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What are Essential Oils?
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What is Aromatherapy?
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What is the History of Aromatherapy?
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What are Carrier Oils?
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What are Fragrance Oils
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What is Perfume?
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How do I use Essential Oils?
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What other ways can I use essential oils at home?
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Massage
Skin Oils and Body Lotions
Hot and Cold Compress
Hair Care
Flower Waters
Baths
Neat Application
Internal Use
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What about your soaps? Is glycerin soap good for my skin?
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What is Cold Processing?
Essential Oils are the subtle, yet non oily and highly fragrant liquids extracted by distillation from plants, flowers, shrubs, bushes, trees and seeds. The incredible healing power of essential oils, which are the "life-blood" of the plant kingdom, is currently being rediscovered. One of the more important values of essential oils is their medicinal applications (i.e. their aromatherapy value) although some essential oils are used in perfumes. Our Aromatherapy bath and body products like our aromatherapy body lotions, massage oils, bath and shower gels and bath sea salts are developed using pure essential oils.
By definition, Aromatherapy, is using essential oils for their therapeutic properties. In particular, the skilled and controlled use of essential oils for emotional and physical health and well being. Although the name "aromatherapy" suggests it is basically a form of aroma or smell therapy, essential oils are actually developed and intended mainly to be absorbed into the body via skin massaging (see our aromatherapy massage body oils), or through the lungs, by inhaling with pure essential oil in a diffuser. The art of aromatherapy goes well beyond simple smell; it involves "pure" essential oils and treatments believed by many to have a chemical effect on your body. Aromatherapy bath and body products can be applied via a massage, in the bath (see our bath sea salts or bath and shower gels) in the air, and in your hair care. Anyone wishing to practice natural health by using all natural bath and body products might use essential oils. Lavender oil for example might be used to relax and ward off insomnia or relieve depression. Try our wonderful Lavender Aromatherapy bath and shower gels for a relaxing bathing experience.
Although not termed Aromatherapy until the early 1900 s, aromatherapy actually goes back thousands of years. Aromatic plants and essential oils were used in biblical times (e.g. frankincense and myrrh). Cleopatra used essential oils in her perfumery. According to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and Chinese manuscripts, priests and physicians were using essential oils to heal the sick thousands of years before the birth of Christ. Essential oils are the oldest form of remedies and cosmetics known to man and at one time, were considered more valuable than gold. Egyptians used aromatic plant essences to treat both physical and mental health problems. Ancient Greeks and Romans used the oils in their medical treatments.
Today s Aromatherapy concepts began with a French chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse. He was convinced the oils had antiseptic properties more powerful than the antiseptics that were used during his time (1920 s). Gattefosse also believed they had other important healing abilities. While conducting an experiment he burned his hand, then put his entire hand into a vat of pure lavender essential oil to attempt to relieve the pain. Miraculously, the pain was gone almost instantly. Fascinated by the benefits of the lavender oil in healing his burned hand without leaving any scars, Gattefosse started investigating the effect of other essential oils for healing as well as for their psychotherapeutic benefits. The term aromatherapy originates from the writings of the Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, in his book Aromatherapie published in 1928.
Carrier oils are base oils made from vegetable, nut or seed oils. When essential oils are going to come into contact with the skin (e.g. in massages) they need to be diluted with base or carrier oils. Essential oils should not be used as neat oils (i.e. directly on the skin), unless during first aid, applied directly on wasp stings, a deep cut, a burst pimple or for the prevention of bruises.
Only good quality vegetable oils should be used as Carrier oils. These oils, themselves, have therapeutic properties and present a good source of nutrients and energy. Wheat germ oil is rich in protein and in vitamins B and E. Avocado oil is rich in vitamins A, B, and D all of these vitamins are good for skin problems. Jojoba oil is not oil, but rather a wax from the fruit of the desert plant simmondsia chinensis. The wax is useful as a base for hair oils. Soya oil is very nourishing and easily absorbed.
Fragrance oils are a combination of essential oils with additional fixed oils added. Bath & Body Plus provides cosmetic grade fragrance oils. They are thick, skin safe oils, meaning they have been specifically designed to be worn on the skin as a perfume body oil. These oils may also be used on Light Rings, Simmering Pots and more. These Fragrance oils are 100% oil with NO Alcohol or other cheap diluents. Our Cosmetic grade fragrance oils are available in designer type oils, traditional oils and Feng Shui fragrance oil scents. They are colored to present a great eye catching presentation, but the coloring does not effect the scent or quality of our fragrance oils.
