10% Real Scent

I saw an ad for an air freshener the other day.  It claimed that the product had been infused with some minute percentage of “real essential oils”.  What does that mean?  Amidst the synthetic assault they added some of the real deal.  How is that helpful?  That is like feeding my kids some tasty drink I find only to discover it contains 10% real fruit juice.  Why bother?  If I wanted to feed them sugar and color I would go to my pantry and make a cocktail out of precisely that.  I feel the same way about fragrances.  What is the point in deluging our senses with  fake scents?  Using the real deal will not only provide a wonderful aroma that will fade appropriately over time but also provide lasting benefits for the body while decreasing the toxic overload on the environment.  Scent was not meant to last nor be perfect.

I also just recently had the displeasure of being trapped in an elevator with a woman so doused in perfume I could hardly breathe. I call that kind of perfume “Dead Ballerina”.  I feel like my senses have been attacked.  It seems as though my olfactory nerves are working overtime these days.  Processing anything and everything from chemicals and synthetic fragrances to garbage and pollution to other body odors.  While many of us work in environments that promote “scent sensitivity” it isn’t enough. Everything seems to be scented: hygiene products, dish detergent, soap, lotion, hair gel, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, candles, laundry soap, dryer sheets, and cleaning products to name a few.  While I feel that scent plays a major role in my life and can contribute positively  to my overall well being, this aromatherapist advocates reducing the number of  natural and synthetically scented products used in the home and office at one time.  More of a good thing, is not a good thing at all considering it takes over 60,000 roses to make an ounce of rose oil.  Each ounce is so potent and meant to be used a drop at a time.   The fact is all of the scents are overloading the immune system.  There are more and more people cropping up with scent sensitivities that range in effects from runny noses and watery eyes to headaches and vomiting.

In addition, the wide spread use of synthetic fragrances that have permeated people’s lives are harmful.  They are not the real deal.  They contain chemicals and additives to make them last and smell the same for eternity.  That is a great selling feature for products that sit on your shelf that need to smell the same year after year.  In terms of one’s health and vitality they fail to deliver any therapeutic benefits at all.

Having been in the business of scents and aromatherapy for 10 years now I realize how very little many people actually know about scent or how to effectively use naturally scented products with maximum benefits.  Here some key points to consider when using and selecting naturally scented products:

1.    Choose products made by qualified companies. Not everyone knows how to use essential oils, blend them or use them in the correct proportions.  Generally speaking the dilution ratio of essential oils is 1% for children,  elderly, and the infirm 2-3% for the general public. Here is a  list of the most common applications and the amount of oil to use per application: http://mysticchick.com/spirit-and-ceremony/applications-for-synergy-oils/
2.    Decide what you want the product to do for you.  Is it simply to smell good, help detoxify the body, kill bacteria, liven up your living room, help promote relaxation?  Deciding what you want ahead of time will help you to hone in on the right product.
3.    Not all essential oils are created equal.  Some manufacturers have less than honorable practices  when harvesting oils which can have a grossly negative environmental impact. Buy from reputable companies who can tell you where they obtain their oils from and  how they were extracted.
4.    How does the product feel?  Intuition is the key.   Just because something is natural or your best friend swears by it does not necessarily mean it is the best one for you.  Trust your instincts.
5.    Does the company test on animals?  I  personally would run far, far away from any company that purports to be natural that does animal testing.  There is no need to subject animals to the testing of personal care or cleaning products, especially natural ones.
6.    Buy smaller quantities and sizes and replenish them more often.  Natural products just do not last as long as their commercial counterparts.  By buying in smaller quantities and sizes you will be sure to have less waste, truly enjoy your products, and will able to get more than one aroma to suit your mood  rather than a gallon of one kind of bubble bath.

The “What-is-ness” of Me

So I finally found my voice.  I had no idea that I hadn’t really fully used it before.  Having grown up the product of an overly artistic family that despises mediocrity in all that it stands for I realized I continually rebelled by trying (in fact yearning) to be quote unquote, normal.  Now I have come to terms with my ways, I just know that normal isn’t my deal.  Not that there is anything wrong with it.  It just doesn’t feel quite right like an ill fitting pair of shoes you still buy simply because they are on sale in hopes that your feet might fit into them properly one day.  I am somewhere in the middle.  I am my own version of artsy fartsy quirky funky and the sum total of my years of experience trying to be normal.  I had no real way of knowing I would truly discover the heart of my being in the process.   Living in the aftermath of this epiphany is an entirely different story.  I would say it is an ongoing process of relaxing into the “what is-ness” of the “me” I have come to know and am beginning to love.  Reiki and all my other amazing tools in the wondrous “cosmic toolbox” I cart around like Felix the cat have really helped me to stand my ground and release that which has bound me like a slave to the crap of my past.  I am forever grateful to have attracted just the right teachers, books, friends, and other such tools with which to work it all out at of course, just the right time.  Gotta love divine timing.  It’s always there whether you like it or not.

