How to Blend Using Essential Oils

Whenever you decide to start blending essential oils, you want to create harmony. One of the more basic rules to remember is to combine the top note, middle note, and base notes together.

For example, a good fragrance blend will combine 15-25% of your top note, 30-40% of the middle note, and 45-55% of the base notes. These come together to create a perfume accord – simply put, it is the balanced blend of three notes that create the basic character of any fragrance.

What Is the Top Note?

The top note is the first smell you notice. It typically has antiviral properties and has a very light, fresh, and uplifting scent. It gives you that first impression of the scent and represents the overall story of what you are creating.

Some common top notes include:

• Bergamot
• Cajeput
• Grapefruit
• Lemongrass
• Lime
• Mint
• Tangerine
• Tea Tree
• Lemon
• Eucalyptus

What Is the Middle Note?

The middle notes of the blend have balancing effects, and many essential oils actually fall into this category. The middle notes are also often called the heart of the fragrance. Since these notes last longer, they are typically made from the more potent floral and spicy oils. The middle notes influence the base notes and are much more complex than that of the top notes.

Some essential oils in this category include:

• Fennel
• Rose Geranium
• Lavender
• Nutmeg
• Palma Rosa

What Is the Base Note?

These comprise more of the heavier oils that are rich and relaxing. These notes work with the middle notes to deepen the scent you are creating. They are also used to create a much longer-lasting impression of the fragrance.

Some of the more commonly used essential oils for base notes are:

• Clove
• Frankincense
• Ginger
• Patchouli
• Vetivert
• Ylang-Ylang

Blending Essential Oils

When you are blending essential oils, it is important to remember that you should first mix the essential oils to find the smell you want before you add the carrier oil. Once all the essential oil drops have been added, and you love the smell, fill the rest of the container with the carrier oil.

Depending on how strong you want the smell, you can use a 10% or 5% blend. You should also consider your skin type and how sensitive it may be. Always perform a patch test before applying essential oil blends to the skin.

Harmonizing Your Blend

Some essential oils evaporate faster than others, and this can change the aroma of the blend you have created. That is why it is so important to understand the difference between the notes.

You should also start out by creating new blends with no more than 25 drops to begin. When you start smaller, you waste less oil as you work on finding the ideal and most harmonic essential oil blend for you.

Meta: When you blend essential oils, you need to find the right mix of notes and find the harmony between them to create a balanced and aromatic combination.

The Amazing Benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil for the Skin

If you are looking for a way to hydrate your skin throughout the day while also being able to improve its elasticity and collagen production, then virgin coconut oil is definitely what you have been looking for.

What’s In It?

Coconut oil is well-known for its anti-aging properties. It also contains antioxidants, including Vitamins E and A, which can help slow down the aging process and reduce any damage caused by free radicals and the sun.

It also contains many different fatty acids including, but not limited to:

• Lauric Acid
• Linoleic Acid
• Myristic Acid
• Capric Acid
• Stearic Acid

These fatty acids also contribute to its antimicrobial properties and can help protect the skin against harmful microorganisms that threaten to derail our skin health.

Benefits of Coconut Oil

Virgin coconut oil reduces inflammation, stabilizes free radicals in the body, helps treat acne, moisturizes dry skin, and can even help decrease the severity of eczema symptoms.

It can be used on both oily and dry skin and will not cause any irritation and will not block and clog your pores when it is used.

Body Cream and Lotion

Cocoa Love Body Cream and Lotion can help provide you with that hydration you want while allowing your skin to lock in that moisture.

Cocoa Love Cream

This cream not only nourishes your skin, it can also warm your senses. It contains coconut oil to hydrate the skin and improve its elasticity and tone. It can also be used daily to treat more serious skin conditions including eczema and dry skin. It is gentle enough to use on sensitive skin and can be used daily to nourish and hydrate the skin.

Cocoa Love Lotion

This lotion is a lighter version of the cream and moisturizes the skin and soothes the skin while also reducing dark spots and evening out your skin tone. Vitamin E helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks and blemishes.

Both of these products have the pleasant and warm smells of cocoa, vanilla, and cinnamon and can be applied to your skin before bed and every morning. They are both made with only high-quality and natural ingredients that your skin will love.

Benefits of Hydrated Skin

When your skin is properly hydrated, it greatly improves the skin’s elasticity and also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Properly hydrated skin can also help combat oiliness.

