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Amyris Essential Oil Usage & Benefits (Plus Easy Essential Oil Recipes to Try!)

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February 25, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 19 Comments

The March Simply Earth essential oil recipe box brought with it a few surprises. Not only did I discover amyris essential oil for the first time, I also learned a few other interesting things when making my amyris essential oil recipes. Keep reading to learn about the the usage and benefits of amyris essential oil. Plus discover the natural amyris essential oil recipes I tried.

About Amyris Essential Oil

To be honest, before receiving amyris essential oil in my Simply Earth essential oil recipe box, I’d never heard of it. I literally had to look it up. As it turns out, this thick, viscous essential oil is often used as an affordable alternative to sandalwood essential oil. Known as West Indian Sandalwood – though it’s not actually related to sandalwood – amyris essential oil boasts a rich, warm woody aroma that blends well with a number of other essential oils. These essential oils include cedarwood, citronella, conifer oils (like balsam fir or pine), cypress, frankincense, geranium, jasmine absolute, lavender, lemon, oakmoss, patchouli, sweet orange, tangerine, ho wood, rose absolute, vetiver, ylang ylang and sandalwood.

Considered generally safe for use, amyris essential oil is nontoxic, non-sensitizing and non-irritating. Despite this, it should still be diluted with a carrier oil for topical use. (A patch test on skin is recommended prior to use.) Additionally, it is important to note that amyris essential oil is not intended for oral consumption. And, as with other essential oils, always consult a medical professional if you are pregnant or nursing prior to use.

Amyris Essential Oil Usage & Benefits

Amyris essential oil has a number of uses and benefits. It’s commonly used as a fixative in perfume recipes in addition to a number of other cosmetic and therapeutic applications.

Studies show that amyris essential oil has antiseptic, sedative, decongestant and emollient properties. In addition, researchers have also found that amyris oil contains potent antibacterial and antifungal properties. Specifically, it’s effective against 12 strains of multidrug-resistant bacteria. These include Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella paratyphi, as well as Candida albicans fungi.Due to this oil’s high emerol content, it also makes an effective insect repellent. Not only does it deter biting insects, such as mosquitoes, it also repels brown dog ticks, blacklegged ticks and lone star ticks.

Due to its inherent properties, amyris essential oil is well suited for natural remedies that support the immune system. They also make this oil a beneficial ingredient in recipe formulations that focus on calming the mind, relaxing muscles and aiding with sleep. So it’s no surprise that amyris essential oil offers a variety of aromatherapeutic benefits that aid with both sleep and common illnesses such as colds and flu.

Simply Earth Essential Oil Box

Now that you’re caught up on the basic ins and outs of amyris essential oil, I want to share a few highlights that can be found inside the March Simply Earth essential oil box.

Not only does the March box come with a bottle of amyris essential oil, three other essential oils are also included. They are blood orange essential oil, coriander essential oil and a digest essential oil blend which aids with nausea, bloating and gas. (If you’re new to Simply Earth’s essential oil boxes, you can learn more about what’s inside and how they give back to the community here.)

There are also a number of great essential oil recipes. These recipes include the following:

Digest Essential Oil Rollerball Recipe
Mood Lifting Essential Oil Diffuser Blend Recipe
Anxiety Away Essential Oil Inhaler Recipe
Magnesium Whipped Body Butter Recipe
Magnesium Oil Sleep Spray Recipe
Essential Oil Sickness Support Bath Soak Recipe

My two favorite essential oil recipes from the March box were the sickness support bath soak recipe and the magnesium oil sleep spray recipe. Both of these recipes use amyris essential oil as a key ingredient. You can learn how to make two amyris essential oil recipes from the March Simply Earth box below. Or subscribe to Simple Earth now! (A la carte essential oils and other materials including containers, carrier oils and diffusers are also available for sale without a subscription.)

Easy Amyris Essential Oil Recipes

Magnesium Oil Sleep Spray Recipe

Magnesium oil is not an oil. Believe it or not, I had no idea. I was also somewhat skeptical about an external application of magnesium oil actually helping with pain and sleep issues caused by fibromyalgia. Once, I tried this recipe, however, I was stoked to find it helps not just with sleep. It also calmed the fibro flare ups I’ve been having in my wrists and arms lately. Pain that often makes it difficult to type. Simply spray it on and massage in.

This magnesium oil sleep spray recipe does contain water. However, the magnesium flakes (a salt) used in this recipe naturally preserve the water. Therefore no additional preservative is needed.

What are magnesium flakes?