Perfumes consist of a man-made mixture of aromatic chemicals and essential Oils. Up until the nineteenth century all perfumes were composed of natural aromatic Oils. Modern perfumes are almost all synthetic and may contain up to 300 different elements in its blend. At the present time natural pure perfumes containing no synthetic ingredients are very rare. Perfumes usually have an alcoholic base, and up to 30% concentration of Fragrances. At Body & Bath  Plus, we carry and array of wonderful perfume essences from Terra Nova. Our Terra Nova perfume oils are pure oils and contain absolutely no alcohol to dry your skin.
Fragrances designed for men are generally classified as citrus, spice, leather, lavender, fern, or woody.
Make sure you take a look at some of the wonderful Terra Nova perfume oils and colognes offered at Body & Bath Plus. Also take a look at the various designer, traditional and Feng Shui oil fragrances we provide.
Essential Oils are highly aromatic, therefore, many of the benefits can be obtained by simply inhaling them. This can be accomplished by breathing in the fragrance from the bottle, or they can be diffused into the room. A diffuser can be used to gently heat the oils and disperse the aroma into the air. Essential oils may be diffused in your home, car, office, or just about anywhere. A diffuser is specially designed to disperse a fine mist of essential oils sufficient to fill a room in a few minutes. It disperses the oil without burning, which can cause the oil to lose much of its therapeutic benefits.
When diffused, Essential Oils can be the best air filtration system in the world. They will:
- Purify, by removing metallic particles and toxins from the air.
- Increase atmospheric oxygen.
- Increase ozone and negative ions in the house, which inhibits bacteria growth.
- Destroy odors from mold, cigarettes, and animals.
- Fill the air with a fresh, herbal aromatic scent.
Essential oils can be used for their scent as well as for their cosmetic and medicinal qualities. As perfumes, they can be added to the bath, or used for individual beauty preparation by applying to the body. Essential oils can also be used to revive the scent of your potpourris.
As a medicinal remedy, essential oils have been employed in the treatment of minor first aid cases. In addition, they have been used to help prevent and relieve many common complaints such as headaches, colds, period pains and aching muscles. Essential oils should always be stored in a cool place in dark bottles to protect them from photo-oxidation with as little air contact as possible. These oils should also be kept out of reach of children. Below is a list of specific applications for using essential oils.
Below are some specific applications for essential oils:
Body Massage
Skin Oils and Lotions
Hot and Cold Compress
Hair Care
Flower Waters
Baths
Neat Application
Internal Use
Professional aromatherapists favor using essential oils for full body massages and you can too. Specific essential oils, chosen to suit the condition and temperament of the patient, are blended with a base (carrier) oil, such as sweet almond oil or grape-seed oil.
Depending upon the type of disorder, the content of essential oils in a blend is usually between 1 and 3 per cent. The relaxing, nourishing experience of a massage helps to ensure that the oils are effectively absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. It is beneficial to practice self-massage on specific areas of the body, for general well being. This is especially appropriate on the feet and hands. Rubbing oils on parts of the body that are causing discomfort can be useful. For example, diluted peppermint oil can be rubbed clockwise on the stomach to ease indigestion. Neck and shoulder stiffness can be relieved with marjoram.
Essential oils are prepared as they would be for a massage, except that the base oil should include the more nourishing oils such as Jojoba, avocado or apricot kernel oil.  The emphasis is on treating the skin itself and dealing with a particular skin problem. A gentle circular movement of the fingers is often enough for the oils to be absorbed into the skin; it is important not to drag on the skin, especially in the delicate areas of the neck and around the eyes.
Rose and neroli are good for dry or mature complexions; geranium, bergamot and lemon can help combat acne and greasy skin. A few drops of essential oil can also be mixed into a bland cream or body lotion, or added to a basic facemask, which might include oatmeal, honey or clay together with the pulp of various fruits. In some conditions, such as cold sores (herpes) and athlete s foot, it is better to use an alcohol-based lotion rather than an oil or cream. This can be made by adding 6 drops of essential oil to 5ml (1tsp) of isopropyl alcohol or vodka. This mixture can be further diluted in a liter (1-3/4 pt) of boiled and cooled water for treating open cuts or sores, such as those caused by chickenpox or genital herpes. Try our Aromatherapy body lotions to assist in healing problem skin conditions or our organic Terra Nova therapeutic shea butter with JoJoba oil cream.
Essential oil compresses are very effective in relieving pain and reducing inflammation. Filling a bowl with very hot water, then adding 4 or 5 drops of essential oil can make a hot compress. Dip a folded cotton face cloth into the bowl, squeeze out the excess water and place the cloth on the affected area until it has cooled to body temperature level then repeat. Hot compresses are particularly useful for backache, rheumatism and arthritis, abscesses, earache and toothache. Cold compresses are made in a similar manner using ice cold water. This type of compress is useful for headaches (apply to forehead or back of neck), sprains, strains and other hot, swollen conditions.
