Breathe Easy Essential Oil Blend: Make A Homemade Vapor Rub Cold Remedy

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October 12, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 4 Comments

Try this natural breathe easy essential oil blend recipe to make your own homemade vapor rub cold remedy for symptom relief from nasal and chest congestion. A simple and effective home remedy for fast cold relief when you’re fighting a cold or the flu.

How to Use An Aromatherapeutic Breathe Easy Essential Oil Blend

When I get a cold, there’s nothing worse than not being able to breathe through my nose. While shower steams with menthol work wonders in the morning, taking a shower every time my nose gets stuffy isn’t a realistic option. Especially not at night when I’m trying to sleep. That’s when a breathe easy essential oil blend comes in handy. Whether you make your own breathe easy essential oil recipe or use a ready made breathe easy essential oil blend, you’ll be set for all the congestion challenges seasonal colds throw your way.

There are three easy ways to use the breathe easy essential oil blend. You can use your breathe easy essential oil blend in an essential oil diffuser at night or include it in an essential oil shower steamers recipe. Alternately, you can also use it in a simple remedy for homemade vapor rub. Keep reading to learn how to make a breathe easy essential oil recipe as well as where to buy a premade essential oil blend. Then try out your breathe easy essential oil blend in my simple (super easy!) homemade vapor rub cold remedy.

Breathe Easy Essential Oil Blend Recipe

Support respiratory function and promote a healthy immune response with this natural breathe easy essential oil blend recipe. This natural plant-based blend can be used in your diffuser as well as in my homemade vapor rub recipe. Use it to support easy breathing, revitalization and clear airways throughout winter.

Combine in an amber glass jar with a reducer or glass dropper and shake to combine.

Alternately, if you prefer, you can buy this specific blend premade in order to avoid buying multiple essential oils from Edens Garden. Or try the Respire blend from Spark Naturals, which also contains tea tree and clove essential oils. Formulated with a combination of peppermint, melaleuca (tea tree), eucalyptus, rosemary, lemon and clove, this blends aids in relief of congestion and other respiratory symptoms caused by colds and flu.

Once you’ve made an essential oil blend to use for aromatherapy, you can use your formulation to create your own homemade vapor rub recipe as a natural cold relief remedy.

Homemade Vapor Rub Recipe for Nasal & Chest Congestion

Ingredients:

2 oz. beeswax pastilles
4 oz. carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil or fractionated coconut oil
3 mL Respire or Breathe Easy essential oil blend (or .1 oz.)
.05 oz. menthol crystals

Instructions:

Using a digital scale, weigh out the beeswax. Place the beeswax in a double boiler and gently heat until melted.

While the beeswax melts, weigh out the carrier oil into a separate container.

Next weigh out the menthol crystals. Add the menthol crystals to the container with the carrier oil. Stir until the menthol crystals dissolve.

Once dissolved, measure or weigh out the breathe easy essential oil blend. Then combine with the carrier oil and menthol mixture.

Once the beeswax has melted, remove from heat. Then stir in the carrier oil mixture with the menthol crystals and essential oils.

Now pour the homemade vapor rub into a 6 oz. glass jar or three 2 oz. glass jars. You can also use metal tins.

Allow the homemade vapor rub to cool completely, then screw on the lids and label as desired for personal use.

To use your homemade vapor rub as a natural remedy for fast cold relief, rub a thin layer on your chest or upper back at nighttime. It will help to soothe coughs and may also offer relief from nasal and chest congestion as well as sinus pressure and headaches.

Yield: 2 - 6 oz. jars.

Homemade Vapor Rub Recipe

Materials

2 oz. beeswax pastilles
4 oz. carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil or fractionated coconut oil
3 mL Respire or Breathe Easy essential oil blend (or .1 oz.)
.05 oz. menthol crystals

Instructions

Using a digital scale, weigh out the beeswax. Place the beeswax in a double boiler and gently heat until melted.

While the beeswax melts, weigh out the carrier oil into a separate container.

Next weigh out the menthol crystals. Add the menthol crystals to the container with the carrier oil. Stir until the menthol crystals dissolve.

Once dissolved, measure or weigh out the breathe easy essential oil blend. Then combine with the carrier oil and menthol mixture.

Once the beeswax has melted, remove from heat. Then stir in the carrier oil mixture with the menthol crystals and essential oils.

Now pour the homemade vapor rub into a 6 oz. glass jar or three 2 oz. glass jars. You can also use metal tins.

Allow the homemade vapor rub to cool completely, then screw on the lids and label as desired for personal use.

Breathe easy diffuser blend for colds. Try this natural breathe easy essential oil diffuser blend recipe in your essential oil diffuser to support respiratory function and promote a healthy immune response with this natural breathe easy essential oil blend recipe. This natural plant-based blend can be used in your diffuser as well as in my homemade vapor rub recipe. Use it to support easy breathing, revitalization and clear airways throughout winter.

Like this recipe? Then you’ll also want to try my recipes for DIY shower steamers with menthol crystals and a sickness support bath soak! As well as check out my post on other natural ways to fight colds and flu including how to make an elderberry syrup to support your body’s natural immunity. Plus don’t forget to pin this post for reference later!

Where can I buy homemade vapor rub?

Not ready to make your own homemade vapor rub from scratch? Try one of these artisan made, petroleum free cold and flu salves instead.

You can also explore more herbal home remedies here. Also be sure to check out my eucalyptus & orange essential oil blend recipe. It’s one of my favorite aromatherapeutic essential oil blends and has a number of uses for health, home and beauty. Or discover more DIY ideas by visiting my Essential Oils & Herbs board on Pinterest as well as my Home Remedies board.