Magnesium flakes, or magnesium chloride, differs from Epsom salt. Epsom salt is actually magnesium sulfate. While both are absorbed by skin, magnesium chloride is better suited for topical applications. Magnesium flakes therefore are well suited for stress relief, sore muscle recovery, improving circulation, headaches, joint pain, restless leg syndrome and cramps.

Notes about the recipe.

Magnesium flakes are included in the Simply Earth essential oil box. However, you will want to purchase more magnesium flakes, along with the fractionated coconut oil (available from Simply Earth), once the supply they send runs out.

Because I live with fibromyalgia, I did make a substitution in this recipe. Instead of water, I used witch hazel for its anti-inflammatory properties. While you dissolve the magnesium flakes in boiling water, I was able to dissolve them in the witch hazel by simply stirring the two ingredients together.

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon magnesium flakes
1/2 cup boiling distilled water
1 Tablespoon fractionated coconut oil
6 drops blood orange essential oil
4 drop amyris essential oil

Instructions:

Dissolve the magnesium flakes as called for in the recipe in 1/2 cup boiling water.

Meanwhile, in a small glass bowl, stir the essential oils into the fractionated coconut oil.

Next, pour all of the ingredients into the spray bottle (provided.)

To use, simply shake the bottle then mist onto your pillow at bedtime. Or spray onto arms and/or legs as needed and massage in.

Sickness Support Bath Soak Recipe

Simply Earth’s sickness support bath soak recipe is wonderful not just for boosting immunity to fight off illnesses, it also can help with sore muscles and body aches associated with the flu. It’s also effective at calming your body as well as relieving nausea or a distressed digestive system.

Made using amyris essential oil and magnesium flakes, this homemade detoxifying bath soak recipe also contains Epsom salt (not provided) and lavender buds (included.) As this bath soak recipe is diluted in bath water, I actually doubled the amount of essential oils called for in the recipe. (By the way, this smells absolutely AMAZING!)

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons magnesium flakes
1/2 cup Epsom salt
1 Tablespoon fractionated coconut oil
6 drops Amyris essential oil
4 drops Digest essential oil blend
2 Tablespoons dried lavender

Instructions:

In a small bowl, mix the magnesium flakes and Epsom salt together.

Using a separate glass bowl, combine the essential oils with the fractionated coconut.

Now add the salt mixture to the oils and mix well to ensure all the ingredients are evenly incorporated throughout the bath soak.

Then mix in the dried lavender buds. Spoon the bath soak into a small glass jar or container until ready for use.

To use, simply pour the entire contents of the bath soak into warm running bath water.

Can’t wait to get started using this amazing essential oil? Subscribe to Simply Earth today! Use coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE to get a free bonus box with your first order. Plus receive a gift card for $40 off your next order!

For more simple essential oils recipes, sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter to discover more of my original beauty and skin care recipes and projects to try throughout the new year! You can also follow me on facebook, twitter, pinterest and instagram.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: amyris essential oil, aromatherapy, bath tutorial, beauty box, beauty kit, beauty recipes, cold relief, colds, detox, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, flu, health and wellness, healthy living, home remedies, home remedy, immunity, magnesium, mineral bath soak, natural alternative, natural remedy, natural skin care, nausea, self care, simply earth

Simple Essential Oil Recipes for Home, Health & Beauty

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January 10, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon Leave a Comment

Creating simple essential oil recipes for your home, health and beauty is easier than you think. And it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Keep reading to discover how you can get started making your own products at an affordable price with no special equipment to buy!

There’s a universal truth about soapmaking. And it’s not really one we’re aware of until we actually devote ourselves to becoming soapmakers head on. It’s not a cheap hobby. In fact, getting started can require a pretty hefty investment. Throw in beauty and skin care recipes and you accidentally blew your entire grocery budget for the month. Even those DIY kits from soapmaking suppliers can run on the high side. I’ve seen a few that were over $100. And they only make a single recipe. Add essential oils to the mix and it can get expensive AF pretty quickly.

So why can’t there be an affordable way to explore multiple arenas of making simple essential oil recipes for home, health and beauty?

There is. It’s called Simply Earth.

What is Simply Earth?

Simply Earth is exactly what its name implies. Simple, plant based ingredients for crafting simple essential oil recipes for home, health and beauty. A monthly essential oil subscription box, Simply Earth provides you with everything you need to make simple essential oil recipes when you join. From the packaging and containers – like roller balls and lip balm tubes – to ingredients and recipe cards. There are even stickers for your finished products!