A few drops of essential oils in the hair rinse or added to a mild shampoo can enhance hair body. Adding about 3 per cent (or 60 drops) of an essential oil to nourishing base oils such as olive oil with Jojoba or sweet almond oil can make an excellent conditioning treatment for different types of hair. After massaging it into the scalp, the hair should be wrapped in warm towels for one or two hours. In addition to conditioning the hair, healthy hair growth can be encouraged by the use of oils such as rosemary, West Indian bay and chamomile. Lavender oil can be used to repel lice and fleas; while tea tree and bergamot can help control dandruff.
Flower Waters are by-products of the distillation process used in the extraction of Essential Oils. Our flower waters are made with pure essential oils and are free of any synthetics, alcohol or preservatives and are ideal for use in Aromatherapy, or as room/air fresheners, face and body sprays.
Spray on a little flower water after your regular face wash, or for a refreshing treat, keep your floral water in the refrigerator and spray on during the day for a real pick-me-up!
It is possible to make toilet or flower water at home by adding about 20 to 30 drops of essential oil to a 100ml (3-1/2 fl oz) bottle of spring or de-ionized water. Leaving this solution for a few days in the dark and then filter it using coffee filter paper. Although essential oils do not dissolve in water, they do impart their scent to it as well as their properties.
This method can be very helpful in the prevention and treatment of skin conditions such as acne, dermatitis and eczema and to tone and cleanse the complexion. Almost any oil can be used, but the more traditional ones include rose, orange blossom, and lavender. Blended flower waters can be made to suit specific complexions.
One of the easiest and most pleasurable ways of using essential oils is to add 5 to 10 drops of oil to you bath water when the tub is full. Aromatic bathing has  traditionally been used as an enjoyable and sensual experience, especially by the Romans, but also to treat a wide range of complaints, including irritating skin conditions, muscular aches and pains, rheumatism and arthritis. An essence such as ylang-ylang can be enjoyed as an euphoric aromatic experience in itself; chamomile or lavender can help to relieve stress-related complaints such as anxiety or insomnia; rosemary or pine can help soothe aching limbs. Take care to avoid those oils that may be irritating to the skin. Since the aromatherapy bath and shower gels at Body & Bath plus contains pure essential oils, these would be excellent additives to your bath.
Generally speaking, essential oils are not applied to the skin in an undiluted form. However, there are some exceptions to the rule: lavender, for example, can be applied undiluted to burns, cuts and insect bites; tea tree to spots; and lemon to warts. Certain essential oils such as sandalwood, jasmine or rose make excellent perfumes, dabbed neat on the skin. Beware of those oils that are known to be phototoxic (discolor the skin when exposed to direct sunlight) such as bergamot; irritants such as red thyme; or skin sensitizers such as cinnamon bark.
Essential oils are not recommended for internal use due to the high toxicity levels of some essences. However, since essential oils are absorbed through the skin, they can affect the internal organs and systems of the body. For example, in a condition such as arthritis, which indicates a build up of toxins in the joints, the use of dietary measures and herbal remedies can be greatly enhanced by the external application of oils such as juniper and white birch.
Most definitely! Regular store-bought milled soaps remove their glycerin by adding salt to their batch. With glycerin removed the end result is a soap that dries your skin! In the commercial manufacturing process the glycerin is withdrawn and the soap is treated with synthetic perfumes and colors.
Our soaps are cold processed to maximize the benefits of the natural qualities of essential oils, herbs, base oils, botanical and natural enrichers. They are hand mixed in small batches, hand poured, hand cut and hand packaged. Every batch is individually tested for quality and results.
All the ingredients of our natural pure glycerin soaps are carefully selected to give you highly moisturizing qualities that maximize the benefits to your skin.
No synthetic agents or heavy metals are used to artificially change the appearance of our bath and body glycerin soaps or its lathering, cleansing and moisturizing qualities.
There are two ways to make soap:
Soap can be made in a hot process and a cold process. For the hot process, oils and alkali are boiled together for a period of time to create saponification (the process where the oils and the alkali bind). During the boiling, the soap product and glycerin separates. Usually the glycerin is separated out and sold and the soap mixture is then formed into bars or other shapes. Since the soap mixture is boiled for such a long time, the oils in the hot soap process will tend to go rancid. So to counter rancidity, a whole array of chemicals is added to keep the soaps fresher for a long time.
For the cold process, chemicals are used to extract the vegetable oils. The chemicals are later filtered out to ensure the natural quality of the product. The vegetable oils are heated just to the melting temperature and mixed with alkali to create saponification. It is then poured into molds and cooled off and cured for approximately 4-5 weeks.
Make sure to take a look at some of the wonderful Aromatherapy Bath and Body Products offered at Body & Bath Plus.
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