Essential Oils: Not Just For Smelling Nice Anymore
Essential oils are not new – plants and herbs have been used for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians used sandalwood, cedar, and myrrh for embalming. Through the distillation process, essential oils are wrung out of everything from lemon peel, cinnamon bark, ginger rhizomes, juniper berries, anise seeds, and lavender flowers.
By placing a few drops of oil from a site like http://www.wearelivingitout.com on a cotton ball, it is easy to place a scent in any nook and cranny. Stinky rooms are conquered, and stressed nerves are relaxed. But did you know there is so much more you can achieve with essential oils? Take a look at how using them can improve your life.
Going Green
When you spray a room using a commercial room or air freshener, do you wonder what else is being added to your air? Or, do you have a bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse or glove box, but worry about added dyes and fragrances? There really is a way to save money, still have an awesome hand sanitizer or air freshener product that works, and not die from the added dyes and toxic chemicals.
By making your own green products, you can have it all. Here's how you can make your own air freshener and hand sanitizer.
Air Freshener
- You will need a small spray bottle, 1 cup of water, ½ cup rubbing alcohol, and your favorite essential oils.
- Add the water and alcohol to the spray bottle.
- Now is the time to add 30 drops of essential oil. You can combine different oils to make your own scents. Add more drops to increase the potency.
- This can be sprayed on curtains, towels, blankets, carpet, beds, and fabric furniture.
Travel Hand Sanitizer
- Gather a small squirt bottle, 2/3 cup rubbing alcohol, 1/3 cup aloe Vera gel, and 10 drops of your favorite essential oil.
- Combine the ingredients together well in a large bowl. Carefully funnel it into your squirt bottle.
- Shake the bottle well, and stash it where you will use it to sanitize your hands on the go.
Don't just stop there – look for more ways to go green using essential oils when you do laundry, clean your home, or wash dishes.
In The Kitchen
You can put your essential oil to work in the kitchen – and not just for cleaning or disinfecting. Cooking with essential oils adds incredible flavor to just about anything. Before you start cooking up a storm, make sure your oil is labeled therapeutic-grade, and includes supplemental facts to indicate nutritional value. Not all essential oils are pure enough to be ingested.
Start out using just one drop of oil, and increase from there until you reach your favorite level of flavor. Make sure you add them at the end of cooking if you want the therapeutic benefits - high heat extinguishes them.
1. Citrus
Rather than using whole lemons or limes for cooking, one or two drops of essential oil provide just as much flavor. Plus, you save money instead of buying expensive fruit that does not last long. Oils last for years in a cool, dark place. Use citrus oil in place of zest and juice.
2. Herbs
In savory dishes, substitute one drop of oil for one teaspoon of dried herbs. Thyme, oregano, marjoram, and rosemary are strong, and can be simmered for a while to tone down the flavor a bit. Add more mild herbs like sage, basil, bay and celery at the end of cooking.
3. Baking extracts
You can use essential oils when you make candy, cookies, cakes, and other sinful delights. Instead of one teaspoon of extract, use ¼ teaspoon oil such as peppermint, clove, almond, cinnamon, vanilla, and lavender.