Confused about which essential oils can be used when making soap and how much of them you should use? If so, this chart should help! It can be downloaded and printed out, so you’ll always have it for easy reference when making soap. The chart lists 24 of my favorite essential oils to use in soap & includes: a brief description of scent a benefit or characteristic of the oil the note (top, middle or base) a … Continue reading
Calendula is loaded with powerful skin-healing, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, yet is gentle enough for most people and animals to use safely. You can make all sorts of things with calendula, including soap, salve, lotion bars and lip balm, but for today, I want to focus on calendula tea and 14 ways in which you can use it. (Don’t have any calendula? I buy mine HERE from Mountain Rose Herbs.) How to Make Calendula … Continue reading
Today’s the day! After months of brainstorming, creating and experimenting, my Natural Bath Bombs eBook (and accompanying Natural Bath Care Package) is finally finished and ready to send out into the world! My goal for the eBook was to simplify the bath bomb making process, yet offer lots of ingredient options, all while keeping the recipes filled with only natural colorants and additives. I also created a set of companion eBooks and printables loaded with more natural … Continue reading
Some unseasonably warm spring-like weather, along with an extra jar of dandelion-infused olive oil I had on hand, inspired this shampoo bar recipe. Keeping in theme with the happy sunny feelings that I associate with dandelions, I scented the soap with a cheerful blend of citrus essential oils, but you can use another scent, like lavender, or leave it fragrance-free, if you wish. While I made the batch shown using the hot process (crock pot) method, … Continue reading
I’ve spent much of the last 12 months brainstorming, measuring, mixing, testing, perfecting, writing and photographing hundreds of recipe ideas for my new print book and other ebooks that will be available this year. Below, is a behind-the-scenes photo I snapped of my dining room area in the midst of one such crafting/photography session. (If only I had a self-cleaning house!) :) I’ve had such a great time making all sorts of pretty and useful … Continue reading
Recently I had the good fortune to view the inside of Rosalee de la Forêt’s upcoming book, Alchemy of Herbs. As expected, it’s absolutely wonderful, filled with all sorts of helpful herbal information and beautiful photos. This is definitely a volume for your home library that you’ll refer to time and time again! I’m so excited to be able to share a recipe directly from the book today, for a lovely cinnamon tea that helps soothe sore throats. … Continue reading
Today’s recipe is a special feature from the new book The Beeswax Workshop by Chris Dalziel. It’s a fantastic book filled with 130+ recipes and ideas for using beeswax to make everything from candles, soaps and personal care products to surfboard wax, shoe polish and beeswax crayons. Reading through this book, I was amazed at all of the things I never knew beeswax could do! I can already tell it’s going to be an oft-used resource for my … Continue reading