When the skin is dehydrated, it begins to produce more oil to compensate for this dryness and lack of moisture. This body lotion and cream can lock in the skin’s moisture and hydrate and soothe the skin on a daily basis.

Meta: Virgin coconut oil is great for the skin when you need to hydrate and lock in moisture while preventing irritation.

 

Natural Skincare for Softness and Hydration

If you have been looking for a natural skincare routine that can help bring the softness back into your skin, then 100% natural rose hand cream can do just that. It is ideal for soothing your senses, hydrating your hands, and bringing the softness back to your skin throughout the day.

Benefits of Rose Hand Cream

Did you know that the skin on your hands is just as important as the skin on your face? Our hands take on a lot of the work throughout the day. From working to washing and everything in between, our hands can become dry and cracked.

Rose hand cream can bring some much-needed hydration back into your skin with the help of coconut oil and cocoa butter. They work feverishly to lock in your skin’s moisture while also preventing water loss.

Argan Oil

With the right hand cream, you can maintain a more youthful appearance while also boosting your skin with a short of beneficial argan and rosehip oils. Argan is often used as a skin moisturizer that hydrates and softens the skin. It has high Vitamin E content as well as fatty acid content which is what gives our skin that natural boost.

Rosehip Oil

This oil is rich in beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants, and these play an integral part in tissue and cell regeneration in the skin. It also contains Vitamin E to moisturize the skin and helps improve its flexibility and permeability meaning it goes a long way in improving the texture of our skin while helping to reduce any fine lines and wrinkles there may be.

An Indulgent Scent

Not only will you find the physical benefits of rose hand cream advantageous, you can also immerse yourself in the pleasant aroma of rose damask water and rose geranium essential oil as you rub the lotion onto your hands and soothe your skin.  It is an easily absorbable and non-greasy formula that can keep your hands soft throughout the day.

All Natural

You will also find that this rose hand cream is made from 100% natural ingredients which is great when you are looking for a natural skincare routine for both softness and hydration. These natural ingredients will enhance the overall health of your skin while restoring moisture and preventing water loss from the skin’s surface.

Meta: Rose hand cream is the perfect addition to any natural skincare routine to help hydrate and soothe your hands throughout the day

More 100% Natural Outdoor Protection

During the warmer parts of the year, we try to spend as much time as we can outdoors; however, that time is often interrupted by bugs and other annoying pests that want to make a meal out of us.

Many of the more traditional sprays for the outdoors contain harmful chemicals that can harm our skin. Below, we will take a closer look at some of those harmful chemicals as well as find a more natural alternative.

Dangers of Traditional Bug Sprays

Traditional bug sprays contain many ingredients that are not safe for our skin as well as the environment. One of these is cyfluthrin. It resembles DDT and can also accumulate in fatty tissues. It has been linked to neurotoxicity and has been found to interfere with sodium and potassium channels in our nerves.

Permethrin is another synthetic pesticide you can find in some bug sprays. It has also been linked to neurotoxicity and has been found, in some cases, to result in seizures.

Pyrethroids are one of the more common chemicals found in bug repellants. They love fat cells and can cross the blood-brain barrier and become toxic to our central nervous system. This chemical can also cause acute reactions, including dermatitis, asthma-like symptoms, as well as burning and itching.

Going 100% Natural

As you can see, finding a more 100% natural alternative is better and safer for our skin as well as our health. This outdoor lotion is gentle and safe enough for all people including pregnant women, children, and even those mothers who are breastfeeding.

It contains 100% natural ingredients like citronella, neem, and clove oils. These ingredients are all effective at keeping the pests away without having to involve any harsh chemicals.

This outdoor lotion also includes mint and patchouli essential oils which are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and can also go a long way in helping to soothe and heal any skin irritation you may be experiencing.

Coconut oil is also added to help nourish and moisturize the skin while it offers you the best in outdoor protection. It is alcohol-free as well and won’t dry out the skin.

It is a great alternative to Begone Bug Spray if you want something that is creamier and not in a spray form.

Bottom Line

So, before you pick up a commercial bug spray for your next outdoor outing, you should consider the benefits of a more natural solution that can be easily applied, is powerful enough to keep the insects away and helps heal and protect your skin at the same time.

Meta: If you are looking for 100% natural outdoor protection against bugs while also being able to nourish and hydrate your skin, then outdoor lotion made from natural ingredients is just what you need.

