Essential Oil Profile: Grapefruit Essential Oil a Fresh and Tangy Aroma

Grapefruit essential oil Citrus paradisi is a hybrid brought about by cultivation of C. maxima and C. sinensis.

The essential oil, pressed or distilled from the fresh peel of the fruit, is a yellowish to pale-green oil with a fresh, bright, and tangy aroma. It feels thin and watery. Like many citrus oils, grapefruit will deteriorate quickly if exposed to moisture, air, or light and should be used within six months.

Traditionally, grapefruit essential oils has been used for its antibacterial, antidepressant, antiseptic, astringent, digestive, and stimulant properties. In perfumery, it blends well with bergamot, black pepper, cardamom, ginger, geranium, lavender, and rosemary.

Note, grapefruit's photosensitive effect is a current topic of research. Until there is definitive clinical testing, avoid citrus oils if there is a chance of being exposed to the sun after an aromatherapy treatment. A skin patch test is also recommended as the oil may cause skin irritation.

Winter Pick Me Up Blend

Grapefruit Citrus paradisi oil: 6-drops
Bergamot Citrus aurantium var. bergamia oil: 6-drops
Lime Citrus aurantifolia oil: 6-drops
Ginger Zingiber officinale oil: 4-drops
Sandalwood Santalum album oil: 2-drops

Blend all the oils and use in a diffuser or atomizer. It can also be added to the bath water; add 5-6-drops maximum.

This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent disease. You should always consult with your primary care physician before making any significant changes to your health and wellness routine.

Using Aromatherapy in Fall: Bring the Spirit of the Season Indoors

Fall has arrived! And, right on its heels, cooler weather. The good news … there is a lot to love about the fall: pumpkin patches, rich colors, root vegetables, warm herbal teas, and essential oils.

Just as nutritionists recommend eating with the seasons, there are aromatherapeutic essential oils that complement the seasons too. Select spicy, earthy, rich aromas to bring the spirit of the season indoors and to create feelings of warmth. We suggest a blend of sweet orange, cinnamon, ylang ylang, and lemon (the Festive Spice blend from our Apothecary Shoppe).

Sweet orange Citrus sinensis essential oil helps to support emotional well-being and has a sweeter, fruity scent. It blends well with basil, cinnamon, clary sage, clove, lavender, neroli, lemon, and nutmeg. For more information about sweet orange visit here.

Cinnamon Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil supports healthy digestion and stress management and has a spicy, earthy aroma. It blends well with ginger, nutmeg, rosemary, frankincense, and the citrus oils. For more information about cinnamon, visit here.

Ylang ylang Cananga odorata essential oil is attributed with analgesic, antidepressant, and aphrodisiac properties. It has a sweet aroma with long-lasting woody undertones and blends well with lavender, bergamot, the citrus oils, and sandalwood. For more information about ylang ylang, visit here.

Lemon Citrus limonum essential oil supports a healthy respiratory system and has a refreshing aroma. It blends well with cedarwood, chamomile, clove, eucalyptus, fennel, juniper, lavender, neroli, oakmoss, petitgrain, pine, sandalwood, and ylang ylang. For more information about lemon, visit here.

Festive Spice Blend
6 drops Sweet Orange
1 drop Cinnamon
2 drops Ylang Ylang
1 drop Lemon

We hope your first day of fall is fantastic and look forward to hearing more about your fall aromatherapy blends. Post any blending tips, photos, recipes …. here!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Essential Oils Great Alternative to Synthetic Chemical Insect Repellents: Citronella, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, and Lemongrass

Summer is here! That means, it's time to get outdoors and enjoy some relaxation and sun time with friends and family. For many of us, though, summer fun can come at a price (so to speak!). Bug bites! Ouch. Ick. Yuck!

If you're swarmed by cookout invites and gardening have-tos, don't fear your time outdoors ... with a little pre-planning, you can protect your skin and fun-time from potential discomfort caused by bug bites.

This summer, make aromatherapy part of your outdoor fun. These essential oils are attributed with natural insect repellent properties and create great atmosphere when diffused into the air. You also can turn skin protection into a fun activity and get your friends and family involved by creating essential oil blends with base oils*. Plus, essential oils are a natural alternative to synthetic chemicals, which further helps protect environmental and personal health.[1]

Citronella Cymbopogon nardus
Citronella essential oil is well know for its mosquito repellent properties and is used in many products, as well as in soap making and natural cleaning products. Citronella is generally considered a top note and has a medium-strong fragrance.

Peppermint Mentha piperita var. vulgaris Peppermint essential oil releases a very fresh, invigorating aroma when diffused into the air and can be very refreshing at outdoor events. Like citronella, peppermint is effective for keeping insects at bay and it blends well with other essential oils, such as eucalyptus, lavender, and rosemary. [2]

Eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus
Eucalyptus essential oil is considered a top note and has a high aroma intensity described as fresh, penetrating, and woody. Like peppermint, it blends wells with eucalyptus, lavender, and rosemary. Note, it is not recommended to use eucalyptus on the skin undiluted as it can cause stinging. To use on the skin, blend with a base oil like olive.

