Aromatherapy Bodyscrub Recipes

Enjoy these aromatherapy bodyscrub recipes.

Using Essential Oils for Salt or Sugar Scrubs -
Recipes to Exfoliate For a Radiant Glow to Your Skin

by Judy Lausch

Using essential oils with salt or sugar scrubs brings a radiant glow to the skin while stimulating the circulation of the blood and lymph system. As skin grows, it casts off dead cells. When this happens, pores can become clogged, causing blackheads to form and making the skin look dull. Using salt or sugar scrubs can gently remove the dead cells, leaving new, softer, cleaner, glowing skin.

Here is my favorite recipe for a salt scrub:

2/3 cup fine sea salt
1/3 cup jojoba oil
1/3 cup of unscented shampoo or bath soap
Zest of one orange
30 drops of rosemary or rosewood essential oil

Mix the salt and shampoo with the jojoba, and then add the zest and essential oil. Put the mixture in a clean glass jar. Rose essential oil s particularly good for the skin, but it is very expensive, but if you have it, add a drop or two to the scrub.

How to use the scrub: First clean the skin to remove makeup residue. Dampen your body (you can use the scrub while taking a bath or shower), and then massage some of the scrub mixture on your skin with your hands or a loofah. Scrub GENTLY on wet face or body. Use a circular motion to remove dead skin, and a vertical motion to wipe the area clean. Do NOT use the scrub on broken or sensitive skin. Also avoid using the scrub right after you have shaved your legs (ouch!).

When finished with the scrub, use warm water to rinse, and then use a towel to pat the skin dry. To complete the scrub, apply moisturizer to the face and/or lotion to the body.

You can use a wet pumice stone while bathing to smooth knees, elbows, feet, and ankles. Wet a loofah to use for body buffing on arms, back, and legs. You can use the loofah with or without soap. It makes the skin soft and tingly.

Check with your aromatherapist to see which essential oil is particularly good for your skin. Many combinations are possible. Use only therapeutic grade essential oils.

Here's a recipe for a sugar scrub: Make a paste of 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon canola oil, 1 tablespoon honey, and 10 drops of sandalwood essential oil. Follow the same instructions as detailed in the salt scrub, above. Enjoy your glow!

About the Author

Judy is a registered nurse and registered aromatherapist, with a special interest in using essential oils in health care and prevention. For information about Judy, visit her Web page.

More aromatherapy bodyscrub recipes.

Citrus Essential Oils

Unlike the steam distillation of most essential oils, most citrus essential oils are cold pressed from the rind of the fruit. Many citrus essential oils are photosensitizing when applied to skin. In other words, do not use them on skin that will be exposed to the UV rays of the sun or a tanning bed within 24-48 hours.

Another thing to know about citrus oils is that they oxide more quickly than other essential oils. Shelf life of an open bottle of citrus oil, properly stored, may be one year or so, compared to many years for most essential oils.

A study at Mie University (in Japan) found that citrus fragrances improved immunity, aided relaxation, and decreased depression. Also, many citrus oils are high in limonene, a substance that clinical studies have shown inhibits tumor growth.

Let's look at some citrus and related essential oils.

Orange Essential Oil

Orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oil (from the sweet orange tree) has an uplifting scent. It is often recommended for colds and flu, high blood pressure, and indigestion. Orange may be one of the best all-around essential oils for the digestive system, possibly useful for abdominal distention and pain, poor appetite, indigestion, flatulence, nausea, and vomiting. It is also useful for oily hair and skin.

Oils from the Bitter Orange Tree

Neroli (also called orange blossom) is technically not an essential oil. It is an absolute extracted from the flowers of the bitter orange tree. That is, a solvent was used to force the oil from the orange blossoms.

Neroli absolute may be useful for muscle pain and circulatory problems. You can also use it for skin conditions such as scars, stretch marks, and wrinkles. Neroli is considered a natural relaxant and may be useful for depression and anxiety.

A related oil is petitgrain (also called bitter orange), which is distilled from the leaves, stems, and unripe fruit of the bitter orange tree. Petitgrain's fragrance is similar to neroli, but harsher and sharper. This oil may also be useful for depression.

