Rosemary Essential Oil: Benefits and Uses

Rosemary Essential Oil: Benefits, Uses & Healing Properties

Found along the windswept shores of the Mediterranean Sea, rosemary oil has a deep history dating back to the Roman days. The Romans used rosemary for a variety of purposes, including healing, incense, cosmetics and religious ceremonies. Even today, people hold rosemary essential oil sacred because of its incredible beauty and healing properties, which include being a memory aid, pain reliever, skin toner, mouthwash, moisturizer, respiratory aid and more. Assuming you are interested in finding out the specifics on how this product can help you, here is a deeper look at rosemary oil.

As mentioned before, rosemary is found in the Mediterranean region, and it grows as an evergreen plant that sometimes reaches 5-6 feet high. Seeing as how rosemary has traditionally grown around the Mediterranean area, it’s no surprise that it appears in both Roman and Greek mythology. In fact, Aphrodite was depicted as wearing rosemary when she was first born. In regards to the actual appearance of the oil, rosemary is basically colorless, while the scent is strong, fresh and citrusy.

Aside from rosemary’s appearance and mythology presence, another noteworthy detail about this oil is that it’s a middle note, which means rosemary can be combined with plenty of other essential oils. Some of the oils that work well with rosemary are cedarwood, juniper, tea tree, basil and geranium.

Skin Care
Rosemary essential oil has several different uses in regards to skin care, including the ability to tone and moisturize your skin. In addition to this, you can also smooth out wrinkles, reduce fine lines, clear up acne, and minimize the ugliness of varicose veins and broken capillaries.

Aromatherapy
Rosemary is one of the top oils when it comes to aromatherapy benefits. Whether it’s congestion, a cold, a sore throat or asthma, rosemary essential oil goes a long way to clearing up these problems. Aside from the healing benefits of rosemary aromatherapy, this oil makes a room smell great when used.

Pain Reliever
Those suffering from headaches and migraines have found that rosemary essential oil works wonders for reducing the pain. Going further, rosemary also extends to aid with other pain-related problems like sore muscles, arthritis and rheumatism. So whether you’re massaging the oil directly into the skin or inhaling it through aromatherapy, rosemary is very effective at relieving pain.

Memory Aid
Some students who have a solid knowledge of rosemary oil use it to improve their mental concentration and potentially boost test scores. It’s also used by doctors, lawyers and people in other strenuous professions to focus and battle fatigue. The reasons why rosemary works so well as a fatigue/memory aid is because it increases brain activity.

Mouthwash
If you’re ever short on toothpaste, rosemary essential oil makes a fine substitute because it kills bad breath and disinfects the mouth. Just make sure that you don’t ingest the rosemary, or any other essential oil for that mater.

Hair Stimulator
As yet another benefit of rosemary oil, it stimulates hair follicles and helps people grow fuller, thicker-looking hair. Other hair-based benefits include preventing gray hair and reducing the appearance of a dry, flakey scalp. The effects of rosemary oil on hair are even better when combined with tea tree or basil oil.

Digestion
One last major benefit of rosemary essential oil is that it can help people out with their digestion problems or stomach aches. To use rosemary for digestion purposes, you can add a few leaves on the side of your supper.

As mentioned before, you should avoid ingesting rosemary in large doses - if not entirely. The reason why is because rosemary essential oil can be potentially toxic, and cause seizures if taken in big amounts. The only time that you should really consider ingesting rosemary oil is if a doctor has advised you to, which isn’t very common.

Moving past the oil, you should also be careful with the amount of rosemary leaves that you consume. As previously stated under "Digestion" in the uses and healing properties section, it’s safe to eat rosemary leaves along with meals. However, too many rosemary leaves can certainly be a bad thing, especially in the case of pregnant women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. In extreme cases where lots of leaves are eaten, rosemary causes vomiting, spasms and even fluid in the lungs.

But as long as you’re responsible when consuming rosemary leaves, and you avoid ingesting the oil altogether, you shouldn’t have any worries in regards to using this product.

In order to ensure that you avoid any of the unpleasantries discussed above, it’s important that you properly use rosemary essential oil. With this being said, the most popular and safest usage of rosemary oil involves putting a few drops into a vaporizer, and letting the aroma fill the air. This use is great for people who want to relieve congestion, reduce headache pains and/or make their house smell better. One thing to remember when doing this is that rosemary is a middle note, so it takes a little longer than top notes to start working.

Moving along, those who want to relieve muscle and/or joint pain with rosemary essential oil should put a few drops in their massage oil; once the solution is mixed, you can rub the oil into your skin. As alluded to in the cautions section, you don’t want to exceed a few drops of the product when mixing it with massage oil.

