Aromatic herbs and oils have been used since ancient times in religious rites, for perfumes, cosmetics, and for therapeutic and medicinal purposes. Written records documenting various uses of herbs and essential oils made from herbs, go back as far as four thousand years. Ancient India, ancient Egypt, ancient Greece and Rome all document the usage of aromatic herbs and oils.

The modern practice of aromatherapy was introduced in the late 1920′s, when Rene-Maurice Gattefosse discovered the healing properties of lavender. He noticed that lavender oil, when applied to a burn on his hand, seemed to heal the wound quickly and later thought that it reduced scaring. He then became interested in the therapeutic uses of essential oils. Gattefosse concluded that natural oils were more effective than artificially produced synthetics.

Dr. Jean Valnet treated psychiatric patients in a program using essential oils and published his results in 1964, calling the therapy ‘Aromatherapie’.

The word, aromatherapy, may be construed to mean that they scent itself is the primary source of healing. But it is more than just fragrance. Essential oils penetrate the skin and influence body chemistry, as we see in the use of oils in massage. For instance, if garlic oil is rubbed on the soles of your feet, a garlic odor will appear on your breath some time later.

So, aromatherapy has several avenues of affecting a person.

Using natural oils in your bath a few drops sprinkles in the tub, mixed with various bath products and lotions, or added to soap can effect your mood with its scent. Various oils can also be useful to heal wounds, skin irritations, rashes, and insect bites. Certain oils are effective insect repellants. Some can aid in the treatment of acne and fungal conditions, while others help oily skin or act as moisturizers for dry skin.

Essential oils are often used in home made bath products such a bath salt combinations and hand made soaps. It is a good idea to test for skin sensitivity before committing yourself to creating a whole batch of home made product using essential oils. If you use essential oils at home, check for toxic properties of the oils that interest you.

You can research and learn which oils would benefit your skin type or special skin conditions. Learn which ones are beneficial to mood enhancement. Some oils are stimulants while others encourage relaxation. A stimulating oil like peppermints better to used in the shower before work, while a relaxing one, like valerian is best used for a soothing bath before bed.

Learn how to blend essential oils to create unique fragrances. The proper combination of scents make for long lasting, pleasant aromas. Blending oils that do not go well together can lead to a product that does not smell good or an aroma that does not have staying power.

Essential oils can be purchased through herbalists, at specialty shops, ethnic groceries, or online. Shop around when looking for these wonderful oils. Essential oils can be very expensive and there is a wide discrepancy between pricing. Just remember, when you buy oils, purchase natural essential oils and not the artificial fragrance oils. While the synthetics may smell nice, they do not have the lasting power that essential oils do, and they do not have the therapeutic properties that can improve your skin.

By: Inez Calender

About the Author:
http://hubpages.com/hub/BlendingEssentialOilsinHomemadeSoapsforAromaticorTheraputicPurposes is an article that teaches you how to blend natural oils to create unique, lovely scents. It lists many popular oils and offers them at great prices.

http://hubpages.com/hub/HowtoMakeSoapMakeQuickCureHotProcessSoap is an in depth, illustrated article that teaches you how to make home made soap. This method of making soap at home does not a month long curing time. Your hand made soap can be ready to use in 3 – 5 days.

Is it just me or have the holidays become more and more expensive over the years? Whatever your particular brand of holiday celebration (Christmas, Hanukkah, Festivus?), this time of year creates a hefty amount of financial stress with the pressure to be buying more and more gifts for all the people in our lives. Sure, the thought of my empty wallet makes me yelp, but I truly think this monetary obsession sidesteps the greater meaning behind these gifts. The holidays should be a time to show our loved ones that we care, not to dazzle them with big, flashy electronics. Instead of exhausting your bank account, why not surprise loves ones with homemade gifts from the heart? Over the years, Recipe4Living has collected a variety of great gift recipes, and hand-picked a couple favorites just for you. Whether it’s homemade soup mix for the cooking-challenged or beautiful bath salts for the diva, your gift is sure to be touching.

Beauty Gifts

Desert Sands Bath Salts

Creating three colored layers of pretty bath salt, this recipe makes a wonderful gift.