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is a sub-species of bitter orange. Although this essential oil is considered very photosensitizing because it contains bergapten, you can get bergapten-free bergamot. Bergamot may help enhance immunity and help heal wounds and skin growths. It is also considered to balance emotions and help relieve anxiety.

Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon (Citrus limon) essential oil may be helpful for colds, flu, and bronchitis. It is also considered a tonic for the circulatory system and may help lower high blood pressure.

Lemon may increase metabolism but is also believed to increase appetite. It may be cleansing and detoxifying for the liver, benefiting problems such as cellulite. Lemon's astringent properties are helpful for oily skin.

For emotional healing, use lemon to encourage clarity, direction, awareness, and concentration. Lemon essential oil is also great to use in cleaning products.

Grapefruit Essential Oil

Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi) is cooling, cleansing, and decongesting and may be beneficial for both an overheated liver and a sluggish lymphatic system. It may encourage weight loss.

It's uplifting aroma can help improve self-esteem, create euphoria, and improve self-worth. For emotional healing, this oil encourages joy, positivity, and confidence.

Tangerine and Mandarin Essential Oil

Tangerine and mandarin have the same Latin name (Citrus reticulata) and the chemistry is almost identical.

These essential oils are refreshing and rejuvenating. They may be good for digestion and may stimulate the gall bladder. They may also help insomnia and lymph congestion.

Lime Essential Oil

Lime Citrus aurantifolia) essential oil can be steam-distilled (non-photosensitizing) or cold-pressed (very photosensitizing). Lime is used primarily for skin care and to support the respiratory and immune systems.

More Reading on Citrus Essential Oils

Orange essential oils show promise as natural antimicrobials

Citrus essential oils could be anti-fungal additives for food

Essential Oils for Dandruff

The best essential oils for dandruff will depend on the underlying cause of your dandruff. Often recommended oils include geranium, juniper, lavender, patchouli, rosemary, sage, and tea tree.

If your dandruff is the result of fungus, tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia) is probably your best choice. You can also try rosemary.

If your scalp is oily, cedarwood, juniper, or patchouli may be useful.

For a dry, flaky scalp, you can try chamomile, myrrh, or sandalwood.

If you want to use one oil at a time, add a few drops to your shampoo. Or for a pre-shampoo treatment, here's a recipe from the Essential Oils Desk Reference:

5 drops lemon
2 drops lavender
1 drop rosemary
2 drops peppermint
10 drops carrier oil

Blend the oils and thoroughly massage one teaspoon into your scalp for 2-3 minutes. Leave on for 15 minutes, then shampoo with 2-4 drops of essential oil added to one teaspoon shampoo.

Or perhaps you prefer this hair rinse from Aromatherapy for Dummies:

4 drops rosemary
4 drops lavender
2 drops tea tree
1/3 cup vinegar
2/3 cup water

Mix ingredients and shake well. Use it to rinse your hair.
Note: The vinegar smell quickly dissipates.

Essential Oils for Absentmindedness

Research suggests that spicy essential oils may increase the production of beta brain waves, which are the brain waves produced when the brain is alert and active. Essential oils for absentmindedness to try are cardamom, cinnamon, rosemary, peppermint, or basil.

Ways to use, as needed:

- Diffuse for 15 minutes every 2 hours.

- Inhale directly 2-4 times daily.

- Apply 1-2 drops on temples and/or back of neck (diluted as necessary).

For a blend to improve memory, the Essential Oils Desk Reference suggests:

5 drops basil
10 drops rosemary
2 drops peppermint
4 drops helichrysum

Aromatherapy for Dummies recommends this memory-improving blend:

10 drops lemon
5 drop rosemary
3 drops sage
1 drop cinnamon

To use these blends for massage, dilute with carrier oil.



For a pre-made blend, consider Brain Power from Young Living Essential Oils. Brain Power is designed to give your brain a boost with essential oils that are high in sesquiterpenes. This blend contains sandalwood, cedarwood, melissa, frankincense, blue cypress, lavender, and helichrysum.

Essential Oils for Snoring

Can essential oils for snoring be helpful? First, make sure the snoring is not a symptom of a more serious issue, such as sleep apnea.