Begone Bug Bali: Nature’s Best Insect Repellent

Begone Bug Bali: 3 Natural Ways to Stop Bugs Now

 

Would you like to learn about our Top 3 Natural Insect Repellent Solutions?

 

Then you’ll want to keep reading?

 

Our Begone Bug Products are all made from a combination of natural ingredients. The main three ingredients found in these powerful bug-fighting products are Citronella Essential Oil, Clove Essential Oil and Cajeput Essential Oil. The Begone Bug Bali Candle, our most potent of our Begone Bug Products also contains Mint Essential Oil and Patchouli Essential Oil.

 

Utama Spice Mint Essential Oil and Patchouli Essential Oil

 

Now let’s tell you why these essential oils are so great for keeping insects away and how our Begone Bug product line got started.

 

The Begone Bug Bali Story

The story of the Begone Bug Bali line starts over 20 years ago. Back then, my town of Ubud was almost unrecognizable. There were no telephone poles and everything was rice fields as far as the eye could see. We lived in the middle of some of these rice paddies with only a dirt path leading to the main road.

 

 

One day, my dog, Sari, was bitten by a snake and there were no clinics nearby, so we just did our best to make her comfortable and hoped for the best. After a little while, we noticed a bunch of ants and bugs had started coming in to the room like vultures. 

 

My mom wasn’t sure what to do at first, but she knew she had to do something. So she quickly went into our kitchen, the same kitchen in which Utama Spice was born, and made an essential oil blend to repel the bugs and at least keep Sari from suffering in that way.

 

She came out of the kitchen and made a circle around Sari with the essential blend and soon all the bugs vanished!

 

The best part was, Sari survived and lived a happy life for many more years.

 

Utama Spice Citronella Essential Oil, Clove Essential Oil and Cajeput Essential Oil

 

After that, my mom knew she had made something special. So she created a seaweed base for the essential oil blend and the Begone Bug Bali Blend was born!

 

The Begone Bug Bali Ingredients

As with all natural products, the key to their success is in their ingredients. The Begone Bug Bali products are no different! As we said earlier, the Begone Bug Bali Blend contains:

 

Citronella Essential Oil

Clove Essential Oil

Cajeput Essential Oil

 

Citronella Essential Oil

Citronella Essential Oil is one of the oldest and most popular natural insect repellents on the market. It is widely found in candles and even sprays, especially to keep mosquitos away. According to research found on the National Center for Biotechnology Information, “citronella, which contains citronellal, citronellol, geraniol, citral, α pinene, and limonene, is as effective dose for dose as DEET.” DEET is the main active ingredient in most chemical-based insect repellents and was originally made by the US Army as an insecticide.

 

Utama Spice Citronella Essential Oil

 

As we mentioned in our post Avoiding Bugs AND Harsh Chemicals, “Some of the side effects that have been reported by those using DEET include:

 

• Memory loss
• Headaches
• Skin irritation
• Muscle weakness
• Nausea
• Seizures
• Joint pain

 

This is why it’s so important to find a natural product that works without scary side effects.”

 

Clove Essential Oil

Clove Essential Oil was found to be the longest lasting natural insect repellent in a study of 38 essential oils. According to the study by the Department of Medical Entomology of Mahidol University, “Clove oil gave the longest duration of 100% repellency [2-4 hours] against all three species of mosquito” that were tested. Some of the other ingredients that were found to be most effective in the study: “citronella [and] patchouli.”

 

Utama Spice Clove Essential Oil and Cajeput Essential Oil

 

Cajeput Essential Oil

Cajeput Essential Oil is made from a variety of melaleuca leaves and used to be known as white tea tree oil. According to Mind Body Mastered, “Cajeput oil has strong insecticidal properties that help to eliminate insects such as mosquitoes and ants.” Studies have shown that cajeput essential oil “killed mosquitoes on contact” and termites that ate a filter paper soaked in cajeput essential oil “died within 24 hours” and the paper “maintained its effectiveness for at least three months after the cajeput oil was initially applied.”

 

The Begone Bug Bali Products

 

Utama Spice Begone Bug Spray

 

Begone Bug Bali Spray: The original Begone Bug Bali Product is made with agar and perfectly safe for use on children. The Begone Bug Bali Spray is available in 35ml, 60ml, 100ml, 230ml and 1L sizes.

 

Utama Spice Begone Bug Candle

 

Begone Bug Bali Candle: This 50g candle made from natural ingredients also includes Mint and Patchouli Essential Oil for a long-lasting solution to any insect problems.

