Craft-Day12

12 Days of Christmas Crafting: Revisited

Day 12: Making a Personal Inhaler Blend

By Christi R. Pugh

For Nature’s Gift Inc.

Small but mighty, our personal inhalers can be a very handy and thoughtful gift.  Often overlooked, these small purse sized inhalers may be filled with any single oil or oil blend for purposes ranging from uplifting, stress relief, sinuses, and allergies, to immune building, and any other condition aided by inhalation.  These work particularly well when you don’t want to “wear” a scent but need its benefits for a particular purpose.

If you’ve never noticed the inhalers on the bottles and jars page or if you’ve been a little intimidated to try them, I assure you, they are beginner level friendly, and very easy to prepare.  In fact, we include easy step by step instructions for preparing the oil and filling the vessel with each inhaler, whether the "AromaStick" (think “Vicks”) or deluxe (think lovely lipstick case).  I personally keep an inhaler soaked with Blue Tansy near me at all times due to my many allergies.  It acts more quickly than taking medicine if I suddenly find myself in need.

Ideas for filling inhalers:

• Sinease for Sinus problems and Headaches
• Lavender for relaxation or sleep
• Flu Foil synergy or Ravensara for anti-viral purposes
• Blue Tansy for allergies
• Rose for uplifting
• Manuka as an antibacterial
• Sacred or Tabernacle for meditation or prayer
• Reunité or Neroli for anxiety attacks
• Winter “bug” blends
• Focus, Spearmint or Peppermint for a quick pick me up
• 
  


• Happy Morning Synergy for morning sickness and nausea

I also like to travel with a Flu Foil or Ravensara inhaler, just in case it is needed. 

The plastic "AromaStick" inhalers have a few parts to assemble.  Soak the wick in essential oil or blend OR add a bit of Jojoba carrier oil to make the aroma last for a longer period of time.  The white plastic inhalers may be discarded after use, particularly once the scent runs out or if you have been using them during an illness. 

For the deluxe inhalers we offer are two types.  One is “changeable” and may be opened so the empty glass vial can be filled with either wisps of cotton or sea salt (for “smelling salts” and then soaked in a similar fashion to the above directions.  The other is sealed, comes with a cotton core, and comes with a mini pipette to moisten the wick through the holes in the grid above the cotton.  This is best if you plan to use and re-use with a specific scent, say Neroli 10% or Reunite for anxiety.  (Marge uses one with our Deep Breath Synergy to help with her COPD.) These are available in a variety of colors, sure to please. They are 3 1/8 inches long.  To order and for further information see: http://www.naturesgift.com/oilbottles.htm#Deluxe-Aromatherapy-Inhaler.

Thank you for sharing our aromatic Christmas Crafting journey over the past 12 days!  We trust we’ve shared helpful information through these blog posts which will inspire creativity! Prepare now for theHolidays…Christmas is less than 2 months away!  As always we welcome your comments, suggestions, and ideas.  Happy Crafting! 

Today and Tuesday the 29th save 20% on our Personal and Deluxe Inhalers.  Enter the code craft 12 in our online shopping cart at checkout and click apply to get the special savings.

craft-Day11

12 Days of Christmas Crafting: Revisited

Day 11: Crafting Personal Care Gifts for Him

By Christi R. Pugh

For Nature’s Gift Inc.

More men are interested in grooming and personal care these days, so we decided to share a few recipes/ideas for Christmas crafting “men’s gifts,” for the special men in your life. (Husband, Partner, Father, Brother, Son, etc.) 

For an easy shaving cream, purchase an unscented shaving cream, and add a few drops of Sandalwood essential oil to it, stirring slowly to blend.  If you are a bit more adventurous, there are numerous natural shaving cream recipes online.  I’ve researched it extensively, and combined several to come up with a pretty simple version. 

Shaving Cream

Equal parts Extra Virgin Coconut Crème Oil and Shea Butter (about 2/3 cup each)

¼ cup of Carrier Oil of your choice (Jojoba, Sweet Almond, or Grapeseed would do)

15 total drops of essential oil (Could use Sandalwood, Peppermint, Patchouli, Lime)

2 teaspoons of Baking Soda (acts as an antiseptic and mild exfoliant)

Warm the Shea & Virgin Coconut Oil slowly over very low heat in a saucepan.

Once they turn liquid, remove from heat, and add carrier oil and essential oils, blending gently by stirring. Pour into a glass jar, or bail jar to cool and solidify.  May be refrigerated.

Once solid, it will turn a milky white color.  Remove from fridge and allow it to warm to room temperature. Beat with a hand whisk (or electric mixer on low) as you add the baking soda.  Beat for a few minutes until the mixture is blended well.  (should be lighter and fluffier)

Store in a dark, cool location, because the Extra Virgin Coconut Oil Crème easily melts and it contains no preservatives. 

Calendula Shave Soother

For years we sold this  blend of healing Sandalwood essential oil, in a base of Jojoba, Calendula infused oil, to soothe sensitive skin after shaving. I have been told that both Jojoba and Sandalwood can help heal ingrown hairs. I don't know if it's true, but the blend might be worth trying.  At any rate, it will soothe irritation from shaving, and leave your man smelling wonderful!  We discontinued it a few years ago during a jojoba shortage, and there have been folks asking for it ever since:

For a 4 ounce bottle:

110 mls Jojoba

12 mls Calendula infused olive oil

3 mls Sandalwood of your choice (this is a 2.5 dilution, you could easily use less!)

Blend the fixed oils, and gradually add the Sandalwood oil.  Rotate bottle between your hands to gently blend the contents.  Apply a tiny amount after shaving to irritated or tender skin.  (I am told this makes a wonderful lotion for shaving your legs, and we have clients who swore that it helped their eczema.)

 From earlier in the week, we talked about scenting unscented lotion.  Sandalwood would be a fabulous splurge for the man in your life, as it can be used for lotions, gels, wearable cologne, or even diffusing sparingly.  We do offer two Sandalwood samplers, one undiluted, and the other skin-safe and diluted.  These are never discounted but today and tomorrow, use the code craft11 to save 20% on these kits/samplers, as well as Aloe Vera Gel, Extra Virgin Coconut Crème Oil, Shea Butter, Calendula infused oils, and, of course, a Bail Jar to hold the shave cream..  See www.naturesgift.com for more men’s products. 

We’ll wrap up our series tomorrow with a word about basic balms and salves and your final opportunity to save big on many of the items we’ve featured in our Christmas Crafting blog posts.