Summer Aromatherapy

Sun Protection Cream and a good Insect Repellant are my “must-have” aromatherapy products for the summer. I would like to share with you a couple of my favorite recipes.

Shea Dream Sun Protection Cream- Makes 8oz.

Mix together the following ingredients, over low heat in a double boiler:

1 cup of raw Shea Butter (Vitellaria paradoxa)
4 Tablespoons Carrot Seed Oil (Daucus carota)
4 Tablespoons Red Raspberry Oil (Rubus idaeus)
3 Tablespoons Macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia)
2 Tablespoons Avocado Oil (Persea americana)
2 Tablespoons Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis)
2 Tablespoon Vitamin E
1 Tablespoon Non-Nano Zinc Oxide Powder (You can omit this ingredient if you just want a moisturizer.) Pour into a glass mixing bowl. Blend ingredients well with a hand mixer.

There are many skin healing essential oil combinations that can be used in this product. Here is one suggested essential oil blend:

10 drops of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
10 drops Calendula CO2 (Calendula officinalis)
15 drops Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii)
10 drops Neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara) Mix in the essential oil blend and put the bowl in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. Then, hand mix once again until it is a smooth consistency. Decant into 1-2oz. jars and label.

Check all precautions and lower the dilutions of the essential oils during pregnancy, or for children and elders.

NOTE: This is a sun protection formulation, it has not been tested as an FDA sunscreen.

Essential oils are very effective in keeping bugs at bay. The blend below is very useful to repel mosquitoes, flies, and ticks.

Bug repellent blend- Makes 4oz.

In a 4oz. amber glass bottle mix together:

1 Tablespoon of Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis)

Then, add in the following essential oils and shake.

8 drops of Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
6 drops Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
6 drops Lemon Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora)
6 drops Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)
4 drops Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
5 drops Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) Then add:
1 oz. Aloe Vera Gel (Aloe barbadensis)
Remainder add purified water or hydrosol: Try adding one of these hydrosols: Catnip (Nepeta cataria), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), or Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) hydrosol adds a nice fragrance to this blend.