Want more great ideas? Then be sure to follow Soap Deli News across your favorite social media channels. You can find and follow me on Blog Lovin‘, pinterest, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: aromatherapy, cold relief, colds, diffuser blends, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, fall, flu, health and wellness, healthy living, home remedies, home remedy, self care, vapor rub, winter

Aromatherapy for Sleep: 3 Ways to Make An Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe

August 13, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 10 Comments

Sometimes, falling asleep, much less getting a good night’s sleep can be a challenge. Without proper rest, however, we suffer not just physically but emotionally as well. Luckily there are ways to help combat sleeplessness and enable you to get a good night’s rest. By utilizing aromatherapy for sleep, you can promote a restful night’s sleep. Not only can my easy DIY aromatherapy sleep spray assist in helping you fall asleep faster, it may also help you sleep more soundly.

Trouble Sleeping?

Sleeping and night and getting a good night’s sleep are two entirely different things. As someone with fibromyalgia, my body definitely knows the difference. It also responds accordingly. Therefore, it’s important to me to get a restful sleep so I can function the next day. Sometimes, however, that can be a huge challenge. Not only do I wake to pee every two hours – a combination of age and fibro overstimulating those muscles – I’m also constantly dealing with a barge of emotional stress.

The current events as of late haven’t been pleasant. And trying to filter out that chaos with social media being what it is, has been a challenge. More recently, I found myself deeply affected by the mass shootings in Dayton and El Paso. The senselessness of the killings breaks my heart. It also leaves me a little terrified. I’m still freaked out knowing my son had just left UNC Charlotte campus the day that school shooting took place. I can’t imagine the struggle to move past that trauma as a survivor. And as someone who was previously diagnosed with agoraphobia, I have to consciously push myself to move past that fear and be present in the world, while also not allowing myself to be overwhelmed by the emotional toll we all feel from such tragedies.

Natural Aromatherapy Sleep Sprays

Luckily there are ways to make sure we get a restful sleep so we are better equipped to deal with chronic illnesses and day to day stressors. Whether you use essential oils in a diffuser, as an aromatherapy roll on or as a pillow spray, aromatherapy is a natural way to promote a good night’s sleep. And it can safely be used in conjunction with natural supplements or sleep aids if needed.

My essential oil aromatherapy sleep spray recipe is a natural way to promote rest and relaxation in order to help you fall asleep. Made with a blend of three essential oils – lavender, ylang ylang & vetiver – this DIY insomnia sleep spray is easy to make and simple to use. Simply mist the spray onto your pillow or bed linens prior to going to bed.

Following you’ll learn how to make you own natural sleep spray recipe using essential oils with three different ways to make it depending on whether or not you choose to use a preservative.

DIY Sleep Spray Formulation

Ingredients Used to Make a Sleep Spray

My insomnia sleep spray contains several key ingredients. These include rose water, an aromatherapeutic essential oil blend and polysorbate 20. The rose water, which can be substituted with distilled water if desired, adds its natural scent to the recipe. While the polysorbate 20 is an emulsifier used to bind oil and water together. It’s derived from the lauric acid found in coconut oil.

Sleep Spray Preservative Options

There are also two preservative options. One being Optiphen ND and the other ethanol or 100 proof vodka. Optiphen ND is a paraben- and formaldehyde-free preservative design for water-based recipes. It protects against mold and bacteria growth when incorporated homemade recipes for facial toners, room sprays and perfumes. You’ll find Optiphen ND works best in products with a pH of 6 and lower.

If you choose not to use a preservative you won’t be able to include any water in your sleep spray. However, I don’t recommend this option for a linen or pillow spray as it can stain linens and takes longer to dry. You can use this sleep spray recipe as a body spray though by reducing the amount of essential oils called for in my insomnia sleep spray recipe. You can find more information on making a body spray below.

Tips & Tricks for Essential Oil Measurements

Should you desire to scale any of my insomnia sleep spray recipes, there are some tips that make measuring out the essential oils easier. You can find these tips along with an essential oil conversion chart at Mountain Rose Herbs here.

Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe #1

Ingredients:

1.8 oz. rose water
2 oz. 91% (or higher) isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
.2 oz. polysorbate 20
.05 oz. Optiphen ND
48 drops vetiver essential oil
32 drops lavender essential oil
32 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Recipe Notes:

This insomnia pillow mist spray uses isopropyl alcohol, more commonly known as rubbing alcohol, to help the water evaporate more quickly. This will also help prevent your pillow sleep spray from staining linens. While it does have a strong alcohol smell when first sprayed, this scent of the rubbing alcohol fades quickly as it evaporates in the air. So you are left with only the fragrance of the insomnia essential oil blend. As rubbing alcohol is not a preservative, but a disinfectant, you should use a preservative to prevent mold and bacteria growth. Optiphen ND is recommended at a usage rate of 1% for this application.

Should you choose to use this recipe and omit the preservative, your formula will last up to one month when kept store in the refrigerator.

Instructions:

Using a digital scale weigh out the polysorbate 20 in a 250 mL glass beaker. Then use a dropper to add each of the essential oils to the polysorbate 20. Mix to combine.

Now weigh out the rose water and the rubbing alcohol. Pour the liquids into the polysorbate and essential oil blend. Mix well.

Finally, weigh out the Optiphen ND and stil into the sleep spray. Mix thoroughly. Then pour your sleep spray into a single, sterilized 4 oz. spray bottle or two 2 oz. containers with a fingertip mister.

Shake your insomnia sleep spray before each use, then mist onto pillows and bed linens before going to sleep.

Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe #2

Ingredients:

2 oz. rose water
1.8 oz. 100 proof vodka
.2 oz. vegetable glycerin (or polysorbate 20, as desired)
48 drops vetiver essential oil
32 drops lavender essential oil
32 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Recipe Notes:

This aromatherapy sleep spray recipe uses alcohol as a natural preservative. Like rubbing alcohol it helps the water evaporate more quickly. Unlike rubbing alcohol however,which can be drying to skin, vodka is not drying when used as part of a moisturizing base. It also acts as an emulsifier. This makes this recipe suitable as a body spray as well. To make a skin safe body spray, make the recipe as is, but reduce the amount of essential oils called for in the recipe by half.

