English Lavender

Herbal Pot-Pourri

Pot-pourri is a very traditional aromatic accessory for the home and many recipes have been handed down through the generations. There are several ways to make pot-pourri. The oldest method is for a moist pot-pourri where layers of rose petals, spices and salt are arranged in a large crock and left to rot down for six weeks or more. The strength of scent is excellent but the visual appearance is not good (the salt bleaches out all the color in the rose petals). That is why traditional pot-pourri jars are closed, with holes for the fragrance to waft through.

A prettier finished effect is gained by mixing flowers and herbs with essential oils and a fixative, such as orris root. This is also a fairly lengthy method but the finished effect can be lovely, particularly if some flowers are dried with silica gel and placed on top for decoration.

As most of the projects here are for sachets or other items where the herbs are hidden away behind some fabric, the look of the finished pot-pourri is not of paramount importance. The main point is that the scent should be strong and long-lasting. When making small sachets it helps to use fairly small ingredients of an even size, so there are no unsightly lumps and bulges in the sachets. The best answer for this is to use small sprigs of dried herbs and flowers with a much larger proportion of fixative.

Many recipes call for powdered orris root, but I use cut and sifted orris or blue flag root instead, as I find the powder spoils the outward appearance of pot-pourri. However, as the recipes here are mainly for use on sachets, either powdered or cut orris root will do.

Many of the recipes here can easily be altered to suit whatever ingredients you have available. Once you have made several batches of your own pot-pourri you will become more courageous and want to experiment. It is easy to make up your own recipesjust keep to the basic guidelines on quantities of ingredients.

Orris Root and Oil Mixture

As a general note, I use a measuring jug when measuring out the various dry ingredients, unless they are measured by the spoonful. The orris root is best mixed with the essential oil first and put into a small screw-top jar to mature for a couple of days. If you are intending to make several types of pot-pourri, I would suggest you build up a collection of jars with different orris root and essential oil mixtures which you can use as you wish.

Mix the oil and orris root in the proportions of 4 oz orris root to 1/2 fl oz essential oil. Once it has matured for a couple of days you can use it by the tablespoonful as indicated in the recipes. Make sure that you label the jars clearly, stating the particular essential oil you have used. The collection of orris root/oil jars can then sit in a neat row on your kitchen shelf or worktop, where you can shake them occasionally to encourage the mixing process. Avoid storing them in strong sunlight as it will reduce the strength of the essential oils.

Delicious Mint and Cinnamon Pot-Pourri

1/2 pint cinnamon pieces
1/2 pint mint leaves, crumbled
2 tbsp cinnamon/orris mixture
1 tbsp apple/orris mixture
1/2 tbsp mint/orris mixture

Use a large mixing bowl and mix together all the ingredients. As these recipes are mainly destined for use in sachets, you should break the cinnamon pieces up fairly small. Having mixed it well, turn the mixture into a large jar or polythene bag and seal. Put it away for two to four weeks, shaking it regularly to ensure even distribution of the oil mixtures. Check the smell after two weeks; if the aroma seems satisfactory you can use it, but if not, you should wait another couple of weeks. If you are still not happy with the smell, try adding other orris root/oil mixes until you like the balance of the fragrance.

Lemon Pot-Pourri

1/4 pint lemon verbena leaves
1/4 pint lemon balm leaves
1/4 pint lemon thyme leaves
1/2 pint lemon and orange peel, dried and chopped
1 tbsp bay leaves, crumbled
1/4 pint mint leaves
3 tbsp lemon/orris mixture
2 tbsp neroli (orange blossom)/orris mixture
1 tbsp mint/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Herbs and Spices Pot-Pourri

1/2 pint ginger root
1/4 pint cinnamon sticks
1/4 pint star anise
3-4 nutmegs, broken
1/4 pint angelica root
6-8 bay leaves
1/4 pint lavender flowers
1/4 pint rosemary
1/2 pint sage leaves
1 tbsp thyme
5 tbsp allspice/orris mixture
3 tbsp cinnamon/orris mixture
1 tbsp thyme/orris mixture
1 tbsp rosemary/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Herb Garden Harvest

1/4 pint lemon verbena leaves
1/2 pint rosemary leaves
1/2 pint lavender flowers
1/4 pint lemon balm
1 tbsp thyme
1 tbsp crumbled bay leaves
1/4 pint sage leaves
1/2 pint oregano
1/2 pint scented geranium leaves
5 tbsp geranium/orris mixture
4 tsp lavender/orris mixture
1 tbsp rose/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Spicy Lavender Pot-Pourri

