Essential oils are the simplest and most all natural ingredients that you can add to your day to day routine that will help reduce your carbon footprint and eliminate mass produced chemicals and toxins from your life. There are so many products that you use on a daily basis that make life simpler but also can be dangerous. The products themselves may not seem so terrible but what about the plastic packaging that they are packaged in? Each time you toss a plastic bottle in the trash it takes up space in a landfill.

You can use glass reusable cleaning bottles and create your own home cleaning solutions for a fraction of the cost and you will make a large environmental impact. The same is true for products. Simple changes such as reusable paper towels, reusable baby wipes and even DIY toothpaste, mouthwash and perfume can all make a lasting positive change for you and the earth. The next time you browse the cleaning aisle of your local store make sure you check out the ingredient list on the back of the products you buy repeatedly. If you find it difficult to pronounce and they are completely filled with chemicals you will want to do some research on these products before you continue to use them in your home.

You could be exposing yourself, your loved ones and even your pets to toxins that could be causing irreparable damage.  You can replace nearly any product in your home with all natural homemade products that contain essential oils as well as other mixtures you probably already have in your home. There is no reason to continually feed the pockets of big businesses that do not care about your health, a little bit of resourcefulness and some basic knowledge of essential oils can help you establish a safer and cleaner lifestyle with less waste.

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender Fabric Baby Wipes

• 2 storage containers with easy open lids
• Distilled or purified water
• All natural baby soap
• Witch-hazel
• Lavender essential oil
• Tea tree oil (optional)
• 20-40 wash cloths, reusable wipes or flannel fabric cut into 20-40 squares and hemmed
• 1 roll of dye-free paper towels
• 1/8 cup coconut oil (optional)

Before you begin making your lavender fabric baby wipes you will need to decide if you are making reusable or disposable or both. If you are making reusable wipes you will use kids cotton wash cloths, reusable store bought organic cotton wipes or squares that you cut and hemmed from flannel. If you are making disposable wipes you will use 1 roll of dye-free paper towels. If you are making both then simply double up the ingredients.  Once you make these you will not go back to store bought wipes again.

Instructions:

1. For disposable wipes, cut the paper towel roll in half width wise and place in your storage container.
2. For reusable wipes place your cut fabric squares in your clean storage container.
3. Please note that the amount of water depends upon the absorbency of your paper towels and your fabric squares.
4. You want your gentle wipes to be moist but not fully saturated to the point that you need to wring them out.
5. Gather a glass bowl or measuring cup and add 1 cup of purified or distilled water.
6. Add ¼ cup of organic, scent free, dye free liquid baby soap and 1 tablespoon of witch-hazel if you want a bit of extra cleaning properties.
7. These products poured over your wipes will create effective baby wipes but you can also add a few drops of lavender essential oil and tea tree oil to take full advantage of their antimicrobial, antibacterial and calming properties.
8. If you cloth diaper you may already use coconut oil as your topical treatment after diaper changes.
9. If you do not cloth diaper or like a bit of added moisturizing you can also add 1 tablespoon up to 1/8 a cup of melted coconut oil directly to your mixture.
10. Once complete pour this mixture over your wipes.
11. Shake them up in the container and let them fest for a bit.
12. If you check the wipes and they are still a bit dryer than you like you can do this wipe solution one more time and add to wipes. 
13. Simply wash these wipes in your laundry and you will have them to use for years.

Peppermint Vitality Oil

Oral health is important and taking care of your teeth will prevent bad breath. Traditional mouthwash can leave quite a burn when you are using it and even leave a tingly sensation on your teeth and gums. After reading over the ingredients on the back of the bottle you may be left shaking your head and wondering what exactly each ingredient is. There is a much more cost effective and simple way to make your own homemade natural mouthwash that will leave you feeling fresh all day. Once you begin using your homemade peppermint vitality mouthwash you will not want to ever switch back to the chemical filled store bought mouthwashes again. 

