As I gently massaged my favorite blend of essential oils (and absolutes) with almond oil 
into my arms and legs this morning, I felt the nudging to blog about this pleasure point in my life.
I received a foundation level aromatherapy certification in the year 2010. I enjoyed including essential oil blends in my soap and lotions (via my business that I closed in 2012, Annie’s Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps). I have since continued to investigate blends that both ground me and serve therapeutic purposes on a regular basis.
My “perfect” bespoke (personal) fragrance is a combination of patchouli essential oil (Pogostemon cablin), vanilla absolute oil, and jasmine (Jasminum officinale/grandiflorum). This blend brings me to a warm and comforting “home-spot” no matter what I experience in life that day. I hardly go without it. The patchouli has an earthiness to it, the vanilla adds a touch of sweetness, and the jasmine is exotic, calming, and euphoric. I don’t ingest these oils orally, but my olfactory system says Yum!!!
Natural fragrance blends are a huge part of my daily life—as they create an ambiance that I start my day by. I do, however, shift from blend to blend to ensure I do not acclimate to one oil (dear, dear, patchouli), to the point I am unable to smell it. That would be a sad day for me.
Do you have a bespoke or signature fragrance? Why did you choose it (what benefits does it create in you)?
I did just recently clear out my “old” supply of essential oils, resins, and absolutes. I have studied aromatherapy for over a decade, so I’ve paid close attention to safety (responsible usage guidelines i.e. dilution rates and no internal ingestion of oils), but the one thing that I ignored was the age of my supply. So, even though my oldest of base note oils smelled better than ever, they no longer held any therapeutic value. Sadly, I departed with the (over 150) bottles that I stockpiled—nobody needs that many! I then started fresh, which actually brought new enjoyment into the mix.
Note: If you do keep essential oils on hand remember to apply a date to the bottle, so you replace them when they no longer are viable for aromatherapy use. I’ll cover that suggested timeline in a future post. Also do not forget to refrigerate your citrus, or citrus-based, oils and blends.
Do you partake in aromatherapy? What oils do you keep in your kit?
I believe in a powerful boost from nature (through concentrated plant oils) when our bodies signal that we are in need (pain, stress, discomfort, or simply feeling off-balance). Do you?
MARY HUMPHREY COACHING 