The Essential Oils Book: Creating Personal Blends for Mind and Body

Fragrant essences lift the spirits, stimulate the senses, and enhance relaxation after a trying day. This practical guide shows how essential oils — used in the home and on the go — can greatly improve the quality of busy lives.

Comprehensive information on the essential oils extracted from herbs, flowers, roots, barks, and resins includes which ones to use regularly, which to use with caution, and which to avoid altogether.

Dozens of simple step-by-step recipes feature essential oils for:

* Combating stress, PMS, sunburn, and other conditions

* Scenting homes, offices, and vehicles

* Creating blends for safe, fragrant cleaning products

* Making special mixtures for children and the elderly

Aromatic essential oils have many uses. Soothing or invigorating, oils can be used in air fresheners, home-cleaning products, bath soaks, and, of course, perfumes. Complete instructions show readers how to use essential oils safely and effectively.

A rich resource on the applications of aromatherapy and its uses in everyday life, including aromas for the home, business environments, and essences for the elderly.

A rich resource on the applications of aromatherapy and its uses in everyday life, including aromas for the home, business environments, and essences for the elderly.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 145-146) and index.

An herbalist for over 15 years, Colleen K. Dodt has written two Storey titles, The Essential Oils Book and Natural BabyCare, of which USDA Scientist James A. Duke, author of The Green Pharmacy said of the book: "I believe Colleen would do better at healing my children and grandchildren than most of my HMO physicians have done. As always, Colleen writes engagingly and earnestly." Colleen is the owner of Herbal Endeavors, Ltd., in Rochester Hills, Michigan, a business she began years ago at her home so that she could raise her young daughter, Christina, full time. Since then, her business and products have been featured in Herb Companion magazine, and she has written numerous articles on herbs and aromatherapy as well. Colleen is the first American and the first woman to write for The International Journal of Aromatherapy (February 1988), a British trade publication edited by Robert Tisserand, one of Britain's foremost experts on herbs and essential oils.

Acknowledgments

Preface

Chapter 1 Awakening the Scent Sense

Chapter 2 An Introduction to Buying and Using Pure Essential Oils

Chapter 3 The Properties and Applications of Pure Essential Oils

Most Commonly Used Pure Essential Oils

Less Commonly Used Pure Essential Oils

Chapter 4 Basic Blending Advice

Equipment and Supplies

Carrier or Base Oils

Solutions and Dilutions

Chapter 5 Recipes for Home Aroma

Making Cleaning Jobs More Pleasant

Scenting the Air at Home

Chapter 6 Aromatic Recipes for Essential Beauty

Baths

Bath Salts

Herbal Baths

Children's Herbal Baths

Foot Baths

Hand and Nail Care

Hair Oils

Shampoos and Rinses

Personal Perfumes

Chapter 7 Other Uses for Essential Oils

Making Travel More Enjoyable

Creating a Welcoming, Conducive Work Environment

Caring for the Elderly and Sick

Caring for Pets

Sources and Resources

Suggested Reading

Index