We have some beautiful teak wood furniture in our home, and for years, I used teak oil sold by the place we purchased the furniture. While the furniture always glowed right after the furniture was dusted and oiled, the smell was caustic and the shine evaporated within a few days. I’m not sure what’s in the stuff, but the smell never left me feeling very good about what my family might be getting exposed to.

So I created my own and would like to share the recipe. I’ve given some bottles as “Spring Cleaning” gifts to friends and family and have rec’d some rave reviews. If you try it, please drop me a line and let me know what you think… Continue reading this post »

If you or someone you care about is suffering from grief, rose essential oil may help provide some temporary relief. This essential oil is believed to help raise serotonin levels. And when diffused into the air, the scent is calming, but uplifting.

It is imporant to note that a rose fragrance and a rose essential oil are two very different things. While fragrances may smell good, they are not believed to provide the same health benefits as essential oils.. Continue reading this post »

Pampered Chef parties, move aside!  It seems the chic home party of the moment may be a “Green Clean” Party! Learn how to make non-toxic all purpose cleaners, scrubs and furniture polishes.

If you throw a party as a fundraiser to help raise funds for Women’s Voices of the Earth (WVE), then you (as a “party host”) are even eligible to win a “hostess gift”, compliments of Patagonia.  Sounds like fun - read more about it here:

http://womenandenvironment.org/greenclean/

Cream perfumes make great holiday gifts and can be made in bulk at home. All you need are a few essential oils for scent, as well as some beeswax, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil and 100% shea butter. The recipe below will make sixteen 1/4-oz jars, which will delight your recipients (and you) with a sensory experience enveloped in a luxuriously moisturizing base.

Ingredients:
1/3 cup beeswax pellets
4 oz jojoba oil
4 oz sweet almond oil
5 tbsp 100% pure shea butter. Continue reading this post »

The most effective way to remove urine odor is with an enzyme-based product. Instead of masking the smell, enzymes chemically break down the urine by eating away the bacteria. To date, this is the only effective scientific approach to permanently remove urine odors. Continue reading this post »

One of the least favorite, but very common, house cleaning challenges is getting rid of mold. A particularly nasty strain of mold (often seen in bathrooms in tightly enclosed spaces with little air circulation) is an icky black buildup.

If you have major mold and mildew buildup, I recommend starting in a totally dry environment. For example, if your shower stall is used only in the morning, then wait to clean until the evening, when the stall has completely dried out. All you need is a pair of rubber gloves and a bag of fine-grade steel wool. Rub the steel wool back and forth along grout lines (and anywhere else you have mold and mildew buildup), which will generate a “powdery dust”. When you are finished, rinse it away with water. This will remove the visible mold and mildew. Continue reading this post »

With this being election year AND Labor day weekend, it’s time to get your four legged family members involved in all the festivities with some natural pet treats from Capitol Dog Bakery. These tasty treats are made from 100% organic ingredients, including peanut butter and honey, and are low fat without any wheat, soy, corn or dairy. Now I finally understand what my neighbor meant last month when she said politics had gone to the dogs! Continue reading this post »

There are many studies that have been done on the benefits of using scent to enhance mood. Essential oils impact our emotions and energy levels. Aromatherapy, sometimes referred to as aromatics, provides the ability to create personalized treatments that take into account the physical, emotional, psychological and energy-based attributes that uniquely make a person who he (or she) is.

If you are feeling stressed, some essential oils that may provide relief include chamomile, ylang-ylang, marjoram, lavender and neroli (note: this last one is a $precious oil$ extracted from beautifully-scented orange blossoms). Each oil may work differently on each person. Some people may experience immediate relief from a single oil, while others may find it takes a combination of two or more of these oils to alleviate stress levels.

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Essential oils are always oils, but plant extracts can be water soluble salts or other organic matter. Essential oils can be plant extracts, but not all plant extracts are oils. Clear as mud, huh?! In general, both have similar attributes. With grapefruit, the extract is a very potent disinfectant that can be an extremely cost effective, nontoxic choice for cleaning.

Grapefruit essential oil (GEO) is a favorite of mine because of its uplifting scent. When diffused, a vibrant, energizing and happy scent permeates the air. This essential oil is typically extracted from fresh grapfruit peel by cold compression. GEO has many positive attributes, but some of the most noteworthy include that of diuretic, antidepressant, antiseptic and disinfectant.

For an all purpose cleaner, I sometimes add a few drops of GEO, along with a few drops of tea tree oil, to a base of grain alcohol and distilled water in a spray bottle. But generally speaking, I prefer to use grapefruit seed extract for powerhouse cleaning because it is so effective at blasting nasty bacteria. And a little goes a long way, so it is very cost effective.

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If anyone has ever told you to stop and smell and the roses, it may be the person thinks you are not enjoying life enough. Sadly, most of us do not take enough time to “stop and smell the roses” because we are too busy with day-to-day responsibilities and obligations.

While I am not sure where the phrase actually originated, I find it interesting the referenced flower is rose. Roses are beautiful flowers that smell delightful. In the world of essential oils, rose oils are referred to as “precious oils”.

Continue reading this post »