If I were ever to do an unboxing video, Simply Earth would be the box I’d start with. My lack of patience for such things aside, the monthly essential oil boxes from Simply Earth are, well, simply stunning. Beautifully packaged for both presentation and care, Simply Earth is everything one can hope for in a DIY essential oil box. In fact, the very first time I learned about Simply Earth, I knew I had to get one for myself!

And here we are.

What makes Simply Earth so amazing?

I received the January box from Simply Earth and can’t say enough great things about it. What makes it so amazing? Well, I’ll tell you.

1. It saves space.

If you’ve ever purchased materials in bulk for a project you know how much space they can take up. Living in a tiny *almost* studio sized apartment, I understand how important it is to save on space. So if you end up with a massive amount of containers and ingredients for a project you only plan to make once, it’s a challenge to find room for the leftover supplies. With Simply Earth you get all the materials you need in a SINGLE box for multiple recipes. There are still ingredients like essential oils, carrier oils and even beeswax leftover to use in future essential oil recipes. However, they aren’t going to take up three shelves in your cabinet.

2. You save money.

As previously mentioned, getting started with essential oils as well making natural home, health and beauty recipes can be costly. With Simply Earth, your up front costs are minimal. And with each new monthly essential oil box, you can make multiple new projects. All for an affordable price that fits most budgets. So creating your own simple essential oil recipes is fun, affordable and easy. It also makes it easy to grow your essential oil collection over time. Plus, all of the essential oils from Simply Earth have been tested and proven pure. So you know you’re getting a quality product.

3. You don’t need to buy any special equipment.

Most of my own natural beauty and skin care recipes require you purchase a digital scale for weighing out ingredients. Or you may need a special mold. However, if you aren’t a serious soapmaker, or just want a basic introduction to new ingredients, Simply Earth gives you just that. Everything you need to get started with no special equipment to buy. Plus there are six, brand new simple essential oil recipes to make each month.

4. It makes learning accessible.

Most of us have busy lives. And while we love learning new things, sometimes starting a new hobby or project can seem overwhelming – as well as time consuming. The essential oil boxes from Simply Earth introduce you to new essential oils slowly over time. So it’s easy to build on your knowledge and learn about the health and beauty benefits of essential oils. Plus, each of the simple essential oil recipes found in Simply Earth boxes can be made in around ten minutes or less. This allows you to take time out for self care while also creating something new that fits perfectly into your healthy lifestyle.

5. There are lots of recipes to get you started.

Want to make something new? Simply visit the Simply Earth website for a wide range of simple essential oil recipes for home, health and beauty. The Simply Earth blog offers simple essential oil recipes on how to make bath bombs, essential oil diffuser blends, body butter, sugar scrubs, face masks, candles, cold support chest rubs, natural germ cleaners, essential oil fruit & veggie wash – even essential oil jewelry diffusers!

6. Simply Earth boxes are fun for everyone.

Not only is Simply Earth fun for you, it’s also fun for the family. Their products are suitable for most ages including tweens and up. So you can enjoy learning about new essential oils as a family. Or, explore your new essential oil box from Simply Earth with friends or coworkers. (These boxes make great gifts too!)

7. They donate to charity.

Finally, Simply earth donates 13% of their profits to organizations that work to end human trafficking.

Inside my Simply Earth essential oil box.

I received Simply Earth’s January essential oil box for my very first box along with a free big bonus box. Inside were the ingredients and essential oils to make the following products (along with recipe cards.)

Confidence Diffuser Blend
Skin Renewal Sugar Scrub
Relaxing Textured Massage Bars
Lip Rejuvenating Lip Balms
Skin Healing Booster Roll On
Calming and Uplifting Body Butter

The ingredients included coconut oil and fractionated (liquid) coconut oil, sweet almond oil, tapioca pearls, cosmetic beeswax and a silicone soap mold. I also received multiple, empty essential oil bottles with droppers, glass amber bottles with metal roller balls, an amber glass jar and lip balm containers. Additionally, my box also included the following essential oils:

Ravensara Essential Oil
Bergamot Essential Oil
Farewell Scars Essential Oil Blend
Myrrh Essential Oil

My favorite essential oil recipe for January from Simply Earth is the relaxing textured massage bar with tapioca pearls. While my favorite essential oil this month is the Farewell Scars essential oil blend. (I love that information about the benefits of each essential oil or essential oil blend can be found on the back of the recipe cards!)

Get your essential oil box from Simply Earth!

I can’t wait to receive next month’s essential oil box from Simply Earth! The theme for February is natural makeup. Not only will this box contain six simple essential oil recipes for natural makeup, it will also include the following essential oils and blends: Beauty Within, Geranium, Coffee and Copaiba. Plus there are bonus items like eye makeup containers and natural colorants!