As many of us don’t have access to ethanol, which is 200 proof, I formulated this insomnia sleep spray recipe using 100 proof vodka. If you have access to ethanol, you can substitute ethanol for the vodka. When doing so, increase the amount of rosewater in the recipe to 2.95 oz. and reduce the ethanol to .85 oz. (or 20% of the total recipe weight.) You can learn more about using alcohol as a preservative here.

Adding Magnesium Oil to Your Sleep Spray Recipe

If desired you can also add magnesium oil to your sleep spray when utilizing it as a body spray. To do this, you can either substitute the rosewater with ready made magnesium oil or make your own magnesium oil by adding magnesium flakes to the rosewater. If adding magnesium flakes to the rosewater, simply dissolve one Tablespoon magnesium flakes in the rosewater by mixing well. Then, with either option, reduce the essential oils to 24 drops vetiver essential oil and 16 drops each of lavender and ylang ylang. (Also be sure to try my magnesium body butter recipe to reduce the symptoms of restless leg syndrome and promote restful sleep.)

Instructions:

Using a digital scale weigh out the polysorbate 20 in a 250 mL glass beaker. Then use a dropper to add each of the essential oils to the polysorbate 20. Mix to combine.

Now weigh out the rose water and the vodka. Pour the liquids into the polysorbate and essential oil blend. Mix well.

Then pour your sleep spray into a single, sterilized 4 oz. spray bottle or two 2 oz. containers with a fingertip mister.

Shake your insomnia sleep spray before each use, then mist onto pillows and bed linens before going to sleep.

Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe #3:

Ingredients:

2 oz. jojoba oil, or other dry carrier oil
2 oz. cyclomethicone
24 drops vetiver essential oil
16 drops lavender essential oil
16 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Recipes Notes:

This recipe is designed to be used as an aromatherapeutic body spray. It is not recommended for use as a linen or pillow spray as it’s primarily oil based. As it doesn’t not contain water, there is no need to use a preservative for this body spray recipe.

Instructions:

You can use liquid measurements for this recipe. Simply measure out the jojoba oil and cyclomethicone and combine in a 250 mL glass beaker.

Then use a dropper to add each of the essential oils to body spray mixture. Mix well to combine.

Finally, pour your aromatherapeutic body spray into a single, sterilized 4 oz. spray bottle or two 2 oz. containers with a fingertip mister.

To use, simply shake your body spray before each use, then mist onto skin as desired, avoiding your face. (For a facial spray, the amount of essential oil called for in this recipe should be reduced by half.)

Once you’ve made your insomnia sleep sprays, you can easily decorate your bottles using scrapbook paper. (I like catching paper stacks when they’re on sale for $10!) Simply cut a sheet of decorative paper to fit your container. Then tape it to your spray bottle to secure it in place. (I used a strip of tape for each side of the paper.) Easy peasy!

Where to Buy Ready Made Sleep Sprays

If you’d like to try an aromatherapy sleep spray for your pillows and bed linens, but aren’t ready to make your own, there are a number of ready made options that you can purchase. This Sleepy Head Pillow Mist from Made By Coopers Apothecary is made with a calming blend of lavender essential oil and a soothing blend of chamomile and frankincense to help you de-stress and unwind. You can buy it here.

Or try one of these other natural essential oil sleep remedies to explore aromatherapy for sleep.

Alternately, you can purchase other natural remedies here. Or explore home remedies you can make yourself right here on Soap Deli News or via my Home Remedies Pinterest board.

You can also follow me across your favorite social media platforms for regular DIY ideas for soap, bath and beauty recipes you can craft at home. Follow me now via facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

This article is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or medical advice and is provided for informational purposes only. Information on products mentioned are based on my own personal experience and have not been evaluated by the FDA. Please consult a physician prior to making any changes that may impact your health.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: aromatherapy, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, health and wellness, healthy living, home remedies, home remedy, lavender, natural, natural alternative, natural remedy, self care, sleep, vetiver essential oil, ylang ylang

DIY Shower Steamers Recipe with Menthol Crystals

August 1, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 4 Comments

Learn how to make DIY shower steamers with menthol crystals and eucalyptus essential oil as a natural home remedy for stuffy noses caused by colds, flu and seasonal allergies. Easy natural relief from congestion caused by colds or allergies, this easy shower steamer recipe is a must for back to school season. Learn more about this home remedy as well as the benefits of menthol crystals when used to promote health and wellness.

Shower Steamers for Natural Symptom Relief from Seasonal Allergies, Colds & Flu

My seasonal allergies have been terrible this year. I mean generally they aren’t great, but I’ve had to pull out the big guns recently. Meaning I stood in line at the actual pharmacy to buy Sudafed. Unfortunately that didn’t work quite as well as I’d hoped, being that it was a last resort. So I made DIY showers steamers with menthol crystals as a last ditch effort to avoid getting a sinus infection. And they worked great at easing my allergy symptoms by opening up my nasal passages so I could breathe better. Better than the Sudafed, in fact. They also conquered that irritating sinus headache I’d had for two days straight.

With back to school right around the corner, there’s really no better time to make your own DIY shower steamers. After all, if you have kids, you know that schools are a cesspool of germs and viruses. When my son started kindergarten I’d had him out of daycare for over year. He got community acquired pneumonia his first week. Of course, seeing as how he inherited my stubborn streak, he ran around like a little chicken with his head cut off anyway. It took two months for him to fully recover.

And of course there are the joys of sports practices. Whether my son was struggling through a cold, or suffering with seasonal allergies himself, I quickly learned that yes, all boys hock loogies the size of a small country.

No one wants to over medicate their kids if they don’t have to. After all, you want them to develop a healthy immune system while also avoiding the overuse of antibiotics. At the same time, however, you don’t want them to suffer either. It’s no fun struggling to breathe through your mouth or fight a sinus headache. Luckily, shower steamers with menthol crystals are a great natural remedy for chest and nasal congestion.

