The essential oils that are distilled from resins are extraordinary. Have you ever held a chunk of resin in your hands? It is hard to imagine that an oil can come from a hard, rock-like chunk that weighs almost nothing! Resins are drawn out by cutting into the outer bark of the tree. The resin seeps out and then hardens over the period of a few weeks. The resin is then gathered and distilled to produce essential oils or to burn as incense.

There are so many wonderful resins,  Myrrh, Frankincense,  Oppoponax, and Copal are some of my favorites. I burn them daily, use the oils often, put the resin chunks in small dishes to display them.  They just fascinate me.

We import resins from the distillers we work in in Ethiopia and Somalia. They arrive in huge bags. Read More

What should you include on your label when you create products for resale?

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) adopted a trade requirement to support the correct identification of undiluted essential oils used topically and for retail sales. Their guidelines are very good ones for the Aromatherapist to follow on all labels for oils and products.

1. “Keep out of reach of children” or significantly similar cautionary language.
2. “External Use Only,” “Not for Internal Use,” “Not for Ingestion” or significantly similar cautionary language.
3. “Keep away from eyes and mucous membranes” or similar cautionary language.
4. For pure essential oil- Latin name of the plant from which the essential oil is derived and country of origin.
5. Identification of the plant part from which the essential oil is derived.
6. Amount of the product (not size of the bottle).
7. All ingredients need Latin names and chemotypes when relevant.
8. Your business name.
9. Your business web address.
10. Phone number (optional).

New 2-day class for Aromatherapists!
Medicinal Blending
Citrus Oils: Top Notes Bursting with Potential

Dates: August 18-19, 2012
Time: 9:30-5:30 Saturday and Sunday
Cost: $300

Location: Ithaca, NY
Register Here: Aromahead Institute
More than just cheerful aromas in your collection, citrus oils have powerful healing actions. Explore the potential of these humble, affordable, fabulous top notes!

Essential oils rich in d-limonene will be the focus of this blending weekend. Research on d-limonene demonstrates significant immune stimulating properties. We will create medicinal blends, within a holistic framework, aimed at supporting the vitality of our immune system.

Rediscover the simple and profound healing capacity of citrus oils.

The class will also take a closer look at Elemi (Canarium luzonicum), Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens), Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea), Silver Fir (Abies alba), Larch (Larix Laricina), Norway Pine (Pinus resinosa), White Pine (Pinus strobus) and Engelman Spruce (Picea engelmanii).

Products you will make during the weekend:  

• Throat Spray
• Slippery Elm Lozenges
• Cough Drops
• Cream with Hydrosols
• Whipped Butters
• Cone Incense
• Gel with Hydrosols

CEU’s: This program is approved for Massage Therapy in New York, Florida and by NCBTMB for 14 hours.

Puzhen Aroma Diffusers recently sent me their Yun diffuser to try out. This diffuser has truly changed the way I relate to diffusing essential oils. I have always used electric diffusers and have had a few that worked well, but never one this beautiful!   I didn’t know what to expect when I tried the Yun out, and it surprised me in every way.

*affiliate link

Puzhen’s product series utilize ancient Chinese craftsmanship and modern technology to create high quality aromatherapy diffusers. They have eight different diffusers, ranging in price from $49-$419. Click the photo to visit their collection of diffusers.

This is what they say about the diffuser I have:

“Puzhen Life’s Five-Sense™ Yun Aroma Diffuser helps balance mind, body, and soul by engaging your five senses. Gently diffusing essential oils for aromatherapy, Yun purifies the air, creating a relaxing ambiance. Yun plays built-in soothing music and can connect to an external MP3 player. Soft LED lights contribute to the serene atmosphere to calm stress and create peace. With a handcrafted Maplewood base and hand-blown glass top, Yun’s unique design was inspired by an ancient Chinese instrument recalling the concept of Yin & Yang. An aroma diffuser that is also an exquisite piece of art, Yun helps you find harmony”

It certainly is a piece of art! I love the remote control that matches the diffuser, the option for no light or five different colored lights and the music (or no music option).  The diffuser is very quiet; I can hear just the slightest bubbling of the water. Another great benefit; it turns off automatically when the water level is low.