Ingredients:

• (Yields 4 ounces)
• 1 Mason jar (to store mouthwash in)
• ½ cup distilled or purified water
• 2 drops peppermint essential oil
• 2 drops tea tree essential oil
• 2 tsp baking soda

Instructions:

This recipe is extremely simple to make. 

1. Start with an empty and sterilized mason jar.
2. Add your half a cup of water and then 2 teaspoons of baking soda. Stir these ingredients.
3. Add 2 drops of peppermint essential oil and 2 drops of tea tree essential oil.
4. Replace the lid to the Mason jar and give a gentle shake to thoroughly mix all ingredients. 

Now you have the best DIY mouthwash and it takes virtually no time at all to make. Start each morning out with this refreshing no –sting mouthwash and you will instantly be hooked. If you are preparing this more than just yourself you will want to double or even triple the recipe. You homemade peppermint vitality mouth wash is used the exact same way your store bought washes were previously used. Simply swish around in your mouth for up to a minute and spit out. Always take care not to swallow any when you gargle the mouth wash. 

Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon oil is quite possibly one of the most frequently used and common essential oils that are found in households. Lemon oil is extracted from the peel of the lemon through a cold press method. It is an extremely versatile essential oil that can be applied via carrier oil directly to the skin and a few drops can be diffused to create a fresh scent that offers many energizing and mood enhancing benefits. Lemon is also incorporated into homemade cleaning solutions and soaps because of its antimicrobial properties.

To make your own lemon based products you can simply purchase organic non-scented and dye free liquid soaps.

• Add a few drops of lemon vitality and shake the soap bottle.

You can also make a home fabric refresher by:

• adding a few drops of lemon essential oil to 1 cup of distilled water
• about 1 ounce of witch-hazel, rubbing alcohol or grain alcohol.
• Shake the bottle well and then spritz on towels or rugs to refresh and energize the room.

Many essential oil users also make their own acne treating products with lemon oil as part of the ingredients because it is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. It also is wonderful for its astringent properties of cleaning out pores and reducing topical facial oil. When you are suffering from a cold lemon oil diffused near you will have the same healing effects as the lemon you add to your tea. It is instantly soothing and can help reduce inflammation naturally and limit the effects of mucus production that triggers sore throats.

The health benefits of lemon oil for the body are not just limited to the face and for colds. Lemon helps to reduce bad moods naturally because the scent is invigorating and awakening. For a special treat diffuse lemon and add a few drops of rosemary. Your home will have a fresh and inviting scent. 

Frankincense Essential Oil

Store bought cologne and perfume can be quite costly. It is also sometimes difficult to find just the right scent for you because those perfume counters are just littered with tester bottles. The air is so saturated with fragrance that you sometimes buy a costly bottle only to discover later that it really didn’t smell as wonderful as you thought it did in the store. A lot of fragrances also change scent once you spritz them on your skin. Each body reacts differently to the compounds of the fragrance and some will smell sweeter or crisper once applied so you cannot go off of the fragrance sheet you are sniffing.

You can very easy create your own home perfume or men’s cologne for a fraction of the cost and since you are the one mixing the scents you will always have the opportunity to mix up the fragrance and find what works best. While browsing your arsenal of essential oils you must consider who you are making the cologne or perfume for.

• Feminine perfumes typically lean more towards fruity or floral notes with some warm under tones.
• Men’s cologne is going to be more masculine or woodsy.

Essential oils such as frankincense, cedarwood oil, lime, balsam fir, orange oil, cinnamon, and patchouli oil are all great to mix for a men’s cologne. Simply make the choice on if you are making a spray or a roller ball.

If you are making a roller ball then you’ll need sweet almond or jojoba carrier oil, if you are making a spray you will need a small glass spray bottle and high grain vodka. Add 3-4 drops of each essential oil that you like in to the bottle of choice then top off the glass roller ball bottle with the carrier oil and top off the spray bottle with the high grain vodka. Seal tightly and then shake. Allow your cologne to sit for about a week before you apply to the body. This allows for the oils to blend well with each other over time. 

