Aromatherapy Uses for Mason Jars

Posted on: May 18th, 2012 by
Comments Requested
Use mason jars in aromatherapy projects such as flower infusions, copyright Sharon Falsetto, all rights reserved

Use mason jars in aromatherapy projects such as flower infusions, copyright Sharon Falsetto, all rights reserved

Mason jars used to be popular for making jams, canning foods and other such culinary delights in the kitchen. However, today, mason jars are enjoying a revival and are being utilized for all sorts of craft and home projects – including aromatherapy! Here a few suggestions on how to get the most out of a mason jar if you are an aromatherapist who makes aromatherapy bath and beauty products!

What is a Mason Jar?

The traditional mason jar was invented in 1858 by John Landis Mason (1832- 1902). The mason jar is a molded glass jar with an outer ring of metal and a rubber ring on the interior (underside of the lid) which effectively “seals” the jar and preserves the food within. Today, you will probably find a modern variation of the traditional mason jar if you are involved in making home crafts; for example, many suppliers sell the traditional glass jar base with a tin lid or cap that doesn’t have the traditional inner/outer seal but can be used in various home craft projects.

Using Mason Jars in Aromatherapy Projects

I discovered mason jars as recently as last year when I started to make my own aromatherapy candles. After many hours of “research” on the internet, I discovered that there were all sorts, sizes and styles of mason jars that you can use in home craft projects. Here are the ways in which I have used the traditional mason jar in modern day aromatherapy projects:

  • as an aromatherapy candle – I offer one style of mason jar as an aromatherapy candle in the Sedona Aromatherapie webstore. This particular “mason jar” has a screw-on tin lid which you remove before lighting the candle
  • as aromatherapy bath salts – although I haven’t got any aromatherapy bath salts in the Sedona Aromatherapie webstore offered in a mason jar, there is absolutely no reason why you can’t use mason jars to store your bath salts! If you would like a custom order of aromatherapy bath salts in a mason jar, please contact me with your request
  • for flower/herb infusions – mason jars are ideal for making homemade herbal and flower infusions as they are made of glass (to allow sunlight to filter through) and are of a reasonable size; see Monday’s post for more on making your own flower/herb infusions!

These are the few ways I have been using mason jars in aromatherapy projects. If you have your own ideas, please leave me a comment below or e-mail me with your thoughts! Mason jars are a great, innovative way to make the most of your aromatherapy projects!

Pin It

Related Posts:


Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in aromatherapy crafts, aromatherapy supplies | No Comments »

French Lavender or Spanish Lavender?

Posted on: May 14th, 2012 by
Comments Requested
Lavandula dentata, KENPEI, wikimedia commons

Lavandula dentata, KENPEI, wikimedia commons

Last week, I wrote about the different species of lavender.  This week, I thought that I would take a look at the difference between two common terms used to describe lavender but sometimes in a different context.  On my aromatherapy trip to France this summer, I expect to see lots of French lavender – but is that really French lavender, or is it Spanish lavender?  Confused?  Read on to learn more!  This article was published in its original format at Suite 101.

Common English names for lavender have changed throughout history, making it even more confusing to know which type of lavender species is being referred too. Sometimes lavender is described by the country from which it originates. However, French lavender does not always refer to lavender that is grown in France, just as Spanish lavender does not always refer to lavender that is grown in Spain.

Lavender in a Historical Context

Some of the confusion between French lavender and Spanish lavender arises because lavender that is commonly called Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) today was originally referred to in old texts and publications as French lavender. For example, Maude Grieve, in A Modern Herbal, refers to Lavandula stoechas as French lavender, and not as Spanish lavender. A reference to French lavender today is usually a reference to the lavender species Lavandula dentata.

Spanish Lavender: Lavandula Stoechas

Lavendula stoechas is today known as Spanish lavender.  It is a plant which belongs to the Lamiaceae plant family. Spanish lavender has narrow leaves and lavender, pink-violet flowers that form a “pineapple” shaped flower top (bract). It is a small, fragrant shrub that prefers to grow in a sandy or rocky coastline and is confusingly often found in France (hence, its historical name).

