For insect repellent, essential oils such as clover, citronella, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, cedar and lemon grass repel bugs naturally. In a spray bottle, combine 1 1/2 tsp. essential oils per cup of vodka. Apply jojoba oil or almond oil to skin before spraying.
By Ron from Cortez, CO
I certainly hope that this formula does repel mosquitoes because we have them so badly in our area that they make being outdoors miserable. We have two seasons where I live (SE New Brunswick): winter & mosquito. I guess if the mosquitoes aren't repelled I can ingest some of the vodka to alleviate my suffering and maybe get the little buggers so intoxicated that they go away to sleep it off!
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For a spa-like atmosphere in the shower, place a few drops of essential oil on the wall of the shower or tub surround. Do this before turning the water on. It is a simple pleasure I appreciate.
Instead of buying potpourri to use in sachets for drawers, use fragranced sewn or knitted ornaments, etc. Just put a few drops of essential oil of your choice onto some cotton or wool, and place or sew it inside the item.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Where is the best place to get essential oils? And can anyone tell me a little about there use?
Thanks,
Denise from Mcrae, GA
My skin is extremely dry. So much that a few parts of my body , has cracked skin. Even though I use creams and lotions for soothing. My hands and feet have wrinkles [ALTHOUGH I AM A TEENAGER] .My palms are also extremely rough.My face is not dry though. I would like you to tell me a Home-made remedy or a cream that is really effective.
THANX
XYZ
dear xyz,you may want to get checked for psorisis this is a skin condition that needs to be treated by a dr and it sounds like you may have it. on the other hand if it is not you can treat your hands and any dry skin with mane and tail conditioner.this can be picked up in most drug stores and is very inexpensive.it was originally used for horses but is now produces for human use also.it works great for dry cracked skin hope this helps
I use Dischem Vitamin E 7000 Cream on my skin (heels also!) and it works wonderfully. Not greasy at all and R30 for a big tub. However, this is South Africa, so I don't know what similar products are available in your country.
There are lots of places to be thrifty-this isn't one of them. Buying true essential oils is a "you get what you pay for" area. For instance, rose oil is very expensive, like $100/oz or something, so if you find a "deal" at $4.95, you're not getting true rose oil. Most other true oils aren't this expensive, but they aren't cheap. The good news is that a little goes a long way, so you won't have to use a lot in your project. I would suggest the brands Nature's Sunshine and Health Quest.""
I buy a lot of products from therapygarden.com/
I buy the essential oils that I use (peppermint oil for instance for mouse repellent; works great!) at our local health food store. And Beckie is right: this is one area not to scrimp on; make sure that they are the true essential oil, yes the real oils will be more expensive but you don't have to use very much each time since they're so concentrated; the imitation ones won't work nearly as well (or at all!) for what you're using them for.
I buy essential oils at www.craftybubbles.com for $1 each. They are about $5 each locally, so it's worth it for me. How are they used? For us, I use them to scent homemade laundry detergent and cleaners, as a fragrance when I'm vacuuming my carpets to freshen the air. They are supposed to be used for a variety of things, I use the lavendar for scent as well as antibacterial/antiseptic properties.
I swear by Corn Huskers Lotion and Bag Balm for cracked skin. Both are fairly inexpensive. You can still find Corn Huskers at most drug stores, and Bag Balm can be found at most feed and seed stores, also mail order through Vermont Country Store and Lehmans.
With respect to essential oils...this truly is one place you don't want to scrimp. You get what you pay for. Also, essential oils are concentrated and NOT food grade products. DO NOT ingest them or feed them to your pets. I also don't reccomend putting them on your pets skin or fur, especially cats since they groom heavily. Just my personal opinion.
I got some oils for soap but they work great on skin to at "Michael's" for $2.99(Can.). Like these aren't essential oils but they're the same but cheaper.
If you have a whole foods/health food store near you they usually carry decent oils. And they also have a variety of books available usually. I buy most of my oils online from Aromaland. They have been in business a long time and have been extremely pleased with the quality of their oils. http://www.aromaland.com They also sell decoder card wheels that offer a quick view of recipe formulas and they also offer email discounts, free shipping offers and sales if you sign up for them.
What oils can I use to prevent bug bites?
its not the prettiest smelling and rather expensive, take a few drops of TeaTree Oil in palm and rub together and rub over skin area....like garlic to the vampires!! happy hiking.
skin so soft bath oil from avon!
Avon Skin So Soft is a great bug repellant
I use Skin So Soft bath oil also. I put some in a small spray bottle and keep it handy. Works great and smells better than repellants and surely is better for my skin.
