Germ Fighter Spray
We’ve all been told to wash our hands more frequently. Here is an antiseptic, germ fighting spray to use on cuts and scrapes. May also be used as a room spray.

Ingredients:
12 drops Tea Tree essential oil
6 drops Eucalyptus Unrectified essential oil
6 drops Lemon essential oil
2 oz. distilled water

Combine ingredients and add to spray bottle. Shake gently before use.

This Natural Shaving Cream is great for both men and women. It is excellent for a man’s bristly beard as well as for the softer feminine hair on legs, underarms, bikini and Brazilian. The cucumber juice will soothe the skin, while the lavender and carrot essential oils will help with any razor nicks. Overall this natural shaving cream keeps the skin nicely moisturized, leaving the skin soft and smooth.

Ingredients

* 4 tablespoons almond oil
* 2 tablespoons avocado oil
* 1 cup cocoa butter
* 1 tablespoon cucumber juice
* 3 tablespoons witch hazel
* 3 drops Carrot oil
* 6 drops Lavender oil

Method
* Make the cucumber juice using a juicer. If you don’t have a juicer, place half a peeled cucumber into a blender and mix well. Pour this into a jug through a fine sieve to remove any lumps. Set aside.
* Melt the cocoa butter in a glass pyrex jug placed into a small pan of simmering water.
* Once the cocoa butter has melted, remove from the heat and mix in the almond and avocado oils and the witch hazel.
* Stir this mixture well then add the cucumber juice, carrot and lavender oils and mix well again.
* Pour this mixture into a sterilized glass jar.
* Cover tightly and label the product, including the date.
* Shake the jar well before each use then stir with fingertips applying it to the skin ready for shaving.
* Please note, as this recipe contains fresh cucumber it will need to be stored in the refrigerator and should be kept no longer than 2 weeks.

Dilute these blends in 95% – 98% jojoba oil for a personal scent to carry with you, or use perfumer’s alcohol.

October Twilight
10 drops patchouli
5 drops cedarwood virginiana
5 drops neroli
5 drops rose geranium
5 drops clary sage

The Essential Wholesale blog has a helpful post on ylang ylang oil and its different grades.

Antibacterial Bathroom Cleaner, from Make Your Own Cosmetics
submitted by kristerae

A natural antibacterial cleanser that helps you clean your home without hurting the planet. The aroma of the essential oils makes the cleaning experience a pleasure.

Yield: Approx. 1 cup
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Difficulty Level: 1
Shelf Life: Indefinite

Ingredients:
1 cup baking soda
2 tablespoons (or more) liquid soap
2 teaspoons tea tree essential oil
1 teaspoon peppermint essential oil
1 tablespoon white vinegar (optional)

Blending Procedure:
1. Measure the baking soda into a bowl with a tight fitting lid.
2. Add approximately 2 tablespoons of liquid soap (either regular dish washing soap or a natural brand of liquid soap such as liquid Castile soap). Mix well to create a paste-like consistency. If you need more liquid soap to do this, add it a little at a time until the mixture is like a paste — pliable but not soggy.
3. Once you have a consistency you feel like you can work with, add the essential oils and mix well again. The addition of vinegar last helps to boost the cleaning power.
4. To use, scoop out a little of the cleanser and use a sponge or other cleaning tool to gently scrub your tub, shower and sink surfaces. A little goes a long way and the antibacterial effect of tea tree gives you extra peace of mind.

*Dilute these blends in 95% – 98% jojoba oil for a personal scent to carry with you, or use perfumer’s alcohol.

Autumn Passing:
10 drops patchouli
8 drops clary sage
4 drops cypress
5 drops grapefruit
2 drops jasmin absolute

Try these Himalayan salt recipes from the San Francisco Bath Salt Company to help cleanse, detoxify and purify your skin, among other benefits.

The after-hitting-the-gym Bath
Whew- You’ve worked out hard and can feel it!  Your muscles are sore and you need to get some relief.  Take a bath!

1 cup Himalayan Salt
10 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil
10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

The PMS Bath
It’s that time of the month again and you’ve been bombarded by cramps.  Take time out to take a bath!

1 cup Himalayan Salt
15 drops Lavender Essential Oil
10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

For each recipe: In a small bowl, add the essential oil drops suggested for the bath of your choice to the Himalayan salt.  Mix well and then add to a tub of warm water.  Each recipe will be the perfect amount for one soak.

*  2 drops Basil
* 1 drops Geranium
* 3 drops Melissa
* 2 drops Sandalwood

Firstly we start with the base. You can use alcohol or a carrier oil but a mixture of both is ideal. An odorless spirit such as vodka is the best choice along with jojoba. Jojoba has a long shelf life and once it’s on the skin it tends to dry out leaving your wonderful scent behind.

As Jojoba is the most expensive carrier oil I recommend that while you are experimenting you use one of the cheaper, odorless carrier oils such as almond oil or apricot kernel oil. Once you are happy with your experimenting you can then blend using jojoba oil.

Equipment you will need:
* Measuring spoons
* Small funnel
* Small colored bottle

Instructions:
1. Measure 1 teaspoon of your carrier oil (jojoba, almond or apricot kernel) and 1 teaspoon of alcohol (vodka), using the small funnel, into your bottle.
2. Add the essential oils from your chosen recipe one drop at a time. You may need to use a dropper if your essential oil jars do not already have dropper measures built in.
3. Shake the mixture well after adding each drop.
4. Put the lid on tightly and store in a cool, dark place for a minimum of 12 days shaking at least 3 times each day.
5. Enjoy!

Mandarin Essential Oil properties

Mandarin Essential Oil
Botanical Name: Citrus reticulata

Common Method of Extraction: Cold Pressed/Expressed
Color: Greenish Orange
Consistency: Thin
Perfumery Note: Top
Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium
Aromatic Description: Very sweet, citrusy, fruity.

Possible Uses: Acne, dull skin, insomnia, oily skin, scars, spots, stress, wrinkles. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 56-67.]

Constituents: Limonene, methyl methylanthranilate, geraniol, citral, citronellal. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 121.]

Safety Information: Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand does not indicate any special precautions when using this oil. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 219.]

Ingredients
4 ounces water-based liquid such as green tea, hydrosol, rainwater or aloe juice
1 teaspoon plain vinegar or herb-infused vinegar (lavender, rose, peppermint, etc.)
28 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
6 drops lavender essential oil
4 drops grapefruit essentail oil
2 drops geranium essentail oil

Directions
Place vinegar in a spray-mister bottle. Add the essential oils and shake. Add water, cap and mist clothes and skin. Always shake well before use. Avoid eyes and sensitive areas.

Benefits: Energizing

Casa Hermosa
6 drops lime, distilled
3 drops bergamot
3 drops Bulgarian lavender
2 drops sweet orange
1 drop jasmin absolute (optional)

Sonoran Sunset
3 drops Peru balsam
2 drops rose absolute
5 drops ylang ylang
2 drops lime, distilled
1 drop tangerine

Ingredients
6 drops lavender essential oil
4 drops eucalyptus essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil
2 drops wintergreen essential oil
2 drops clove essential oil
30 drops precious essential oil- Roman or German chamomile, frankincense, sandalwood, rose
2 ounces carrier (jojoba, almond, avocado, etc.)

Directions
Add to a hottub or bath.