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Using aromatherapy oils in everyday practical ways and more...

Bathing - add 2-8 drops to a full bath. Swish the water around to blend the aromatherapy oil with the water. Enjoy the wonderful healing properties and divine aromas as you inhale them and they are absorbed into your body through your skin. For absolute luxury try jasmine, rose or sandalwood. For something a little more Japanesey shower and completely clean yourself before getting into a pure clean bath. Makes sense right, why bath in underarm deodorant, cosmetics, hair gel and so on. Japanese baths were traditionally made of Hinoki (Japanese Cypress). On the birth of a child a tree was planted which would be used to make a bath for the child when they married. Try a couple of drops of cypress or pine oil to get that Japanesy wooden bathroom atmosphere.

Candles - add 2 drops to the warm candle wax around a lit candle. The oils catch on fire easily so don't add them to a naked flame.

Cleaning - you can use aromatherapy oils when cleaning the house. Add 1 drop to your dish cloth when wiping down bench tops, sinks, baths and so on. I especially like it for the bath as I don't want to be soaking in chemical cleaners when I take a bath. Using essential oils disinfects and get rid of bacteria and fungus safely and naturally and leaves the house filled with amazing, exotic and natural aromas. The oils which seem most suited to cleaning and are antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-viral and anti-fungal are: eucalyptus lemon, eucalyptus radiata, lavender and tea tree. (Worwood, V. 1994 pp.496-497). These oils can be bought big saving size bottles. Don't mix the oils with bleach or chemical cleaners.

Cuts and grazes - Add one drop neat to the cut or graze (after cleaning it if necessary). Use lavender, camomile or tea tree.

Hand & Foot bath - Add 2 drops to a hand or foot bath full of warm water. Try Cypress and lavender for swollen aching feet. (Worwood, V. 1994 p.358.)

Insect bites & itches - Put one drop of neat lavender oil on mosquito and insect bites to take away the itch. You can also try chamomile or tea tree.

Insect repellant - citronella and lemongrass are popularly used. Fill the air with the scent of these oils to keep insects at bay. Add a couple of drops to a burning candles warm candle wax or to boiling hot water. Let the aroma fill the air and keep unwanted friends at bay.

Massage Oil - add 5-10 drops of aromatherapy oil for each 10 ml of carrier oil. For muscle aches try cypress, eucalyptus, lavender, pine or rosemary (or a blend). For anxiety or stress try bergamot, chamomile, geranium. ginger, jasmine, lavender, mandarin, neroli, orange, rose or sandalwood.

Perfume - put a little on your finger tip and dab it onto your neck behind the ears or on your wrist. Try a little rose oil for romance. Rose oil is an aphrodisiac, anti-depressant and good for PMT. (Curtis, S. 2002, p.111.) Rose water was first discovered around 1600 AD when at the wedding of princess Nour-Djihan and Emporor Djihanguyr. They had the canal surrounding their wedding party filled with rose petals. The bridal couple noticed that heat of afternoon sun separated the water from the essential oil of rose, and a new industry was born in Persia!! (Grieve, M. 1994/1931 p.685).

Room Spray - add a few drops of oil to a spray bottle full of warm water. An old facemist bottle will do the job nicely.

Shampoo - try mixing one drop of essential oil into your shampoo or conditioner. Try camomile, cypress, lavender, lemon, sandalwood or rosemary.

Soap - add one drop onto your soap or into your liquid soap. When you want to disinfect your hands try tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus radiata, lemon eucalyptus or peppermint eucalyptus

Vacuum Cleaner - drop one or two drops of essential oil onto your vacuum cleaner bag to fill your home with a lovely aroma. If you are allergicchamomile or lavender might be the go. My sweet little kitty's favourite food is a pungent Japanese fish called katsuo. Angel sometimes finds her way into the food drawer for a little midnight delight, then I find that I like to use something with a strong scent such as the Romance Blend by Gumleaf.It is a blend of lavender, geranium, ylang ylang and sandalwood.

Washing Clothes - I like to add about 5 drops to my washing machine. It disinfects naturally and helps to keep fungus and bacteria away. I use lavender, eucalyptus radiata, eucalyptus lemon, eucalyptus peppermint or tea tree oil. The fragrance fills our whole apartment. I feel confident that towels, sheets and clothes really are clean. Don't drop the oil directly on the clothes. Essential oils are powerful and will actually dissolve rubber (found in swimming costumes, lycra, sports clothes and so on). Drop the oil under the stream of water or onto something tough like a towel or dark coloured t-shirt. Don't use oils with bleach or chemical cleaners.

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Curtis, S. (2002) Essential Oils (5th ed.). Haldene Mason Ltd, London.
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Grieve, M. (1994) A Modern Herbal. Mackays of Chatham, Kent. (First published in 1931 by Jonathan Cape Ltd.)
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Worwood, V. (1994) The Fragrant Pharmacy. Bantam Books, London.
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Picture of rose from a book on the art work of Pierre-Joseph Redoute(1759-1840)(p.32). Lamers-Schutze, P. (Eds.)(2002)Romantic Roses. Taschen, Koln.