What Are Menthol Crystals?

Menthol crystals are derived from a species from the mint family known as mentha arvensis. These flowering plants, which are found in the mint family known as Lamiaceae, include corn mint, field mint and wild mint and contain the organic compound known as mentol. The menthol is extracted from the plant by freezing the essential oil of said plants, then removing the resulting menthol crystals through a filtering process.

Menthol crystals have a number of therapeutic properties that make them useful in aromatherapy as well as medicinal and cosmetic applications. The medicinal properties they are believed to exhibit make menthol crystals analgesic, anesthetic, antibacterial, cooling, circulation-stimulating, expectorant, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, decongestant, antiemetic and antitussive. While cosmetically they offer antibacterial, invigorating, soothing, cooling, circulation-stimulating and skin plumping properties.

Due to their inherent chemical makeup, menthol crystals are a popular choice for a number of medicinal applications. You may be most familiar with menthol crystals from the over-the-counter product, Vicks VapoRub, in which they are a key component.

Benefits of Menthol Crystals in Shower Steamers

Menthol crystals have a number of benefits when used in aromatherapy. Whether you have a stuffy nose, chest congestion or even a sore throat, menthol crystals have been historically used in aromatherapy to relieve the symptoms of colds, flu and allergies. Not only do menthol crystals help promote easier breathing and offer temporary relief from nasal congestion, they can also be used to soothe sore throats, alleviate fever symptoms, coughs, headaches and sinus related discomfort. Additionally, their aromatherapeutic properties also support immunity and can help with nausea.

While menthol crystals also have a number of both cosmetic and hair care applications, for this purpose I chose to use menthol crystals as a key ingredient in DIY shower steamers. As, when used as a decongestant agent, menthol crystals in combination with eucalyptus essential oil, offer natural symptom relief from stuffy noses and sinus headaches.

Precautions for Using Menthol Crystals in Shower Steamers

It is important to note that menthol crystals are not recommend for use by children ages 7 and under. Likewise, if you are pregnant or nursing you should consult a physician before using menthol crystals. You should also seek out guidance from your doctor before use if you have cancer, heart-related ailments, skin disorders or hormone-related ailments. Additionally, do not use menthol crystals if you have an open wounds as high levels of absorption may be toxic and take care to keep menthol crystals out of contact with mucous membranes.

The maximum dilution rate for using menthol crystals is 5% in order to protect respiratory system and skin from any distress or discomfort.

How to Make DIY Shower Steamers

Made with menthol crystals and eucalyptus essential oil for their aromatherapeutic benefits, these easy DIY shower steamers are the perfect addition to your morning shower. Just take care not to mistake them for bath bombs. As soaking in a tub filled with menthol crystals is likely leave your lady parts in an overly frigid state.

You make shower steamers in much the same way you would make bath bombs. The main difference is, however, you don’t need additional dry ingredients in your shower steamer recipe aside from the baking soda and citric acid. Nor will you need to use more expensive oils or butters to bind these two ingredients together. As you aren’t soaking in a tub with your shower steamers, you can use an inexpensive carrier oil instead. Additionally, you’ll find that DIY shower steamers harden and dry out much faster than bath bombs as the menthol crystals recrystalize once the shower steamers are made.

Like bath bombs you are working with citric acid. Therefore you may want to use a face mask or respirator to avoid inhaling this ingredient should it become airborne. I also highly recommend wearing gloves to make your DIY shower steamers so you are able to protect your hands from the cooling action of the menthol crystals and eucalyptus essential oils.

You don’t necessarily need a bath bomb mold for this recipe. I used my favorite heavy duty round bath bomb molds to make my shower steamer with menthol crystals. However, as these mold rather easily, you can also use a meat baller for smaller sized shower steamers, or simply mold them into balls with your hands. Other than that, if you need additional tips on making shower steamers, you can find tips and tricks for molding and unmolding bath bombs here.

Shower Steamer Recipe with Menthol Crystals

Ingredients:

10 oz. baking soda
5 oz. citric acid
3 oz. carrier oil, such as sweet almond or fractionated coconut oil
.5 oz. eucalyptus essential oil
.5 oz. menthol crystals

Instructions:

Using a digital scale, weigh out the carrier into a small glass measuring cup. Then weigh out the menthol crystals. Add the menthol crystals to the container with the carrier oil, then stir until the crystals have dissolved. Then weigh out and mix in the eucalyptus essential oil. Set aside.

Next, weigh out the baking soda and citric acid into a large glass or ceramic bowl. Use a whisk to mix the ingredients together until they are evenly combined throughout.

Now pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients, slowly mixing as you go. Mix thoroughly then use your hands, a meat baller or a bath bomb mold to form your shower steamers.

If using a round bath bomb mold, loosely pile the ingredients into each half of the mold. Then lightly pack. Follow with additional mixed ingredients, lightly tap down, then firmly press both sides of the bath bomb mold together. Then unmold your DIY shower steamers.

Repeat until all the ingredients from the shower steamer recipe have been used. Then set your finished shower steamers with menthol crystals aside for several hours, until dry.

Once dry, wrap your DIY shower steamers tightly in foodservice film or store in an airtight container until ready for use.