Product Tips

It is important to remember that preservative-free, natural products do not stay fresh for as long as commercial products do. Natural products can experience fluctuations from batch to batch. It is possible that the fragrance, texture, and appearance of each batch may differ due to a variety of environmental factors.

Direct sunlight and UV rays, oxygen, heat, moisture, and bacteria from your fingers can all adversely affect natural products. Below are several tips for preserving and protecting preservative-free formulations for maximum enjoyment and safety:

• Store products in dark containers or opaque packaging to keep them away from the harmful effects of sunlight
• Do not leave containers open. Natural products can oxidize and become rancid when exposed to air
• Heat can damage natural products. Store products in a cupboard or other cool place away from excessive heat and humidity
• Because our fingers can host bacteria, try to avoid dipping your fingers into product jars and/or bottles. Instead, use a clean spoon, toothpick, cosmetic spatula, Popsicle stick or other appropriate utensil to obtain the desired amount for use
• Use products within 3 -6 months. Store products in the refrigerator to maximize their shelf-life
• Shake well before use where appropriate (e.g. toners, spritzers, etc.)
• Bathtub or shower may become slippery after the use of oil products; please use caution

New Model of the Modern Alternative Housewife

I must be nuts. I was sitting outside with my kids today watching their cherubic selves run with glee through the sprinklers when I had several thoughts run through my head in a most traffic jam like fashion about what I was doing here at all. Not in a crazy I don’t want to be living kind of way, but more in a…sort of what is my special purpose kind of way. I happened to go inside and look around in my office. I see the most eclectic titles assembled in one place on my book shelves. Books about subjects ranging from Chakra Clearing and chanting to magical herbalism, an idiot’s guide to learning Yiddish and everything else in between. Really, I must be nuts or reasonably grounded in being eccentric. I may drive a mini-van with two car seats in the back and by all accounts may appear to be that kind of gung ho PTA going gal. But I’m not. I don’t fit that jello-mold. Never have. I must be the new model of the modern alternative housewife the one who makes cookies for the school bake sale in between giving Reiki sessions to clients, mixing up new aromatherapy potions and notions, and perfecting the design of her latest tatoo. Yep. That’s more like it. Sage Spray anyone? Let’s clear this crazy thinking and get grounded.

The Great Paraben Debate

Methyl/Propylparabens These parabens are some of the most commonly used preservatives. Stable over the pH range of cosmetics, these synthetics provide a broad spectrum of anti-microbial activity and are used in foods and cosmetics.

Regarding parabens…the deal is that they are effective antimicrobial agents (preservatives). Many people feel that natural preservatives are not as effective and in addition not as reliable. I think the jury is still out on all of it. The problem is that more and more people are having reactions to commercially made products that contain DEA, parabens, etc. The combination of these ingredients and their overuse can create a harsh environment for sensitive skin hence the wonderful preservative nature. Society consumer patterns dictate manufacturing necessities. People want perfect, cheap, and right now. More and more additives, preservatives, and chemical agents are being added to food, cosmetics, cleansers, and bath and body products every day in order to achieve those demands. Many of these products contain the same additives, preservatives, and chemical agents. The consumer is then subjected to an onslaught of way too much of the same caustic ingredients. I believe that this continual overuse of unnecessary chemical additives ultimately contributes to many forms of immune dysfunction. When the body is continually taxed, it cannot pull out the reserves it needs to in order to fight disease.

That is my take in a nutshell.

Hello world!

We here at Lemuria Healing Arts believe in the power of giving and love. In fact, *10% of our net profits are donated to charitable organizations that respect animals, promote peace, a sense of community, and love for our planet.  Currently we donate to the SPCA, local food banks, Seva Society, WWF, Women in Need, and transition houses.Please let us know if there is an organization that you are passionate about and would like us to consider donating to. Thank you for your generous support.