This is another quote from the company that seems to sum up their values and mission.

“Puzhen’s brand was inspired by a belief in a contemporary and modern lifestyle complemented by traditional Chinese crafts, philosophy and aesthetics. Our product series support and generate this unique lifestyle to result in a better, simpler, and higher quality living environment.”

Their diffusers are designed to nurture the 5 senses. The consideration of design, aroma, soft sounds, beautiful colors and the feel of clay or wood is central to each diffuser they create.

While the Yun and the Five Sense Sha diffusers may be a large investment, it would be well worth it for a school or business for use in lobbies or treatment rooms. Each of the other models could be well suited for home use or in a business, and each has unique design qualities.  Which Puzhen matches your style and needs?

About a month ago I got an email from Erin and Heather, two of the women who work for the non-profit organization, Bead For Life. Bead for Life’s goal is to eradicate extreme poverty by creating bridges of understanding between impoverished Africans and the world’s concerned citizens. Erin and Heather were hoping I could connect them with an African distiller to purchase high quality essential oils for their Shea butter products.

The 760 women working for Bead For Life’s Shea Butter project in Northern Uganda are rebuilding their lives by gathering shea nuts and pressing them into Shea butter which they then make into beautiful lip balms, moisturizing butters and soaps.

Shea butter is renowned for it’s incredible moisturizing and healing properties, and East African Shea is known for being particularly soft and luscious. Shea is commonly referred to as ‘Women’s Gold’ in Uganda because women have traditionally used the money from producing Shea to meet their most critical needs. Having been displaced by two decades of brutal civil war, these women’s work with the Shea Butter project is enabling them to slowly rebuild their lives.

The fair trade income they earn is used to buy food, improve their small farms, pay school fees and create hope.

Their rural soap project is still in the development stages but they are currently selling a lemongrass and lavender soap that they produce from their East African Shea Butter. The lemongrass essential oil is from Uganda and the lavender essential oil is from South Africa.

I recently received a package in the mail with their soap, lip balm and pure Shea butter. The package smelled great before I even opened it! I tried the pure Shea butter first. It was soft and easy to apply and the aroma was gentle and appealing.

In fact, the moment I applied the Shea butter to my skin I knew I was in love. I have worked with Shea butter for over 15 years and this is, by far, the nicest Shea butter I have ever used. It is soft and creamy; my skin immediately soaked it up. I also liked the packaging size of the Shea butter as it is small enough to toss in a bag or backpack for traveling.

Then I tried the peppermint lip balm. It is made from Beeswax, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Baobab Oil, Jojoba Oil, Peppermint Oil, and Tocopherol (Vitamin E). It is the perfect texture and quite minty!

Shea butter is an excellent ingredient for lip balm. It blends beautifully with cocoa butter and the additional Baobab; also traditional African nut oil. Baobab oil is highly penetrating, deeply nourishing and is known to soften dry skin. It is able to restore and re-moisturize the epidermis (outer layer of the skin) as Baobab oil has a high essential fatty acid content (oleic, linoleic and linolenic).

Lastly, I tried the soap. The bar has a thick, oval shape and felt great on my skin both while washing as well as after. The aroma was light and lovely. It is an absolutely wonderful soap.

If you’re interested in trying their products they can be easily accessed through their online store or they have a wonderful retail store in Boulder, Colorado.

Marula oil is a light and lovely South African carrier oil. It has a gentle aroma that easily bends with most essential oils. Here is a post I wrote about Marula oil. If your interested in different carrier oils and butters, here is a post that covers Avocado oil, Baobab Oil, Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, Kombo Butter, Kpangnan Butter, Marula Oil, West African Shea Butter, Tamanu Oil and Palm Kernel Oil.

Over the last few years I have written a few blog posts on different Conifer oils.

The one on Balsam Fir describes the essential oils chemistry and medicinal uses.

If you’re interested in immune stimulating effects and a recipe for an inhaler that relieves a cold, sinus infection or headache from congested sinuses, the post on Utah Juniper is for you.