 

Utama Spice Begone Bug Incense Sticks

 

Begone Bug Bali Incense: Available in 6 stick or 12 stick bundles, these bug-repelling incense sticks are hand rolled in Bali and made up of a blend flowers, barks, herbs, nuts and spices before being dipped in our Begone Bug Bali Blend of essential oils.

 

So whatever your preference is, there’s a great natural solution ready to help you keep those bugs at bay!

 

 

 

Sources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3059459/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16041723

https://mindbodymastered.com/blog/cajeput-essential-oil

Argan Oil Bali: 18 Best Beauty Benefits

Argan Oil Bali: For Hair, Scalp, Skin & A Surprise! 

 

Keep reading to see how you can start using argan oil for a bunch of beauty benefits!

 

Third in our Bali Beauty Benefits series is Argan Oil. Argan oil is great for the hair, scalp, skin and much, much more. As we discussed in our post, Natural Skin Care DIY, argan oil is one of our favorite carrier oils. It contains several vitamins, fatty acids and other beneficial properties that make it great for many different uses.

 

Utama Spice Argan Oil

 

Argan oil also has a great story. We go into greater detail in our first post about Argan Oil, but the argan oil industry reportedly “supports 2.2 million people living a subsistence existence in rural regions. It is vital both economically and culturally.” The argan oil that supports these people is made by the Berber women of southwest Morocco. They collect the seeds of the argan fruit, which is reported to be “16 times harder than a hazelnut,” and hand-press them into the argan oil. 

 

Now that you know a little bit about argan oil, let’s show you some of our favorite argan oil benefits for the skin, hair and scalp. Then we’ll tell you exactly why it’s so good for you. And then lastly, we’ll show you one more way to use argan oil that you might not have expected!

 

Argan Oil for Skin

Not only does argan oil contain several vitamins and fatty acids that are great for the skin, which we’ll discuss below, but it also has several different properties that make it amazing for use on the skin and scalp. 

 

 

Argan oil has strong anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidants properties and antibacterial properties. The antibacterial properties help to fight off any skin conditions or issues, while the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties support the health and longevity of the skin by fighting off free radicals and sun damage. 

 

Argan oil is also a great non comedogenic oil, which, as we discussed in our previous post Argan Oil for Face & Acne, means that while using oil to treat acne can seem rather counterintuitive, non comedogenic oils can help regulate the amount of oil produced by the skin.

Non comedogenic oils can also be absorbed by the skin without feeling greasy. 

 

Additionally, argan oil also has anti-sebum effects. This means that it combats the root cause of hormonal acne, which comes from excess sebum on the skin. Argan oil can help counteract this while also improving the complexion and smoothness of the skin.

 

 

So you might be able to guess some of the things that argan oil can do for your skin, but here’s our Top 10 from our article on Argan Oil for the Skin.

 

Top 10 Best Argan Oil Benefits for Your Face & Skin

 

1. Excellent Face & Skin Moisturizer
2. Surprisingly Great for Acne Treatment
3. Excellent Source of Hydration for the Face & Skin
4. Works Great for Exfoliation
5. Has Anti-Aging & Wrinkle Preventing Properties
6. Reduces and Prevents Stretch Marks
7. Protection from Sun Damage & Free Radicals
8. Aids with Wound Healing
9. Treats a Variety of Skin Conditions
10. Naturally Reduces Oiliness of the Skin

 

For more information about these benefits and ways to use argan oil for the skin, please feel free to check out our previous post Argan Oil for the Skin.

 

Utama Spice Argan Oil

 

Next we’ll share some of our favorite argan oil benefits for the hair and scalp.

 

Argan Oil for Hair and Scalp

Surprisingly, argan oil has almost as many benefits for the hair as it does for the skin! This is because the same properties and components, like its anti-inflammatory, antioxidants and antibacterial effects are just as beneficial for your scalp as they are for your face and skin.

 

From our previous post on Argan Oil for Your Hair and Scalp, here’s our top 8 argan oil benefits.

 

Our Top 8 Benefits of Argan Oil for Hair and Scalp

 

1. Excellent Conditioner and Moisturizer
2. Prevents Heat and Sun Damage
3. Soothes an Itchy, Dry or Red Scalp
4. Boosts Shine
5. Reduces Frizz
6. Encourages Hair Growth and Fights Hair Loss
7. Reduces Damage from Styling and Color 
8. Improves the Scalp, Follicle and Hair Health

 

For more detailed information about how to use argan oil for your hair and scalp, please head over to our post Argan Oil for Your Hair and Scalp! We also have a separate post about How to Use Argan Oil for Hair Growth.

