Aromatherapy scents to invigorate

Aromatherapy has been used since the beginning of time to promote health. Try these invigorating scents to energize your day.

Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils to promote health, both physical and psychological. Its recorded history dates back at least a thousand years. The Eastern cultures have always been big proponents of aromatherapy and other natural healing techniques. Incense, candles, bath oils and salts, and diffusers are all forms of aromatherapy.

Different essential oils, or oils derived from plants, cause different reactions in the body. To invigorate or fight fatigue, try these aromas:

Cypress

Bergamot

Grapefruit

Jasmine

Clary Sage

Lemon

Basil

Frankincense

Patchouli

Black Pepper

Rosemary

Peppermint

Sandalwood

Carrier Oils for Use in Recipes:

Sweet Almond

Borage

Coconut

Apricot

Avocado

Olive

Cocoa Butter

Grapeseed

Jojoba

Macadamia Nut

Rosehip

Sesame

Shea Butter

Sunflower

To Make Your Own Bath Oil

Mix 20 drops of your favorite essential oil with 2 ounces of a carrier oil. Store in a glass container. Use approximately ¼ ounce per bath.

To Make Your Own Bath Salts

Mix 20 drops of your favorite essential oil or blend with 3 cups sea salt or Epsom salt and one tablespoon of a moisturizing carrier oil. Use ½ to 1 cup per bath, storing the remainder in a sealed container.

To Make Your Own Massage Oil

Mix 10 drops essential oil or blend with one ounce of a carrier oil. Always be sure to test essential oils for skin sensitivity before using any product directly on your skin. And always store essential oils and blends in air-tight dark glass containers.

To Make Your Own Invigorating Blends

Combine:

1 drop Jasmine

2 drops Grapefruit

3 drops Sandalwood

4 drops Bergamot

Combine:

4 drops Bergamot

2 drops Grapefruit

2 drops Ylang Ylang

2 drops Lemon

Combine:

11 drops Lemon

6 drops Bergamot

3 drops Spearmint

Combine:

4 drops Clary Sage

4 drops Ylang Ylang

2 drops Bergamot

Combine:

2 drops Grapefruit

2 drops Basil

1 drop Cypress

Combine:

3 drops Grapefruit

2 drops Ginger

Combine:

3 drops Bergamot

2 drops Rosemary

Combine:

2 drops Lemon

2 drops Peppermint

1 drop Frankincense

You can use these blends in either a diffuser or to make massage oil. A diffuser is something that is used to distribute the aroma of essential oils into the air. You can buy glass nebulizers and electric heat diffusers at many health and herbal stores. You can also purchase simple candle diffusers and lamp rings. Candle diffusers are made up of a small tea light candle placed under a ceramic or metal dish. Lamp rings are usually made of terra cotta and sit on top of a light bulb in a lamp. You must be very careful that essential oils do not drip onto the light bulb as they may cause an explosion.

You may also simply blow out a burning candle, place a drop or two of essential oil into the melted wax and re-light the candle. Again, you must be very careful as essential oils are highly flammable.

The simplest method of diffusion is to put a few drops of your chosen essential oil or blend on a tissue or cotton ball and gently wave it in the air as you breathe.