Lemon Ginger Throat Drops

Homemade and natural throat drops are surprisingly easy to make, and useful in soothing dry and itchy throats. This recipe includes Lemon and Ginger oils, but feel free to try Spearmint, Cinnamon, Clove, or Peppermint oils.

Ingredients
¾ cup water
¾ cup honey
3 drops Lemon oil
1 drop Ginger oil
1 tablespoon ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) powder

Instructions

1. Add honey to water. Heat over medium heat in a saucepan until mixture begins to boil. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of pan where it will not touch the bottom or side. Continue boiling until water mixture reaches 300°F on the thermometer, stirring constantly.
2. Reduce heat immediately and allow mixture to cool for 5–10 minutes, or until the consistency becomes syrupy.
3. Add Lemon and Ginger oil, stirring to combine.
4. Dust candy mold with ascorbic acid powder. Pour honey mixture into molds and allow to completely cool.
5. Remove from molds and dust again with ascorbic acid powder to keep the drops from sticking together once stored.
6. Store in an airtight container.

Tip: You can find ascorbic acid at your local health food store, or online.

DIY: Shaving cream

Fortified with natural lubricants and essential oils, this shaving cream improves razor glide for a close, comfortable shave. This shaving cream will leave skin smooth, healthy, and moisturized.

Ingredients

⅓ cup shea butter

⅓ cup coconut oil

¼ cup Fractionated Coconut Oil

5 drops Sandalwood oil

5 drops Peppermint oil

5 drops Melaleuca oil

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients except for essential oils in double boiler.
2. Once melted, remove from heat and let sit three minutes.
3. Add essential oils and stir until combined. 
4. Let shaving cream rest until hard. Tip: You can put it in the refrigerator to speed up the cooling process.
5. Using hand or stand mixer, whip shaving cream until light and fluffy.
6. Place in container of choice.

Sugar Lip Scrub

This delicious, natural, exfoliating lip scrub will leave your lips feeling smooth and rejuvenated, and can be customized with any of your favorite essential oils. For extra soft lips, apply lip balm after the scrub.

Ingredients
4 teaspoons brown sugar
3 teaspoons virgin coconut oil
3 teaspoons honey
2 drops Peppermint oil
2 drops Wild Orange oil

Note: This recipe makes a little less than ¼ cup. Either portion out the mixture into several air-tight containers, or adjust the recipe to fit the container you have.

Instructions

1. Mix brown sugar, coconut oil, and honey in small bowl.
2. Add desired essential oils.
3. Stir until ingredients are combined.
4. Put contents into container(s) of your choice.
5. Apply to lips as needed.

Italian Bread Dip

Try making this delicious and easy Italian Bread Dip for an appetizer or side dish during your next meal.

Ingredients
¼ cup olive oil
1–3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar to taste
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese (optional)
1–3 drops Oregano oil (start with a toothpick and progress toward drops for desired flavor)

Instructions

1. Gently mix together all ingredients in a bowl large enough to dip into.
2. Dip favorite Italian style bread into bowl and enjoy.

Scented pencils

Just in time for back to school, did you know you can make scented pencils and erasers using essential oils? It works great! How fun to send off the kids with pencils smelling like their favorite calming, uplifting, grounding, or focus boosting blend.

These and super easy. First, use non-toxic, natural wood, or recycled paper pencils, and non-toxic erasers.

Next add 20-30 drops of essential oil to a cotton pad and put it and your pencils and erasers in a plastic zipper bag.  Wait for a couple days and open the bag and your pencils and erasers will smell like whatever oil you placed on the cotton pad. The longer you keep it in the bag, the stronger the scent. You can add more drops after a day or so for maximum effect.

French cucumber salad recipe

This French Cucumber Salad with Marjoram essential oil is healthy, refreshing, and bursting with wholesome, delicious flavors.

Ingredients
1 avocado, diced
1 tomato, diced
½ red onion, sliced
½ cucumber, diced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 toothpick Marjoram oil

Instructions

1. Combine avocado, tomato, red onion, and cucumber in bowl. Set aside.
2. Pour olive oil into small bowl and mix in toothpick dipped in Marjoram essential oil.
3. Combine olive oil mixture and vegetables.
4. Add lemon juice and stir.
5. Top off with salt and serve immediately.

Back to school

It is almost back to school time. 

Let's welcome the new school year with some new or renewed healthy oil habits.

Did you know that essential oils can be used to help your system avoid illness? They can also be used to calm symptoms such as coughs and aches, if you are sick. Essential oils can help with those seasonal threats that are coming in the fall! 

How about focus during school and for homework? YES, essential oils to the rescue! 

Then there is the sleep, getting back to a good bedtime routine, grab those oils and start the year out great! 

Here is a guide to help you stock up and be prepared.