The rich, musky scent of Patchouli has long charmed the world – from its home lands in Asia to the traders in the Middle East and finally, in Europe, where it became a symbol of the exotic. In modern times, it was embraced by anti-establishment hippies and has since become associated with the bohemian. But this herby green bush is, quite simply, a very hardworking plant with a host of benefits.
No. 1 Create calm
When you need to relax or just quieten your mind, Patchouli is essential oil to reach for. Though a member of the mint family, it has a strong musky and earthy aroma that creates an atmosphere of calm and tranquility. The distinctive scent has an unusual ability to center the mind and soothe jangled nerves.
No. 2 Love your skin
Patchouli is a quiet skin care powerhouse! It is packed with antioxidants that nourishes the skin by improving circulation and oxygen delivery at the cellular level, and replenishing moisture content in the skin. It also has astringent properties that help skin stay more toned and lifted. Skin looks younger, healthier, and scars heal faster, too.
No. 3 Go to bed
Tossing and turning late into the night? Try some Patchouli in the diffuser or as a pillow spray. Essential oils work differently for each person so if you find the regular sleep inducers like Lavender does not work for you, you might find relieve in Patchouli, which has sedative properties. It is also good to mix it up a bit with different scents in your sleep arsenal.
No. 4 Drop it in your perfume
Perfumers love using Patchouli as a base note in perfumes and other scented products! You may find it an already familiar scent from your regular perfumes. As a fixative, it boosts the scent of lighter notes. If you want to customize a signature scent, be sure to include Patchouli to help add a richer body to it.
No. 5 Manage pain, infections and inflammation
Did you know Patchouli is anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious? It can help soothe internal and external inflammation as well as infections. You can use it alongside your usual treatment for conditions like arthritis, joint pain, rashes sores, wounds, and fungal infections, among others. Massage onto affected areas or make a (bath or foot) soak to help soothe and heal the affected areas.
No. 6 Fight bugs
Would you believe it, Patchouli actually is a bug repellant! Put some into a diffuser or a DIY bug spray or balm for an insect fighter that keeps pests at bay without any nasty stuff. Plus it also smells so much better than commercial repellants. It works against a host of pests like mosquitoes, ants, flies, and even the hard-to-spot like fleas, lice, and bed bugs!
No. 7 Sizzle up the bedroom
Patchouli has been used as a libido booster for hundreds of years. It works on both men and women, stimulating the production of testosterone and estrogen, which help get both partners in the mood for some love. As a calming scent, it also reduces sexual anxiety and frigidity.
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Parents know all about the importance of a good bedtime routine for their little ones. We try to slow them down through a series of activities until they are good and ready to sleep. In our household, the routine looks something like this: bath, milk and a bedtime story together with cuddles before they are tucked in for the night.
Unfortunately, when we reach adulthood – and should know better – we throw out all these good sleep habits out in favour of late night Netflix binges, staying up late to watch K-drama or scroll through social media, collapsing into bed after work or chores, sleeping only the bare minimum of hours…. No wonder in surveys, adults consistently say they do not get enough sleep or do not sleep well!
Better quality sleep starts with strong sleep hygiene, according to SleepFoundation.org. This means “…having both a bedroom environment and daily routines that promote consistent, uninterrupted sleep.” Good sleep habits incorporated into a nightly routine helps the mind calm down and trains the body to unwind and tune in to sleep.
Switch off all devices
The light from devices coupled with the deluge of content overstimulates the brain and messes with the body’s internal clock, making any form of screens before bedtime a big no-no. Turn off all screens a good 30 minutes before sleep to allow your brain time to unwind and detox from the stimulation.
Get your to-do list ready
Having too many thoughts swimming around can keep your brain on alert mode well into the night. It helps to put it all down on an app or notebook. Not only does it off load your mental burden, it also gives you a game plan for the next day.
Have a relaxation routine
Find an activity that helps you to relax physically and mentally. Stretching, praying, listening to soothing music, reading or doing breathing exercises are great ways to prepare the whole body for sleep. Doing this regularly will signal to the brain it’s time to sleep.
Use calming scents
Sleep and scent are closely linked. Circadian rhythms regulate both sleep and smell hence certain scents can help calm the mind, promote better sleep, or even influence dreams and memory formation during sleep.[1] Try using sleep-inducing, calming essential oils in a diffuser, room spray, bath water or applied directly with some moisturizer or body oil as part of your bedtime routine.
We recommend
Our Sweet Dreams blend combines the soothing, calming oils of:
[1] SleepFoundation.org
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The calming, soothing and purifying properties of the cedar tree has been benefiting human kind for centuries. Believed to be among the first essential oils to be distilled, it has had a long history of usage in many civilizations from Egypt and India through to the Americas.
Our Himalayan Cedarwood Essential Oil is extracted from the bark of cedar trees that grow in the chilly hills of the Himalayas. It has a warm, woody scent reminiscent of the great outdoors and is a powerful yet gentle oil with a wide variety of applications, making it a must-have in every household.
Ever woken up and wished you could crawl back into bed? Whether its Monday blues, that time of the month or just a really sucky day, we all get the blues at some point and sometimes, it can be hard to shake it off.
On days like this, we like to put some ‘happy’ oils in the diffuser and allow the aroma to help lift us. There is a close link between scent and mood. When inhaled, the chemicals in essential oils travel via olfactory (smell) receptors to the part of the brain that controls mood.
One of our favourite blues buster blends is an uplifting combination of Sweet Orange, Frankincense and
Lavender.
If there is one word to describe the smell of our Sweet Orange, it would have to be happy! Like the cheery appearance of the fruit, this essential oil has a sweet, joyful aroma like a burst of sunshine. The oil is extracted from the peel and have stimulating, sedative, anti-depressive and anti-anxiety properties (among a long list of others!) – all of which make Orange energizing and refreshing yet relaxing and calming. Not only is it great for giving the boot to those dreary blahs, it also enhances the immune system and cognitive function, boosts libido (yes!), balances hormones and detoxifies.
The king of essential oils, Frankincense, has been prized since ancient biblical times when it was used for sacred ceremonies. The oil is extracted from the resin of the Boswellia sacra tree, a process that yields small amounts of a sap-like substance that is then distilled. Anti-depressive, anti-infectious, anti- inflammatory, immune stimulating and sedative, Frankincense is a wide-reaching oil that benefits all of the body systems. The woody, spicy aroma has a grounding effect that calms, relaxes and enhances mood while dispelling negativity and restoring emotional balance. But the effects are not just emotional; studies have shown it also reduces high blood pressure and the heart rate when inhaled!
And of course, no mood-lifting blend will be complete without the most well-known essential oil in the world of aromatherapy, Lavender. Is there anything this oil cannot do? From beauty to digestion, Lavender is a go-to oil for just about everything, top-to-toe. But of course, one of its most common use is for relaxation. You can find its familiar floral scent in bath gels, body lotions, perfume, candles, eye pillows and more. And for good reason too! Many studies and clinical trials have confirmed the soothing, calming and relaxing properties of Lavender. Its light, floral scent – which is derived from the petals of the lavender flower – is a fix for tension, anxiety, stress, depression and other emotional distress.
So, when life gets you down, we hope you will hit right back with this beloved combo!
Blues Buster Diffuser Blend
3 drops Orange
2 drops Lavender
1 drop Frankincense
We hope to feature all products sold by us as well as specials from time to time.
Do keep an eye out on our blog as we will be updating it with exciting and informative posts.
Happy Oiling,
Michelle