 

Utama Spice Argan Oil

 

Why Argan Oil is so Good for You

Now that you’ve seen all the different things that argan oil can do for your skin, face, hair and scalp, you might be a little curious as to why. We’ve already mentioned the antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of argan oil, but we haven’t discussed in this article what exactly argan oil is made of.

 

We actually go into further detail in our first post about Argan Oil, but argan oil contains three different things that make it so great for all of these purposes. Argan oil contains linoleic acid, better known as omega-6. Omega-6 is one of two essential fatty acids that humans require. Argan oil also contains oleic acid, which is a non-essential fatty acid, but still great for the human body. Lastly, argan oil also contains high amounts of vitamin E, which has a wealth of benefits for the body.

 

 

So there you have it! If you’d like more details about what each of these components do, check out our first post on Argan Oil!

 

Our Surprise Argan Oil Use

Lastly, here’s our surprise argan oil use:

 

Eat it!

 

If you are using high-quality, hand-pressed argan oil, it can be great for adding to a salad or dipping in bread. Since argan oil contains essential and non-essential fatty acids, as well as vitamin E, it has countless benefits for your body when you include it in your diet!

 

And it tastes pretty good too!

 

Utama Spice Argan Oil

 

If you haven’t seen our other posts in our Bali Beauty Benefits Series, check out Castor Oil: Bali Beauty Benefits, Essential Oil: Bali Beauty Benefits and Jojoba Oil: Bali Beauty Benefits for more tips and great natural skin care ingredients.

 

 

Sources and other Resources

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/feb/12/lucy-siegle-argan-oil-hairdresers

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/argan-oil

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linoleic_acid

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-e/art-20364144

 

The Difference Between Cananga and Ylang-Ylang

 

Cananga and ylang-ylang are two oils that are very closely related, and due to these similarities, it may be hard to distinguish the differences between the two. They are both very similar in use and appearance and because of this, we are going to take a closer look at them to find the more discernible differences between the two.

Botanical Profile of Ylang-Ylang

The scientific name for ylang-ylang is Cananga odorata var. genuine. It is a tall, tropical tree that produces yellow, pink, or mauve flowers. These flowers have characteristic narrow and drooping petals. The tree also has green and glossy leaves. When extracting the essential oils, steam distillation is used on these very fragrant flowers.

Botanical Profile of Cananga

The scientific name for Cananga is Canange odorata var. macrophylla. It is also a tall, tropical tree that produces flowers that are seemingly identical to the ylang-ylang tree. You will also find that the essential oils produced by both of these trees are also very similar and some manufacturers may mistakenly sell one for the other because of these similarities.

Common Uses for Ylang-Ylang

This essential oil is used for acne, insect bites, oily and irritated skin, depression, insomnia, and stress. It is also known to have aphrodisiac properties as well and is traditionally placed on the bed of newlyweds in Indonesia.

Ylang-ylang also blends well with other essential oils, including bergamot, sandalwood, grapefruit, and lavender.

Common Uses for Cananga

This essential oil is most commonly used for oily skin and hair, insect bites, high blood pressure, anxiety, nervous tension, and stress. It has also been used to help treat depression and impotency.

It is also used in many shampoos, soaps, perfumes, lotions, and skincare creams as well and has been touted as a secret ingredient for helping to grow thick and lustrous healthy hair.

Difference Between These Essential Oils

When determining the differences between these two essential oils, you will find that ylang-ylang is a much more floral scented oil and may be stronger and more aromatic than Cananga. Many people prefer the subtle aroma of the Cananga essential oil for this reason. The chemical composition of each of these oils also varies.

These two oils, while very similar, offer different therapeutic benefits. So, before determining which to use, you should understand what it is you want to treat. For insect bites, irritated skin, insomnia, and stress, you should consider using ylang-ylang essential oil.

For skincare, anxiety, and depression, you should consider the therapeutic advantages of Cananga essential oil and its subtle scent.

Meta: While there are definitely many similarities between Cananga and ylang-ylang essential oils, there are a few small but notable differences.

 

 

Frankincense Oil Bali: 4 Best Beauty Benefits

Frankincense Oil Bali: Fight Aging, Ease Digestion and More!