Shower Steamer Recipe with Menthol Crystals

Learn how to make DIY shower steamers with this easy 5-ingredient shower steamer recipe with menthol crystals & essential oils as a natural home remedy for stuffy noses caused by colds & seasonal allergies.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Materials

10 oz. baking soda
5 oz. citric acid
3 oz. carrier oil, of choice
.5 oz. eucalyptus essential oil
.5 oz. menthol crystals

Tools

digital scale
bath bomb mold or meat baller
large glass or ceramic bowl
glass Pyrex measuring cup
utensils for mixing

Instructions

Using a digital scale, weigh out the carrier into a small glass measuring cup. Then weigh out the menthol crystals. Add the menthol crystals to the container with the carrier oil, then stir until the crystals have dissolved. Then weigh out and mix in the eucalyptus essential oil. Set aside.
Next, weigh out the baking soda and citric acid into a large glass or ceramic bowl. Use a whisk to mix the ingredients together until they are evenly combined throughout.
Now pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients, slowly mixing as you go. Mix thoroughly then use your hands, a meat baller or a bath bomb mold to form your shower steamers.
If using a round bath bomb mold, loosely pile the ingredients into each half of the mold. Then lightly pack. Follow with additional mixed ingredients, lightly tap down, then firmly press both sides of the bath bomb mold together. Then unmold your DIY shower steamers.
Repeat until all the ingredients from the shower steamer recipe have been used. Then set your finished shower steamers with menthol crystals aside for several hours, until dry.
Once dry, wrap your DIY shower steamers tightly in foodservice film or store in an airtight container until ready for use.

More Natural Remedies for Cold & Allergy Symptom Relief

If you’re looking for more natural alternative for symptom relief of cold and allergy symptoms, then try one of these natural remedies.

You can also explore more natural remedies on my natural health and wellness board on Pinterest as well as my home remedies Pinterest board.

If you like my DIY shower steamers, then be sure to pin my shower steamer recipe with menthol crystals for later. You can also follow me across your favorite social media platforms for regular DIY ideas for soap, bath and beauty recipes you can craft at home. Follow me now via facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

This article is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or medical advice and is provided for informational purposes only. Information on products mentioned are based on my own personal experience or research and have not been evaluated by the FDA. Please consult a physician prior to making any changes that may impact your health.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness Tagged With: aromatherapy, bath bomb recipe, bath bombs, cold relief, colds, congestion, congestion relief, cough relief, essential oil recipes, essential oils, eucalyptus, flu, health, health and wellness, healthy living, home remedies, home remedy, immunity, menthol crystals, natural, natural alternative, natural remedy, self care, shower steamers

Easy Bath Bomb Recipe with Natural Ingredients for Beautiful Glowing Skin

July 15, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 3 Comments

This easy bath bomb recipe is crafted with a combination of skin conditioning butters and essential oils. Naturally colored with spinach powder and French green clay, this natural bath bomb recipe not only fights the visible signs of aging, it can also help prevent or clear up back acne. While the other skin care ingredients prevent your skin from being stripped of beneficial oils – a known cause of overproduction of sebum that can lead to oily skin and acne.

Easy Bath Bombs Your Skin Will Love

If you’ve never made bath bombs before, you may have found that first time a little challenging. There are a number of factors that go into making bath bombs, and unfortunately, they can easily be affected by humidity. While you can’t control the weather, there are tips and tricks for making that perfect no fail bath bomb. These tips, in combination with an easy bath bomb recipe, can help guarantee success from the start.

Many store bought bath bombs are filled with cheap, synthetic ingredients. Not only can these ingredients irritate sensitive skin, they really don’t offer any skin care benefits. Therefore, I created an easy bath bomb recipe that contains natural ingredients that skin loves.

If you’re familiar with my previous bath bomb recipes, then you know how much I love using natural butters like cocoa, shea and mango butters in my bath bomb recipes. Including a body butter in your bath bomb formulation makes the finished product more moisturizing. Additionally, you’ll also find that adding butters to your homemade bath bombs helps your bath bombs harden faster. And it can even help them resist the unwanted effects of high humidity. Therefore, I chose to include mango butter in this homemade bath bomb recipe.

Additionally, rather than use mica powder or lake dyes to color this easy bath bomb recipe, I chose to work with natural, plant-based colorants instead. For this particular bath bomb recipe, I used both French green clay and nutrient rich natural spinach powder. When combined, these two natural ingredients give this easy bath bomb recipe a forest green tint. This is, of course, in addition to the natural skin care benefits these ingredients offer.

Skin Care Benefits of Natural Bath Bomb Ingredients

So, just what are the benefits of using these natural ingredients in your homemade bath bombs? And why are ingredients like mango butter, spinach powder and French green clay good for our skin?

Skin Care Benefits of Spinach Powder

Spinach plays an important role in skin care, whether you’re consuming it and incorporating it into your natural skin care routine. Spinach is naturally rich in iron, folate, chlorophyll, Vitamin E, magnesium, Vitamin A, fiber, plant protein, and Vitamin C. As Vitamins C, E, and A have antioxidant abilities, they are are especially beneficial for your skin. These antioxidants destroy free radicals that cause premature aging. Antioxidants can also help fight the visible signs of aging and even out your complexion. Thereby making your skin look and feel more radiant.

Spinach powder is also amazing at reducing acne to promote clear skin. Whether you use spinach powder as a mask, or in my easy bath bomb recipe, you’ll find that it removes both dirt & oil and reduces inflammation for rejuvenated skin. This makes spinach powder especially useful at treating back acne which tends to be more prevalent in the summer, regardless of your skin type, when incorporated into a bath bomb. However, you can also use spinach powder as an added ingredient in both melt and pour soap and cold process soap recipes.

Skin Care Benefits of French Green Clay

As with other clays, French green clay offers a variety of skin care benefits when incorporated into natural skin care products, such as my easy bath bomb recipe. Green, due to its high content of iron oxide and decomposed plant matter, French green clay (also known as Illite clay) is also rich in dolomite, manganese, silica, copper, phosphorous, magnesium, zinc and calcium. Not only does this clay detox skin to remove impurities, it also cleanses and gently exfoliates skin.

French green clay, like spinach powder, is also suitable for oily, clogged and acne prone skin. As it’s a highly absorbent clay, it is able to hold almost equal its weight in liquid. However, there’s no need to be concerned if you don’t have oily or acne prone skin. French green clay is gentle enough that it’s suited for all skin types. Therefore it makes a wonderful addition to facial masks, soaps and deodorants to gently detox and clarify skin.

