The Dog Days of August

Like most of the southern, central and eastern United States, we have experienced the dreaded August “Dog Days” throughout June and July, and are dreading what Mother Nature might have in store for us during the month of August. Our lawns and gardens are dry and brown, some of the trees are showing Autumn colors in midsummer.

We are fortunate to work in air-conditioned comfort…after all, the oils need “cool room temperature” so we wear sweaters. Our hearts go out to those who have to work outside, or don’t live with air-conditioning. Stay safe everyone.

This newsletter contains:

  • Clearance Sale – 2010 St. John’s Wort Oil
  • A Helichrysum Sale!
  • Back in Stock products
  • A Tropical Flowers Sale (because you asked for it!)
  • A Back to School Sale
  • RESIZING
  • Blog Update
  • Our Clients Say
  • Recipes/Formulas
  • Aromatic Quote

Enjoy!

St. John’s Wort Sale:

Save on the last of our 2010 infused oil. Save 25% while supplies last.

Helichrysum Special Sale:

We have put our “copper free” Helichrysum Essential Oil from Corsica on special sale – 40% off our regular price. This “batch” of Helichrysum is higher in Neryl Acetate but lower in Diones than our “Traditional” Helichrysum. We have never offered any Corsical Heli at a price this low.

Back in Stock:

BACK IN STOCK: German Chamomile Hydrosol – just in time to sooth summer’s irritated skin. Tranquility Diffuser – our silent Nebulizing Diffuser. Ideal for your bedroom. Lavandin Super Essential Oil and ORGANIC Cajeput Essential Oil.

TROPICAL FLOWERS:

If we are going to have tropical temperatures, let us have tropical pefumes to surround us. Enjoy our favorite exotic tropical blossoms in skinsafe 10% dilutions, perfume blends, or infusions. Jasmine, Coffee Blossom, Tuberose, White Ginger Lily, Vanilla, and our White Blossoms perfume, all at 10% savings.

BACK TO SCHOOL:

In New England, where I grew up, school started on the Thursday after Labor Day, and didn’t end until June 21st, the first day of summer. Starting school in August just seems wrong to me, but here in middle Tennessee some systems are going back to school even as I type. My grand-daughter’s first day at Kindergarden is August 11th. (At least her school is air conditioned; some of them aren’t.) At any rate, to help students of all ages prepare for school we’ve put our traditional study synergies on sale. Focus (our study blend, for lamp or diffuser) and Fog Cutter—energizing to help them get up and catch that early school bus. KleenHandz, our gentle, aloe based Hand cleanser, loaded with our favorite anti-bacterial and anti-viral essential oils. Save 10% of all of them on our New and Special page. Also save on our deluxe pocket inhaler, and our MIO desk top diffuser, perfect for a small area.

RESIZING:

For years we’ve tried to offer Hydrosol Samplers, one ounce sizes of several different hydrosols, either our choice, or your choice. That has, over the years, caused some problems, when people would request samples of hydrosols that were running low, and all poured in 4 ounce bottles, or would request out of stock samples, and we would have to hold their order waiting for substitutions. We’ve decided to discontinue the samplers, as such, but all of our hydrosols are now available in a one fluid ounce “Trial Size” as well as our traditional four fluid ounce Cobalt PET atomizer. I hope the flexibility of selecting just one trial size if that’s what you want will work well for you all.

BLOG UPDATE:

In the month of July Christi blogged about a multi-purpose shower gel formula she created and I shared an article from The Whole Dog Journal which suggested Lavender oil in creating a less stressful environment for aggressive dogs.

I have been working on a blog article to summarize all the reasons we oppose the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011. Time has not allowed my to write it yet, but on Facebook we’ve shared the writing of many respected leaders in our industry who feel strongly that rather than giving us safer cosmetics, this act, as written, will drive those manufacturing natural personal care products, and those supplying pure healing ingredients out of business. I know that, as a supplier, there is no way that Nature’s Gift can meet some of the proposed regulations. The paperwork and testing burden will be beyond our resources. Among those who oppose the bill as written are: Robert Tisserand, renowned Essential Oil safety expert, Cindy Jones, PhD, Microbiologist and Chemist. Kayla Fioravanti, of Essential Wholesale has written a series of blog articles analyzing the proposed act, and the unforeseen effects of many of its proposals.

