The perception of smell is 10,000 times more sensitive than the sense of taste. When you inhale essential oils, some of the molecules travel to the lungs, where they proceed to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body.  

Oils applied to the skin are absorbed into the bloodstream as well.  Because they are oil/fat soluble, essential oils are highly absorbed by the body, where they circulate for anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours, and are eventually eliminated through sweat and other bodily secretions.

Essential Aromas

Lavender (Lavendula augustifolium)

The most popular oil known for its soothing and relaxing properties. Lavender acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory, helps balance and restore healthy complexions, and is an excellent massage blend for headaches. 

At Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, cardio thoracic surgeon, Dr. Mehmet Oz, recommends lavender to reduce stress, dull pain, and improve sleep for patients recovering from surgery. (Alternative Medicine Advisor, May 1999).  A recent study showed that a daily scalp massage with lavender and several other oils could be an effective treatment for alopecia areata, or hair loss. 

Clary Sage

Warming, female balancing herb used for PMS.  Calms anxiety, tension and stress; also used as a muscle relaxant for aches and pains

Eucalyptus

Antibacterial, fresh, herbal menthol aroma; widely used as an inhalant for colds, coughs and congestion; excellent for massaging tired or sore muscles.

Geranium

Sooths nervous tension and mood swings, balances female hormones and PMS, gently astringent and antiseptic, improves tone and texture of skin

Lemon

Refreshing and invigorating, eases tension and depression; useful for oily skin and treatment of acne

Rosemary

Stimulating and uplifting, purifying and cleansing for all skin types, warm and penetrating for massage to ease muscular aches and pains

Tea Tree

Antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral.  Excellent for skin irritations like cold sores, insect bites and acne

Ylang Ylang

Enticing and sensual, helps alleviate anger, stress, insomnia, hypertension. Helps balance the skin's sebaceous secretions

Undiluted essential oils should never be applied to the skin.  Mix with carrier oils - vegetable oils, such as sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, walnut oil. Use general guideline of six to 18 drops of essential oil per one ounce of carrier oil.

Make Your Own Incense

Incense has been burning on alters and in homes for over 5,000 years. There are four basic forms of incense--loose, cone, cylinder or stick. Choices of scents come from berries, bark, flowers, gums, leaves, roots, seeds, spices, wood. Some herbs do not burn like they smell, such as peppermint, which smells quite unpleasant when burned. You can test a scent by sprinkling a pinch of your mix on charcoal first, keeping a record of what works and smells pleasing.

A recipe for incense always has five ingredients: an aromatic substance, a base of wood powder (sandalwood, vetiver, cedar etc.) saltpeter or potassium nitrate (the igniting substance), a glue (gum arabic or tragacanth) and liquid (water, wine, brandy, olive oil, rosewater, etc.). Frequently used ingredients are (frankincense, myrrh, benzoin, copal, rose petals, bay, cinnamon, pine needle resin and others.

Loose noncombustible incense is easiest to make. Combine finely powdered leaf, bark, flower, root etc. with a few drops of liquid or oils. Mix by hand, label and store in a jar. Burn this incense on charcoal. You may also scent a "blank" incense stick with a few drops of your favorite essential oil--very simple!

Recipe for Cone Incense... 6 parts powdered sandalwood (or cedar, pine, juniper)
2 parts powdered benzoin (frankincense, myrrh etc.)
1 part ground orris root
6 drops of essential oil
3 to 5 parts loose incense mixture

Mix all ingredients in the order given and weigh. Add 10% of total weight of saltpeter, mix and add gum arabic "glue" one teaspoon at a time - it's a bit messy and sticky. Roll cones thin and shape approximately 1 3/4" long. Cones will shrink and dry in two to seven days. Continue to turn cones to assure even drying without cracking. Start drying in upright position. Cones will burn 10-25 minutes.

Stick incense involves dipping bamboo sticks repeatedly into your cone incense mix until your desired thickness is achieved, changing the mixture between dippings. Are there "rules" for making combustible incense? YES: Never add more than 10% saltpeter of total incense weight, keep woods and gum resin in proportion--use twice the amount of powdered woods as resin. Frankincense, myrrh etc. should never be more than a third of the final mixture.

Credit for this information goes to Botanical.com