Skin Care Benefits of Mango Butter

Like spinach powder, mango butter is also vitamins like A and E, essential fatty acids and natural antioxidants. A highly moisturizing plant-based butter, mango butter is light and non-greasy. And, because mango butter is non-comedogenic, it won’t clog pores or aggravate acne prone skin. This makes mango butter suitable for pretty much every skin type – even if you have acne prone skin.

Tips & Tricks for Making My Easy Bath Bomb Recipe

Now that you’re familiar with the ingredients I added to my natural bath bomb recipe for their inherent skin care properties, here are a few tips and tricks to help you create the perfect bath bombs.

Bath Bomb Tip #1

When formulating your own bath bomb recipes, it’s important to add dry ingredients in addition to the baking soda and citric acid that give bath bombs their fizz. This not only helps to bind your bath bombs together, it can also prevent a premature fizz. Dry ingredients that are commonly used for this purpose include arrowroot powder, cream of tartar, cornstarch and clay. Just be sure that the additional dry ingredients don’t equal more than one half the weight of the citric acid called for in your bath bomb recipe.

Bath Bomb Tip #2

Before mixing the dry ingredients for your bath bomb formulations, you should sift them first through a sieve. This will help avoid lumps and bumps in your bath bombs.

Bath Bomb Tip #3

Naturally scenting your bath bombs with citrus essential oils can hinder your bath bombs’ ability to fully dry. You can counteract this, however, by adding hard butters to your bath bomb recipe.

Bath Bomb Tip #4

Use water soluble colorants to color your bath bombs such as lake dyes or dyes specifically formulated for use in bath bombs. Otherwise, if you use micas to color your bath bombs, you’ll also need to use Polysorbate 80 to prevent your colorants from staining the tub or skin. It will also prevent a ring around the tub or floating mica. The recommended usage rate for Polysorbate 80 is 1-2% of the total batch weight and should be added to the liquids prior to mixing the dry and wet ingredients together.

It’s also important to keep in mind that not all green colorants, including green chromium oxide, aren’t approved by the FDA for use in bath bombs. So be sure to do your research on colorants before deciding which ones to use. Additionally, if you are selling your homemade bath bombs, it’s important that you use batch certified colorants.

Bath Bomb Tip #5

When using a two part bath bomb mold it’s important not to pack each side before pressing the two sides of the mold together. Otherwise, the two sides won’t stick together. Instead, you should pile each side of the mold loosely with your bath bomb mixture. Lightly compact each side, then pile more of the bath bomb mixture into each side of the mold. Finally, firmly press both sides of your bath bomb mold together. (It’s important not to twist the two sides of mold together when using a round bath bomb mold.) Then gently tap around the edges of the mold with a spoon to release your bath bomb.

For one piece bath bomb molds, use the same process. However, instead of pressing the mold against another half, firmly pack the remaining bath bomb mixture into the mold with your hands. Tap the mold with a spoon to help release the bath bomb if necessary. I like to set these molds onto a cutting board, then tap until the bath bomb slides out when the mold is lifted off.

Bath Bomb Tip #6

Your bath bomb mixture, once mixed should be the consistency of wet sand. When picking up a clump of the mixture with your hands, it should hold together when squeezed then dropped back into the container. This is important. If your bath bombs are too dry they may crumble and not hold together. On the other hand, if they are too wet, you may get a premature fizz in addition to having difficulty releasing the bath bombs from the mold.

Bath Bomb Tip #7

If you’re new to making bath bombs, then I highly recommend Amanda Gail Aaron’s book, Fun in the Tub: Creating Bath Bombs, Solid Bubble Bath, Bubble Frosting and Bubble Scoops. Amanda, the author behind the blog Lovin’ Soap, shares an array of helpful tips and tricks for making bath bombs in this DIY bath bomb book. In addition, she not only provides a combination of easy to advanced bath bomb recipes, she also focuses on formulation and teaches you how to modify recipes to work in your environment.

Making My Easy Bath Bomb Recipe

Are you ready to try my easy bath bomb recipe with mango butter and essential oils? Let’s get started!

As I formulated my easy bath bomb recipe with only natural ingredients, I chose to scent my bath bombs with a combination of essential oils. This essential oil blend is an uplifting combination of lemongrass (or lemon), palmarosa and bergamot essentials oils. However, you have the option of substituting my essential oil blend with one of your choice. Alternately, if you don’t mind using synthetic fragrances, you can also use a skin safe fragrance oil at the recommended percentage rate. (This is determined by the manufacturer and can vary by scent.)

I used the leaf mold and the small round mold from this bath bomb mold collection for my easy bath bomb recipe. (I cannot tell you how much I LOVE these molds!) However, you’re welcome to use any molds of your choosing.

Easy Bath Bomb Recipe with Mango Butter

Ingredients:

8 oz. baking soda
4.5 oz citric acid
.5 oz. spinach powder
.25 oz. arrowroot powder
.25 oz. French green clay
2 oz. mango butter
liquid carrier oil of choice, as needed
2 mL lemongrass (or lemon) essential oil
1 mL palmarosa essential oil
1 mL bergamot essential oil

Instructions:

Begin by weighing out mango butter. (You will need a digital scale for this step.) Place the mango butter into a heat safe container. Heat at 30% power in the microwave, or using the double boiler method, until melted. Remove from heat.

Next, measure out the essential oils using a fresh graduated plastic transfer pipette for each essential oil. Then add to the melted mango butter. Mix to combine. Then set aside.

Next, weigh out the baking soda, citric acid, arrowroot powder, spinach powder and French green clay into a in a separate container. Mix the dry ingredients until thoroughly combined.

Now add the melted mango butter with the essential oils to the dry ingredients mixing as you go. Mix until the entire concoction is the consistency of wet sand. If it’s too dry, stir in a small amount of a carrier oil of your choice, a little at a time, until it reaches the proper consistency. (See tip #6.)

