Rose Oil

Rose is a very famous and a very common flower. Roses can be found throughout the world due to commercial breading. The cultivation of roses has resulted in creation of 13000 varieties of roses. Certain species of wild rose are even listed as endangered because of the lost of their natural habitat. Colour of rose depends upon the species. They can be found in different shades of and so on. Different colours of rose have different symbolisation. Red colour symbolises love, Yellow colour symbolises friendship, White colour symbolises purity and Orange colour symbolises enthusiasm.

Rosa damascena (Damask Rose), Rosa alba (The White Rose of York) and Rosa centifolia (Cabbage Rose) are the species most commonly used as a source of rose oil. These species are used as they have the strongest aroma and high content oil. Rose oil is extracted from rose petals through steam distillation. It is known as "Queen of Oils".

Rose oil has various usages apart from using in making of perfumes. Traditional rose is associated with Venus the goddess of love and beauty and in today's time the goddess is well and alive in the cosmetic industry for rose oil (synthetic as well as natural). It beautifies skin as it can be used for wrinkles, acne, scars, eczema and dark spots. It improves skin texture and skin health.  It also strengthens hair roots.

Rosehip seed oil extracted from Rosa rubiginosa has been found to be very effective in skin treatment as it promotes tissue regeneration and has a high content of vitamin C.

 Rose oil improves self-confidence and metal strength which are key parameters for fighting depression, making it a depression fighter. It boosts confidence. It also has a relaxing effect, resulting in decrease of anxious feeling. It works well on digestion process. It serves as an effective laxative. It has a positive impact on intestine health.

Rose oil used alone or combined with other oils like lavender, cinnamon and clove oil can be used as a massage oil (mixed with carrier oil) to relieve from menstrual cramps. It is an aphrodisiac. It plays a role in regulating the hormones that increase sexual desire. Antioxidants are found in rose water. Using rose water on skin can protect against cell damage. It has antiseptic properties making it excellent for treating wounds. It also has astringent properties.

Rose blends well with Jasmine, Cassie, Mimosa, Neroli, Geranium, Bergamot, Lavender, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Clove, Cinnamon, Lemon, Sweet Orange and Mandarin. 

A few drops of rose oil should be mixed with carrier oil before dabbing it directly onto your skin. Its use can be harmful for babies, pregnant women and breast feeding women. It is advisable to talk to your veterinarian before usage if you have pets at your home. You can perform a patch test to check for allergies before using the oil for the first time. You can perform a patch test by simple applying rose oil which is mixed with carrier oil on the skin inside of your elbow or on neck. If there is no redness, swelling or itching within a few, then you can use it on your skin. If essential oil is inhaled too much then it can give you headache.

Cinnamon Oil

Cinnamon is one of the most popular herbs for flavoring and medicinal uses. Although cinnamon oil has numerous health benefits, it often causes irritations and allergic reactions. Therefore people prefer to use cinnamon directly instead of using the oil. 

Cinnamon whose scientific name is Cinnamomum zeylancium, originated in tropical Asia and was widely used in Sri Lanka and India. Now, this shrub is grown in almost every tropical region of the world. It is one of the most popular herbs for flavouring and medicinal purposes. Cinnamon oil is obtained from bark and leaves of cinnamon tree, so you can get cinnamon leaf oil or cinnamon bark oil. The oil is extracted by steam distillation or hydro-steam distillation. 

 

It is considered to be one of the first spices to be traded in the ancient world. Ancient Egyptians used cinnamon for the ritual of embalming. In middle ages physicians used to cure cold, sore throats and hoarseness with the help of this spice.The inner bark of the new shoots from the cinnamon tree are gathered every two years and sold as sticks for use as domestic spice.

 

The cinnamon leaf of is used in aroma therapy. It is darkish yellow with warm, earthy and spicy aroma. Cinnamon oil produced from bark stems and roots are not recommended for home use. Cinnamon has a lot of health benefits. The scent of cinnamon has the ability to boost brain activity. Using cinnamon can improve the score on cognitive activities such as attention span, visual recognition memory, working memory and visual-motor response speed.  

 

Cinnamon has the ability to control blood sugar, so diabetes (type 2) finds it very useful. It also improves the health of the colon. Due to its antifungal, antiviral, antiseptic and antibacterial properties, it is effective on treating infections. It is often used in chewing gums, as it's a good mouth freshener and removes bad breath. It has a refreshing aroma and is extensively used in perfume making. It works great as a mosquito repellent.

 

Commercially, cinnamon oil extracted from both bark and leaf are used in production of toothpaste, mouthwashes, cough syrup and dental preparations. They are also extensively used in food flavouring, alcoholic and soft drinks. Cinnamon leaf oil is used in soaps, cosmetics and perfumes. 

 

Being strong in nature, cinnamon oil should be avoided for internal consumption. Furthermore, it can have adverse effects on skin if used topically in concentrated form. Therefore, it should be diluted using a carrier oil before use. Before using cinnamon oil, it should be tested to make sure it suits your skin. You should apply only a small quantity of cinnamon oil initially and check if you develop any allergic reaction symptoms. Do not use cinnamon oil on the face and other sensitive areas. Cinnamon oil should always be used in moderation.

 

It blends well with Bergamot, Cardamom, Carnation, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Orange, Palmarosa, Rose, Tangerine And Ylang Ylang.  

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is not only known for it's pretty purple colour and it's alluring fragrance but also for it's therapeutic uses. Lavender's scientific name is Lavandula angustifolia. The origin of Lavender is said to be from the Mediterranean, Middle East and Russia. Lavender is a flowering plant of the mint family. It is known to symbolise peace, serenity, calmness, purity and grace. Dried lavender has been used as potpourri.

 

Traditionally, lavender essential oil has been used in making perfumes. The Romans used lavender for scenting their clothes, linens and even hair. Lavender oil played a vital role in the process of mummification in ancient Egypt.

Lavender oil is extracted mostly from the flowers of lavender plant, primarily through steam distillation. The oil is very useful in aromatherapy.

The smell of lavender oil is potent for many types of bugs like mosquitoes, midges and moths. Lavender essential oil has anti-inflammatory qualities that reduces the irriation and pain associated with bug bites. It induces sleep as it has a relaxing and calming effect and thus can be used to treat insomnia as well as anxity issues. The refreshing aroma of lavender oil is helpful in treating migranies, headache, depression, nervous tension, emotional stress and is rejuvenating.

When used in vaporizer lavender essential oil can be used to treat cough, cold, congestion and other respiratory problems.

Lavender essential oil is good for improving the circulation of blood in body. It lowers blood pressure and is often used for hypertension.

Lavender oil is useful for hair care because it has been shown to be very effective on lice, lice eggs and nits. It is sometimes used as a preventive measure for baldness. 

Add lavender oil to your favorite carrier oil to sooth you skin. It is used to treat various skin disorders such as acne, wrinkles, psoriasis and other inflammatory conditiones. It is commonly used to speed up the healing process of wounds, cuts, burns and sunburns.

Lavender plant isn't approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) therefore it should not be taken in place of approved and prescribed medicines. As with many other essential oils,pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid using lavender essential oil. It is also recommended that patients with diabetes stay away from lavender essential oil. It can cause allergic reaction to people with extreme sensitive skin. Nausea,vomiting and headaches may also be witnessed due to either common or excessive use of lavender oil. Most importantly, lavender oil should also never be ingested. It should only be topically applied or inhaled through means of aromatherapy or similar activities.

Lavender essential oil blends well with Bergamot, Cedarwood , Geranium , Lemon , Neroli , Patchouli , Rose , Sandalwood and Vetiver