Ingredients

5 drops yellow food coloring

2 drops red food coloring

4 drops musk fragrant or essential oil

3 drops Jasmine fragrant or essential oil

3 C. epsom salts

1 C. baking soda

2 tsp. liquid glycerin (skin moisturizer) (optional)

Directions

Combine baking soda, epsom salt and glycerin until well blended. Add scents stirring until there is no clumps left. It will be a fine powder. Divide the mixture evenly into 3 separate bowls. In the first bowl add 3 drops yellow food coloring, in the second add 3 drops red food coloring and in the third bowl add 2 drops yellow with 1 drop red food coloring. Stir each bowl until the color is well mixed. Allow the air to dry it for a few hours before placing in a bottle. Once dried, layer the colors in an airtight glass jar starting with red first, then orange then lastly yellow. To use, add 2-3 tsp. of the mixture to running bath water. Soak as desired.

Note: Liquid glycerin used as a skin moisturizer, is a by-product of soap making. Glycerin can be found at health food stores, some drug stores, or major department stores depending on where you live. It’s also readily available on the internet as well.

Oatmeal Soap Balls

These soothing and exfoliating soap balls also make great gifts.

Ingredients

1 C. instant Quaker oatmeal

1 bar mild soap, such as Ivory

1/4 C. water

Food coloring (optional)

Directions

Grate oatmeal or use a mini-processor oatmeal. Put into a bowl. Do the same with the soap. Add the water and blend well. If adding food coloring, add it to the water for even consistency. Shape into balls and put on wax paper to dry. Balls can be put into containers or wrapped with plastic wrap and tied with raffia. A gift tag can be attached to the raffia.

Other Beauty Recipes

Oatmeal Soap

Chamomile Lip Balm

Candy Cane Bath Salts

Bath Bags

Lilac Bubble Bath

Foaming Vanilla Honey Bath

Vanilla Rose Bubble Bath Gel

Orange Blossom Soap

Gingerbread Bath Salts

Velvet Apple Bubble Bath

Bath Salts

Lotion Sticks

Apricot-Orange Lip Gloss

Gardenia Dusting Powder

Breakfast Anyone?

All-in-One Pancake Mix

Ditch the box and get inspired. This homemade pancake mix keeps in an airtight container so you can make pancakes whenever you want.

Ingredients

2 C. all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1/3 C. dry milk powder

1/3 C. shortening

1 Tbs. sugar

2 Tbs. soy flour

Directions

In a large bowl, mix together flour, soy flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and dry milk. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. To use, measure 1 C. pancake mix and combine with 1/2 C. water. This makes a thick pancake. Add more water 1 Tbs. at a time if you prefer a thinner pancake.

Note: With the addition of soy flour you do not need to add an egg.

Drinks

Fruit Extracts/Flavored Vodka

Making your own citrus extracts to use in recipes will give you a much purer fruit flavor. You can do this with lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, or tangerine. Peel the fruit in strips, leaving the pith behind. Place the strips in a jar, and cover them with good-quality vodka. Cover the jar tightly and let it stand at room temperature for two weeks, shaking the jar daily. Discard the peel, replace it with fresh peel, and let it stand for two more weeks. Remove the flavor, and use the flavored vodka in recipes calling for extract. It will keep indefinitely.

Instant Chai Tea Mix

For a great, super-cheap gift idea this holiday season, give this delicious chai tea mix in a decorated jar.

Ingredients

1 C. pwdr. dry milk

1 C. non dairy creamer-dry

1 C. Fr. Vanilla pwdr. creamer

1 1/2 C. sugar

1 1/2 C. instant tea

2 tsp. ginger

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. cloves

1 tsp. cardomon

Directions

In a large bowl, combine milk powder, non-dairy creamer, vanilla flavored creamer, sugar and instant tea. Stir in ginger, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. In a blender or food processor, blend 1 C. at a time, until mixture is the consistency of fine powder. Store in your favorite jar or decorative bottle. To serve: Stir 2 heaping Tbs. Chai tea mixture into a mug of hot water.

Makes about 4 C. mix

Other Drink Mix Recipes

Citrus Spice Tea Mix

Hot Russian Tea Mix

Sugar-Free/Caffeine-Free Hot Spiced Tea Mix

Irish Cr