Geranium Essential Oil - Plumps The Skin, Relaxes The Soul

GERANIUM OIL (Pelargonium Gravedens) | Egypt

100% Pure Egyptian Geranium Oil 15ml

Aroma - Relaxes, reduces tension and helps with clear thinking

Skin Benefits - Builds collagen in the skin, reduces bruising and improves saggy skin

About OUR Geranium Oil

Method of Extraction : Steam-distilled

Plant Part : Flowering plant

Country of Origin : Egypt

100% Pure Essential Oil

What is Geranium Oil?

Geranium oil (pelargonium graveolens) is extracted from the leaves of the geranium plant by distillation. According to Julia Lawless, in the "Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils," geranium oil is sometimes known as rose geranium oil. The types of geranium oil differ depending on the plant species from which they are extracted; for example, you might find geranium oil described as Bourbon geranium. This is a reference to the area in which it grows. Geranium oil might be slightly different in chemical composition, depending on where it is cultivated, but in general most geranium oils have the same physical properties.

How To Use Geranium Oil

• Add 2 drops to the amount you would use for body moisturiser
• Add 5-10 drops to a vaporiser                                                                                                        
• Hot or cold compress - for antiseptic use
• Add 5-6 drops to a two ounce spray bottle filled with water, shake well before each.
• To reduce water retention apply 3-4 drops with your moisturiser to the legs and rub from the feet up to the knees. Always rub towards the heart, never away.
• Apply the oil to a cut, use a butterfly bandage to pull the edges together, and it is almost as good as stitches in a day or two.
• Great for hemorrhoids. Simply apply to the affected area several times a day and the swelling will go down and the pain will disappear

Beauty Benefits

• Improves skin conditions such as acne, dermatitis, congested skin, oily skin, eczema, mature skin, dry skin, tender breasts, stretch marks and cracked nipples.
• Great as a toner for all skin types.
• Also helps fight wrinkles when added as an ingredient to skin moisturizers.
• Use as an antiseptic
• Stimulates collagen production so excellent your mature skin. Collagen stimulation increases with consistent application of geranium essential oil
• Precaution - Do not use on pregnant women or children as it has strong hormonal balancing effects.
• Add to your regular face cream, toner or body moisturiser to increase blood circulation and skin elasticity.
• When added to massage oil, geranium oil acts to reduce dry skin and sagging by retaining moisture in the skin.
• When you apply Geranium essential oil to a wound it will help stop the bleeding and give the skin what it needs to repair itself.
• Great for reducing bruising after plastic surgery.

Science Behind Geranium’s Efficacy

(Extracted from traceetc.com)

The primary constituent is geraniol, which builds collagen fibers (the protein that is the main building block of bone, cartilage, tendon, and other connective tissues) in the tissues. This means that it creates a regenerative action in these parts of the body, especially the skin.

Balances hormones by opening up the circulatory system and allowing the hormones to

be carried to where they need to be.

Great for female problems—PMS, swollen breasts, cramps, heavy or missing periods,

etc. It even helps normalize the fluctuating hormones experienced during menopause!

Apply to the ankles, the inner thighs, the soft upper arms, or even the breasts. If you are

experiencing menstrual cramps apply on location. If you are experiencing heavy

menstrual bleeding, apply to the abdominal area. You may initially experience a brief

time of heavier flow, but then it should diminish to a more normal level of bleeding.

Genuine Lavender Oil - The Real Benefits

100% Pure French Lavender Oil | 15ml

What Is Lavender Oil?

Lavender oil is an essential oil obtained by distillation from the flower spikes of certain species of lavender. Like all essential oils, it is not a pure compound. It is a complex mixture of naturally occurring phytochemicals, including linalool and linalyl acetate.

Lavender oil has long been used in the production of perfume and in aromatherapy. The scent has a calming effect which may aid in relaxation and the reduction of anxiety. According to Wikipedia, Lasea capsules containing lavender oil with a high amount of linalool and linalyl acetate, is  approved as an anxiolytic in Germany. The approval is based on a finding that the capsules are comparable in effect to low-dose lorazepam, a type of bezodiazepine

How To Use Lavender Oil

May be applied directly onto skin and nails. Use sparingly.

Use in a diffuser.

Mix into shampoo, conditioner or a carrier oil.

May be used as a dietary supplement.

