Get Energized With Aromatherapy
Wake up and face the day with these invigorating essential oil blends.
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Citrus aromas are naturally cleansing and energizing—try lemon, grapefruit, or sweet orange—or a mix of all three. Bergamot, peppermint, tangerine, lime, ginger, eucalyptus, and rosemary scents, to name a few, are all used to uplift the spirit and recharge the mind and body.
Look for pure essential oils that can be added to a bath, mister, or carrier oil. Or try candles, soaps, room sprays, and other products made with pure essential oils. Don’t use synthetic fragrance—only pure oils retain the healing properties of the plants from which they are derived. Here are some scent-sational ways you can tap into the rejuvenating powers of aromatherapy, excerpted from The Spa Deck: 50 Recipes for Relaxation & Rejuvenation by Brabara Close.
SCRUBS
Ruby Grapefruit Exfoliating Paste
Massage this paste vigorously over the entire body in the bath or shower to enhance circulation, exfoliate dull skin, and get going in the morning.
4 oz. glass jar
1 oz. almond oil
18 drops grapefruit essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
14 drops tangerine essential oil
Small glass bowl
3 oz. coarse sea salt
Combine almond oil and essential oils in glass jar; shake vigorously. Pour oil mixture into a glass bowl and add the sea salts a little at a time, stirring until you have a thick pate. Let mixture sit for one hour. Pour into glass jar. This paste will last for six months if covered and stored in a dark glass container.
Rosemary Citron Sea Salt Foot Smoother
Want happy feet? Try this after wearing uncomfortable shoes or standing for long periods. It works its magic in part by helping to break up lactic acid deposits that cause feet to ache.
½ cup sea salts, coarsely ground (try a coffee grinder)
2 oz. carrier oil (such as almond)
10 drops grapefruit essential oil
7 drops lemon essential oil
5 drops lime essential oil
20 drops rosemary essential oil
1 sprig rosemary leaves, chopped finely
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl; set aside. Soak feet in warm water for 10 minutes to soften the skin. Rub mixture onto feet, concentrating on the rough patches. Wrap feet in plastic and swaddle in a towel. Leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
BATH OIL
Herbal Bath Infusion
This bath is perfect for the weekend warrior or fitness aficionado. The warming and stimulating properties of basil, rosemary, sage, and citrus are not only uplifting, but also help to ease the soreness of overexerted muscles.
2 Tbs. carrier oil (such as almond oil)
8 drops marjoram essential oil
½ cup fresh basil leaves
½ cup fresh rosemary leaves
½ cup fresh sage leaves
4 cups boiling water
Combine carrier oil and marjoram essential oil in a French press. Gently bruise or tear the leaves of the herbs to release their aromatic oils. Place leaves in French press and add 4 cups of boiling water. Let steep for 20 minutes. Fill bathtub, pour infusion into the bath, and soak for 30 minutes. Take advantage of the solitary moment to cleanse both body and mind.
Blends to match your mood
To invigorate and energize: Grapefruit, lemon, lime, cardamom
To “ground” and calm the mind: Vetivert, sandalwood, chamomile, pine
To relieve depression: Bergamot, mandarin, lemon verbena
To ease anxiety: Rose maroc, lavender, marjoram
Good Buys:
1. AURA CACIA Pep Talk blends peppermint, orange, and lemon oils with a hint of spicy cardamom. Spray it in any room (or your car!).
2. NATURE’S ALCHEMY Bergamot is produced using a gentle extraction method and includes only 100% pure essential oil.