Recipes and Blends
Treat Candida With Lemon Oil
Most commonly expressed as a yeast infection when it’s running rampant, Candida is a class of fungus that is often a normal part of good oral and intestinal health. Its overgrowth, however, can affect the skin, throat, mouth, genitals, and, if left untreated, can even invade the blood.
Because of its antifungal properties, Lemon oil can be used as a natural remedy for yeast infections. A recent study found that Lemon oil was able to inhibit the growth of various Candida strains. This is likely because of Lemon oil’s high monoterpenoid content, which has an antimicrobial effect. You can use the following recipe as an external skin treatment once per day. If there’s no improvement after a week, you should see a healthcare practitioner.
Recipe:
- 3 cups of lukewarm water
- 2 tablespoons of vinegar
- 3 drops of Lemon oil
- 4 drops of Tea Tree oil
Lemon Oil Precautions
Like many citrus essential oils, Lemon oil is phototoxic. This means that when an essential oil is applied topically, exposure to sunlight (UV rays to be exact) causes the skin to become hyper-sensitive and burn much more easily. It is recommended to stay out of direct sunlight for at least 12 hours after using Lemon oil on the skin.
From: Natural Living Ideas
Summer Sunset Room Spray
Summer sunsets and summer nights are hard to beat. You can still feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, but the air begins to cool and things start to slow down, giving a chance to reflect on the day. This summer sunset air freshener blend reflects that calm, grateful, peaceful feeling. The Patchouli essential oil is grounding and encourages reflection and self acceptance. The Ylang Ylang essential oil is the oil of the heart and helps connect us to our inner joy and being in the moment. Sandalwood essential oil is grounding, helping to calm and reduce stress. And sweet Orange essential oil is very uplifting and opens your heart to accept the goodness that life is offering.
To make room spray:
- Fill 8 oz glass spray bottle about 3/4 full with distilled water
- Fill most of the rest of the way full with Witch Hazel
- 12 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
- 12 drops Sweet (wild) Orange essential oil
- 10 drops Sandalwood essential oil
- 5 drops Patchouli essential oil
- Put on sprayer top and shake well to mix
To use: Shake bottle gently before each use. Spray into the air to freshen room. Use as often as needed.
Source: One Essential Community
Lemonade Room Spray
What’s better than a cool, refreshing glass of lemonade on a hot summer’s day? How about this all-natural, homemade lemonade air freshener? The sweet, tangy smell of Lemon combines with subtle notes of Basil and Spearmint to give your home a fresh, sunny vibe no matter the weather outside. And not only does it smell great, but with the therapeutic benefits of essential oil, it’s also helps energize, clear the mind, and focus on the task at hand.
To make room spray:
- Fill 8 oz glass spray bottle about 3/4 full with distilled water
- Fill most of the rest of the way full with Witch Hazel
- 28 drops Lemon essential oil
- 6 drops Basil essential oil
- 6 drops Spearmint essential oil
- put on sprayer top and shake well to mix
To use: Shake bottle gently before each use. Spray into the air to freshen room. Use as often as needed.
Source: One Essential Community
Just Beachy Room Spray
The sweet citrusy scents of Tangerine and Bergamot combine with the clean, fresh scent of Spearmint in this room spray. The aroma reminds me of spending a warm summer day on the beach surrounded by the cool, refreshing ocean air. The result is an air freshener that’s both uplifting and energizing.
To make room spray:
- Fill 8 oz glass spray bottle about 3/4 full with distilled water
- Fill most of the rest of the way full with witch hazel
- 15 drops Spearmint essential oil
- 15 drops Tangerine essential oil
- 10 drops Bergamot essential oil
- Put on sprayer top and shake well to mix
To use: Shake bottle gently before each use. Spray into the air to freshen room. Use as often as needed.
Source: One Essential Community
7 DIY Essential Oil Blends
Many essential oils are sold as blends, but here are seven different blends of essential oils that you can easily make yourself. Start with a 1:1 ratio of oils (i.e. 1 drop lavender + 1 drop orange), but feel free to experiment with different proportions of oils to suit your personal taste.
- Lavender with Orange:
Both are calming essential oils that help to relieve anxiety and stress, improve immune system function, and are antibacterial oils. Great for diffusing prior to sleep.
- Clove with Grapefruit:
These oils are effective antibacterial and antifungal oils, so if you do have a problem with mold in your house, this would be a good pair to diffuse. They are also both powerful anti-inflammatory oils.
- Rosemary with Clove and Eucalyptus:
This is a powerful combination against airborne bacteria. This would be a great trio to help someone fight or prevent a cold, bronchitis, or flu. Add or substitute oregano essential oil for additional germ-killing power.
- Basil with Geranium Rose and Orange:
This trio makes a great study blend or for any time when increased mental functioning would be useful. All three oils have been researched for increasing mental alertness, brain clarity, and concentration. If nervous jitters are also present, add a single drop of lavender to the diffuser.
- Geranium Rose with Lavender and Oregano:
If allergies are causing you big problems, this trio of oils has research showing they have anti-allergy properties. Oregano works by decreasing inflammatory markers. Lavender has anti-inflammatory effects and has been used to treat asthma. Geranium rose has an inhibitory effect on certain immune cells involved with triggering allergic reactions.
- Frankincense with Orange or Lemon:
Spiritually uplifting, great for meditation, and relieving stress. It is also good for assisting creativity.
- Pine, Cinnamon, and Orange:
Spicy, warming, and uplifting, this blend is great for massage sessions, meditation, clearing the mind, and grounding.