Actually regular baby oil will do the same thing as Skin So Soft. Avon just doesn't want you to know this.
I make my own laundry detergent, what can I use to scent the liquid detergent besides essential oil as essential oils tend to make me ill? Can anyone tell me what I can use to scent my detergent and maybe an exact website to order the oils from?
I cant handle scent in my laundry detergent..but the only scent that doesnt trigger migraines is a true essential oil. Could you please send me the recipe for your laundry detergent?
That would be great
this is the recipe that i use. it is the best one i have tried so far.. i did not originally make up this recipe, another member did and i just copied it. good luck with it
Liquid Laundry Detergent
3 Pints Water
1/3 Bar Fels Naptha or Ivory Soap, Grated
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
Bucket
4 Quarts + 1 Pint Boiling/Hot Water
optional: 15 drops Lavender Essential Oil (or whatever EO you prefer)
optional: 10 drops Tea Tree Oil
Mix Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints of water, and heat until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 quart hot water to bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Add another 2 quarts boiling hot water and 1 additional quart plus 1 pint hot water and mix well. If using essential oils, add these now. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.
If essential oils make you ill (I can relate), try boiling several lemon rinds in the water before you add it to your soap mixture. Try to scrape most of the pith out first. I do this to freshen my kitchen. You could even wrap them in cheesecloth so it would be easy to pull them out before using the water. You could probably use any citrus you prefer, but I would be afraid orange would stain the laundry.
I make this homemade laundry detergent. The lady I bought the soap from made it herself. She scented the bar of soap with tide brand essential oil. I cannot find this oil anywhere!
I have read and understand that most of the time when someone is sensitive to essential oils it is because of the chemical processing residues of low quality cheaply made oils, not actually the plant oils themselves. I am very sensitive and have found no irritation whatsoever with Young Living and other similar high-quality cold pressed oils that do not use chemical surfactants in the extraction processes. Additionally, many manufacturers incorporate high heat extraction methods which cause cellular degradation and mutations resulting in toxic by-products. Nowadays I only get migraines when people use those synthetic fragrance, neuro-toxic dryer sheets and Glade Plug Ins.
What is citric essential oil and where can I purchase this? Will it hurt my plants?
By Andy
I went on holiday to Turkey last September. I bought some essential oils from a shop that was recommended. The problem is I have lost the translation for them even though the shopkeeper was English.
If I give a list of them could anyone please help. They are Esansi Nane Havuc Gul Yagi. I found them still in my suitcase just this morning. Hope I have gotten the right name for these oils.
Many thanks.
By helen from U.K
You might try the Google translator...it is sup to be the best of the online ones:
translate.google.com/
...select from Turkish to English
Esansi Nane Havuc Gul Yagi (is that one phrase or sep words?)
...comes up as...
Carrot Essence Peppermint Gul Yagi
or try typing the info into the reg google.com search box to see what comes up. Often there will be a link to the right saying 'translate this page'.
I have just started to use essential oils for my skincare and have read how to store them. What I would like to know would it be better to store the oils in my fridge to prolong the shelf life or just keep them in the dark bottles in a cupboard. Many thanks.
By helen from U.K
To avoid deterioration and protect the aromatic and therapeutic properties of your essential oils, store them in amber or cobalt blue bottles. Dark glass such as amber or cobalt helps to keep out deteriorating sunlight. Be leery of purchasing any oils sold in clear glass bottles. Clear glass bottles are not harmful to essential oils, but clear glass does not protect the oils from damaging sunlight. Beer deteriorates quickly and is often bottled in amber glass for a similar reason. Avoid purchasing pure essential oils sold in plastic bottles as the essential oil will eat at the plastic, and the essential oil will become ruined over a short period of time. Some vendors sell oils in lined aluminum bottles. It has been said that aluminum bottles are acceptable if the interior of the bottles are lined. Good luck.
hi kffrmw88 once again many thanks for your informative reply re storing essential oils. I think you should start your own website based on your knowledge. Thankyou helen x
I have always purchased brown bottled only and keep them stored upright in a bathroom drawer. I have some, that I don't use often, which are over a decade old and they are still as fresh as the day they were purchased.
The only thing you really need to worry about is if by some chance they reach 90 plus degrees (such as if you had one stored or left in your vehicle) just don't open the cap until it has cooled down to room temperature.
Also, there is no need to store them in the refrigerator.
Could anyone help me? I am trying to find information (free) for mixing essential oils with carrier oils for skin use. I know about the carrier oils, but I would like a list of what the best oils are and which oils go together best for facial use.
I have tried some sites, but they are not much help apart from recommending their books. Also, what is the dilution? Many thanks.