The Essential Oils Desk Reference recommends rubbing 4-6 drops thyme essential oil diluted 50/50 with a carrier oil on the soles of both feet at bedtime.

I also came across some Web sites that recommend diffusing marjoram essential oil throughout the night to stop snoring. I couldn't confirm this recommendation with any of my reference books, but majoram is considered a sedative, so it's worth a try.

What is an Aromatherapy Nebulizer?

An aromatherapy nebulizer, also called a nebulizing diffuser, breaks up essential oils into fine molecules before dispersing them into the air. The advantage to this nebulization process is that the essential oil diffusion is more concentrated and the essential oils remain suspended in the air longer.

Using a nebulizer maximizes the healing qualities and therapeutic benefits of essential oils.

A pump-style nebulizing diffuser uses an air pump to disperse essential oil molecules, no water or heat required. This type of diffuser will give you the most concentrated results.

With an ultrasonic aromatherapy nebulizer, you add essential oil to water and the diffuser breaks down the water and oil into airborne molecules without heat.

For more about other types of diffusers, see my post Types of Aromatherapy Diffusers.

Aromatherapy Body Lotion

You can make your own aromatherapy body lotion by simply adding your choice of essential oils(s) to any unscented lotion. The advantages of making your own aromatherapy lotion are that you can choose the specific essential oils you want, and you can be sure to buy and use high-quality oils. Unfortunately, many so-called aromatherapy products on the market use low-quality essential oils. They might smell good, but they give you little or no beneficial effect.

How do you know which essential oils to use? Choose oils that are good for your skin type. Making Aromatherapy Creams and Lotions: 101 Natural Formulas to Revitalize & Nourish Your Skin recommends the following essential oils as a starting point:

• For oily skin: cypress, lemon, tea tree
  
• For dry skin: carrot seed, helichrysum, rose
  
• For normal skin: geranium, lavender, myrtle
  
• For sensitive skin: German chamomile, lavender, neroli

Note: Lemon and other citrus oils increase your skin's sensitivity to sun. After applying these oils, wait at least two hours before going out in the sun.

How to Make Aromatherapy Body Lotion

Aromatherapy Carrier Oils

Aromatherapy carrier oils are a way to dilute essential oils for use on your skin. The most common carrier oils are vegetable or nut oils; however, you can also use lotions or creams. Look for high-quality oils, organic when possible. Remember, your body absorbs what you put on your skin.

• Apricot kernel oil has a lot of A, B, and E vitamins. It is considered particularly useful for sensitive skin and mature skin.
  
  
• Avocado oil is high in sterolins, which are reputed to reduce age spots and help heal sun damage and scars.
  
  
• Borage oil, evening primrose oil, and black currant seed oil contain GLA, a fatty acid that the body converts to prostaglandin, which has anti-inflammatory properties.
  
  
• Calendula oil is a nutrient rich multipurpose body oil full of vitamins, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and natural enzymes. It may be useful for inflammation, bruising, rashes, eczema, and varicose veins
  
  
• Cocoa butter contains vitamin E and a number of other vitamins and minerals.
  
  
• Coconut oil is high in anti-oxidants.
  
  
• Grapeseed oil is a light oil that absorbs quickly and is good for all skin types. It tightens and tones skin.
  
  
• Jojoba oil is useful for dry skin, psoriasis, eczema, sunburn, arthritis, and rheumatism.
  
  
• Macadamia nut oil is considered one of the best regenerative oils available. Macadamia oil is a protective oil with a high absorption rate and has been successfully used as a healing oil for scars, sunburns, minor wounds, and other irritations.
  
  
• Olive oil promotes a smooth, radiant complexion and helps maintain skin elasticity. Learn more about olive oil skin care.
  
  
• Sweet almond oil is also good for all skin types. It can help relieve itching, soreness, and dryness.
  
  
• Walnut oil has soothing refreshing emollient qualities.

Although not an oil, you can also use aloe vera gel. It penetrates skin deeply, promotes cell repair, and acts as a natural anti-inflammatory.

Note: You probably do not want to use nut oils if you are allergic to nuts.

One oil NOT to use: Mineral oil is difficult to absorb, clogs pores, and may have some toxic effects.

One source for aromatherapy carrier oils.