Source: The Truth About Cancer
Perk Up Diffuser Blend
Here is a great Diffuser Blend to try, it will make you home smell good and it is perfect for a natural perk up in the morning before work or school:
- 2 drops Lemon essential oil
- 2 drops Orange essential oil
- 2 drops Peppermint essential oil
- 2 drops Rosemary essential oil
Source: Loving Essential Oils
Best Diffuser Blends for Sleep
- Blend #1
3 drops Lavender
3 drops Cedarwood
- Blend #2
3 drops Bergamot
3 drops Lavender
- Blend #3
3 drops Lavender
3 drops sweet (wild) Orange
- Blend #4
2 drops Lavender
2 drops Vetiver
2 drops Marjoram
- Blend #5
3 drops Roman Chamomile
2 drops Bergamot
2 drops Frankincense
- Blend #6
2 drops Lavender
2 drops Roman Chamomile
2 drops Marjoram
- Blend #7
3 drops Patchouli
2 drops wild (sweet) Orange
2 drops Frankincense
- Blend #8
3 drops Vetiver
3 drops Lavender
2 drops Frankincense
- Blend #9
3 drops Lavender
3 drops Vetiver
- Blend #10
3 drops Patchouli
3 drops sandalwood
Source: One Essential Community
Fresh and Clean Bathroom Blends
Here are a few to try for a fresh and clean scent your bathroom. These blends can be used in a diffuser or a room spray. Experiment with the proportions of each essential oil and create your own custom blend
- Lavender + Lemon
- Eucalyptus + Spearmint
- Orange + Grapefruit
- Lemon + Rosemary + Lavender
Make A Reed Diffuser
Reed diffusers are great for small spaces and rooms where you may not have easy access to a wall outlet. They’re perfect for bathrooms, foyers, and closets!
It only takes a few ingredients, and you probably have most (if not everything) you need already in your kitchen. There are so many great reasons to make your own reed diffuser:
- Much less expensive than buying one, and they work great!
- Almost anything (with a narrow neck) works as a vase– match your décor!
- Create your own custom scent.
- It’s really simple. Just mix 3 ingredients together and you’re done.
- Great for small rooms where a plug-in diffuser just isn’t practical- perfect for bathrooms!
- Makes a great gift too!
Making A Reed Diffuser
It’s simple. All you need is…
- A glass container with a narrow opening (to slow evaporation)
- 1/4 cup of a light oil like apricot kernel oil or safflower oil
- 15-20 drops essential oil
- 2 Tbsp of alcohol to help oils travel up reeds (vodka works great)
- Reed sticks
First You Need A Container
Any narrow-opening container made of an essential-oil-safe material can be turned into a reed diffuser. Glass, ceramic, earthenware, wood, or stainless steel all work great. Look around your home, you probably already have something that will work. Other great places to find a vase or jar for your reed diffuser?
- Garage sales
- Consignment stores
- Goodwill or other thrift stores
- Craft stores (Michaels, JoAnn’s, Hobby Lobby)
The How To:
- Add 1/4 cup of a light oil (like apricot kernel oil or safflower oil) to a glass measuring cup
- Add 2 Tbsp of alcohol to the measuring cup. The alcohol is to help thin out the oils and help oils travel up reeds. Cheap vodka works great!
- Add 15-20 drops essential oil
- Use one of the reeds to stir the oil and alcohol mixture. Stir well until the essential oils and carrier oil are somewhat well dispersed in the alcohol.
- Pour the oil and alcohol mixture into your chosen container
- Bundle the reeds and insert them into the neck of the vase
- Fan the reeds out
The oil will saturate into reeds, and as it wicks up the reeds, it will release the aroma into the air. It will take a few days for the reeds to absorb the oil. Flip sticks every few days to refresh scent. Replace the oil-alcohol mixture once it evaporates and replace the reed sticks about once a month.
Some Favorite Essential Oil Blends
The following blends are perfect for using in this reed diffuser:
- 10 drops Eucalyptus + 10 drops Spearmint
- 6 drops Grapefruit + 6 drops Orange + 4 drops Lemon + 2 drops Bergamot
- 3 drops Geranium + 9 drops Lavender + 6 drops Orange
- 9 drops Lavender + 6 drops Clary Sage + 6 drops Orange
- 6 drops Lemongrass + 6 drops Lavender + 6 drops Eucalyptus
- 6 drops Tangerine + 6 drops Spearmint + 6 drops Lemongrass
- 3 drops Geranium + 6 drops Lavender + 9 drops Lime
- 12 drops Lemon +3 drops Frankincense + 3 drops Ylang Ylang
- 6 drops Lavender + 6 drops Lemon + 6 drops Rosemary
- 6 drops Lavender + 6 drops Lemon + 6 drops Peppermint
- 6 drops Lemon + 6 drops Lavender + 6 drops Grapefruit
Source: One Essential Community
A Nice Room Spray
I personally love this blend because it has that clean citrus smell with the sweetness of vanilla, plus rosemary is beneficial for respiration.
This recipe is for a 4 oz. spray bottle, but of course it can be doubled or halved as needed.
- Spray Bottle (4 oz)
- 12 drops of Vanilla essential oil
- 8 drops Orange essential oil
- 10 drops Rosemary essential oil
- 1 tablespoon of vodka or rubbing alcohol
- 6 tablespoons of water
- Optional – a bottle sized piece of one of your ingredients (I used Rosemary)
Put the vodka (or rubbing alcohol) into the bottle, and then add the essential oils. Shake well. Add the optional herb if desired. Then add the water. Shake well before each use.
Source: Salome Gemma