Click here to find out how to use lavender oil in different modalities.

Beauty Benefits

Insomnia, hair loss, burns, nervous tension, respiratory infections, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, menstrual problems/PMS, skin conditions, blood fat/cholesterol reduction, reducing excess sebum on skin

Science Behind Lavender Oil

According to a study published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology (Feb. 16, 2011), Lavender oil could be used to combat infectons resistant to anti-fungal medication. The essential oil shows a potent antifungal effect against strains of fungi responsible for common skin and nail infections.

Scientists from the University of Coimbra in Portugal distilled lavender oil from the Lavandula viridis L'Hér shrub that grows in southern Portugal. The oil was tested against a range of pathogenic fungi and was found to be lethal to a range of skin-pathogenic strains namely, dermatophytes and various species of Candida.

Dermatophytes cause infections of the skin, hair and nails. They use the keratin within these tissues to obtain nutrients. Dermatophytes are responsible for conditions such as Athletes' foot, ringworm and can also lead to scalp and nail infections. Candida species coexist within most healthy individuals without causing problems but may cause mucocutaneous candidosis (thrush) in some people. In immunocompromised patients, Candida may cause serious infection if the fungal cells penetrate into the blood stream.

Currently, there are relatively few types of antifungal drugs to treat infections. Those that are available often have side effects. Professor Lígia Salgueiro and Professor Eugénia Pinto who led this study explained that alternative fungicides are urgently needed beacuse in the last few years there has been an increase in the incidence of fungal diseases, particularly among immunocompromised patients. They said, there is also increasing resistance to anti-fungal drugs. Research by their group and others have shown that essential oils may be a cheap, efficient alternative that have minimal side effects.

Essential oils distilled from the Lavandula genus of lavender plants are already used widely, in the food, perfume and cosmetic industries. Studies of the biological activities of these oils suggest Lavandula oils have sedative and antispasmodic properties as well as being potent antimicrobials and antioxidants.

This group has demonstrated that lavender oil works by destroying the cell membranes of fungal cells. They believe that further research into the mechanisms by which this essential oil works could have significant clinical benefits. "Lavandula oil shows wide-spectrum antifungal activity and is highly potent. This is a good starting point for developing this oil for clinical use to manage fungal infections. What is now required is clinical trials to evaluate how our in vitro work translates in vivo," said Professor Salgueiro

Are parabens in skincare really so bad?

What’s The Big Deal About Parabens? 

Parabens are only necessary due
to the commercial nature of skin
today. However, if you use fresh
organic skin care, they may not
be necessary.

By Dianne Little

I set up an organic skin care company not too long ago. I started an organic range because all the rage was about going natural and how preservatives like parabens and sulphates are bad for your health and/or skin. Would you believe I never stopped to question this ‘wisdom’? Nope! Not once.

I started reading up about it when I needed ammo in my marketing campaigns as to why exactly parabens are harmful. Like everything else on the internet – you have the proponents for and against parabens. All equally gung ho. Sigh! Isn’t anything straightforward anymore?

Before I get into the nitty-gritty of the situation, let me first explain what paraben’s are. Simply put they are an umbrella term for a range of chemicals that function as preservatives. They either prevent the growth of bacteria or kill existing bacteria. More often than not, a cream, serum or gel will contain parabens.

Preservatives are necessary. In fact, they can be your friends. If a skin care product has moisture in it, it will need a preservative. If it didn’t, your toiletries would go bad and your creams would actually cause skin irritation.

Having said that, preservatives are only used in the extent they are now because of international trade, population boom and the need to increase per unit profit. To help you understand the extent to which they are used – 99% of everything you buy from a pharmacy, cosmetic counter, supermarket or boutique toiletry stores will have it. They will be found in shampoos, toothpastes, soaps, moisturisers and almost everything else.

All three reasons filter down to one single factor – preserving shelf life. Because we are now involved in global trade, we are used to using items from countries all over the world. So, from the time it leaves the factory to the time it ends up on your supermarket shelf, it may have taken as long as 5-6 months.

Similarly, an increasing demand for goods due to the urban explosion means that consumers now demand more and consume more of what they demand. To manufacture goods in this kind of volume, synthetic ingredients are required, so is machinery and the production process also gets complicated. Preservatives are needed as this juncture to prevent contamination during the manufacturing stage.