1/2 pint lavender flowers
1/4 pint cornflowers
1/4 pint cloves
1/2 pint crushed cinnamon sticks
1/2 pint pink rose petals
2 tbsp lavender/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Moth Chaser Sachets

1/4 pint Santolina, crushed
1/4 pint Artemisia
1/4 pint mint leaves
1/4 pint rosemary leaves
5 cinnamon sticks, crushed
1/4 pint cloves
1/4 pint lemon peel, dried and chopped
1/4 pint lemon-scented geranium leaves
3 tbsp lavender/orris mixture
3 tbsp clove/orris mixture
2 tbsp lemon/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process. Use in sachets that can be hung in cupboards or laid in drawers to ward off fierce moths.

Christmas Sachet Mix

1/2 pint pine needles
1/2 pint conifer leaves
1/4 pint bay leaves, crushed
1/4 pint eucalyptus leaves, crushed
1/2 pint orange peel, dried and chopped
1/4 pint cinnamon sticks, chopped
1/4 pint allspice berries
5 tbsp pine/orris mixture
3 tbsp orange/orris mixture
2 tbsp allspice/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Hop Pillows

For centuries, hop pillows have been popular remedies for combating insomnia and promoting restful sleep. Originally, mattresses would have been filled with grasses and herbs, which is why the plant Galium ordorata is commonly known as ‘ladies bedstraw’ or ‘hedge bedstraw’. From there we progressed to stuffing pillows and mattresses with down and horsehair, but the smell of the grasses was replaced by an herbal pillow. During the Victorian era, herb pillows were much favored, particularly ones made from lavender and roses.

Although it is traditional to slip herb pillows into the main pillowcase and therefore keep them out of sight, they look best when decorated with plenty of lace and ribbons, especially if you are giving them as a present.

Many fabrics can be used for making pillows, ranging from plain calico that can be slipped into the main pillowcase to antique linens and lace that give a really luxurious effect and deserve to be left on show. The two most popular scents for inducing sleep are hops and lavender, but these fragrances do not blend well together so choose one or the other. Both of these recipes smell heavenly and will help you drift off into scented sleep.

Sweet Hop and Spice Mix

2 pints dried hops
2 tbsp allspice
2 tbsp orange peel, dried
2 tbsp lemon balm leaves
1 tbsp allspice/orris mixture
1 tbsp neroli (orange blossom)/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Victorian Flower Sleep Mix

3/4 pint dark red or pink scented rose petals
1/2 pint elderflowers
1/2 pint lavender flowers
1/4 pint rosemary leaves (they keep away evil spirits!)
5 tbsp rose/orris mixture
3 tbsp lavender/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Making a Hop Pillow

To make a hop pillow, you will need the following ingredients:

1/2 yard muslin
Sweet Hop and Spice Mix
1/2 yard plain or patterned cotton lace or ribbons

Cut out two pieces of muslin, each approximately 14×12 inches and machine or sew by hand around three sides. Turn right sides out and fill with the hop mix, then stitch up the fourth side firmly by hand. Now cut out two pieces of the cotton, slightly larger than the muslin and allowing extra for seams approximately 16×14 inches. Placing right sides together, machine sew around three sides, incorporating the lace if you wish at this stage. Turn right sides out, then turn under the seam allowance on the fourth side and place the hop pillow inside. Finish the last edge by hand with neat oversewing stitches. You can then decorate the pillow with lace or ribbons.

When the fragrance of the hop pillow begins to fade, all you have to do is remove the inner filling, replace the hop mix with a new batch and then sew up the pillow again. This is quicker and easier than having to replace loose contents in the cotton pillow.

Handkerchief Pillow

The easiest way of all to make a pretty square sleep pillow is to use pretty lace-edged handkerchiefs. Most of the work is done for you then, and a pretty pillow can be made in a very short time.

You will need:

4 lace-edged handkerchiefs
1/2 yard plain white cotton lawn or cotton
1/2 yard muslin

Join the four handkerchiefs together in a square by oversewing the edges or using a zigzag stitch on a sewing machine. Cut the cotton backing to the same size as the square of four handkerchiefs and then turn in the edges by the depth of the lace so the square fits the fabric area of the four handkerchiefs. Machine-stitch around three sides of the fabric, leaving the lace free and one side open. Make a square muslin pillow as described for the hop pillow and fill with any of the sachet mixesthe Victorian flowers mix might be the most suitable. Insert the muslin pad and close the pillow with small slip stitches. You can decorate the top of the cushion with some ribbon bows if you wish.