Spanish lavender is native to the Mediterranean region but is said to have earned its Latin name from the ancient Romans, who referred to the plant as “Stochades”, the Roman name for the island of Hyeres and where the species Lavandula stoechas was commonly found. It is believed that Lavandula stoechas was the lavender species used by the Romans to perfume baths.

French Lavender: Lavandula Dentata

Today, French lavender is usually a reference to the species Lavandula dentata. French lavender is also a member of the Lamiaceae botanical family. Confusingly, Lavandula dentata is native to Spain. French lavender has narrow, gray-green leaves and “dented” lavender-colored flower buds that make up the flower head/bract. Unlike Lavandula stoechas, Lavandula dentata grows in limestone and is common on the Spanish islands, including those off the coast of Africa, such as the Canary islands. Lavandula dentata may not be as fragrant as some of the other lavender species.

French and Spanish Lavender for Aromatherapy Practice

All varieties of lavender were originally native to the Mediterranean region and therefore the historical intermingling of common names has no doubt contributed to the confusing references to common lavender names today. Neither species are commonly used for their medicinal purposes today, although historically they were utilized in this way by herbalists; today, true lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, is the most common species of lavender used in aromatherapy practice.  True lavender may be of English or French origin though – which can lead to some people referring to it as “French lavender” if it is grown in France!  Lavandin (Lavandin x intermedia) is also another common species of lavender for aromatherapy use.

If you are interested in learning more about lavender, take a look at the Sedona Aromatherapie Lavender Aromatherapy short course.  This short course is currently available as a PDF file and as a printed booklet via mail.  It is also being offered at an incredibly low price for a limited time! It will be available as an online course shortly.

References:

  • Botanical.com website, A Modern Herbal by Maude Grieve
  • Aromatherapy: An A-Z, Patricia Davis, 1999 UK: Vermilion
  • Herbs and Healing Plants of Britain and Europe, Dieter Podlech, 1996 UK:Collins Nature Guides
Pin It

Related Posts:


Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in aromatherapy, lavender | No Comments »

Upcoming Aromatherapy Guest Posts for Aromatherapy Notes!

Posted on: May 11th, 2012 by
Comments Requested
Guest posts for Aromatherapy Notes, istockphoto, used with permission

Guest posts for Aromatherapy Notes, istockphoto, used with permission

As you are no doubt aware, I will be taking an aromatherapy trip to France this summer!  Although I usually write my posts for Aromatherapy Notes two weeks in advance, I will be out-of-action, with regard to my writing and aromatherapy business, for about 4 weeks over the summer.  So I decided as I was having a break, I would also give my readers a break from my usual posts.  However, this does not mean that there will be no postings at all on Aromatherapy Notes in my absence!

I am in the process of lining up several guest writers and bloggers on a variety of aromatherapy-related subjects which I hope will offer you a different voice, and a different insight, into a couple of interesting subjects!  I have already spoken to a couple writers and bloggers (who I consider to be very good in their appropriate area) and would like to thank them in advance for agreeing to help me out over the summer.  Of course, in return for their help, I will be guest blogging/writing on various other blogs on my return from France – and will be able to introduce you to some other quality blogs if you haven’t already discovered them!

I am not posting who will be guest posting on Aromatherapy Notes in advance, just in case of a change in scheduling – but also so that you will have something to look forward to!  However, during the months of July and August 2012, you can be sure of a variety of aromatherapy posts from a number of different writers!  Happy reading! :)

Pin It

Related Posts:


Tags: , ,
Posted in aromatherapy, aromatherapy blogs, aromatherapy notes | No Comments »

Different Species of Lavender

Posted on: May 7th, 2012 by
Comments Requested
Lavender aromatherapy, copyright Sharon Falsetto, all rights reserved

Lavender aromatherapy, copyright Sharon Falsetto, all rights reserved

If you’ve been following my posts on my upcoming aromatherapy trip to France, you will have read about the various flowers used to make perfumes, in addition to other French-related aromatherapy posts in the past few weeks!  One of those flowers that used to used to make French perfumes is lavender, so today I thought I’d take a closer look at the different species of lavender.  This article appeared in its original format at Suite101.