Helen x
By helen from U.K
Homemade Remedies for Skin Care Using Essential Oil 1 comment Flag this article Skin care products are often made using essential oils, as well as plastics, petroleum, and other potentially harmful substances. You don't have to expose your skin to synthetic chemicals; it is easy and inexpensive to make your own homemade skin care products with pure, natural essential oils.
The Benefits of Essential Oils
Our skin is the interface between our body and the world. It shelters the body and helps to eliminate waste. As a porous surface, whatever this protective organ is exposed to is absorbed to some degree into the blood stream. Learning how to make homemade skin care products is a way to introduce only pure and natural substances to the body.
Despite the fact that skin care products are supposed to benefit our skin, many of the chemical substances found in commercial cosmetics are actually toxic. Some are only mild irritants while others can be carcinogenic. Essential oils on the other hand are the pure, concentrated form of plant essences. They are made, usually through steam-distillation, from herbs, flowers, bark, stems, or any other component of a plant. They serve to nourish the skin, offering valuable phytochemicals which have a wide range of positive effects, from killing bacteria to improving circulation. Using essential oils for natural skin care is extremely beneficial; they are meant to be absorbed into the body. On their own they are much too intense to be directly applied; always mix essential oils with a carrier substance, such as water, almond or jojoba oil, or an unscented and lanolin-free lotion.
Dry Skin
There are a number of essential oils which can benefit dry skin conditions by balancing the skin's natural oil production with its moisture content, improving circulation, and generally relaxing skin cells. Linden essential oil is one of the best essential oils for dry skin. It is a very calming, soothing plant essence which works to moisturize the skin. Use linden on its own, or in combination with lavender. To make a calming floral water mist, add six to ten drops of essential oil in four ounces of distilled water. Put this mixture in a spray bottle, and mist dry areas regularly to replenish moisture.
Sandalwood, cedarwood, and patchouli are all excellent for dry skin, as well as having antiseptic, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. The three fragrances blend well together. Try making a moisturizing, nourishing oil. Blend six drops of essential oil for every two ounces of grape seed, almond, apricot, or olive oil.
Acne
Acne is generally attributed to a hormone imbalance. Essential oils that work well in natural skin care remedies for oily skin work to protect the skin from bacteria and infection, reduce inflammation, and/or balance hormones. Tea tree oil is probably the most potent antibiotic, antifungal, and antiseptic essential oil. It can be used on its own as a refreshing cleanser. Simply dilute about twenty drops of the oil in a cup of water, then dab troubled areas with a clean cotton ball.
Geranium essential oil is effective as it helps to balance hormones, as well as cleanse. It can be blended with lavender, to calm and soothe any inflammation. Mix the two oils in a carrier oil, the same six drops for two ounces. Jojoba oil is the best carrier oil for oily skin because its chemical make-up is the closest thing in nature the human skin oil, known as sebum.
Mature Skin
Mature skin has often lost some of its elasticity, so it benefits from essential oils that work as astringents, as well as those that increase circulation. A good combination for wrinkled or mature skin is clary sage, grapefruit and rosemary. Clary sage essential oil calms the skin and is an anti-inflammatory, while grapefruit cleanses, detoxifies, and regenerates. Rosemary has both astringent properties and it enhances circulation.
A homemade natural skin care idea for mature skin would be a facial compress. Simply soak a clean cloth in a bowl of water and essential oil, ten to fifteen drops for every eight ounces of water. Lay the cloth on your face for ten minutes. Do this once or twice a week.
Make sure to always use only organic essential oil for your homemade skin care products. Imitation oils do not have the same properties, and are likely to be irritable to the skin. Also, although all citrus oils, orange, lemon, grapefruit, and bergamot, are beneficial, be sure to stay away from direct sunlight after applying these essential oils as they can compound the negative effects of the sun. Experiment with different essential oils to find what homemade natural skin care method works the best for you.
Hi to kffrmw88 Thank you so much for your reply to my query. You gave me so much invaluable information. I have printed it off to keep as reference you really are a Star. helen xx
Could someone tell me how to make an after bath splash with essential oils?
By Jae from Kingston, NY
Can I use the liquid form of candle scents to add to lamp oil?
By Tj rasp from central OH
Making your own candles, air freshener, scented lamp oil or fragrance can be rewarding. Essential oils can be used to make many different things around the home smell good.
This is a page about tea tree oil as insect repellent. Some people find tea tree oil to be an effective insect repellent. One thing to keep in mind is that it can be toxic to pets, so you should avoid using it for your pet both topically and orally.
This is a page about using lavender essential oil. A fragrant oil made from lavender flowers that has been used in perfumes and for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.
