Making My Own Soap - Importance of Scents?

The next step of my soap making journey revolves around choosing the proper fragrance.  Smells do many things - bring back cherished memories from childhood - help aid in pain relief - energize us - relax us - I think you get my point ... so it is important that you consider what you want your soap to do for you.  This is the great thing about soaps - you can use one for morning showers to get you energized for the day - and a different one when you need a stress relief / a relaxing moment away from the craziness of the day. 
Always try to find organic supplies for soap making.  Remember that your skin is the largest organ you have and is the entry point for everything.  Be very careful what you choose to include in your soap.

For me, I have some favorite scents that I will be using in my first trial run of soap making... but for you, let's give you some more ideas for what scents will offer you...my post from a couple days ago will give you some more good information on other scents...

Rosemary - Rosemary is a very ancient herb of the evergreen family.  In ancient times it was known as sacred.  There are many medicinal benefits of rosemary.  It is known to activate the brain and clear away cobwebs.  It helps with headaches, migraines, pain, mental fatigue, nervous exhaustion.  It is also effective for bronchitis, whooping cough, and asthma.  It also encourages hair growth and helps fight any skin maladies. 

Benefits: http://www.essentialoils.co.za/essential-oils/rosemary.htm

Sage - Sage boosts short term memory, balances hormones - reducing hot flashes, decreasing excessive menstruation, and lactation.  In a recent study, sage was found to protect your genetic DNA from damage. Sage also has a relaxing affect.  There is a difference between Clary Sage, and Sage.  Clary sage has been used for centuries medicinally for labor.  Many women say that they do not need additional pain killers with the addition of Clary Sage.  It can be put under the pillow or directly into the skin.  Caution though is needed when using it directly on the skin as it is very strong.

Benefits: http://www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail52.php

Basil - Basil has many of the same benefits as Rosemary.  Do not use during pregnancy.

Benefits: http://www.livestrong.com/article/198886-basil-in-aromatherapy/

Orange - Sweet orange helps calm and relax one.  It is a sedative, and is also know for its ability to lower high blood pressure.  It can aid in bronchitis, asthma, muscle cramps, anxiety attacks, congestion, and insomnia. 

Benefits: http://www.essential-oil-recipes.com/orange.html

Lemongrass - Ivory soap has a lemongrass base.  It is an astringent, antiperspirant, and an antiseptic.  Caution - it is quite strong - a little goes a long way and can be an irritant to skin.  It has been used for respiratory infections.  Lemongrass is great for slightly oily skin and is a great boost for mental well being.

Benefits: http://aromatherapy.savvy-cafe.com/the-benefits-of-lemongrass-essential-oil-properties-2007-10-01/

Jasmine - There are many nuances to jasmine that I love.  My favorite is a night blooming jasmine... just thinking of the smell relaxes me.  Jasmine is well known for its relaxing capabilities as well as it's ability to take the edge off migraines.  It also is known to relieve muscle cramps, depression, and anxiety.  It has been used to relieve impotency and frigidity in both men and women. 

Benefits: http://www.essential-oil-recipes.com/jasmine.html

Rose - Rose water has many benefits - not only the scent but the oil itself.  It is an anti-depressant, aphrodisiac, astringent among others.  It also helps lower fevers, reduces scarring, purifies the blood, aids in regulating menses.  The list goes on and on. 

Benefits: http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-rose-essential-oil.html

Vanilla - Vanilla is a comforting aroma for both men and women.  It is one of the scents that will aid you in falling and staying asleep faster / longer.  It is an antidepressant - with tranquilizing and sedating properties.  It is known to be an aphrodisiac for men. 

Benefits: http://theresaann.hubpages.com/hub/the-benefits-of-using-vanilla-essential-oil-in-aromatherapy

Of course, I could have missed many, many of your favorites, as I know I haven't touched on a couple of mine... start paying attention to how scents affect you and make a list of the ones you may want to incorporate into your own soaps one day!  Blessings... E

Breathe In, Breathe Out... there is more to it than that!

We all breathe right?  It is easy right?  Breathe in.... Breathe out.  Well... it is a little more complicated than that.  Breathing techniques can help you relieve stress, reduce asthmatic attacks, heal you from allergies, live longer, reduce the chance of heart attacks, helps you center your body and release negative thoughts and energy, etc...

As a singer, we are taught HOW to breathe.. you can breathe through your nose or your mouth, from your throat, chest, diaphragm, toes, partially, deeply, aggressively, calmly, cooly... you name it there are many MANY different ways to breathe.  The PROPER way, depends on what outcome you want to have.  Here are some examples:

Strengthening Breathing - Doing strengthening breathing exercises will help expand the lung capacity you currently have - more capacity, better breathing - better brain power - more oxygen into your blood, muscles, etc... Oxygen helps you disperse toxins and grow good healthy cells.  Asthmatics and people prone to lung infections (bronchitis, pneumonia, upper respiratory infections) all would benefit from strengthening breathing. 

Recommended reading: http://www.funnyadult.net/breathing-exercises-%E2%80%93-improve-lungs-strengthening/

Diaphragmatic Breathing - This is concentrated breathing from your diaphragm.  People with lung cancer, COPD, emphysema all could benefit from strengthening your diaphragm and this type of breathing that helps you force air out of your lungs. 

Recommended reading: http://www.cchs.net/health/health-info/docs/2400/2409.asp?index=9445

Deep Breathing - Controlled deep breathing is most beneficial to people that are high strung, have high stress jobs, have a familial history of heart disease and / or stroke, and those that have high blood pressure.  Controlled deep breathing allows you to focus your attention on how and when you breathe - it calms your mind and soothes your body.  Ensure that when you are breathing in you think happy, beautiful, positive thoughts and as you breathe out you are releasing all negativity and tension.

Recommended reading: http://stress.about.com/od/breathingexercises/Breathing_Exercises_for_Stress_Management.htm

The list above is only a start... there are so many ways that breathing properly will help enhance your life.  Here is another list with additional links to other types of breathing.  http://healing.about.com/od/breathwork/Breathwork.htm

This is an AWESOME link on Why it is so important to breathe properly and how we are damaging our bodies with our breathing.  http://www.holisticonline.com/yoga/hol_yoga_breathing_Importance.htm

If you have allergies, or are asthmatic and are working on changing your relationships (see post on Chakras) you may look to some herbs and specific foods to help alleviate the symptoms.  Again, I caution you - PLEASE make sure that you read all you can on herbs before you start using them.  http://www.livestrong.com/article/143453-herbal-remedies-breathing-problems/

Sit up! Take a deep breath - think a happy thought - and let your cares go!  LIVE!  Blessings!  E