Much like with the massage oil, you can also add a few drops of rosemary to face and skin creams. Doing this creates an even more powerful, age-defying effect with the skin care products you use. Just remember, the key thing with rosemary oil is that you want to use it in moderation. In most cases, adding a few drops to whatever product or vaporizer you’re using should be enough to get the effects you are looking for.

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Top Notes, Middle Notes and Base Notes: Essential Oils

Essential Oils: Top Notes, Middle Notes and Base Notes

If you're looking to enhance your skin and overall beauty, there is perhaps no better way to do it than by using essential oils. Of course, essential oils serve a lot more purposes than just beautifying because they are also used as alternative medicines. But no matter if you're using essential oils to make yourself look 10 years younger or cure a common cold, it's important to understand what oils are used for what purposes. This being said, let's take a took at the basics of essential oils, the different notes, and how to use the oils.

Essential oils are concentrated liquids that come from plants, and they have noticeable fragrances. The oils are extracted by either distillation (separating mixtures by boiling them) or the less common method of solvent extraction (separating from one liquid phase to another). Essential oils are usually classified by their notes, which is another word for scent characteristics. In order to enhance the qualities of essential oils, notes are often combined to create useful products.

Now that the boring scientific explanation of essential oils is out of the way, let's move on to discussing the different notes and their uses!

The name "top note" is somewhat misleading in essential oils because they don't last long, and they tend to be relatively inexpensive in stores. Of course, this isn't to say that top notes aren't important because they are used to combat depression, fatigue, and a lack of focus. When top notes are mixed with both middle and high notes, the top note is what people normally smell first because they act so fast. Of course, it is this fast-acting nature that causes top notes to disappear quickly.

Some of the common top notes that you'll find include eucalyptus, bergamot, cajuput, cinnamon, basil, petitgrain, corriander, lime, tangerine, tea tree, cedarwood, lemon, verbena, and rosemary.

Middle notes include the largest number of essential oils, and they offer the most benefits in regards to health and beauty. Many middle notes have the ability to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, cellulite and stretch marks, plus they are useful for healing skin problems like bruises, cuts, and burns. Middle notes have also been known to reduce pain associated with stiff joints and arthritis. In conjunction with other notes, the middle notes are very effective at linking properties between the mental and physical benefits. It's for this reason why middle notes are combined with both top and base notes.

As far as the fragrance for middle notes goes, they aren't always smelled immediately because it takes a while for them to act. Some of the common middle notes include juniper, chamomile, geranium, cardamom, lavender, ylang ylang, cypress, fennel, melissa, ginger, chamomile, cypress, hyssop, jasmine, rose, hyssop, juniper, peppermint, marjoram, black pepper, cardamom, fennel, geranium, ho leaf, lavender, marjoram, melissa, rosemary, spikenard, yarrow, myrtle, nutmeg, palma rosa and pine.

Base notes draw their name from the fact that they are usually extracted from tree and plant roots buried deep in the ground. Like top notes, base notes have a lot of properties for combating various feelings and emotions such as anxiety, anger, frustration, and nervousness. Some people even believe that base notes have the power to alleviate deep-seeded psychological problems when used long-term.

Out of all the notes, base notes take the longest to start acting; however, their fragrance and qualities also stay around the longest, and their scent is very strong and noticeable too. Some base notes are oak moss, frankincense, ginger, jasmine, myrrh, balsam peru, cedarwood, cinnamon, ylang ylang, clove, patchouli, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, vanilla, vetiver.

When it comes to buying essential oils from stores, there are a few things you want to keep in mind. Be careful when buying oils that are marked "perfume oil" or "fragrance oil" because they might not have all (or any) of the useful properties that you're looking for. In some cases, vendors only use chemicals to make their essential oils, so it pays to do a little research before you buy products.

Another term to watch out for when buying essential oils is "aromatherapy grade" because there is no agency that grades oils with this label. Now this isn't to say that you shouldn't ever buy a product with this term; just know that some companies are willing to attach phrases like this to products without any basis.

One other important thing you should do when buying essential oils is email the company asking questions that you want to know. Even if you don't have any specific questions, it's always good to email an online essentials oil store just to see how their customer service department is. The better the customer service is, the better the chance of them having good products!

There are several different ways to use essential oils beginning with inhalation. To inhale an essential oil, put a few drop on a tissue, and breath in; you'll find that the product starts acting almost immediately this way. You can also use essential oils by adding them to a humidifier or vaporizer. In some cases, this way works much better than inhaling the oils.