Lemongrass Cymbopogon citratus
Lemongrass essential oil has a very refreshing aroma known for its uplifting, energizing properties ... perfect for outdoor events! It also is thought to support "clear thinking" and good concentration.[3]

For more information about aromatherapy, diffusion, blending, and making your own aromatic sprays, download our free lecture What Is Aromatherapy? from the Apothecary Shoppe College Store website here: http://www.apothecary-shoppe.com/product_info.php?cPath=45&products_id=885

Share your aromatherapy insights, tips, and custom blends with our natural products discussion on Facebook. Download new recipes and comment here: http://www.apothecary-shoppe.com/product_info.php?cPath=45&products_id=885


References
[1] Nerio LS, Olivero-Verbel J, Stashenko E.Repellent activity of essential oils: a review. Bioresour Technol. 2010 Jan;101(1):372-8. Epub 2009 Sep 2: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19729299
[2]Samarasekera R, Weerasinghe IS, Hemalal KP.Insecticidal activity of menthol derivatives against mosquitoes. Pest Manag Sci. 2008 Mar;64(3):290-5: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18095385
[3] Qualls WA, Xue RD. Field evaluation of three botanical repellents against Psorophora ferox, Aedes atlanticus, and Aedes mitchellae. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2009 Sep;25(3):379-81: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19852232

*Note, it is always best to consult with a certified aromatherapist about which essential oils are best suited for your purposes. It is also recommended to perform a skin patch test before applying essential oils to test for possible sensitivities. This article is for informational purposes only; it is not intended to treat, diagnose, prescribe, or cure.

Join ACHS and Mindy Green for a Free Teleconference, Essential Oil Blending

Title: Essential Oil Blending for Perfumery or Therapeutics with Mindy Green, MA
When: July 20, 2010 at 5:30 pm (PST)

About the Teleconference
Essential oils have been employed for centuries as fragrant adornment, sexual attractant, cosmetic adjunct, and for their therapeutic significance. Whether your blend is recreational or recuperative, it should smell pleasant enough for enjoyable compliance. In this teleconference, Mindy Green will discuss where, when, and how essential oils applications are most effective. Participants will also learn about the basic principles of blending, safety and dilutions, carrier oils, and actualizing blends.

Recommended Reading
Keville, Kathi and Mindy Green. Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art, 2nd Edition: Crossing Press, 2008 (Blending Chapter, pgs 128-140).

About Mindy Green
Mindy Green has more than 35 years’ experience in the natural products and healthcare industry. From 2003-2009 she worked for Aveda Corporation in the botanical research division of R&D as their clinical aromatherapist and prior to Aveda, she founded and owned several herb and essential oil businesses. Mindy now runs her own consulting company called Green Scentsations, LLC.

Mindy is a nationally certified Registered Aromatherapist and has served on the educational committees of the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists and the Aromatherapy Registration Council. She currently is a member of the Advisory Board for the American College of Healthcare Sciences and is an ongoing guest speaker for Andrew Weil’s integrative medicine program in Arizona, where she lectures on the integration of essential oils into a medical practice.

In addition to more than 40 published magazine articles on the topics of botanicals and skin care, Mindy also is co-author of Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art and author of Calendula and Natural Perfumes.

For more information about Mindy, visit her website here: http://www.greenscentsations.com/

Contact Information
Call in information will be emailed to participants the week of the teleconference. To register, email communications@achs.edu or call (800) 487-8839.

Join ACHS and Aromatherapy Expert Mindy Green for a Free Teleconference

Title: Essential Oil Blending for Perfumery or Therapeutics with Mindy Green, MA
When: July 20, 2010 at 5:30 pm (PST)

About the Teleconference
Essential oils have been employed for centuries as fragrant adornment, sexual attractant, cosmetic adjunct, and for their therapeutic significance. Whether your blend is recreational or recuperative, it should smell pleasant enough for enjoyable compliance. In this teleconference, Mindy Green will discuss where, when, and how essential oils applications are most effective. Participants will also learn about the basic principles of blending, safety and dilutions, carrier oils, and actualizing blends.

Recommended Reading
Keville, Kathi and Mindy Green. Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art, 2nd Edition: Crossing Press, 2008 (Blending Chapter, pgs 128-140).

About Mindy Green
Mindy Green has more than 35 years’ experience in the natural products and healthcare industry. From 2003-2009 she worked for Aveda Corporation in the botanical research division of R&D as their clinical aromatherapist and prior to Aveda, she founded and owned several herb and essential oil businesses. Mindy now runs her own consulting company called Green Scentsations, LLC.

Mindy is a nationally certified Registered Aromatherapist and has served on the educational committees of the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists and the Aromatherapy Registration Council. She currently is a member of the Advisory Board for the American College of Healthcare Sciences and is an ongoing guest speaker for Andrew Weil’s integrative medicine program in Arizona, where she lectures on the integration of essential oils into a medical practice.

In addition to more than 40 published magazine articles on the topics of botanicals and skin care, Mindy also is co-author of Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art and author of Calendula and Natural Perfumes.

For more information about Mindy, visit her website here: http://www.greenscentsations.com/

Contact Information
Call in information will be emailed to participants the week of the teleconference. To register, email communications@achs.edu or call (800) 487-8839.