If you’re excited as I was when I first learned about Simply Earth, then make sure you start your monthly subscription! Not only will you receive a free bonus box, you’ll also get a gift card $40 off your next order when you use coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE If a monthly box doesn’t fit your budget, no worries. You can opt in to receive a quarterly essential oils box with six simple essential oil recipes instead. Or, it’s easy to skip a box or cancel your subscription for any reason! Get started now!

For more simple essential oils recipes, sign up my semi-weekly newsletter to discover more of my original beauty and skin care recipes and projects to try throughout the new year! You can also follow me on facebook and instagram.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Handmade Home, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: aromatherapy, beauty box, beauty kit, beauty recipe, beauty recipes, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, handmade home, health and wellness, healthy homemaking, natural beauty, natural skin care, self care, simply earth

Best Natural Deodorant Recipes to Fight Odor Causing Bacteria This Summer

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

June 27, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

Conquer summer sweat with this collection of the best natural deodorant recipes to kill odor causing bacteria this summer! And they’re all baking soda free so they’re suitable for even the most sensitive skin!

Ah summer. It’s the perfect time for outdoor adventures. Swimming, hiking, lazy Sundays on the river. But it’s also hot. And occasionally humid. And that means sweat! While many of us aren’t thrilled at the idea of sweating, there’s nothing worse than stinky summer sweat.

Underarm odor is caused by bacteria being broken down by the apocrine glands in our arm pits. And while many of us, myself included, turned to anti-perspirants for years to tackle tough odors and stop sweat, it’s not the best solution. With concerning possible links to both breast cancer and prostrate cancer, I’d rather not gamble with my health. Therefore I opt for using a natural deodorant with safe ingredients.

While underarm sweating is often a challenge when making the switch to a natural deodorant, it’s definitely a healthier lifestyle choice. After all, we are supposed to sweat.

I’ve heard stories of professionals who actually place panty liners inside the armpits of their blazers to absorb excess sweat. After all, it’s hard to always appear in command of your job if your blazer looks like it’s being worn by a nervous nilly. However, opting for a natural deodorant can and does work. While there may be some sweating to contend with on those muggy hot days, you can still smell as fresh as lovely as a summer rose!

Learn why you should make the switch to a natural deodorant!

I’ve been through my own set of challenges in my quest to find the right natural deodorant for my skin. Like many others before me, I tried the natural baking soda deodorants that wrecked my pits with a painful red rash. I’ve also tried other natural deodorant brands that seemed like they just didn’t do anything at all. This led to me formulating my own homemade natural deodorant recipes.

Following is my collection of the best natural deodorant recipes without baking soda to kill odor causing bacteria this summer. I hope that you enjoy these natural deodorants recipes as much as I do. And that you find the a healthy, natural solution that works for you!

Best Natural Deodorant Recipes

Sensitive Skin Deodorant Recipe with Natural Probiotics

If you’ve been on the fence about switching to a natural deodorant, then you must try this sensitive skin deodorant recipe! Free of irritating baking soda, this all natural deodorant works hard at fighting odors without leaving you with an angry red rash.

Formulated with magnesium hydroxide for its deodorizing properties, my sensitive skin deodorant recipe also contains arrowroot powder and Fuller’s Earth clay to help absorb excess wetness. The addition of probiotics then additionally helps to destroy tough odors caused by bad bacteria by contributing to the biodiversity and strength of your skin microbiome. Get the recipe here.

Palmarosa + Lime Natural Deodorant Recipe with Aloe Vera Oil

Specifically formulated to be travel worthy during hot summer months, this natural deodorant recipe with essential oils has a higher melting point than other natural deodorants. That way you take it with you on hikes, camping or to summer festivals without having to worry about it melting.

Crafted with arrowroot powder, magnesium hydroxide and bentonite clay, this no baking soda natural deodorant recipe won’t irritate sensitive skin. Plus palmarosa and lime essential oils combine for a fresh scent and to help to fight odor causing bacteria. This is one of the top best natural deodorant recipes for an active and adventurous summer! You can find this natural deodorant recipe here.

Lavender Bergamot Deodorant Recipe with French Green Clay

Whether you prefer a stick or a cream deodorant, this versatile lavender bergamot deodorant recipe with French green clay offers some of the best wetness and odor protection! Not only is it free of coconut oil (for those with allergies) it’s also completely 100% natural. Learn to make this natural deodorant here.