One more popular way to use essential oils is to combine them with massage oil, and rub the mixture into your skin. If you're going to do this, make sure you are very knowledgeable about essential oils so that you don't cause an allergic reaction or breakouts. The same goes for when you combine essential oils together in a bottle because you don't want to regret your decision to use these oils. Also, make sure that the bottle you combine the oils in is sterilized.

In any case, essential oils can be very beneficial to your over health and beauty, so consider giving them a try!

 

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10 ways to use perfume samples from magazines

What do you do with all those perfume samples from magazines? Give them a quick sniff? Toss them in the trash? Collect them? Perfume samples are handier than you think. Here are 10 ways to put them to good use.

1. Dress up your drawers. Tuck a few of your favorites in your underwear drawers as well as your other clothes drawers.

2. Stow them in your suitcase. Before hitting the road, toss an unopened sample into your suitcase. The sample won’t leak on your clothes and they will smell great for the duration of the trip.

3. Store them in your shoes (not while wearing them, of course). Your friends will think you have the best-smelling feet around. Not to mention your closet will smell much better. (See No. 6.)

4. Stash them under your car seat. Who needs one of those cheap, stinky air fresheners? Place a perfume sample under your seat and you’re good to go.

5. Put them in your purse. With all the stuff we load into our purses, it’s no wonder they sometimes smell a little stale. Nothing a perfume sample can’t fix.

6. Keep them in the closet. (See No. 3.)

7. Give gift bags a little extra something special. Sometimes it’s the little things that matter. Adding a perfume sample to a gift bag not only makes it smell great, but it also adds a personal touch.

8. Sleep tight on scented pillows. Toss a perfume sample into your pillowcase for some fragrant ZZZZZs.

9. Line your coat pockets. If you’re storing your coats during the summer months, placing a perfume sample in the pocket will help to ward off that musty smell. If you’re wearing your coat, even better. You’ll smell great the moment you enter a room.

10. Wear them. This is why they are in the magazines in the first place, right? Collect the perfume samples and try out different scents over time. You can test which fragrances you like before splurging on them.

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5 surprising facts about essential oils

Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-being. There are a wide number of essential oils available, each with its own healing properties.

Here are five things you may not know about essential oils:

1. Neroli oil, or “orange blossom,” is one of the most expensive essential oils on the market. It takes 1,000 lbs. of orange blossoms to make one pound of Neroli oil. This semi-precious oil is used to ease anxiety, depression, insomnia, and given its wonderful aroma, it can be considered an aphrodisiac.

2. Captain James Cook first mentioned Tea Tree oil in 1772 during his voyage to Botany Bay, Australia. He and his crew made a tea from the leaves to prevent scurvy. Tea Tree’s healing properties are abundant. Not only is it a natural immune booster, but it also fights all three kinds of infection. It works to heal skin conditions, burns and cuts, and also works as an insecticide. In addition, it helps to soothe and treat cold sores, respiratory conditions, muscle aches, the flu, Athlete’s foot and dandruff. Its uses are vast and its healing power is quick.

3. In the 1920s, French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse coined the term “aromatherapy.” The story goes that during an experiment, Gattefosse burned his hand and had nothing nearby to soak it in except lavender. Apparently the lavender quickly healed the burn, spurring him to begin research on the science behind essential oils.

4. Our sense of smell is the only sense directly tied to the limbic area of the brain, which is considered the emotional control center. This means that when essential oils are inhaled, they go directly to the brain. Our other four senses — taste, sight, touch and hearing — are first routed through the thalamus before reaching designated areas of the brain.

5. Essential oils are beneficial healers because they transport oxygen to the cells, which trigger great healing effects. It is safe to say that all of them are anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-infectious, anti-tumoral, anti-parasitic, and antiseptic on some level.

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Warning: The Dangers of Perfume and Cologne at Your Interview

Many job search sites will warn you about the importance of good presentation. It is vital that you wear appropriate clothes and maintain an attractive appearance so that your first impression with your interviewers is the best it can be. However, there are warnings that come with making a good presentation as well. The best known issue is that of fragrances.

Scents are one of the primary causes of a good or bad first impression. If you smell bad, the employer is going to immediately think poorly of your appearance, presentation, and even your ability to do the job. Smell good and you appear to be a clean individual that takes care of yourself. Clearly there is a good reason to care about how to smell, since your scent can make a tremendous difference in how you appear to others.

In order to smell decent, many men and women put on massive amounts of perfumes, aftershave, and colognes before their job interview. Logically this makes a lot of sense. If you put on great scents, chances are you will smell great and make a great olfactory first impression.

Here is where the risk comes into play. Many adults, especially women, are massively allergic to the strong smells that come from these perfumes and colognes. So much so that they may not be able to be in the same room with you, let alone shake your hand. When you go to the interview, you risk running into someone that is allergic to these smells and ultimately harming your interview.