Small Perfumed Sachets

Smaller sachets have many uses; they can be tucked in drawers and cupboards, or used to scent linen cupboards or lingerie. There is nothing more glamorous than a drawer that exudes a lovely floral aroma whenever it is opened. Desks can benefit from sharper scentsif work has to go on through the night, a sachet filled with basil to relieve tiredness, or cardamom to help concentration, might be appropriate.

To sleep in bedlinen scented with the sweet smell of lavender has long been a luxury. The easiest way to make little sachets to give as presents, or to use yourself, is to buy a collection of pretty lace-edged handkerchiefs. Place a couple of tablespoons of one of the mixtures in the center of each handkerchief, gather up the edges and tie with pretty ribbons to make an elegant and fragrant bundle.

If you wish to use a printed or plain fabric, you can cut out two pieces of fabric of the size you require, with a small allowance for seams. Sew around three sides of the main sachet and similarly on two slightly smaller pieces of muslin. Turn the muslin right sides out, fill with pot-pourri and sew up the fourth edge by hand. Turn the cotton sachet right sides out, insert the muslin sachet and sew up the fourth edge by hand. It is not essential to make the muslin liner but it does save time when renewing the sachet as you can throw away the old sachet and replace it with a new one. A liner also reduces the likelihood of the oils staining the outer cover.

Padded Coat Hangers with Fragrant Sachets

Another luxury with a practical purpose is a padded coat hanger that has a matching sachet hanging from its center. Padded hangers are much kinder to clothes than ordinary wire ones and are less likely to leave hanger marks on delicate fabrics. The sachet can be hung inside the article of clothing, making it fresh and fragrant the next time it is worn. You can either use a flowery pot-pourri mix or the moth chaser recipe, which will keep away moths and help to protect woolen clothing in particular.

You will need:

6 wooden coat hangers
1/2 yard wadding
1/2 yard printed cotton
2 yards 1/2-inch wide ribbon
matching cotton
extra ribbon for bows

Cut a strip of wadding 36×2 inches and wind it around a coat hanger, stitching it securely at each end. To cover the hook, fold 1 inch of ribbon over at the end and then bind the remaining ribbon tightly all the way down the hook. Stitch the end of the ribbon to the wadding at the base of the hook, then cut off the surplus ribbon.

Cut out a piece of the fabric about 4 3/4 inches wide and slightly longer than the hanger, then fold it in half lengthwise with the right sides together. Stitch across both short ends. Turn to the right side. Neaten the raw edges on the long sides by folding the seam allowance over and pressing or tacking it into position. Press a crease line along the bottom of the casing.

Place the wadding-wrapped hanger inside the fabric casing, with the open edges along the top of the hanger. Pin in position while working. Join the seam edges with running stitch, leaving the cotton loose at the end. Also sew running stitches along the bottom crease and again leave the cotton loose at the end. Pull both ends of the hanging threads to form gathers all along the hanger, then secure the threads tightly. The hanger can now be decorated with a large or small bow. Make a matching sachet in the same way as for the small perfumed sachets, then hang it from the hook with some ribbon or lace.

Gentleman’s Mix

Most pot-pourri and sachet mixes are rather too feminine for a man’s wardrobe. So here is a mix that would suit most men and might appeal to some ladies as well!

1/4 pint lemon verbena leaves
1 tbsp mint leaves
1 tbsp cloves
1 tbsp rosemary
1/4 pint raspberry leaves
1 tbsp lemon/orris mixture
1 tbsp mint/orris mixture
1 tbsp oregano/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Basic Ingredients

The most important consideration to bear in mind when making herbal preparations is to only use the best quality products you can find. Good quality oils and natural essential oils will combine to make a far superior product than that produced by cheap oil and chemical, synthetic oils. Natural products are far less likely to cause skin allergies, but it is always wise to test your finished product on a small patch of your own skin if not on that of the recipient.