There are many types of lavender and not all lavender species are used for the same purposes. Although, in general, lavender species, cultivars and hybrids have the same appearance, there are distinctions between different types of lavender.  In aromatherapy use, there are several lavender essential oils in use.

Lavender as a Plant

Lavender is a member of the Lamiaceae plant family. There are approximately 39 species of lavender, although the various species can be further sub-divided into generic lavender family groups. In addition, one particular species of lavender can be known by different names due to the country in which it was grown in; for example true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) can also be known as English lavender or French lavender. Lavender grows worldwide, in various countries, including the Mediterranean, India, Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Lavender is an annual and herbaceous (including biannual and perennial) plant. Lavender flowers are blue or lilac in color, hence the English name of the plant, “lavender.” Most species of lavender have long, narrow leaves. However, because of the cultivar and hybrid lavenders now available, lavender can vary in color, size, shape and aroma.

How to Use Lavender

Lavender is used medicinally, in culinary dishes and grown as an ornamental flower in the garden. Lavender is used medicinally in aromatherapy as an essential oil and as a plant extract in herbal medicine. Lavender is also found in many culinary dishes including traditional French cooking, lavender honey and as a flavoring in cakes and desserts. Lavender is used in potpourri, in sachets, as dried flower arrangements, and as confetti for weddings.

Lavender Species for Aromatherapy

True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the most common species of lavender used in aromatherapy, followed by spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia) and lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia). Both true lavender and spike lavender have a traditional history of medicinal use but lavandin is actually a newer hybrid lavender (developed between a cross of true lavender and spike lavender) with little traditional use in medicine. However, lavandin has similar medicinal properties to true lavender.

The chemical make-up of a lavender species can vary due to the elevation at which is was grown; for example, lavender grown at high altitudes (true lavender) will vary in its therapeutic properties to lavender grown at lower elevations (lavandin). True lavender is antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and balancing; lavandin is similar but is particularly useful for respiratory conditions.

If you are interested in learning more about lavender, take a look at the Sedona Aromatherapie Lavender Aromatherapy short course.  This short course is currently available as a PDF file and as a printed booklet via mail.  It is also being offered at an incredibly low price for a limited time!  It will be available as an online course shortly.

References:

  • Lawless, Julia, 1995, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, UK:Thorson
  • Lawless, Julia, 2001, The Aromatherapy Garden, UK: Kyle Cathie Ltd
  • Price, Shirley, 2000, Aromatherapy Workbook, UK:Thorsons
  • Author’s own experience, training and use of lavender

 

 

 

Pin It

Related Posts:


Tags: , , , ,
Posted in aromatherapy, lavender | No Comments »

Pinterest: Why Aromatherapists Should be Using the Latest Tool in Social Media

Posted on: May 4th, 2012 by
Comments Disabled
Pinterest, the latest social media tool, Pinterest

Pinterest, the latest social media tool, Pinterest

The latest success story in social media tools is Pinterest.  Although I discovered Pinterest last year, before its popularity soared, I didn’t utilize it to its full effect as an aromatherapist until recently.  So what is Pinterest? And why should those interested in aromatherapy be using it?

Understanding Pinterest

Pinterest is essentially an online pinboard; if you like visual things, you’ll love Pinterest!  Basically, you “collect,” “repin” and “like” photos and pictures that interest you and share them much in the same way as you do on facebook.  To get started, you create different “boards” that share the same theme to which you “pin” your photos.  Photos carry a brief description and link back to the source (website) of where the “pin” was uploaded from (unless you manually upload your photos).  The difference between twitter, facebook and Pinterest is that Pinterest is all about the photo/picture – literally.  You can share and like things with just friends, or make your page public.