 

Interested in learning more about the benefits of Frankincense Essential Oil?

 

You’ll want to keep reading!

 

Our next featured ingredient in the Bali Beauty Benefits Series is Frankincense Essential Oil. Frankincense Essential Oil is has great anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and works as a natural astringent. 

 

Utama Spice Frankincense Essential Oil

 

Like our other ingredients in the Bali Beauty Benefits Series, Frankincense Essential Oil is just one of many different oils and natural ingredients you can start using today as part of your natural skin care routine.

 

Essential Oils and Natural Skin Care

As we discussed in one of our recent articles, Natural Skin Care Defined, practicing natural skin care means using products or raw ingredients that are unprocessed and come from nature. In our following post, Natural Skin Care Products You Can Use Today, we show you some of our favorite natural skin care products that you can start using today to replace the chemical-based and synthetic cosmetics products you see on the shelves at your local stores.

 

But why would you want to switch to natural skin care?

 

Great question!

 

 

Bali Beauty Benefits

Natural skin care is a great investment not only for your skin, but also for your entire body. This is because our skin, which is our body’s largest organ, actually absorbs a lot of the materials that we put on it. This can be good, if you’re using ingredients filled with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fatty acids, like the oils in our Bali Beauty Benefits Series. But this can be bad if you’re using products made from synthetic chemical compounds.

 

The good news is, natural skin care is safe, affordable, proven and effective!

 

 

Some natural skin care ingredients even have more benefits and uses than just for skin care. Frankincense is a great example of that! While it can definitely be used on the skin, there are plenty of more benefits you can gain from this amazing oil.

 

Here are our Top 4 Frankincense Oil Beauty Benefits:

• Antibacterial and Astringent
• Anti-Inflammatory
• Skin Toning and Anti-Aging
• Reduce Stress

 

Utama Spice Frankincense Essential Oil

 

Frankincense Oil Has Strong Antibacterial and Astringent Properties

The first wave of beneficial properties that Frankincense Essential Oil has for the skin starts with the fact that frankincense acts both as an astringent and an antibacterial oil. The antibacterial properties of frankincense help it to cleanse and nourish the skin from any harmful bacterial, while also adding more benefits to the skin, which we’ll discuss soon. According to Dr. Axe, “Frankincense is an antiseptic and disinfectant agent that has antimicrobial effects. It has the ability to eliminate cold and flu germs from the home and the body naturally, and it can be used in place of chemical household cleaners.” 

 

As far as its astringent property, frankincense essential oil can help to tighten the skin, help with excess oil and regulate sebum production. When the two properties combine, you find yourself with a great natural addition to your acne treatment blend.

 

 

Frankincense Oil Acts as a Strong Anti-Inflammatory

The strong anti-inflammatory properties of Frankincense Essential Oil are one of the factors that make it such a great addition to your natural skin care routine. Natural anti-inflammatory oils can be used to help a variety of ailments, from aching joints and muscle pain to swelling and arthritis. One of the ways Frankincense helps with this is by preventing “the release of leukotrienes, which are compounds that can cause inflammation.” 

 

Frankincense Essential Oil also contains “Terpenes and boswellic acids” which “appear to be the strongest anti-inflammatory compounds in frankincense.” According to research gathered by Healthline.com, “studies note that boswellic acids may be as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — with fewer negative side effects.” Additionally, studies also found that “frankincense was consistently more effective than a placebo at reducing pain and improving mobility” and it is believed that “in humans, frankincense extracts may help reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.”

 

Utama Spice Frankincense Essential Oil

 

So now you know that when we’re talking about the anti-inflammatory benefits of Frankincense Essential Oil, we’re talking about some powerful stuff.

 

Frankincense Oil Helps with Skin Toning and Anti-Aging

As we mentioned above, Frankincense Essential Oil contains several compounds that make it inherently beneficial for the skin. The astringent and anti-inflammatory properties of Frankincense Essential Oil combine with its other properties to help it fight signs of aging, tone the skin, heal wounds and even reduce the appearance of scars. According to Dr. Axe, “Frankincense benefits include the ability to strengthen skin and improve its tone, elasticity, defense mechanisms against bacteria or blemishes, and appearance as someone ages… It may also be beneficial for fading of stretch marks, surgery scars or marks associated with pregnancy, and for healing dry or cracked skin.”