Essential oils are produced from many different scented plants, using both the leaf and stalk, or flower, depending on the plant concerned. Although it is possible to extract these essential oils yourself, it is a long process and the fun of making some herbal beauty products as gifts is to have fairly instant results. If you find concocting potions really appealing, there are plenty of opportunities for further experimentation to be found in the many specialist books available.

Packaging

As with every product, it is the packaging that gives the finishing touch and makes all the difference between something that looks home-made and slightly dubious or exciting and luxurious. If you keep your eyes open in antique shops and yard sales, you will discover that there are plenty of old and interesting bottles around. Thick glass bottles in a green or blue tone can look wonderful when decorated with a pretty satin ribbon and a few flowers. Sealing is probably best done with a cork, which can be trimmed to fit any size of bottle. Screw-top bottles are another possibility but they don’t have the same old-fashioned appeal.

Another lovely idea is to buy a glass scent bottle with a ground stopper to prevent evaporation. The container could then be treasured and reused many times. Atomizers can give a marvelous feeling of luxury to some home-made scented waters. There are many unusual perfume bottles available and they make a stunning display on a pretty dressing table. As a complete contrast, there are also some promisingly shaped containers to be found in grocery stores and supermarkets; if you look carefully next time you are shopping, you’ll be amazed at how many suitable shapes and sizes there are amongst the mustard pots, vinegar jars, mayonnaise jars or even bottles of squashes and cordials. You may have to cover the lid, or substitute a cork for the screw top depending on how attractive it is once opened, but nevertheless there is plenty of scope.

Always label your product carefully and add instructions if it should be kept in the refrigerator or in cool conditions. Giving a use-by date might also be a good idea if something has a fairly short life. Labels can be decorated by hand or stenciled and tied with a ribbon around the neck of the bottle. You could also use a sticky label and attach it to the body of the bottle. Several products can then be packaged together in a hamper or basket, with cotton wool balls or other packaging to fill the basket and prevent the bottles from breaking. Home-made pot-pourri makes a very good filler for baskets – you can carefully arrange a selection of bottles amongst the pot-pourri, then cover the basket with swathes of cellophane before decorating it with a pretty bow.

Bath-Time Products

Nothing works more magic than a perfumed soak in a warm bath after a really tiring or stressful day. The smell of the herbal products can add a great deal to that relaxation and many bath preparations are very simple to make.

There are two main groups of herbs in these preparations – herbs to promote relaxation and those that help to revive you. The relaxing herbs include camomile, scented geranium, jasmine, lavender, neroli (orange blossom) and hops. The more stimulating and reviving herbs include basil, lemon verbena, rosemary, melissa and bergamot.

Although it is a tempting thought to strew freshly picked herbs across the waters of your calming bath, I wouldn’t recommend that you try it! Speaking from bitter experience, it causes untold blockage problems in the plumbing and feels very uncomfortable when you sit on a particularly sharp stalk! The best way to use fresh herbs is to place them in a muslin bath bag.

Bath Bags

Cut out some 9-inch diameter circles of muslin and place 2 tablespoons of roughly torn fresh herbs in the middle of each one. Dried herbs are just as successful. Gather the edges of the circle together and make into a small bundle, holding it in place with an elastic band. Then attach ribbons around the bundle to cover the elastic band, making a long enough loop to hang it from the taps so it will dangle in the water. A set of bath bags, with different colored ribbons to denote different herbs or mixtures of herbs, could be put together with a collection of other bath-time treats. Do write clear instructions on a label so they don’t get mistaken for bouquet garni and put in a stew!

Oatmeal can be added to the contents of the bath bags. Use equal quantities of herbs and oatmeal, as it helps to soften the skin.

?Bath Oils

These are very simple to make and very relaxing. The oil base should be good quality – preferably almond for normal to dry skin or safflower for normal to greasy skin. The only oil that will completely disperse in bathwater is a form of castor oil called turkey red oil. However, it is not easily available in health food stores, unlike the others, and so I would recommend trying the almond or safflower oils instead.

Choose some essential oils that will relax or revive (see the suggestions above) and make sure they are good quality natural oils rather than chemical ones. Chemical fragrances are excellent for pot-pourris and products that will not come into contact with the skin, but it is safer to use natural oils for skin preparations, in case the recipient is allergic to the chemical ones.

To make the oils, add 5 drops of essential oil to every tablespoon of almond or safflower oil that you put into the bottle. Shake well before use. You can use just one essential oil, such as rosemary or lavender, or you can mix them – rose and lavender, or rosemary and orange are good blends. The possibilities are endless and the fun starts when you begin to choose your essential oils. These should be available at your local health food store or beauty shop.