Valor Essential Oil

Day to day anxiety is completely normal. There are so many things that we can become stressed or anxious about during the day. Something as simple as sleeping through an alarm in the morning or spilling the coffee can set the day in motion. All of this anxiety and stress will eventually cause tension. The tension will result in muscle stiffness and discomfort. Toss in a stiff neck and sore back to your already stressful day and you basically need some time at the chiropractor or massage therapist to realign and feel better.

Valor is a fragrant calming essential oil blend of rosewood essential oil, spruce essential oil, frankincense essential oil and blue tansy essential oil. Combined, these 4 ingredients smell great and create wellness in a bottle.

If you find yourself in need of some courage to help get through your day simply diffuse a few drops or apply some with carrier oil to your wrists and neck.

If you are suffering from a sore jaw and finding it difficult to eat food you can rub a few drops of carrier infused valor along your jaw line. The massage and the ingredients will help alleviate your jaw pain that could be caused from grinding your teeth due to anxiety.

The health benefits of this tropical scented health blend go beyond treating just anxiety induced ailments; Valor is also used for snoring, a good night’s sleep, perfume and aftershave, reducing leg pain, boosting moods and relieving headaches.

Keep a roller ball bottle of carrier oil and valor in your gym bag to apply before your work out and you combine the power of valor with the endorphins released during your work out. These two used together help reduce stress while promoting health and wellness. This go-to essential oil blend is so versatile and can help get you through hectic times where you need a little bit of courage.

Peace and Calming Essential Oil

A lot of us take a good night of sleep for granted. We go to bed, sleep through the night and wake up refreshed to start the day. This is definitely not the case for everyone. A lot people suffer from back pain or anxiety. Sometimes it is hard to shut off the mind and you find yourself laying there in bed awake and wishing you could fall asleep. This is normal sometimes but when it becomes repetitive you begin to feel the impact of not getting enough sleep.

You will love peace and calming because the aroma is deliciously natural and gentle. Peace and calming can be rubbed on the back of dogs’ ears to calm them during thunder storms and you can massage some on a baby’s belly to help soothe tantrums and night time restlessness.

When diffused in your room while you are sleeping you will notice jaw relief every day because it can help reduce or stop night time teeth grinding while helping you achieve a deep sleep. Tangerine, blue tansy, patchouli, ylang ylang and orange all combine to create a delightful scent that you will find yourself reaching for at bed times and when you need to decompress. You can also diffuse some in the bathroom during a child’s bath time to begin the calming process before bed.

Adults can create a bath salt blend that will have soothing effects on them. Simply add about 5-8 drops of peace and calming to a half a cup of Epsom salt and allow it to dissolve in the bathwater before you begin your soak. This will help ease stiff muscle and melt away tension. The calming aroma will help to free your mind and allow you to focus on your health, wellness and a restful night of sleep. 

Citrus Fresh Essential Oil

Sometimes we all need a little bit of creative stimulation. Whether we are drawing, writing, working on a project or even trying to help our children learn with a school project we might find ourselves in need of a boost. Getting those creative juices flowing can be as simple as enjoying the citrus fresh blend. This blend is a wonderful treat that is a combination of lemon essential oil, tangerine essential oil, mandarin essential oil, orange essential oil, grapefruit essential oil and wintergreen essential oil.

When a few drops are mixed into a glass water bottle full of purified or distilled water it creates an energy boosting beverage that will stimulate the right side of the brain. Ironically, the right side is the creative side so you can stay hydrated while you are creating and accomplishing.

If you prefer to diffuse your essential oils you can diffuse a few drops in the room that you are working in. This will decrease stress and uplift the complete environment in the space. This citrus aroma is highly invigorating but it is also calming. When you establish a space that is calm and welcoming you are inviting positive energy to flow and you will feel comfortable getting to work and staying focused.

You can also apply citrus fresh topically to your wrists with carrier oil. Whenever you begin to feel a bit run down or tired simply breath in the intoxicating aroma and concentrate on your task at hand. You will feel grounded and able to focus once again.