 

 

Frankincense Oil Helps with Relaxation and Stress Relief

While Frankincense Essential Oil has plenty of properties that are great for the skin, the next one is great for the mind and the entire cardiovascular system. According to Dr. Axe, “When inhaled, frankincense oil has been shown to reduce heart rate and high blood pressure. It has anti-anxiety and depression-reducing abilities, but unlike prescription medications, it does not have negative side effects or cause unwanted drowsiness.” 

 

One of our other favorite essential oils to use to reduce stress and help with insomnia is Lavender Essential Oil. Try a blend of a few drops of lavender and frankincense essential oil before bed to help you fall asleep or just to relax.

 

We hope you enjoyed our Top 4 Frankincense Essential Oil Beauty Benefits!

 

Utama Spice Argan Oil, Castor Oil and Jojoba Oil

 

If you haven’t yet, check out our previous posts in the Bali Beauty Benefits Series! We have articles on, Castor Oil: Bali Beauty Benefits, Essential Oils: Bali Beauty Benefits, Jojoba Oil: Bali Beauty Benefits and Argan Oil: Bali Beauty Benefits. Come check it out and learn some more ways to take care of your skin naturally!

 

 

Sources

https://draxe.com/essential-oils/what-is-frankincense/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/frankincense

 

How to Use Body Oils

Body oils offer you a good way to keep your skin moisturized while also allowing your mind to relax and improve your overall health. Body oils are smooth and thick and are highly concentrated liquids. Typically, they are not water-based. Instead, these oils often mimic the natural oils that are found in our skin, so it is more readily absorbed.

Use Body Oil for Massage and Moisturizing

Body oil is very versatile and can be used as a massage oil as well as a moisturizer. When used in massage, it can effectively condition and soften the skin while also keeping it moisturized. The oil is also easy to apply because it glides smoothly over the skin. It absorbs quickly, but there is no need to continuously reapply the oil.

How are Body Oils Made?

Body oils are made with pure essential oils and are then diluted with a carrier oil like coconut oil or soya. You can also infuse these oils with herbs and other spices like lavender, calendula flowers, and lemon balm to enhance its therapeutic benefits.

Body oils will typically contain approximately 15 drops of essential oil that have been diluted in 12 teaspoons of carrier oil.

Essential Oils for Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy body oils can be used in a bath, for massage, or simply to moisturize and condition the skin. When you use essential oils for aromatherapy, you are supporting and balancing your mind, body, and spirit. You are effectively increasing your overall quality of life while reducing stress and anxiety at the same time.

DIY Body Oils

The following are just a few easy DIY body oil recipes you can try at home with some of your favorite essential oils.

For Dry Skin

What you need:

4 drops of Cedarwood Himalayan

4 drops of Patchouli

4 drops of Myrrh

60 ml of Sweet Almond Oil

To keep your skin moisturized, combine all three essential oils and the sweet almond oil. Mix well and rub on skin.

Sensitive Skin

What you need:

5 drops of Rosehip oil

9 drops of Chamomile oil

60 ml of coconut oil

For itchy or sensitive skin, combine the essential oils with the coconut oil. Mix well and rub on skin.

To Nourish the Skin

What you need:

24 drops of Lavender oil

6 drops of Clary Sage oil

18 drops of Lemon oil

120 ml of any carrier oil (coconut or jojoba oil)

Combine all essential oils with the carrier oil of your choice. Coconut or jojoba oil will work well as a carrier with these essential oils. Once everything is mixed, you can rub it into the skin after cleansing to nourish and tone.

Body oil is a good way to moisturize and nourish the skin while also taking full advantage of everything essential oils have to offer your overall health and wellness.

Meta: body oils are very versatile and can help moisturize and condition the skin while allowing you to take advantage of its aromatherapeutic benefits.

Citronella Bali: 5 Best Beauty Benefits

Citronella Bali: More than just a Bug Repellent!

 

Next in our Bali Beauty Benefits Series is Citronella Essential Oil. You’ve probably heard of citronella as one of the most well-known bug and mosquito repellents. But did you know there are other great benefits of citronella oil too? 

 

In our previous post, Begone Bug Bali, we discussed our 3 main essential oils that we use in our original balinese bug fighting recipe. Citronella is definitely one of those main ingredients! The other two are clove essential oil and cajeput essential oil. If you’re looking for an all-natural bug repellent that works for hours, check out our Begone Bug Bali article for more information. We have Bali Bug Begone sprays, candles and incense!

