Essential Oils

This blog has recipes that recommend using essential oils. Although these are made from natural ingredients, there’s some important considerations and safety tips.

Keep essential oils away from children
Most essential oils are lethal if drunk, even in small amounts, so keep your essential oils out of the reach of children and pets.

Essential oils and pregnancy
Some essential oils are unsafe to use during pregnancy. Check with your doctor or midwife before using essential oils.

Providing you do not have any allergies and your doctor or midwife say it is OK, then these essential oils can be used as follows:

During the first four months of pregnancy, use 1 drop of essential oil in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil and only 4-5 drops in the bath

• ginger (helps nausea)
• grapefruit
• mandarin
• neroli
• ylang-ylang

During the last six months of pregnancy, use 1 drop of essential oil in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil and only 4-5 drops in the bath

• chamomile
• grapefruit
• geranium
• lavendar
• mandarin
• orange
• petitgrain
• rose geranium
• spearmint
• ylang-ylang

Sterilizing storeage jars and bottles

Tapered glass bottle from Starwest Botanicals

All your products will need to be stored in clean jars. Ensure they have been properly washed and the best way to ensure that they are spotlessly clean is to put them into the oven after washing.

Preheat the oven to 120°C/250°F/Gas mark ½, put the jars on a baking tray and place them in the oven for 20 minutes, preferably just before you are going to use them.

Make sure they are dry and do NOT use a cloth to dry them – it defeats the object of using sterile jars!

Bottles for storing your own homemade products, as well as giving them as green and natural gifts, can be bought from Starwest Botanicals.

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