Manuka Essential Oil Deodorant Recipe with Detoxifying Sea Clay

This manuka oil deodorant recipe is a great choice for anyone wanting to switch to a natural, non-irritating deodorant. It’s formulated using antifungal and antibacterial manuka essential oil as well as detoxifying, mineral rich sea clay.

Created to have a slightly higher melting point to compensate for warmer indoor temperatures during summer, this natural manuka oil deodorant recipe fights body odor without synthetic or toxic ingredients and offers a fresh, uni-sex scent perfect for summer. Get this natural, no baking soda deodorant recipe here.

Natural Lavender Cream Deodorant Recipe with Bentonite Clay

This natural cream deodorant recipe is good for more than just a deodorant. In addition to using this natural deodorant to fight underarm odor, it also works great as a spot acne treatment for oily summer skin. You can also use it on your feet to keep them from sweating and stinking in hot shoes, underneath makeup to keep your face shine free or as an acne fighting face mask!

Like my other best natural deodorant recipes, this one is free of irritating baking soda and contains only natural ingredients like arrowroot powder, magnesium hydroxide and bacteria fighting neem oil. Get the recipe for this 4-in-1 deodorant and skin care cream here.

Natural Neem Oil Deodorant Recipe

This natural no baking soda deodorant recipe won’t irritate skin and is made with tough, odor fighting anti-bacterial neem oil and organic essential oils. Learn how to make your own neem oil deodorant plus choose from two awesome printable deodorant labels for your finished product. Discover this natural deodorant recipe and the free printable labels here.

Best Natural Deodorants to Buy This Summer

Looking for an effective natural deodorant you can buy rather than DIY? I recommend the Nubian Heritage Indian Hemp and Haitian Vetiver Deodorant with Neem Oil. I tested out this deodorant after running out of my own and being unable to locate a baking soda free deodorant with magnesium last minute locally. Formulated with Propanediol, a tested effective natural ingredient derived from Corn in a fermentation process, this deodorant really does provide 24-hour odor protection.

I also like SmartyPits Natural/Aluminum Free Prebiotic Deodorant in Rosemary Mint. An aluminum-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free natural deodorant, this brand takes a smart approach to odor control by getting to its source. It feeds our body’s good bacteria with prebiotics in order to fight the odor causing bad bacteria.

I’ve found that Smarty Pits deodorant controls wetness better than the Nubian Heritage deodorant. However, it does not control odor for nearly as long. I sometimes apply both of these deodorants on super hot, sweaty days. The Nubian Heritage first, followed by Smarty Pits, for the perfect combination of both odor and wetness control.

(I buy SmartyPits deodorant from Grove Co. to save money on this and other natural home and health care products.)

Discover More Natural Skin Care Recipes

Be sure to follow my boards on Pinterest for more of the best natural deodorant recipes for summer, along with many of my other favorite natural skin care recipes. You can also find and follow me on G+, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. Or you can simply subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Lifestyle Tagged With: beauty diy, deodorant recipe, deodorant stick, diy, essential oil recipes, favorites, health and wellness, holistic, natural skin care, summer, summer skin care

Natural Gardeners Soap Recipe That’s Not Just for Gardeners

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

May 22, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

It doesn’t have to be gardening season for you to enjoy this natural gardeners soap recipe. In fact, you don’t need to be a gardener at all! Formulated to quickly and easily wash away tough dirt and grime, you’ll find that this natural gardeners soap is also a great option for mechanics, artists and kindergarten teachers. So if you know how to get good and dirty, then this soap is for you.

One of my favorite things about spring is that sense of revival, hope and growth. I love strolling through our local farmer’s market and choosing plants for my garden or new flowers for my yard. This year however I won’t have the opportunity to grow a garden.

While I’m sure my roommate wouldn’t object to me putting a garden her yard, it’s simply not practical. Her home’s backyard is wooded and incredibly shady. The front yard on the other hand, while it does get full sun most of the day, is literally only about the size of small garden.

So this year I think I’ll create a container garden for growing herbs instead. With limited real estate, it makes more sense. And as we are always cooking with fresh herbs, it also has a positive impact on our grocery budget.

One of our favorite herbs is cilantro. Not only is it easy to grow, but it’s one of my favorite toppings for tacos. Luckily for me, I am not part of that percentage of the population that thinks cilantro tastes like soap. We’re also huge fans of fresh sage, basil, mint and thyme.

As such, I’ve found that this Indoor/Outdoor Herb Garden Kit is perfect for starting an herb container garden. It’s small size makes it perfect for apartment dwellers as well as anyone else, who like me, just doesn’t have the right conditions for a traditional outdoor garden.