 

Utama Spice Begone Bug Products

 

In this post, we’ll discuss where citronella essential comes from, why citronella essential oil is so good at fighting off bugs and the other secret benefits of citronella oil!

 

Citronella – Where Does it Come From?

As we mentioned in our first post about How to Use Citronella Oil, citronella, which is a cousin of lemongrass, is a grass that grows in countries in Asia and the islands of the South Pacific. Like lemongrass, citronella has a fresh, crisp lemony scent. Citronella Essential Oil is known to be an antibacterial, antidepressant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and fungicidal and is extracted from the grass using steam distillation.

 

Utama Spice Citronella Essential Oil

 

Citronella oil has been registered for use as an insecticide in the United States since 1948 and is perfectly safe for use on the skin to keep bugs away. Since it’s been official used this way, “the US Environmental Protection Agency states that citronella oil has little or no toxicity when used as a topical insect repellent, with no reports of adverse effects of concern over a 60-year period.”2 

 

That’s a pretty good track record!

 

Citronella Essential Oil – Nature’s Best Insect Defense

Like we discussed in our Begone Bug Bali post, citronella is one of the oldest and most popular natural insect repellents on the market. It is widely found in candles and even sprays, especially to keep mosquitos away. According to research found on the National Center for Biotechnology Information, “citronella, which contains citronellal, citronellol, geraniol, citral, α pinene, and limonene, is as effective dose for dose as DEET.” DEET is the main active ingredient in most chemical-based insect repellents and was originally made by the US Army as an insecticide.

 

Utama Spice Citronella Essential Oil

 

As we mentioned in our post Avoiding Bugs AND Harsh Chemicals, “Some of the side effects that have been reported by those using DEET include:

 

• Memory loss
• Headaches
• Skin irritation
• Muscle weakness
• Nausea
• Seizures
• Joint pain

 

This is why it’s so important to find a natural product that works without scary side effects.”

 

Citronella Essential Oil – What Else Can it Do?

Like we said before, citronella oil has significant antibacterial, antidepressant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal properties. When you combine this with the fact that it is perfectly safe for topical application, you find yourself with an essential oil that has many great benefits for the skin.

 

 

Many of our Bali Beauty Benefits oils have anti-inflammatory properties. This is because oils with anti-inflammatory properties have so many wonderful benefits for your skin. Anti-inflammatory oils can help with anything from muscle ache and joint pain to bags or dark circles under your eyes. When the anti-inflammatory properties combine with some of the other medicinal properties of citronella, there are even more positive effects.

 

According to Healthline.com, “Citronella oil’s anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties may help to speed up the healing of wounds.” This is because the antifungal properties help to clean the wound and keep it free from any lingering or encroaching fungal infections. Citronella oil also has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that will keep wounds safe and free from bacteria as well. These antiseptic and antibacterial properties also inhibit the growth of bacteria on surfaces too, so you could add it to a natural cleaning spray or disinfectant.

 

 

Citronella also has anti-depressant activities that can help to be both slightly stimulating and relaxing. As Dr. Axe writes in their post Citronella Oil: Repel Insects, Pain & Stress!, “In fact, research has shown that citronella oil seems to activate both para-sympathetic and sympathetic nervous activity.

 

Citronella can contribute to natural stress relief so try diffusing it in your home or office to counteract a rough day. When inhaled, citronella can encourage relaxation, invigoration and pleasant memories and may even reduce trouble sleeping and depression.”

 

 

For review, citronella oil has the following 5 Beauty Benefits Properties:

 

• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-bacterial
• Antiseptic
• Anti-fungal
• Anti-depressant

 

And as you can see, these different properties combine in citronella essential oil to provide plenty of benefits for everyday use. And it can provide all of these benefits while keeping insects and mosquitos far, far away!

 

Utama Spice Citronella Essential Oil

 

If you haven’t seen our other posts in our Bali Beauty Benefits Series, check out Castor Oil: Bali Beauty Benefits, Essential Oil: Bali Beauty Benefits, Jojoba Oil: Bali Beauty Benefits, Argan Oil: Bali Beauty Benefits, and Frankincense Oil: Bali Beauty Benefits for more tips and great natural skin care ingredients.

 

Sources

 

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3059459/
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citronella_oil
3. https://www.healthline.com/health/citronella-oil
4. https://draxe.com/essential-oils/citronella-oil/