This week I was sent the most beautiful product to review: the ‘I Want To DE-STRESS Gift Set’ by Scentered.
Scentered are an ethical and sustainable wellness brand, with gorgeous products that help you stop and reset in the moment, such as aromatherapy candles and therapy balms for pulse points. In addition to the De-Stress set that I received, there are also ranges to help you Focus, Be Happy, Escape and Sleep Well.
The gift set I received was in beautiful packaging and smelled divine – made with proper essentials oils that took me off to another place as soon as the lid was off! Inside, was an aromatherapy candle and therapy balm, together with a lovely card on stress-relief, summarising the EFT tapping points.
I’m very sensitive to smell and anything strong (or manmade smells) will often overpower me, but the balm on my pulse points delivered a gorgeous smell that did actually reset me each time it wafted up, releasing chamomile, neroli and mandarin into the air. The candle, in a lovely frosted glass pot, has found its way into my therapy room and I use it to refresh the room between clients.
The reason I wanted to share these products with you today is because they reminded me of the power of aromatherapy and how much we could all use that right now, to combat any feelings of fear, anxiety and uncertainty. With products like these, we can stay emotionally balanced and in control of ourselves, no matter what the world is doing!
Aromatherapy and essential oils
Essential oils have been around for nearly 6,000 years, used to improve health and mood. The oils are made through distillation of natural plant material, creating a concentrated solution, very little of which is needed to gain the benefits when used.
Essential oils have been found to be antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, insecticidal, and antioxidant in varying degrees and are often added to oils in massage, vaporised or applied topically. I often create essential oil blends and add flower essences to create body sprays or creams to harmonise body, mind and soul.
As well as the pungent aromas, aromatherapy oils can disinfect and decongest the respiratory system and have psychological benefits. When we breathe them in, our olfactory system is stimulated and as molecules reach the brain, they affect the limbic system and can affect our emotions, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress and hormones. They really can have a beneficial effect on us holistically.
Here are a few essential oils that I use for aromatherapy and for topical use:
Lavender is my go-to oil and number one on my list. This essential oil is used as an antiseptic for minor cuts and burns and to enhance relaxation and sleep. It can be used to relieve headache and migraine symptoms and I put it on my temples to relieve headaches and regularly apply it to minor burns, cuts and abrasions to speed healing.
Sandalwood and Jasmine are said to have aphrodisiac qualities and are both lovely scents for body sprays or creams.
Neroli has a gorgeous orangey smell and it’s also known as orange blossom oil. It has a rich, floral scent, with citrusy overtones and is great for scented products. It is said to help with mood and depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, seizures and menopausal symptoms. One of my favourite essential oils for aromatherapy.
Tea tree is antimicrobial, antiseptic and disinfectant. It is commonly used in shampoos and skin care products, to treat acne, burns and bites. This has such a refreshing smell and is just a good all-rounder for pretty much everything!
Frankinsense/Olibanum works as an expectorant to clear the nasal passageway, promote the relief of congestion, and encourage easy breathing. Its sweet, woody aroma is sedative and enhances mood by diminishing feelings of stress and anxiety while improving concentration and memory. I also use it directly on insect bites as it seems to soothe them.
For aromatherapy, try putting a few drops of an oil on your pillow at night or add some drops into a vaporiser to release the smell into a room. I have many friends who use a vaporiser in this way at night and say it sends them off to sleep in seconds.
As with everything, be sensible using essential oils. Some oils are toxic, so never ingest or swallow them and go easy with them. Some have an extremely strong and long-lasting smell and if you unsure about any oil, use in very small quantities first to test that you don’t have any reaction.
The products reviewed in this post can be found at https://scentered.me/
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