To make this easy bath bomb recipe, pile the mixture into your bath bomb mold of choice. Lightly compact the bath bomb mixture into the mold, then repeat the step. Follow by firmly pressing the bath bomb mixture into the mold. Then unmold. (See tip #5 for more detailed instructions.)

Once your homemade bath bombs have hardened, wrap as desired for personal use or gifting.

If you’d like to sell your natural bath bombs, then you will need to follow all labeling requirements for your product. If you aren’t familiar with how to label your homemade bath bombs for sale, then I recommend the book, Soap and Cosmetic Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English, by Marie Gale.

More Easy Bath Bomb Recipes

Now that you’ve tried my easy bath bomb recipe with mango butter, here are some other homemade bath bomb recipes you can make.

Once you’re comfortable making bath bombs, you can also make rainbow bar embeds for rainbow hidden color bath bombs. You can find the recipe for rainbow hidden color bath bomb embeds here.

For more natural bath bomb recipes, check out my boards on Pinterest board. You can also find me on your favorite social media platforms including Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness Tagged With: anti-acne, anti-aging, aromatherapy, bath and body, bath bomb recipe, bath bombs, bath tutorial, crafts, diy, essential oil blend, essential oils, french green clay, gift idea, mango butter, natural skin care, self care, stress relief

Essential Oils for Pets (Recipes for Dog Fleas, Itchy Skin & More!)

April 29, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 2 Comments

Your pets are your best friends. So taking care of them is naturally at the top of your list. Learn how to use essential oils for pets with six easy essential oil recipes for your furry friends. Learn how to use essential oils for dog fleas and itchy skin. Plus quick, simple recipes for a pet paw balm, a fur and skin conditioner, a DIY pet odor eliminator spray and an anti-anxiety essential oil diffuser blend.

My dog, Jasper, is who I like to call my “little old man.” He’s 9 1/2 years old and a complete and total flirt. He’s also incredibly stubborn. And, because he’s too cute for words, completely spoiled as well. Jasper’s also very lucky that I love him. His vet bills have already topped $1000 this year. The culprit? Allergies. Not only did switching his food to a senior (diet) dog food lead to a food allergy, he has seasonal spring and fall allergies as well. This in turn has led to itchy skin and recurring ear infections no matter what preventative measures I take.

I recommend you always consult your vet as a first step in your pet’s care – especially before introducing essential oil into their routine. Misuse of essential oils can actually make illnesses worse, or lead to new problems. So always treat your dog (or cat’s) health with due diligence, the same as you would for a human child. Luckily for me, Jasper sees the best vets our city has to offer. They’re highly knowledgeable and open to alternative treatments. They also treat my dog like the little person he is. And while I’m open to natural remedies as needed, there are always exceptions that require modern medicine to minimize suffering and speed up the healing process.

Sadly, Jasper is now on a steroid treatment for skin allergies. He doesn’t seem to mind though. There’s no more itching or scratching. Plus he gets his daily dose of Apoquel hidden inside a piece of cheese every morning. However, there were natural treatments my vet recommended for Jasper for his allergy prone skin. These include Epsom salt baths (with zero fragrances as they may be irritating) as well as wiping off his paws and face with aloe wipes after he’s been outside. Additionally, using an ear rinse with salicylic acid was recommended for his back hind legs. They had a fungal growth that has since cleared up.

If you’ve spoken to your vet about introducing essential oils into your pet’s health and wellness routine, then I have some great ideas for using essential oils for pets. Keep reading to discover six homemade essential oil recipes for your pets – including essential oils for dog fleas. Plus a super simple recipe for using essential oils for itchy skin.

The new essential oil recipe box from Simply Earth is an affordable to learn about essential oils for pets. It also makes it easy to create simple recipes to address your pets’ health concerns. The May Simple Earth recipe box for pets contains four essential oils that you can incorporate into your dog’s daily routine. These essential oils for pets are ginger, juniper berry and citronella. It also includes a peace & quiet essential oil blend that’s great for tackling your dog’s anxiety.

Essential Oils for Pets

Ginger Essential Oil

This natural essential oil for pets creates a natural warming sensation. It’s great for eliminating odors and can also ease an upset stomach or nausea. A sweet & spicy essential oil, ginger oil blends well with bergamot, cedarwood atlas, clove leaf, coriander, geranium, rosewood, orange and sandalwood essential oils.

Juniper Berry Essential Oil

Juniper berry essential oil is another pet friendly essential oil. It’s commonly used in essential oil recipes to ease muscle pain, repel insects and tackle oily or acne prone skin. Different from juniper leaf essential oil, which is not pet safe, this oil is distilled from juniper berries (my favorite as fan of gin cocktails!) and a sweet woody pine scent.

Citronella Essential Oil

One of the most commonly used essential oils, citronella oil has gained popularity for its ability to deterring biting insects like mosquitoes. Not only is it pet safe, there are so many ways to use it! Rather you’re making a blend of essential oils for dog fleas, deter mosquitoes or neutralize odors this natural essential oil has a number of everyday uses. With summer on the way, add citronella essential oil to a bowl of water with a floating candle for a pretty outdoor summertime insect repellent.

Peace & Quiet Essential Oil Blend

Made from a combination of sweet orange, frankincense, cedarwood & lime essential oils, this unique uplifting, synergy aromatherapy blend promotes calm and relaxation. (Use caution with this blend around cats. They aren’t always a fan of citrus oils.)

As with past Simply Earth recipe boxes, you’ll also find six recipe cards for using these essential oils for pets. Along with containers for mixing your recipes, this box also has a super cute dog bandana. Other ingredients you’ll need, such as sweet almond oil, coconut oil & beeswax, are included in the bonus box. The bonus box also includes bottles for custom essential oil diffuser blends and rollerball bottles. (If you’re a first time Simply Earth customer, you’ll receive a free bonus box with your first essential oil recipe box along with a gift card for $40 off your next order. Simply enter coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE at checkout.)