Manufacturing processes must be automated to keep up with this demand and factories are not cheap to build. But the bulk of the cost of most items, especially non-staples, is marketing, advertising and packaging.

END OF Part 1 (Apologies for dividing this up into parts; this is a lengthy topic)

Looking for an organic, natural skin care alternative? 

Try essential oils for skin. The right essential oil can solve almost any skin problem. 

Click here to find out how essential oils can work for your skin. 

Candle Diffusers vs Scenting Clay

How about this for an idea? This is a thick-based candle holder,
but its made entirely from scenting porcelain.
Place, your candle in the middle and scent the
flowers with your favourite essential oils. 

CANDLE DIFFUSERS

Pros

• Diffuses oil farther from point of origin. 
• Diffuses the oil more quickly and strongly; if that's what you want. 

Cons

• It's a fire-hazard and therefore must be constantly attended.
• It cannot be used in a car or windy area.

VS

CLAY/PORCELAIN DIFFUSERS

Pros

• They diffuser slower but longer.
• It maintains the integrity of the oil; if the clay/porcelain is high quality

Cons

• The aroma will not permeate a farther distance from origin.
• The scent propagates slowly. It may take an hour for you to smell it in the room.  

Want to find out about our extensive range of essential oils and handmade porcelain diffusers? Send your enquires to dianne@the littleessentials.com. We will be happy to email you our catalogue.

Bonbonneire Gift Your Guests Won't Throw Away

This set costs US$15. It consists of a 12ml essential oil blend,
a small textured porcelain diffuser and an organza pouch.
The bottle comes with a custom-label, commemorating the
couple's wedding day.

A Personalised Bonbonneire Gift Set

Recently, one of my customers made this bonbonneire gift for their wedding.

It consisted of a small textured disc porcelain diffuser (3cm x3cm) and an essential oil blend with a custom-designed label commemorating their day.

Most people think giving your guest a parting gift made of porcelain will be an expensive option, but it doesn't have to be.

That's why I thought I'd share will you this starter set (Code: PC2SET01).

You can customise your
 scenting porcelain in any shape,
size and engraving you like.

How you Can Make A Set Like This Under US$15.00.

There are 4 Choices To Make When You Choose This Simple Yet Personalised Set.

Choice 1 - The Diffuser

• What size porcelain diffuser did you want?
• Generally, we recommend 3x3cm, 5x5cm or a volume shape around there (anything bigger will look a bit bulky.
• What design did you want on the diffuser? You can opt for a texture or have it engraved with words or a symbol.
• What string did you want?
• Porcelain diffusers can be used as a pendant, car diffuser or ornament. So, decide on the string depending on the theme of your event and what you intend your guest to use it for.

(a small textured diffuser is the most affordable option)

Choice 2 - The Essential Oil
What volume and choice of oil will you have?
Essential oil blends are the most affordable, especially the ones which have a stronger citrus composition. Our blends in the 12ml amber bottle as shown in the picture above is the most common.
We also have premium, rare and certified organic aromatic essential oils. These may not be a good option if you are on a budget but we do have 5ml sample sized bottles which you may want to consider if you've got your heart set on a certain scent.

Choice 3 - The Essential Oil Bottle Label
You can design anything you like. However, the choice lies in the material of the label. Paper labels are the cheapest while plastic and metallic labels may cost a bit more. 

Choice 4 - The Finishing (packaging options)
A standard organza pouch is the cheapest option you can have. However, you can get more elaborate with box, ribbons and laser-cut foam options. 

Give your guest a gift they will actually keep and in so doing will remember your special day for a lifetime ...

For Corporate Gift Ideas CLICK HERE

For enquires send an email to dianne@thelittleessentials.com

Why Scenting Porcelain & Not Scenting Clay Is The Way To Go - Part 2

PART 2 - SCENTING PORCELAIN IS BETTER THAN SCENTING CLAY

This is a true-to-life porcelain leaf that
serves as a diffuser on its own,
or you can place a candle on it and
use it as a candle holder/essential oil diffuser.
Click on the picture to send
me an enquiry on how I can
make one for you.

Part 1 (View Part One Here) deals with all the practical reasons of why porcelain is better than clay when it comes to diffusing essential oil aroma molecules into the air. Part 2 deals with art and aesthetics.