These are just a handful. When I come up for air, I’ll be writing a blog article about it. If you agree with the reasoning in the articles above, there is action you can take. Let your elected representatives know that you oppose H. R. 2359, log onto the Petition Site and add your name to those of us who have already signed. We would love to be able to continue doing what we do. This law will force us out of business.

Just today I published an article congratulating Christi on successfully completing her Aromatherapy course with the Institute of Integrative Aromatherapy.

OUR CLIENTS SAY:

Mouth Sores:

A family friend is going through chemotherapy following cancer surgery, and having a hard time with it all, so we’ve gifted her with products that we thought might ease some of the side effects. She had mentioned having terrible mouth sores. Now, by now everyone knows I ALWAYS stress that these oils need to be diluted, and should never be used neat. There is one exception to that rule that I follow myself. If I have a sore inside my mouth — a canker sore or irritated gums, etc, I will put a tiny drop of Myrrh essential oil on my finger tip and touch it to the sore. When she mentioned the mouth sores, I gave her a tiny bottle of Myrrh to try. Her comments? (Posted on her Facebook page, shared with permission.)

Nature’s Gift Aromatherapy has saved the day again. My horribly painful mouth sores were getting unbearable and I used their Myrrh as suggested. Immediate relief. Months of nasty mouthwash and every other thing you can imagine. You should really check out the site. Mother Nature wins again!!!

We have had some occasions recently when we were privileged to make a difference with some individuals. What a gift that is, and a powerful reminder of why we are really here! Thanks for letting us share that, Christy!


Helichrysum/Bruises:

Melanie Warren, from the UK recently wrote and shared the following:

Firstly I want to thank you for the info on your site about Helichrysum. Because of reading that – I had the most amazing experience. My husband had his finger trapped in the car door. A few hours later when I saw him it was swollen, throbbing badly and starting a huge bruise including under the nail. I didn’t have a clue about the % blend to use so 2ml rosehip with 2 drops heli and 1 drop chamomile and by next morning it had stopped hurting completely, the bruise was reducing, and the next day the nail bruise is almost gone. Amazing. Keith is amazed too! He doesn’t see how a few drops of oil can take away the pain and bruising so efficiently and neither do I but it worked.

When I wrote asking for permission to quote her she replied:

Yes of course you can use it if it helps someone else. It was your site that helped me!!…Following up Keiths finger – it was Wednesday 7pm he trapped it and today (sunday 1pm) there is absolutely no mark at all now and hasn’t been any pain since just after the first application of the oil. He has used it a few times each day still but may as well stop now!

I love it when the information we share helps someone!!!


More Heli:

Annette Kohn-Lau sent the following:

Hi! Wanted to share a great story on Helichrysum 10% dilution! I had some spider veins removed from my face recently. The doctor told me I would be bruised and swollen for two to six weeks. She gave me an ice pack to use right after the procedure, but when I came home, I put on some of your Helichrysum 10% dilution. I reapplied it that night and again the following night. (I have to admit I really don’t like the smell!). I never had any bruising at all….just a tiny bit of swelling that was barely noticeable. It has been several days now, and still not a hint of discoloration.I had this same procedure done last year and was really bruised for at least a week. Should have thought to use the Helichrysum then! Thanks so much for being one of my favorite companies!! Annette Kohn-Lau


Squalane:

Linda Jane Robinson had been writing about some other issues, and mentioned in passing (with permission to quote):

I also wanted the let you know, that the Olive Squalane oil that I have been using for my eczema, I am using for my dogs. Since we have moved to India, the dogs’ noses have dried out, I have been using this oil twice a day on them and their noses have improved dramatically. The really good thing is that they don’t lick it off when I have applied it

I’ve had our dogs’ noses get really dry at times, when they’ve been otherwise healthy. This is a good tip to know.


Back to School Butterflys:

A reminder from past years – Debbie G’s daughter suffered from school anxiety, and butterflies in her tummy every morning when school started. Debbie carried a small atomizer of our Neroli Hydrosol in her purse and every morning in the car misted her daughter with “butterfly spray.” Her daughter danced off to class, happy and reassured. Neroli can work wonders for anxiety. Our supply is extremely limited.

Recipes/Formulas:

Belly Balm:

We used to make a belly balm. I never claimed that it would prevent stretch marks — my understanding is that the tendency toward stretch marks is hereditary, and if you are fated to get them, you will. But the balm kept growing bellies soft, moisturized and not itchy. When Candice, my daughter-in-law was pregnant with Chelsea, her first, I gave her a jar, and never thought anything of it. Recently she commented that on her belly, where she used the balm, she had NO stretchmarks. On her breasts, where she didn’t… she has lots of them. WHOA! That amazed me. We still do not offer it; we sometimes had problems getting the texture exactly right. So we thought we would share the formula. If nothing else it SMELLS yummy! (I asked her permission to quote her.)

