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Benzoin Oil comes from the resin of the Benzion tree and produces a very strong aromatic smell that is described as sweet, balsamic, vanilla odour.  It blends well with other resins, spices, lemon, juniper berry and pine.

This aroma of this essential oil is known to bring you inner peace and tranquility.  It is also used as a cold remedy for coughs and bronchitis, but can help ease asthma.

Listed below are the aromatherapy uses of Benzoin Oil:

• Anti-inflammatory – relieves or alleviates inflammation
• Antioxidant – inhibits oxidation
• Antiseptic – destroys or controls pathogenic bacteria
• Astringent – contracts & tightens tissues
• Carminative – settles digestion, flatulence & eases gripes
• Cordial – stimulant & tonic
• Deodorant – counteracts body odors
• Diuretic – increases the production & secretion of urine>
• Expectorant – helps to expel mucus from respiratory system
• Sedative – calms/reduces nervousness
• Styptic – astringent, helps to prevent external bleeding
• Vulnerary – promotes healing of wounds & prevents tissue degeneration

Benzoin is considered non-toxic and non-irritant, but should be avoided if you have sensitive skin.

Please check out our Clearly Essentials’ website to see our list of essential oils and carrier oils we supply.

The blending of essential oils is an art that goes way back to ancient times.  There are few things to consider when creating a good blend that is well rounded and balanced.

You must first consider whether the oil is a top, middle or a base note and what the odour intensity of the oil is.  As a guideline you could use 3-5 drops of top note, 10-13 drops of middle note and 15-18 drops of the base note.  It will take some time to experiment with different formulas to find out what works best for you.  It is important to record how many drops of oil you use and it is best to start with the base notes, than middle and working your way up to the top notes.  Once you have finished creating your blend place in a dark bottle and label it with a name and date.

Guidelines for top, middle and base notes of a blend:

Top Notes – most volatile and are the first thing we smell, they are fresh, light and dissipate quickly like lemon, bergamot, orange, eucalyptus and basil.

Middle Notes – once the top notes start to fade you begin to smell the middle notes which are the heart of the blend and they tend to linger for a while like geranium, lavender, rosemary and rosewood.

Base Notes – last a long time and are rich and heavy which holds the blend together like patchouli and ylang ylang.

It is also helpful to know the evaporation rate and odour intensity of an essential oil when creating a blend.  Evaporation rates are determined on a scale of 1 to 100 like eucalyptus 5, bergamot 55, ylang ylang 91 and patchouli 100.  The odour intensity of an essential oil is rated on a scale of 1 to 10 like lavender 4, rosemary 6, basil 7 and peppermint 7.

Please check out our Clearly Essentials’ website to see our list of essential oils and carrier oils we supply.

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil is used in the perfume industry because of its exotic fragrance which is described as intensely sweet, soft, floral with a spicy undertone.

This essential oil has also many other uses like relieving anxiety, fear, depression and anger, as well as reducing high blood pressure.  For women, it helps them to find confidence, sensuality and ease physical tiredness caused by pre-mentrual syndrome.  Ylang ylang oil overall uplifts and calms you psychologically.

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil has also been used in skin care for oily or combination skin.   It blends well with rosewood, vetiver, geranium, patchouli, other florals and citruses.

Listed below are the aromatherapy uses of Ylang Ylang Oil:

• Antidepressant – uplifts & counteracts depression
• Anti-infectious – combats infection or its spread
• Antiseborrheic – helps to control the production of sebum
• Antiseptic – destroys or controls pathogenic bacteria
• Euphoric – produces a feeling of well-being or elation
• Hypotensive – reduces blood pressure
• Nervine – stimulates & strengthens the nervous system
• Regulator – helps balance & regulate the functions of the body
• Sedative – calms/reduces nervousness
• Stimulant – stimulates the physiological functions of the body
• Tonic – invigorates & strengthens the body

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil is non-toxic, non-irritant but may cause possible sensitization in some individuals. It should be used in moderation because of its heady scent and can cause headaches or nausea.

Please check out our Clearly Essentials’ website to see our list of essential oils and carrier oils we supply.

In the aromatherapy world, you may have come across a few terms used to describe Essential Oils.  Hopefully this will help you to understand their definitions;

• Organic – an organic essential oil is produced from plants grown without the use of chemicals like fertilizers or sprays.
• Certified Organic – same description as above but is authorized by an organization like Ecocert Canada which provides organic and environmental certification in Canada.
• Chemotypes – plants of the same species that are chemically different but otherwise indistinguishable resulting in different therapeutic properties.
• Wild Crafted – essential oils that have been extracted from wild grown plants.
• Selected Farming – only specific plants are grown on a particular farm.
• Fractionated – essential oils that have had part of their undesirable chemical composition removed like terpenes which can make it photo-toxic and non-volatile, an example would be bergamot FCF.
• Quenching – is a process of adding a chemical to a whole oil to help prevent unwanted side-effects like a skin irritation, for example adding d-limonene to lemongrass.  This process is mainly used in the perfume industry.

In the aromatherapy industry using whole oils is very important because each essential oil has a unique chemical combination that affects the body’s chemistry.

Please visit our website for more information on essential oils and to have a look at our product listing.

Thyme Essential Oil is known to strengthen the body’s defense mechanism and help prevent infection, especially respiratory infections.  It also helps to stimulate your appetite, relieve fatigue and ease your mind.

Thyme Oil has a sweet, green, fresh fragrance and blends well bergamot, lemon, pine, lavender as well as other herbs.