There are a variety of tools you can use to still smell your best during the interview without risking these allergies. The first is to use unscented soap and rely on your natural odor to help you out during the interview. Another is to look for hypoallergenic fragrances. You can also put just a light amount of these sprays on a single part of your body. Then, if your interviewer mentions an allergy, simply tell them you can easily wash it off and go clean that spot in the bathroom.

This is not to say that you should avoid perfumes and colognes before your interview. The chance that you will run into someone that is allergic is not too high. However, before you go to any job interview you want to do whatever it takes to maximize your chances of landing the job, so just be aware that if you decide to splash on a large amount of perfume or cologne, you may run into someone that cannot handle your presence.


[Source:everydayinterviewtips.com]

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Choosing the Perfect Perfume for Your Wedding Day

It’s finally here – your wedding day. You’ve waited for this day since you were a little girl, playing dress-up and trailing pillow cases, bed sheets, and tablecloths off the back of your head and your mother’s perfume dabbed behind your ears. You imagined the groom would be that little Johnny Johnson next door and never gave a thought to any life beyond your wedding day.

You’re no little girl anymore and Johnny Johnson moved away a long time ago. This time, the wedding is real. You’ve planned every detail: the music, the flowers, the dresses, and the cake. You’ve sent invitations and chosen your bridesmaids. You are getting ready for the most important day of your life. Your maid of honor walks in the room, and… you nearly gag! Her perfume is so strong that you just know it will override the flowers in the church. You honestly don’t know if you will be able to stand next to her during the ceremony. Your perfect day is ruined!

Don’t let this happen to you! So many things need to be done for a wedding and so many accessories to consider, that it’s easy to overlook the perfume. Of course, you aren’t used to deciding what perfume your friends and family should wear, but on your wedding day, it’s so important that fragrances don’t conflict or overpower the room. You need to decide on a single perfume for your bridesmaids and yourself so there is no chance that two scents will clash. So how do you choose the perfect fragrance for your wedding day?


The scent of a perfume subtly changes with every woman who wears it. It also changes over time. A perfume’s fragrance has three layers, called notes. The top note is the one you smell when you put on your perfume. This fades quickly and melds into the middle note. The middle note lasts for an hour or so before it too fades. Finally, the bottom note comes floating up – this is the scent that lasts for the rest of the day.

When you are choosing perfume for your wedding, pay close attention to the middle notes and the bottom notes. You will probably want to apply your perfume just before you walk down the aisle, so the middle note will be most prominent throughout the ceremony. However, during the reception and the party the bottom note will be the one that everyone notices.

It’s a good idea to have all the bridesmaids try the perfume out before the wedding day, just to make sure no one has any sensitivity to the perfume and so you know that the middle note and bottom note on each woman blends in harmony with the others.

Perfumes are also categorized by families. These are the general quality of the scents, like fruity or floral. Many women like a soft floral fragrance on their wedding day for the romantic feel, but you may prefer something else. It’s your day, so choose your favorite.

Just stick with something light so no one winds up with a headache. The perfume from your wedding day will always have a special meaning for you and your husband, so take some time to choose one that fits your special day perfectly.


[Source:weddingandpartynetwork.com]

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Perfume Storage: How to Store Your Fragrances to Keep Them at Their Fragrant Best

When it comes to storing perfume, the most well known guidelines are 1) keeping it out of direct light, and 2) storing it someplace cool and dry. My (and Karen’s) first guess for the best place to store perfume was the fridge, but should we really be putting our pretty perfume bottles between the veggies and cheese? Are there better options?

While heat is definitely harmful to fragrances, large fluctuations in temperature can be even worse, so moving your perfumes in and out of the fridge isn’t necessarily better than storing them on your window.

Just like makeup, perfume cannot stand humidity, so the bathroom is out. Also, you want to avoid exposing them to air as much as possible; keep your fragrances closed at all times, and give preference to sprays over splashes. One problem with splashes, as well as rollerballs, is that oils and dirt can eventually spoil the scent, so try to minimize the applicator’s contact with bare skin.

I didn’t know this for the longest time, but it turns out that one should not shake fragrance, and not just to avoid breaking a fragile bottle. If you like to reapply perfume throughout the day, try to leave the bottle at home and take an atomizer along.

The best storage places for our nice smelling friends are train cases, storage boxes, closet shelves and the like -– places away from direct light, heat and humidity, and where they won’t get moved around too much.

Although I’m sad that I shouldn’t put all the pretty bottles on display on my vanity table, with so many options for cute storage boxes, I’m sure I’ll find something I like!

[Source:makeupandbeautyblog.com]

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