Scaled down formula. Please note, these measurements are by weight. Use your postage scale.

250 grams Virgin Coconut Cream Oil
75 grams Cocoa Butter (melted)

Melt the Cocoa Butter, and stir into the Virgin Coconut. The heat of the melted cocoa butter should be enough to melt the coconut. If not, warm gently just until liquified.

Blend:

7.5 grams Rose Hip Seed Oil
21.5 grams Argan Oil

Stir in to the melted solid oils.

Weigh and sift together 14 grams of corn starch (yes, from your kitchen pantry).

Sift over the balm and beat in until smooth. (The corn starch gives a lovely powdery finish and makes the balm feel “non greasy.”)

These quantities will yield a full to the brim Bail Jar and perhaps a tiny bit left over. (Please note — we stopped making/offering this because the oil blend has a tendency to separate out from the rest of the balm — not what we want in a commercial product. We may change our mind and try it again based on Candice’s comments.)


Fragrance Blends:

Eve Roxby, of Winslow AZ, enjoys creating new and unusual scent blends, and sometimes shares idea with me. Two that she recently mentioned:

1. “The Davana is wonderful with some Vanilla added. It warms up to an Apple Toddy smell!” This is one I haven’t tried, but it sounds like it would be wonderful for Autumn!

2. “These oils are so much to experiment with. You know in my previous order, I got the Petitgrain and I wanted it to create a fragrance that smells like the soil, rocks or cement after a short rain. You know the smell when the earth gets wet and then the sun comes out and there is a humid atmosphere around? This is what I was after and I have created something very close by mixing 5 drops of Himalayan Cedar wood, 3 drops Petitgrain, 1 drop clementine rind, and 1 drop cardamom. I named this “Pangano Rain” after a lake in the Himalayas (Pangong Tso).”

(And no, I don’t have proportions or dilutions. This is about PLAYING, and ideas that might spark some creativity for you.)

COOKIES!

From a summer newsletter a decade ago, Deanna Maldonado shared the following:

Dear Marge, I purchased some of your wonderful lemon rind oil a while back and used it in the following recipe for lemon tea cookies adapted from the book Favorite Recipes with Herbs by Dawn J. Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good. I just thought I would pass it along.

Lemon Tea Cookies

1/2 cup softened butter
8 oz softened cream cheese
2 eggs
1 cup raw sugar (may substitute granulated)
1/2 cup honey
2 tsp lemon zest
15 drops lemon oil
4 drops mandarine oil
2 1/2 cups wheat pastry flour (may substitute all purpose, but I would use less)
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Juice of 3 lemons
1-2 cups confectioner’s sugar
candied lavender flowers (optional)

Cream together butter, eggs, cream cheese, sugar and honey. Add 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, lemon zest, lemon oil and mandarine oil. Mix well. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Add gradually to egg mixture. Mix until smooth. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Roll into balls about one inch in diameter. Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes or until edges turn golden brown. Frost with lemon glaze. Garnish with candied lavender flowers.*

Lemon Glaze

Mix remaining lemon juice with 1-2 cups confectioner’s sugar until paste forms. Drizzle over warm cookies.

* To make candied lavender flowers, paint blossoms with a mixture of lemon juice and confectioner’s sugar mixed with one or two drops lavender oil. Lay flat until dry or dry for 30 seconds on high in the microwave.

Yum….(I think ANY citrus oil would be lovely in these. Deanna used our lemon oil in place of the grated lemon zest.)

AROMATIC QUOTE

Aromatic quote for August…well…not, perhaps, aromatic…but it feels just right to me:

When we are mindful of every nuance of our natural world, we finally
get the picture: that we are only given one dazzling moment of life
here on Earth, and we must stand before that reality both humbled and
elevated, subject to every law of our universe and grateful for our
brief but intrinsic participation with it.
—Elizabeth Gilbert (From her biography of naturalist Eustace Conway.)

More aromatic:

“The air was fragrant with a thousand trodden aromatic herbs, with fields of lavender, and
with the brightest roses blushing in tufts all over the meadows….”

—William Cullen Bryant quotes (American Writer, 1794-1878)

Stay safe everyone!

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