Citrus fresh also makes a fabulous room refresher. You simply put 12 to 15 drops in a small glass spray bottle and then 1 ounce of distilled water and 1 ounce of vodka or rubbing alcohol. Shake and spritz liberally. Avoid spraying directly on fabrics and simply allow the beautiful aroma to waft throughout the air.

Raven Essential Oil

Raven oil is an empowering blend of 5 essential oils that have been brought together to help produce mental clarity as well as literal clarity for those suffering from congestion caused by colds or allergies. The combination of lemon, wintergreen, eucalyptus, peppermint and ravensara essential oils smells like an actual breath of fresh air in a bottle.

If you have not experienced Ravensara yet it smells like a mixture of nutmeg and clove. These ingredients combined are a powerhouse team to help boost your health and sooth your throat and chest. Add a few drops to carrier oil and apply to your chest. In no time you will begin breathing easier.

Whenever your immune system is in need of a quick pick me up you should begin diffusing and using Raven. If you commute to work or activities you would benefit from a car diffuser and a few drops of Raven. This will make your drive time pleasurable and have you ready to tackle whatever your day holds from the minute you step outside of your vehicle.

Peppermint and Lemon have been go-to ingredients for centuries in easing cold and allergy ailments.  These 2 ingredients have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that begin eliminating inflammation and excess saliva excretion. Wintergreen oil has an invigorating scent that is both refreshing and cooling. It instantly helps awaken your senses. Ravensara helps to promote mental clarity and eliminate brain fog while giving you a much needed jump in energy.

When you combine these ingredients you are able to get through your day much easier while dealing with a cold or allergies. You will feel energized, your breathing quality will increase and your ailments will begin to decrease. You can also diffuse some before bed time to help clear up any congestion you may be experiencing; this will help provide you with a more restful and deep slumber. 

PanAway Essential Oil

Muscular pain is no joke. When you work out and feel stiff afterwards you can easily become irritated and sore. Perhaps you woke up in the morning with a stiff neck or tight back. Sleeping wrong can have lasting effects throughout the day. PanAway is a fabulous blend of peppermint, wintergreen, helichrysum and clove essential oils.

This combination will eliminate the need for any store bought topical muscle pain relievers. Add a few drops to your favorite carrier oil and massage into your skin to relieve stiff and aching muscles.

You can also diffuse some in a diffuser to help reduce stress. Popular conditions that PanAway helps treat is physical pain caused from muscular strain during exercise or rigorous activities. The healing properties of the wintergreen help to awaken both the skin and the senses. Wintergreen contains methyl which is invigorating the moment it makes contact with your skin, clove is full of antioxidant properties that refresh tired skin and muscles, helichrysum essential oil benefits the nervous system and circulatory system and peppermint has fabulous respiratory benefits that can steady breathing and clarity after a long work out.

When it comes to utilizing your PanAway essential oil there are many ways that you can enjoy the healing benefits of this program. You can apply to your feet with carrier oil and you’ll feel happy and healthy all day long.

PanAway Oil on your wrists while you work at a computer will improve your mental clarity and focus.

PanAway mixed with carrier oil makes a fabulous essential oil blend for a back rub during massage therapy. If you are still experiencing muscular pain you can add 5 to 8 drops of PanAway to a half a cup of Epsom salt. Mix thoroughly and then place under running water in a bath tub. This soak will melt away muscle tension.

Stress Away Essential Oil

The amazing scent of lime, vanilla and lavender oil all blend together perfectly in Stress Away to help you melt your stresses away. Day to day chaos can become quite stressful and there are certain times throughout the year where you could benefit from a stress reducer on a daily basis. Stress away comes in the traditional glass essential oil bottle but it is also available in a roller ball bottle so it can be applied while you are on the go.

You can apply this calming and soothing blend directly to your wrists; inhale the amazing aroma and focus on your mental clarity. The roller ball can be applied to pressure points or you can just take the cap off and inhale a deep breath when you need instant stress relief.