Alternately, if you have woodworking tools, give this DIY indoor herb garden a try!

Check out these spring gardening tips & tricks!

Whether you’re planning to grow a garden this year or not, my natural gardeners soap recipe is a must for your next weekend project. It’s made using a combination of naturally exfoliating ingredients like flax seed powder, shredded loofah, calendula flower powder, poppy seeds and fine ground pumice.

However, you don’t have to use the same exfoliants as I did for scrubbing power. If you’re on a budget, I recommend the Exfoliant Sampler from Bramble Berry. It contains 1 oz. each of eight different natural exfoliants for just $15.

Or simply sift through your own cache of soapmaking supplies to see what other ingredients you can use. (You can even make an inventory list while you’re at it so you know just what you have on hand and accidentally order supplies you already have.)

In addition to the exfoliants used to remove tough caked on dirt, paint or motor oil – dealer’s choice! – this homemade soap is highly cleansing to help rinse away stuck on grease, grime and sweat.

To balance out those cleansing suds, I did give my natural gardeners soap recipe a higher super fat. It also ranks pretty high as a conditioning soap as well due to the addition of baobab oil, mango butter and fractionated shea oil.

Finally, I rounded off my natural gardeners soap recipe with an earthy essential oil blend of ylang ylang, patchouli and blood orange. But feel free to swap out my essential oil blend recipe with your own favorite essential oil blend.

Get started with essential oils with classic essential oil kit!

Or try a garden themed fragrance oil for a more budget friendly scented option. I like this garden dirt fragrance oil. While garden mint is also another one of my favorite scents.

Natural Gardeners Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

.8 oz. baobab oil (5%)
.8 oz. castor oil (5%)
4.8 oz. refined coconut oil (30%)
1.6 oz. mango butter (10%)
3.2 oz. pomace olive oil (20%)
1.6 oz. safflower oil
3.2 oz. fractionated shea oil

4 fl. oz. distilled or filtered water
2.15 oz. sodium hydroxide/lye

1/2 teaspoon fine ground pumice
1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
1/2 teaspoon flax seed powder
1/2 teaspoon calendula flower powder
1/2 teaspoon shredded loofah
.35 oz. ylang ylang essential oil
.25 oz. patchouli essential oil
.15 oz. blood orange essential oil
.025 oz. bergamot essential oil
.025 oz. petitgrain essential oil
soap colorant, as desired

Soap Notes:

As my natural gardeners soap recipe yields a somewhat softer soap bars, I used a steep water discount. The water weight for this recipe is 25% of the oil weight. Additionally the super fat is 8%.

You can use this information, if desired, to resize my natural gardeners soap recipe using a lye calculator. It’s also useful if you’re wanting to make changes to the super fat or water percentage.

Learn more about using a lye calculator to adjust a homemade soap recipe or to craft your own custom cold process soap recipes with the information found in this tutorial.

For an extra, extra super scrubby soap, you can double the amount of exfoliants called for in the recipe to 1 teaspoon each.

My natural gardeners soap recipe yields six bars of handmade artisan soap when using this round silicone mold.

Getting Started:

Begin by gathering the materials you’ll need for this soapmaking project. You will need a digital scale, a digital thermometer, an immersion blender and a 6-cavity round silicone soap mold. (I used this mold for my natural gardeners soap recipe.) Additionally, you’ll also need aluminum free, heat safe containers and utensils for mixing your soap.

You should also take all necessary safety precautions when working with lye. If you are unfamiliar with making cold process soap from scratch, I recommend this soapmaking tutorial to get you started. I also offer several beginner soap recipes to try before attempting this soap including this beginner soap recipe and my palm free olive & babassu soap recipe.

Instructions:

Begin by preparing the lye solution for my natural gardeners soap recipe. To do this, measure out the distilled water into a heat safe container. In a separate container, weigh out the lye called for in the recipe. Then pour the lye into the water – I recommend a well ventilated area – and mix until the lye has completely dissolved. Now set the lye-water solution aside in a safe location to cool.

While the lye solution cools, weigh out the carrier oils and butters called for in the recipe. Combine in a stainless steel pot. Then gently heat the soapmaking oils on the stove over low heat just until the solids have melted.

Remove the soapmaking oils from heat and allow to cool.

In the meantime, if you’d like to color your natural gardener soaps, measure out the colorant. (The usage rate for micas is typically 1 teaspoon per pound.) Then weigh out the essential oils and combine in a small glass beaker.

Once the oils have reached 90°-95°F you are ready to make soap.