Tips for Using Essential Oils for Pets

Before I share the collection of pet care recipes with essential oils, here are few tips for introducing your pet to essential oils for the first time.

Allow your pet to smell the essential oil recipe you’ve chosen for pet care prior to application. Should your pet react in a negative manner, applying the oil could cause your fur baby emotional distress. Should they react negatively, don’t force your pet to follow through. I’ve found it’s easy to discover other ways to use recipes your pets may not enjoy.

Always leave and escape for your pet when using essential oils. You don’t want your own little man to be stuck in a room with a diffuser that he (or she) really can’t stand. Animals are a lot like men in this way. Small things that make them feel uncomfortable can feel like bit things to them. (Sort of like that man flu, ahem, common cold men don’t tolerate well.)

Introduce your pets to essential oils slowly and in small quantities over time. By taking the time to put your pets needs first, your pets will have the best experience at having essential oils introduced into their pet care routine.

Essential Oil Recipes for Pets

Ready to start using essential oils with your pets? Following are the six simple essential oil recipes for pet care included in the May Simply Earth essential oil recipe box.

DIY Tick & Mosquito Collar

Ingredients:

20 drops juniper berry essential oil
10 drops citronella essential oil
2 Tbsp sweet almond oil
1 Cup distilled water

Instructions:

This simple essential oil recipe for repelling ticks and mosquitoes is applied directly to your dog’s collar or a bandana (such as the one included in May’s Simply Earth essential oil recipe box for pets.)

Simply mix the ingredients together in a medium glass bowl for 30 seconds. Then soak the collar in the mixture. (Take care to keep any plastic or metal parts out of the mixture.)

Remove the collar or bandana from the mixture. Then allow to dry completely prior to use.

Store the remaining portion of the recipe in a sealable container for future use.

Anti-Anxiety Essential Oil Diffuser Blend for Pets

Ingredients:

2 drops peace & quiet Essential oil blend
1 drop juniper berry essential oil

Instructions:

Add the essential oils to a diffuser. Then diffuse in an open room. Leave the door open when in use in case your dog is sensitive to the essential oils.

Should you pet react positively to this essential oil blend, you can make a master essential oil blend for your pet’s anxiety. Simply fill a 5 mL bottle (from the Simply Earth bonus box) with 60 drops of the peace & quiet essential oil blend and 30 drops of the juniper berry essential oil. To use, simply add 1-3 drops to your diffuser as needed.

Fur & Skin Conditioner Recipe

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp sweet almond oil
10 drops juniper berry essential oil
6 drops ginger essential oil
6 drops citronella essential oil

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a 1 oz. container. Then shake to combine.

To use, simply massage a small amount onto your pet’s coat to help balance and lock in your pet’s natural oils. This recipe also works on dry patches of skin.

Pet Odor Eliminator Spray Recipe

Ingredients:

10 drops ginger essential oil
20 drops peace & quiet essential oil blend
2 oz. distilled water

Instructions:

Add the essential oils to a 2 oz. spray bottle. Fill the remainder of the bottle with distilled water. Then shake the bottle to incorporate the essential oils for pets throughout the water.

Shake the bottle before each use, then spray as desired into the air or onto surfaces. This recipe helps eliminate odors in the air, on pet beds and other stinky surfaces.

As cats may not like the peace & quiet essential oil blend (due to the citrus oils) be cautious when using this product around them. If desire, you may substitute the peace & quiet essential oil blend with juniper berry or citronella essential oils.

Itchy Skin Essential Oil Roll On Recipe

Ingredients:

2 drops ginger essential oil
2 drops juniper berry essential oil
10 mL sweet almond oil

Instructions:

Add the essential oils to a 10 mL rollerball bottle. Swirl to mix. Then fill the bottle the remainder of the way with sweet almond oil. Replace the roller top and shake well to combine.

To use, simply apply this essential oil recipe for your pet’s itchy skin directly to the affected area.

Essential Oil Pet Paw Balm Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 Tbsp beeswax
2 Tsp refined coconut oil
1/2 Tsp sweet almond oil
2 drops ginger essential oil
3 drops juniper berry essential oil

Instructions:

You can make this essential oil pet paw balm in either a double boiler or the microwave.

Combine the coconut oil, sweet almond oil and beeswax in either a double boiler or a small glass Pyrex measuring cup.

Gently heat in the double boiler until melted (or in the microwave at the lowest setting in 30 second increments) until melted.

Remove from heat, then add the essential oils. Stir to combine.

Then immediately pour the pet paw balm into two lip balm tubes. (Alternately you may also use an aluminium salve tin or lip balm pot.)

To use, simply apply the pet paw balm to your pet’s paws to promote healing for cracked or painful paws. This homemade essential oil balm recipe may also be used to help sore muscles recover.

You can also find an alternate version of my own DIY pet paw balm here. While my recipe does not contain essential oils, feel free to add the above essential oil blend for pets to my recipe.

Start Your Essential Oil Journey!

Ready to get started on your journey with these essential oils for pets? You can purchase the Simply Earth Pet Care Essential Oil Recipe Box here while supplies last. (These boxes always sell out before the month is up so don’t miss out!) Be sure to use coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE to receive your free bonus box plus a $40 discount on your next order. Get yours now!

More Essential Oil Recipes for Dogs

If you’re interested in making more essential oil pet care recipes for your dog, then be sure to check out my own dog care recipes from Soap Deli News. It includes my own dry shampoo recipe with essential oils for dog fleas.

If you’d like to save this information on using essential oils for pets, then be sure to repin this post for later!

Discover more uses and benefits of essential oils along with homemade soap, bath and beauty recipes by following me across your favorite social media platforms. You can find and follow me on Pinterest. Or check me out on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. You can also sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter to stay updated on new bath and beauty recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Pet DIY Tagged With: aromatherapy, diffuser blends, diy, dog, easy, essential oil blend, essential oils, essential oils recipes, green living, health and wellness, natural skin care, pet care, pet diy, pets, simply earth