Perhaps you would like to hear about a wonderful Canadian distiller we visited a few years ago.

If your interested in learning about Pine, Spruce and Fir essential oils, we are offering a 3-day class this summer in Ithaca, NY on July 20-22, called Component Blending.  During the class you learn to make your own cream, bar soap, resin incense and a cardamom salt butter scrub!

A few weeks ago I was putting coconut oil on my legs after a bath and some dripped onto the floor. Kimba (cutie in the picture) came running over and licked up that coconut oil as if he had not eaten in weeks!

Then he gave me a dry look that communicated something like “helloooo…..coconut oil is great for me!” I went online and discovered that people use coconut oil to prevent fleas on their cats, to support their digestion and make their coats shine! Who knew?

I put a teaspoon of coconut oil in a small dish by his food and one for his brother who clearly wanted in on the action. They ate it happily! The jury is still out on the fleas and how well this works, but there is no question they love it.

Anyone have animal coconut stories or experiences to add?

I first discovered using essential oil washer and dryer sheets when a friend stayed at our house while we were away. She used her own scented laundry detergent in the washing machine. When I got home and started to do my own laundry, the machine smelled like a synthetic chemical detergent. (I wondered if we could still be friends.)

It occurred to me to add some essential oil to a wash cloth and wash it without any clothes. I added drops of Lemon and Siberian Fir essential oils to a wash cloth and ran the machine (I am not admitting how many drops of essential oil I used). It worked!

I realized I could add a damp wash cloth with essential oils to the dryer as well, and now I use my essential oil cloths regularly in the washer or dryer.

Here are a few recipes I like:

Sweet Tart

5 drops Lemon (Citrus limon)
5 drops Orange (Citrus sinensis)
5 drops Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)

Fresh Forest

5 drops Siberian Fir (Abies sibirica)
5 drops Black Spruce (Picea mariana)
5 drops White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Lavender Flower

14 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
1 drop Neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara)

Aromahead Institute is offering five exciting Aromatherapy classes this summer! The classes held in Ithaca, NY take place in a spacious house on four acres of beautiful rural land just 15 minutes from downtown Ithaca. Take some time to connect with nature’s gifts while learning in an inspiring environment.

During the summer we are offering all of the Scholar’s Program classes, totaling over 400 hours of training, taken over four months. These classes can be taken over one summer, or divided over several summers. Once the 400 hours are completed you are given the Scholar’s Program certificate and are eligible to apply for the clinical level membership through the Alliance of International Aromatherapists.

• Aromatherapy Certification Program
  Jun 6-10, Jul 11-15, Aug 8-12, 2012
  Aromahead’s  intensive hands-on 15-day Aromatherapy Certification Program prepares students to become professionally qualified in the therapeutic uses of essential oils. This summer’s Aromatherapy Certification Program is almost full, just a few spaces left. Please register right away if you want to participate!

• Advanced Graduate Program
  Dates: Aug 22-26, Sep 26-30, 2012
  Deepen your knowledge of essential oils, medicinal blending and essential oil chemistry! The class includes one year of free access to Aromahead’s Component Database .

• Aromatic Blending
  Dates: Jun 29, 30, July 1, 2012
  Come spend three fun days smelling, blending, creating, comparing, and understanding a wide variety of aromas, carrier oils and butters! You will make cream, whipped shea butter, salt scrubs, bar soap, foam soap and much more!

• Component Blending
  Dates: Jul 20-22, 2012
  An in-depth 3 day study of the chemistry, therapeutic uses, and blending techniques for a wide selection of conifer (pine, spruce and fir) and helichrysum essential oil species. This class smells great!

• Teacher Training
  Dates: Oct 5-9, 2012
  Study dynamic and effective teaching methods to offer Aromatherapy Workshops. Students are granted copyright permission for the use of the Aromahead Institute’s 2-day student manual in their own classes. Finish the course with the tools and knowledge required to teach a wide variety of classes including 1 hour, 2 hour, 3 hour, 1-day and 2-Day Aromatherapy Workshops.