Check the temperature of both the soapmaking oils and the lye solution before you begin. Both of these ingredients should be within ten degrees of one another.

Discover more natural essential oil skin care recipes here.

Now add your choice of colorant, if using, to the soapmaking oils. Mix briefly with an immersion blender to incorporate the colorant throughout the oils.

Next, pour the lye solution into the soapmaking oils and mix with the immersion blender until you reach a light trace. You’ll know you’ve reached trace when you drag the blender through the soap batter and it leaves a visible trail behind. It’s a little like pudding.

Add the essential oils to the soap batter, then continue mixing until thoroughly combined.

Once you bring the soap to a medium trace, pour the soap evenly into six of the cavities of your round silicone mold. Then gently cover the soap with plastic wrap or parchment paper.

Set the soap aside for 24-48 hours. After this time you can unmold your natural gardeners soap bars.

Allow your soap to cure for four to six weeks in a cool, dry location. After that, your homemade soaps are ready to use.

More Natural Soap Recipes with Essential Oils

If you love my natural gardeners soap recipe, then you may want to also try these other natural soap recipes scented with natural essential oils.

Or find more homemade soap recipes by way of my DIY Bath & Body Pinterest board and my Simply Soapmaking Pinterest board. Alternately, you can explore all my cold process soap recipes here. Or, if you prefer melt and pour soapmaking, you can find my melt and pour soap recipes here.

Discover my favorite handmade artisan soaps on Etsy here.

Get more from Soap Deli New blog!

For even more homemade soap recipes, natural skin care recipes, bath and beauty DIY’s, you can follow Soap Deli News across all of your favorite social media platforms. I’m on G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. Or you can simply subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Gardening, Lifestyle, Soapmaking Tagged With: baobab oil, blood orange, cold process soap recipe, cold process soapmaking, essential oil recipes, gardener's soap, mango butter, natural soap, patchouli essential oil, soap recipe, soap tutorial, soapmaking, spring, summer, ylang ylang

Essential Oil Skin Care Recipes to Promote Skin Health

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

January 4, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

Get started using essential oils in your own homemade skin care products with a classic essential oil kit from Mountain Rose Herbs. Mountain Rose Herbs offers high quality, organic essential oils that you can trust in all of your natural essential oil skin care recipes.

Essential oils offer a variety of benefits when used in essential oil skin care recipes. From tackling dandruff or acne to their aromatherapeutic benefits, choosing the right essential oils can help promote skin health as well as work as in tandem with other natural ingredients to create the perfect home remedies.

Essential oils however can be expensive. And, as there are unfortunately a lot of fake essential oils on the market, you’ll find that not all essential oils are created equal. So where do you start?

Choosing Trusted Essential Oils

When I first starting making my own homemade soaps more than fifteen years ago, Mountain Rose Herbs was one of the first places I discovered to shop for natural, organic ingredients. To this day, it continues to be one of my favorite online shops for purchasing organic ingredients and products when quality is of the utmost importance.

Since 1987, Mountain Rose Herbs has been known for its uncompromising commitment to organic agriculture, sustainable business practices, and a steadfast focus on the pure aesthetics and freshness of botanical products. Their wide range of certified organic product offerings includes not only organic essential oils, but also bulk herbs and spices, loose leaf teas, and natural health and body care products.

Additionally, every aspect of product creation is carried out in accordance with strict quality control and organic handling procedures by employees who care. From fragrant and beyond-fresh organic herbs and spices, to soothing essential oils and delicious herbal teas, the quality and integrity of Mountain Rose Herbs is unparalleled.

Keep reading to learn more about the profile for each essential oil included in their classic essential oil kit. Plus discover four basic essential oil skin care recipes that are perfect for beginners!

Classic Essential Oil Kit

Mountain Rose Herbs’ Classic Essential Oil Kit is perfect for beginners and features the world’s most renowned and popularly used essential oils in one convenient sampler. It is beautifully packaged with usage guidelines on the back of the liner tray and contains an extra bottle with a glass dropper for experimentation.

The Classic Essential Oil Kit from Mountain Rose Herbs contains one dram of each of the following eight certified organic essential oils:

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) Essential Oil: Cool, clear, and exceptionally refreshing. Effective vapor rub and air disinfectant for colds and flu. Dilates nasal and bronchial passages. Mild stimulant and antiseptic. Beneficial analgesic for sore muscles. Blends will with peppermint, lemon, and lavender.