Pinterest for Aromatherapists and Those Interested in Aromatherapy

Although I am not an expert on Pinterest, and there are others who are probably more qualified than me to advise you on the full potential of Pinterest, I thought that I would share with you some of the ways in which I have utilized Pinterest and have made it work for me:

  • I have created Pinterest boards for subjects such as “My Aromatherapy Blog,” “Aromatherapy Recipes,” “Sedona Aromatherapie Products,” “Essential Oils” and “Custom Aromatherapy Services.” Most of these boards promote my own products, writing and services but you will notice that in Aromatherapy Recipes I have included other websites.
  • The pinboard Aromatherapy Recipes, along with other boards such as “Lavender,” include pins that are of interest to me too!  These are posts that I will go back and look at to get ideas of my own
  • you don’t have follow every single board of a person on Pinterest; so if they have boards about “fluffy dogs” and “flowers,” and you are only interested in “flowers,” you can choose just to follow that board
  • I have found new connections and useful information on Pinterest that I might not have found on other social media networks; in addition, I have more ideas for aromatherapy recipes than I know what to do with at the moment!  But I know where they are when I have the time to come back to them
  • Pinterest is a great visual showcase for your aromatherapy products; people tend to notice photos first before reading a description, so take full advantage of the visual capacity of Pinterest.

Pinterest is fun (and addictive) and is a great addition to your social media tools – whether you are a professional aromatherapist or just someone with an interest in aromatherapy.  It is a great place to showcase your own products (and writing posts, just make sure you have a good photo to go with it) but is also a great place to inspire you and collect new ideas!

If you haven’t discovered Pinterest yet, make a point to check it out – and don’t forget to visit me while you are there! :)

 

Pin It

Related Posts:


Tags: , , ,
Posted in aromatherapy and social media, aromatherapy on the internet, social networks | Comments Off

What is a Top Note Essential Oil?

Posted on: April 30th, 2012 by
Comments Disabled
Most citrus oils are top note essential oils in aromatherapy use, istockphoto, used with permission

Most citrus oils are top note essential oils in aromatherapy use, istockphoto, used with permission

Over the past couple of weeks, I have written about both middle note essential oils and base note essential oils for aromatherapy; today, we are taking a look at top note essential oils.  Top note essential oils are the lightest type of essential oils and are the first to evaporate in fragrance terms.  The following text is again amended from the original article which was published at Suite 101.

A lot of top note essential oils do not have a long shelf life because they evaporate quickly. They are relatively easily to extract from plants and consequently are economical in price. Many of the citrus essential oils are top note oils.

The Extraction of Top Note Essential Oils

There are two main traditional methods of extracting top note essential oils for therapeutic aromatherapy use. Firstly, essential oil molecules evaporate during a distillation process of heat, water and steam. The most volatile and smallest molecules are called top notes. Secondly, many citrus essential oils are obtained from plants through a process called expression. Expression extracts essential oils directly from the rind or peel of the fruit.

Using Top Note Essential Oils in Aromatherapy

Some top note essential oils, such as grapefruit and mandarin, are popular for treating children’s ailments due to their gentle nature. In addition, children like the sweet, uplifting fragrance of top note oils. Top note essential oils are also used in aromatherapy in skincare, to treat digestive disorders and to heal emotionally. Several top note oils are used to treat the symptoms of colds and flu and many have antiseptic and bactericidal properties.

Examples of Top Note Essential Oils

Examples of top note essential oils include:

  • lemon
  • lime
  • bergamot
  • orange (sweet and bitter)
  • clary sage
  • eucalyptus
  • grapefruit
  • mandarin
  • peppermint
  • tea tree.

What You Need to Know About Using Top Note Essential Oils

Top note essential oils are sometimes used to adulterate more expensive essential oils. Citrus top note essential oils may be phototoxic and should be used with caution in ultra-violet light. Most top note essential oils will oxide easily due to their high volatility; store in a cool, dark place to maximize shelf life.

If you are interested in learning the basics about aromatherapy, essential oils and how they are used in both clinical aromatherapy practice and to make aromatherapy skincare products, watch out for the Sedona Aromatherapie Foundation Course in Aromatherapy which is scheduled for a late May/early June 2012 release date!

References:

  • Caddy, Rosemary, 1997, Essential Oils in Colour UK: Amberwood Publishing Ltd
  • Lawless, Julia, 1995, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils UK: Thorsons
  • Price, Shirley, 2000, Aromatherapy Workbook UK: Thorsons
  • Author’s own experience

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pin It

Related Posts:


Tags: , , ,
Posted in aromatherapy, aromatherapy notes, essential oils, perfume | Comments Off
1 2 3 4 ... 42