You can also make a truly indulgent healthy sugar scrub as part of your body care routine. This will exfoliate your body and clear your mind while alleviating your stress all while you enjoy a warm shower.

• Grab a glass jar and add 1 cup of sugar to the jar, ¼ cup of olive oil
• 2 tsp of raw honey.
• Stir these ingredients and then grab your stress away
• add 40 drops to your sugar scrub mixture.
• Mix one more time and replace the lid.

Grab this scrub every time you want a spa like experience in your own shower. Your DIY homemade stress away sugar scrub blend is great to use in the morning shower to give your skin a luxurious shine and healthy glow or before bed to help you feel truly relaxed and ready for a nice deep sleep. This is a great essential oil to keep on hand and diffuse during exams, large school projects, new work tasks and even on a daily basis to help combat stress caused from both work and home.

DiGize Essential Oil

DiGize oil is an amazing combination of 8 popular essential oils that prevent dietary discomfort and are intended to treat stomach pains, nausea, headaches indigestion and to help provide immune system support. Lemongrass essential oil, peppermint essential oil, juniper essential oil, patchouli essential oil, ginger essential oil, fennel essential oil, tarragon essential oil and anise all blend together to relieve common stomach ailments.

You can diffuse this in your home, car or office during cold and flu seasons to help eliminate nausea and prevent minor headaches. The best way to promote stomach health and wellness is to add a few drops to carrier oil and to rub this diluted mixture onto your stomach and feet. Do not wash your hands after applying. Cup your hands around your face and inhale the soothing aroma.

Take long and steady deep breaths and allow yourself to slowly relax. DiGize almost instantly can help reduce gastrointestinal discomfort. It is very handy to keep a roller ball of carrier oil such as sweet almond mixed with DiGize on hand whenever you are traveling and experiencing new cuisine. The relief is nearly instant if you experience discomfort and you will not have to rely on foreign pharmaceuticals that you may not be familiar with.

You can add 2-3 drops of DiGize to a large glass bottle of purified or distilled water along with a tablespoon or two of honey. If you drink this on a daily basis you will boost your immune system and help reduce the chances of catching stomach bugs during peak cold and flu seasons.

If you or a loved one suffers from car sickness you can apply a few drops directly to a cotton ball and put in the vent of the car. The air will circulate throughout your vehicle and help relieve any car sickness discomfort. You can also diffuse in a portable automobile essential oil diffuser. 

Thieves Vitality Essential Oil

Thieves vitality is quite possibly the most versatile essential oil that you can use in your home. Thieves can be used internally, topically, aromatically and as a cleaning product. The uses are nearly endless. Thieves is a blend of ingredients that include clove, rosemary, lemon, eucalyptus and cinnamon bark essential oils. The smell is welcoming and warm.

Thieves vitality is known to help provide immune support because of the antioxidant properties. It is often used to treat colds, coughs and to sanitize homes. The cleaning blend is all natural and can be sprayed on all surfaces within the home to eliminate bacteria and germs. The antimicrobial, antiseptic and disinfecting properties make it a powerhouse cleaner when you are dealing with colds circulating your home.

The essential oil can be diffused throughout your home on a yearly basis to enhance well-being and build up your immune system.  The aroma is a bit strong but to maintain a healthy lifestyle during unhealthy seasons sometimes you need a bit strength to help rid your home of germs. You can add a few drops of thieves to a half a cup of Epsom salt for a healthy anti-inflammatory bath; this cinnamon blend is great for easing discomfort caused by inflammation.

Topically it should be blended with carrier oil such as coconut oil and then applied to the bottom of the feet, wrists and chest. The scent is strong but it helps provide comfort during restless nights while your body is inflicted with a cold. You can use the spray the same way you would use mass manufactured sprays full of chemicals.

Clean toilets, sinks, door knobs, kitchen counters, back packs, lunch boxes and all common surfaces to eliminate lingering germs and bacteria that can continue to infect your home and family. Thieves is a must have multi-purpose essential oil that can bring wellness and cleanliness into your home.