Organic Atlas Cedarwood(Cedrus atlantica) Essential Oil: Cedarwood has a long history as an incense and perfume. The wood was burned by the Greeks and Romans to fragrant the air. It’s aroma is woody and balsamic with rich dry overtones. Commonly used to scent men’s essential oil skin care recipes, this essential oil is also wonderful at repelling biting insects and moths.

Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) Essential Oil: Highly refreshing and relaxing oil that is clear to light green. Helps the body restore balance and harmony. Mildly sweet, fresh, and warm. Works well with the nervous system. Mild analgesic, sedative, astringent, and skin tonic. Blends well with Rose, Citrus, Rosemary, Lavender, and Basil.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Essential Oil: Fresh, floral aroma. Classic ingredient in soaps and perfumes. Helps alleviate stress, induce sleep, and overcome anxiety. Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, spasmodic, anti-depressant, and stimulates new cell growth. Excellent preventative against infections. Mild enough to use by the drop on cuts, scrapes, bruises, sprains, and insect bites. Blends well with many oils adding a smooth, sweet top note.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Essential Oil: Stimulating, refreshing, and bright. Anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. Used for indigestion and nausea. Excellent for some headaches, fever, colds, and flu. Soothing in steams or massage oils. Classic breath freshener. Blends well with Lavender, Rosemary, Citrus, and Rose.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Essential Oil: Physical and mental stimulant. Blend with carrier oil for a soothing hair conditioner, invigorating massage oil, or bath oil. Effective preservative. Stimulates memory and mental faculties. Good for muscular sprains, arthritis, and rheumatism. Do not use if you have high blood pressure.

Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Essential Oil: Impressive and powerful oil with anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties. Used for infections, sunburn, acne, athlete’s foot, and many other applications. Do not use on inflamed, broken, or sensitive skin.

Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) Essential Oil: Known as an uplifting oil. Orange oil is often found in household cleaners. Sweet orange oil contains about 90% limonene, which is in many household cleaners. Because of this sweet orange oil is used as a earth friendly alternative to many common household cleaners. It blends well with most other essential oils.

There are a great number of essential oil skin care recipes that you can make with this classic essential oil sampler. From shower steamers and melt and pour soaps to bath salts and lip balms, this essential oil kit will introduce you to an exciting new hobby that will enrich your life.

Essential Oil Skin Care Recipes

Following are several essential oil skin care recipes that utilize essential oils from this classic kit.

Basic Bath Salt Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups coarse sea salt
1 Tablespoon olive oil (or other carrier oil)
1/2 teaspoon essential oil of choice

Instructions:

Measure out and combine all ingredients in a large glass bowl, then mix well. To use, simply add to warm running bath water as desired and enjoy. {Explore more homemade bath salt recipes here.}

Basic Solid Lotion Bar Recipe

Ingredients:

2 oz. refined shea butter
2 oz. beeswax pastilles
2 oz. sweet almond oil (or other carrier oil)
.1 oz. lavender essential oil (or .03 oz. other essential oil of choice)

Instructions:

Using a digital scale, weigh out the shea butter, beeswax and sweet almond oil. Combine in a double boiler and gently heat until melted.

Remove from heat then weigh out the essential oil and stir into the liquified ingredients. Mix well.

Next, pour the solid lotion bar mixture into a silicone cupcake mold or similar and allow the lotion bar(s) to solidify.

Once your lotion bar(s) harden, remove from the mold and apply to skin as desired. {Explore more homemade lotion recipes here.}

Basic Body Butter Recipe

Ingredients:

6 oz. refined shea butter
.5 oz. cocoa butter
.25 oz. carrier oil of choice
.03 oz. essential oil of choice

Instructions:

Using a digital scale, weigh out the shea butter, cocoa butter and carrier oil. Combine in a double boiler then heat until melted. Remove from heat, then weigh out and stir in the essential oil.

Pour into a sterilized container of your choice and allow to solidify completely prior to use. {Explore more homemade body butter recipes here.}

Basic Lip Balm Recipe

Ingredients:

.5 oz. refined shea butter
.5 oz. beeswax pastilles
.5 oz. carrier oil of choice
18 drops essential oil of choice

Instructions:

Weigh out the shea butter, beeswax and carrier oil and combine in a double boiler. Heat until melted, then remove from heat.

Next, weigh out the essential oil and stir into the melted ingredients. Then pour the lip balm into tins or pots of your choice. {Explore more homemade lip balm recipes here.}

You can discover even more essential oil skin care recipes right here on Soap Deli News blog or by following my boards on Pinterest.

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Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: bath and body, bath tutorial, beauty, crafts, diy, easy, essential oil recipes, essential oils, natural, organic, skin care