1. Porcelain is a stickier kind of clay. As a result, it can hand-moulded into more intricate shapes. Designs may contain thinner and more accurate true-to-life details which may otherwise be lost when utilising common clay. As a result, scenting porcelain pieces can often be mistaken as decoration pieces (which they are as well). We call this functional art.

2. Furthermore, porcelain is a tougher material than clay. This is because the molecules of the material sit closer together, making them a harder material and also the air pockets within the porcelain are smaller making less susceptible to breakage.

(Ever noticed when a clay piece breaks, it breaks completely, while porcelain tends to chip instead of break when it encounters a knock?)

3. Good quality porcelain is bright white. It's not bleached. It is dug up from the earth exactly the colour you see it. It's a brilliant colour! Working with a raw material which has a fantastic natural colour is vital when making diffusers. This is because diffusers are not glazed. They cannot be glazed because they need to be porous enough to absorb and diffuse the essential oils.

Furthermore, to maintain the integrity of the essential oils, the scenting clay or porcelain should not have any chemical additives or dyes. This means that with a good quality diffuser, the raw material is all you see - and porcelain has a much more luxurious finishing than clay.

4. Clay diffusers will also dysfunctionally stain after constant use; even if you use high quality essential oils. This is because clay is too porous. Some essential oils will be trapped deep within the clay and will never be released. This means that :

• Your diffusers will lose its fine aesthetic look after some time.
• Once you pick a scent, you must continue using the same scent on the clay as the retained essential oils will distort the scent and efficacy of any new essential oil you add to it.

Scenting porcelain will never stain if you use genuine essential oils (not fragrance oils). It will throughly release any aroma molecules added to it after 3 - 7 days (depending of aeration on where it is placed). This means that you can use multiple scents on it as the years go by.

5. Finally - it's exclusive. Let's face it, clay has a cheap more rustic finishing. It's not really meant to last and neither can it be considered a family heirloom. Porcelain diffusers are functionally and aesthetically a display art piece which can last a life time. They can be elaborate pieces which will serve to stimulate your visual as well as olfactory systems. 

Please send email enquiries to dianne@thelittleessentials.com

The orchid (large) design is one of our best-sellers. If you are
sending it as a gift, we can accompany it with essential oils with
customised message labels.

Why Scenting Porcelain & NOT Scenting Clay is The Way to Go - PART 1

PART 1 - SCENTING PORCELAIN IS BETTER THAN SCENTING CLAY

Look at what can be done with porcelain.
Porcelain diffusers can be shaped into
 intricate designs because they more robust. 

You've seen scenting clay. They are popular because they are cheap. They are usually small to medium in size and have a light brown to yellowish-white colouring.

So why do I think scenting porcelain is better?

1. The air pockets in baked clay are relatively large (more porous). This means that it can absorb essential oils very quickly, but that also means that it releases scent in a burst instead of at a steady pace. 
     This can lead to: 

• a. headaches; certain scents can be overwhelming
• b. more expensive; you have to use more essential oils to scent a room
• c. time consuming; you have to re-scent more often 

Porcelain, when baked at the correct temperatures will result in a product which is porous enough to absorb the essential oils but small enough to retain it for longer periods of time - this results in a continuous and consistent release rate.

2. When you are using aromatherapy quality (therapeutic grade) essential oils, they are not only expensive but are very potent. They are saturated with active ingredients and only a little is required to have a neurological affect. 

3. Essential oils - by this I mean REAL essential oils and NOT fragrance oils or other synthetic substitutes can be expensive. While citrus oils are generally cheaper, the sort after floral scents like Jasmine, Geranium and Rose Otto can be 'killer' pricey. You really wouldn't want to be splashing these pricey drops about on cheap clay, which absorbs it and wrings it out like a sponge. 

Scenting Porcelain, which is said to be spa quality diffusers, requires fewer drops and you get the aroma and aromatherapy affect for longer.

There is just so much to say, so I'll be posting a PART 2 soon. 

Please add me to your circle to keep updated. 

If you are interested in ordering a custom-designed sculptural porcelain diffuser (like in the picture above) or a flat, disc diffuser, you can send me an email at dianne@thelittleessentials.com.

I have also sent you a link to my website, if you are interested in having a look at what else can be done.   Check Out More Scenting Porcelain Ideas Here