Listed below are the aromatherapy uses of Thyme Oil:

• Anthelmintic – expels or destroys parasitic intestinal worms
• Antimicrobial – resists or destroys pathogens that cause disease
• Antioxidant – inhibits oxidation
• Antiputrescent – counteracting, or preserving from, putrefaction; antiseptic
• Antirheumatic – relieves or reduces the symptoms of rheumatism
• Antiseptic – destroys or controls pathogenic bacteria
• Antispasmodic – relieves spasms & cramps of the smooth muscles
• Antitussive – relieves coughs
• Antitoxic – counteracts poisoning
• Aperitif – stimulate the appetite before a meal
• Aphrodisiac – increases or stimulates sexual desire
• Astringent – contracts & tightens tissues
• Bactericidal – prevents the growth of/or destroys bacteria
• Carminative – settles digestion, flatulence & eases gripes
• Cicatrizant – promotes healing through the formation of scar tissue
• Diuretic – increases the production & secretion of urine
• Emmenagogue – promotes & regulates menstruation
• Expectorant – helps to expel mucus from respiratory system
• Fungicidal – resists or destroys fungal infections
• Hypertensive – increases blood pressure
• Nervine – stimulates & strengthens the nervous system
• Parasiticide – destroys parasites
• Revulsive – relieves pain by means of diversion of blood or disease from one part of the body to another
• Rubefacient – warms the skin & increases blood flow
• Stimulant – stimulates the physiological functions of the body
• Sudorific – helps to induce sweating
• Tonic – invigorates & strengthens the body
• Vermifuge – expels worms or parasites from the body

Red thyme oil, serpolet (from wild thyme), thymol and carvacrol type oils contain large amounts of toxic phenols which can irritate the mucus membranes and cause dermal irritation as well as sensitization in some individuals. Thyme oil should be used in moderation and in low dilutions only. It is important to avoid during pregnancy. White thyme is not a complete oil and is often adulterated. Lemon thyme and linalol types are generally less toxic, non-irritant and with less possibility of sensitization in some individuals (safe for use on skin and with children).

Please check out our Clearly Essentials’ website to see our list of essential oils and carrier oils we supply.

Clary Sage is a powerful essential oil used for easing stress, anxiety and depression.    It also is used to relieve asthma, dandruff, balance a woman’s hormones, relieve menstral cramps as well as to help induce labour contractions.

It has an unusual odour described as sweet, herbal, tenacious, soft, somewhat amber, with bitter sweet undertones.    Clary Sage Essential Oil blends well with vetivert, geranium, cedarwood, lavender, pine and other citruses.

Listed below are the aromatherapy uses of Clary Sage:

• Anticonvulsant – relieves or controls convulsions
• Antidepressant – uplifts & counteracts depression
• Antiphlogistic – reducing inflammation
• Antiseptic – destroys or controls pathogenic bacteria
• Antispasmodic – relieves spasms & cramps of the smooth muscles
• Aphrodisiac – increases or stimulates sexual desire
• Astringent – contracts & tightens tissues
• Bactericidal – prevents the growth of/or destroys bacteria
• Carminative – settles digestion, flatulence & eases gripes
• Cicatrizant – promotes healing through the formation of scar tissue
• Deodorant – counteracts body odors
• Digestive – aids in the digestion of food
• Emmenagogue – promotes & regulates menstruation
• Hypotensive – reduces blood pressure
• Nervine – stimulates & strengthens the nervous system
• Regulator – helps balance & regulate the functions of the body
• Sedative – calms/reduces nervousness
• Stomachic – aids digestion
• Tonic – invigorates & strengthens the body
• Uterine – tonic of the uterus

Clary Sage Essential Oil is non-toxic, non-irritant & non-sensitizing.  It is important to avoid drinking alcohol because it can induce a narcotic effect & exaggerate drunkenness.   Clary Sage should be avoided during pregnancy.   It is generally used in aromatherapy over garden sage since it has a lower toxicity level.

Please check out our Clearly Essentials’ website to see our list of essential oils and carrier oils we supply.

Basil is best known as a culinary herb that is used a lot in Italian cuisines.  It has a powerful aroma which can be described as sweet, spicy, green, fresh with balsamic and sweet base notes.

Basil Essential Oil has health benefits too. It is known to relieve anxiety and mental overload.  It can help ease your mind and emotional vulnerability that can cause you to have digestive upsets.  Basil Oil is the perfect nerve tonic, it’s also restorative, fortifying and clearing.

Basil oil blends well with lavender, geranium, bergamot, lemon, lime, pine and other herbs.

LIsted below are the aromatherapy uses of Basil Oil:

• Antidepressant – uplifts & counteracts depression
• Antiseptic – destroys or controls pathogenic bacteria
• Antispasmodic – relieves spasms & cramps of the smooth muscles
• Carminative – settles digestion, flatulence & eases gripes
• Cephalic – stimulates & clears mind
• Digestive – aids in the digestion of food
• Emmenagogue – promotes & regulates menstruation
• Expectorant – helps to expel mucus from respiratory system
• Febrifuge – reduces fever
• Galactagogue – increases the flow of breast milk
• Nervine – stimulates & strengthens the nervous system
• Prophylactic – defending or protecting from disease or infection
• Restorative – helps to restore health, strength, or consciousness
• Stimulant of adrenal cortex – quickens the physiological functions of the body
• Stomachic – aids digestion
• Tonic – invigorates & strengthens the body

Basil Essential Oil should be avoided during pregnancy and may irritate sensitive skin.

Please check out our Clearly Essentials’ website to see our list of essential oils and carrier oils we supply.