Washballs and Soaps

Washballs date back to Elizabethan times and so are traditional shapes of soap. Making soap at home can be rather time-consuming, so I have included a recipe that uses a pure, fragrance-free ready-made soap to speed up the process. Traditionally, soap is made with tallow, which is rendered or melted animal fat. It should be available from your local butcher and you can melt it in a heavy saucepan over a low heat and then strain it into screw-top jam jars for storage. Take care when making soap as the caustic soda that is used can burn your skin, so do wear rubber gloves and handle it with care.

Lavender and Rose Washballs

2×5 oz bars plain Castile soap, finely grated
8 fl oz rose or lavender water
5 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops rose essential oil

Heat 3 fl oz of the rose or lavender water and pour it over the soap. Let is stand for about ten minutes. Mix well and then incorporate the rose and lavender oils. Leave to harden for two days. Then make the mixture into small balls, each one about the size of a table tennis ball or slightly smaller, and leave to dry in a dry airy place. When the washballs have completely hardened, you can polish them with cloth moistened with the rest of the rose or lavender water, or alternatively wet your hands with the rose or lavender water and rub the balls between your hands. Allow to dry out before packaging.

Floral Vinegar for the Bath

Floral vinegars can soften the skin when used in the bath and are very refreshing if kept in the fridge and dabbed onto a fevered brow in moments of stress! Cider vinegar has a delicate apple scent and so makes an excellent base.

There are several herbs and flowers that can be mixed with the vinegar. The main consideration will probably be which ingredients are easiest for you to obtain. Successful plants include jasmine flowers, rose petals, lavender flowers and stalks, scented geranium leaves, lemon balm or lemon verbena leaves and rosemary.

Place a large handful of mixed flowers and herbs or a single variety (rose and lavender with a little jasmine works well, or scented geranium and lemon verbena) in a glass bottle and fill up with cider vinegar. Replace the lid or seal with a cork and place in a sunny spot for a couple of weeks. Then strain the vinegar, making sure that you release as much moisture from the herbs as possible, and pour into a measuring jug. Half-fill a bottle with the scented vinegar and top up with spring water. One bottle of vinegar will therefore fill two bottles of the same size with the floral vinegar. To use, pour a generous quantity into the bath with the taps full on.

Orange Blossom Bath Salts

8 oz baking soda
1 lb coarse sea salt
1/2 fl oz neroli (orange blossom) essential oil

Stir together the baking soda and sea salt, then add the essential oil and store in a sealed jar. Food coloring may be added if you wish. Use three tablespoons per bath.

Lemon Verbena Bubbles

12 oz pure soap flakes
3/4 pint spring water
1/4 fl oz lemon verbena essential oil
1 fl oz vodka
2 fl oz glycerine

Heat the water and dissolve the soap flakes in it. In another container, mix the essential oil with the glycerine and vodka. Combine these two mixtures and add a drop of yellow or green food coloring if you wish. Store in a wide-mouthed jar with a sealed lid.

Orange and Cinnamon Soap

4 fl oz spring water
2 tbsp caustic soda
4 oz melted tallow
1 tsp neroli (orange blossom) essential oil
1 tsp cinnamon essential oil
4 fl oz safflower oil

Wearing rubber gloves, pour the water into a large heat-proof glass bowl. Add the caustic soda and stir well with a wooden spoon. Add the melted tallow and stir vigorously. Then add the safflower oil and the neroli and cinnamon essential oils. Beat well and pour into plastic molds. Leave to set. Once they are set, ease the soaps out of the molds and leave in a dry airy place for two weeks.

Cucumber and Mint Soap

4 fl oz spring water
large bunch of fresh mint, any variety
2 tbsp caustic soda
4 oz white vegetable fat, melted
6 drops mint essential oil
8 fl oz almond oil
1/2 cucumber

Liquidize, or place in a food processor, the mint leaves and spring water. Pour into a bowl and leave for a couple of hours. Liquidize (or process) the cucumber. Strain the spring water into a large heat-proof glass bowl, discarding the mint leaves, then add the caustic soda (making sure you are wearing rubber gloves). Stir with a wooden spoon then add the melted vegetable fat. Add 4 tbsp of cucumber puree, the almond oil and mint essential oil. Beat well and then pour the mixture into plastic molds. Small soaps can be made in shaped ice cube molds or larger ones in yogurt pots or similar containers. Leave to set for two days.

