEY slow down inflammation?
All month long I have been diffusing different ratios of Peppermint and Geranium (Pelargonium, graveolena) and loving the shift of mental perspective. Feeling uptight? Change the scents in the room and let the inflammation of thought (drama of mind) be shifted by the components of these aromatic treasures. It’s SCIENCE!
Looking for a lift? 3:1 Peppermint/Geranium
Wanna calm down in sweetness? 2:3 Peppermint/Geranium
PEPPERMINT & GERANIUM .h
These are extremely different Essential oils with very different aromatic scents. First let us compare their opposites:
- The scent: Peppermint is spicy and fresh while Geranium is floral and sweet (especially the Himalayan!)
- Skin feel and safety: Peppermint feels icy/hot, is a rubefacient while Geranium is calming and mellow.. Oils that bring extreme circulation are rubefacients and often create a redness and or burning sensation to the area when applied undiluted. Geranium can be applied ‘neat’ (undiluted) and it soothes a sensitive blemish.
- Kid/Senior usage: Peppermint is to be used with a bit more awareness with the younger, the older and those on medications. Geranium is wonderful for these groups, yes ESPECIALLY the Himalayan variety (featured)
SAME SAME
What is commonly shared:
- Fantastic oils to use for bug/spider repellent (in a carrier)
- Highly recommended for reducing inflammation in a topical application with a carrier oil/lotion
- Every first aid kit should carry these oils
- IN EMERGENCY both have unique uses for solo topical application
Peppermint~ immediate pain relief (headache/muscle spasm)
Geranium~ on the spot antiviral germ killer Rose Geranium, (Pelargonium, asperum bourbon) is slightly higher) - Savitur Botanicals gets the Himalayan Geranium and Peppermint oils from India.
Rose Geranium is ‘better’ for skin care and Himalayan Geranium is sweeter in scent and more commonly used for ‘all around’ care due to being less expensive and less intense on different types of skin. A great ‘multi use’ Geranium oil with gorgeous properties!
Reduce inflammation on the body
1 oz Jojoba oil (or Almond, Apricot, Olive)
6-8 drops Peppermint
6-8 drops Geranium
Blend in 1 oz bottle and apply liberally as needed/desired. Play with the ratios for aroma and efficacy.
Let me know your favorite combinations!
peace + love!
Somah Devi Ma
Sweet as Almonds!!
April 28 2022 BLOG
Having fun is an essential part of life don’t you think? Can you have ‘fun’ doing something ‘dull’ …and be ‘irritated’ when doing an activity that brings ‘joy’? Why is this? I have a saying, “It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, it’s who you are with”. Our state of consciousness is always more powerful than our state of affairs. How can we change our state of mind/consciousness?
I HAVE AN OIL FOR THAT!! read on..
Almond Oil is a WONDER carrier oil. It’s a fabulous ‘fatty’ oil that extends the absorption rate of essential oils or simply acts as its own moisturizer. It has a softly sweet scent and feels luxurious on the skin.
Did you know that the almond is found inside the fruits of the almond tree? These pretty fruits look so similar to peaches. Almonds are high in vitamins A & E and carry powerful omega 3 fatty acids, minerals including potassium, phosphorus and zinc. Cold pressing the oil properly keeps these nutrients active.
Almond oil is used often in Ayurveda because its ‘doshic balance’ is calming. Using Almond oil for a baby’s foot massage will certainly ease the mood and belly. Even ‘big babies’ over the age of 20! And you don’t need to add any Essential oils at all. But we understand that you wanna!
Adding oils like Frankincense, carterii or this month’s featured Majmua Udd attar will enhance the bouquet and the medicinal benefits. Using almond oil in a salt scrub is heavenly; we are offering a DIY class in May that will include a lot of information. Can’t make it but want to Zoom in? Reply to this email and we’ll add you to our list.
Gorgeous Body Oil
1 oz. Almond oil
6 drops Majmua Udd attar
6-8 drops Mandarin (red is brighter in aroma) ~Frankincense would add more of an earthy scent.
- Use liberally after a shower/bath on skin
- Deep scalp treatment. Massage in ½ oz covering ends, leave on overnight; ADD SHAMPOO TO DRY/OILY HAIR first and create paste, then add water and rinse out oil. May shampoo twice (lightly, second time)
- Lightly add oil to dry hair ends
- Use lightly to skin over pulse points and apply additional UNscented oil/creme to seal in soft scent
Let me know how you used the oils this month! We love hearing from you.
peace + love!Somah
Do You Geek Out On Learning?
April 8th blog
What’s in an Udd? Have you heard of an Attar? How does one differentiate between a carrier oil, an attar and an Essential oil..
HOW DO YOU DISTILL SOMETHING THROUGH SANDALWOOD?Why, why and how come?
As a science geek these were common questions, as I began my journey of botanical products. I’d skip over words I didn’t know and hope to figure it out as I went along. Eventually I took classes and met up with some epic global wizards!
In 2016, I took a group of students to India on an educational tour. I had the opportunity to record a short explanation from a pioneer! Ramakant Harlaka, founder of Sugandhim Essential oils in India.
You can see the 4 minute video here: https://youtu.be/GAfZ1kuh8T4
The Majmua “Udd” “attar” is a TWO-FER! I get to explain both processes for our featured oil this month. An UDD is a process that comes from distilling multiple plants together to form a specific scent. An attar is a process of distilling through another plant’s residue, most commonly Sandalwood or Vetiver. They both leave a heavy wax so it’s reusable. So an attar is when you must distill to preserve the delicate flower that would otherwise be damaged in the process. Kadam, Kewda, Mitta and Ruh Khus are the unusual flowers that make up this Udd blend. The petals were then placed in the wax of Sandalwood so upon distillation they give off a tri-doshic balance of woody, floral and musky scents. This gorgeous attar is known to blend with your body’s own chemistry and take on a unique fragrance to each that wears it. Brighten the bouquet by adding Mandarin or even Grapefruit!
How, where, when and WHY to use?
- Add 5 drops to ½ oz of Almond oil and massage into skin
It calms the nervous system and moisturizes the skin
It add healthy fats to the skin and uplifts the senses - Add 5 drops to a 10 mL roller bottle of Jojoba oil and apply as a perfume
Chemical free fragrance; on pulse point, in hair
Soothing aroma that reminds one of inner strength - Add 3 drops to a diffuser, with 5 drops Mandarin oil and ignite a sparkle in your eye
A known aphrodisiac, this blend will calm and stimulate at the same time
Use other oils like Jasmine and kick it up another notch!
A carrier oil is just that~ it carries the Essential oil (or herbs infused) to be absorbed into the skin evenly. Essential oils evaporate when leaving the cap off the bottle. It will do much the same on your skin without the aid of the carrier. Almond oil and Majmua UDD are heavenly together. Not a fan of the sweet aroma or have an allergy to Almonds? Use Jojoba or even Apricot seed oil! Coconut oil can be drying, so only reach for that if that would benefit your skin.
Enjoy blending your own concoction and tell me about it!
peace + love,
Somah