Gently ease the soaps out of the molds and then leave in an airing cupboard or other dry airy place for two weeks before using.

Note: It can help to line the molds with cling film as this may overcome any problems in removing the soap once it has set.

Aromatherapy is an alternative field of medicine used for the treatment or prevention of diseases. It involves use of herbal oils. Aromatherapy is widely popular as a healing and calming cure for several common problems. Different types of aromatic herbs are available to suit different bodily needs. A correct herbal combination would ensure the best utilization of the healing power of this therapy. Different plant extracts are used for treating different kinds of problems. A combination of two or more herbal oils can be useful only in certain conditions. Lavender may be the most widely used of all aromatherapy herbs.

The aroma is calming and soothing, and lavender has medicinal effects in healing burns and wounds, helping digestion and improving respiratory problems. One of the most useful aromatherapy herbs, lavender is well tolerated even by people with allergies. Lavender blossoms are formed into wreathes, tied into bunches or braided into wands, then dried. Used decoratively, lavender adds color and texture to a room, and the delicate scent lasts for months. Sometimes the buds are stripped from the stems and made into sachets or used in potpourri. Lavender is often added to bath products because of its calming effect.

Luxurious creams and lotions are also calming and romantic. Lavender massage oil helps relax and soothe sore muscles. Lavender is safe to use on babies because it is gentle and soothing. Lavender baby powder and lotion help peevish babies relax and sleep, and lavender diaper cream is soothing and mildly antiseptic. As with all aromatherapy herbs, not everyone responds to lavender the same way. Even without any medicinal effect, however, most people enjoy the soothing, romantic scent of lavender.Essential oils are best when made from organically grown aromatherapy herbs, because chemical soil additives change the scent.

Essential oils are rated for purity on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being most pure. Essential oils are very reduced and should be used sparingly. A drop or two in an oil diffuser or on a light bulb ring will scent an entire room. Essential oils can be diluted with carrier oils to make massage or bath oil, or to add to unscented shampoos, soaps or lotions. Aromatic herbs can be used for a long period of time, even for a few years. However, like any other natural product, they also tend to lose their effectiveness over time. Some aromatic oils react to certain environment differently. Some oils may degrade on prolonged contact with sunlight.

Aromatherapy is an alternative field of medicine used for the treatment or prevention of diseases. It involves use of herbal oils. Aromatherapy is widely popular as a healing and calming cure for several common problems. Different types of aromatic herbs are available to suit different bodily needs. A correct herbal combination would ensure the best utilization of the healing power of this therapy. Different plant extracts are used for treating different kinds of problems. A combination of two or more herbal oils can be useful only in certain conditions. Lavender may be the most widely used of all aromatherapy herbs.
The aroma is calming and soothing, and lavender has medicinal effects in healing burns and wounds, helping digestion and improving respiratory problems. One of the most useful aromatherapy herbs, lavender is well tolerated even by people with allergies. Lavender blossoms are formed into wreathes, tied into bunches or braided into wands, then dried. Used decoratively, lavender adds color and texture to a room, and the delicate scent lasts for months. Sometimes the buds are stripped from the stems and made into sachets or used in potpourri. Lavender is often added to bath products because of its calming effect.
Luxurious creams and lotions are also calming and romantic. Lavender massage oil helps relax and soothe sore muscles. Lavender is safe to use on babies because it is gentle and soothing. Lavender baby powder and lotion help peevish babies relax and sleep, and lavender diaper cream is soothing and mildly antiseptic. As with all aromatherapy herbs, not everyone responds to lavender the same way. Even without any medicinal effect, however, most people enjoy the soothing, romantic scent of lavender. Essential oils are best when made from organically grown aromatherapy herbs, because chemical soil additives change the scent.
Essential oils are rated for purity on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being most pure. Essential oils are very reduced and should be used sparingly. A drop or two in an oil diffuser or on a light bulb ring will scent an entire room. Essential oils can be diluted with carrier oils to make massage or bath oil, or to add to unscented shampoos, soaps or lotions. Aromatic herbs can be used for a long period of time, even for a few years. However, like any other natural product, they also tend to lose their effectiveness over time. Some aromatic oils react to certain environment differently. Some oils may degrade on prolonged contact with sunlight.

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