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10 Reasons You Won’t Want To Be Without Cedarwood Essential Oil

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Mary Leave a comment

When we first considered carrying Cedarwood Essential Oil at Beeyoutiful, cheers went up among the men, because its hale and hearty woodsy aroma is definitely favored by the masculine members of our team.

But then the more we Beeyoutiful women learned about and used Cedarwood, we found its benefits and subtle aromatic nuances were delightful for both genders and all ages! It’s a team favorite now.

Considered appropriate to use with children, Cedarwood Essential Oil is a fantastic support for the respiratory system and skin health, and aids in calming and quieting a restless soul.

Here are just a few of the incredible ways we’ve already learned to use Cedarwood Essential Oil.

1. Add 7 drops of Cedarwood to 1 teaspoon of Sweet Almond or Jojoba Oil and massage on the chest, neck, back of the spine and heels of the feet to support the respiratory system.

2. To soothe an overstimulated child or adult, diffuse Cedarwood for 5 minute intervals until relaxed. May also mix with complimentary oils such as Bergamot, Cypress, Cinnamon, Frankincense, Lemon, Lime, Lavender, Rose, Neroli and Rosemary.

3. Add 1 drop of Cedarwood to your facial wash to help avoid acne or other facial blemishes.

4. Clean your floors with Cedarwood!

Freshly Cleaned Floors
1/4 cup Vinegar
5 drops each of Lemon, Cedarwood, and Tea Tree Essential Oils
drop or two of liquid castile soap
Mix together and add to mop water.

5. Add 2-3 drops of Cedarwood to your shampoo to chase away dandruff.

6. Mix one drop of Cedarwood and one drop of Marjoram into Sweet Almond Oil, and use the mixture to massage stiff and sore joints.

7. Cedarwood helps to repel bugs and rodents; take advantage of this by dispensing a few drops onto a cotton ball and placing it in areas where pests are seen.

8. To support kidney health, add 3-4 drops of Cedarwood to Bath Salts. Mix thoroughly and then add to the bath water. Soak for 30-45 minutes.

9. Make your own “Cedar Balls” by putting several drops of Cedarwood Essential Oil on a piece of fabric. Put in a lingerie bag or organza bag and hang with clothing that needs protection from moths.

10. Cedarwood is calming and appropriate for kids!

Settle Down Massage Blend
2 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
1 drop Lavender Essential Oil
2 drops Orange Essential Oil
2 ounces carrier oil
Massage on to the back, neck and feet to help bring calm to children and adults.

These are just a few ways we have discovered that Cedarwood has rapidly become invaluable to us. We would love to know how you have used it; please share your ideas with us!

Get your own bottle of Cedarwood Essential Oil here, or as part of our discounted Men’s Magic and Dream Team essential oil combination packs. Cedarwood’s also an ingredient in our kid-friendly blends, Easy Peasy Breathie, Immuni-T, and Bee Focused.
Eager for more recipes and tips on Essential Oil usage? Our email series 101 Uses for Essential Oils is packed with information you can put to use right away!

How-To Tuesday: Using Bergamot Essential Oil

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Mary Leave a comment

Bergamot is well known for its pairing with Black Tea, producing the much-loved flavor of Earl Grey. But did you know that Bergamot Essential Oil has some amazing benefits that go much further than just tea? Join us for How-To Tuesday and learn some of our favorite uses for this citrus oil.

Refreshing Facial Mask

2 drops Bergamot Essential Oil
3 tsp French Green Clay powder
Distilled Water to desired consistency

Using a non-reactive, non-plastic bowl, mix Bergamot, clay powder, and water together thoroughly. Once water has been thoroughly absorbed (a few lumps are okay; green clay is notoriously clumpy), apply to face. Let dry for 20 minutes, then wash and rinse. Optional: Add 1 drop of Spearmint Essential Oil for an even more refreshing tingle!

Jazz Up My Day Diffuser Blend

Add one drop each of Bergamot, Cassia, and Clove essential oils to your diffuser’s reservoir, then fill up the rest of the way with Eucalyptus.

Bergamot it Up! Cleaning Spray

10 drops Thyme Essential Oil
10 drops Bergamot Essential Oil
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 tsp Liquid Castile Soap

Mix in a spray bottle and add water. Shake well before use. Spritz on surfaces, then scrub and clean all those dirty corners!

Sunshine Day Massage Oil Blend

1 drop Bergamot Essential Oil
1 drop Lavender Essential Oil
1 drop Geranium Essential Oil
2 Tbs Jojoba or Sweet Almond Oil

Put all essential oils in a glass bowl or container and then add carrier oil. Use as a refreshing and cheerful massage oil. Store in a dark colored glass bottle. Refrigeration will extend shelf life. Bottle can be gently warmed after refrigeration by sitting in warm water for a few minutes before using in a massage.

What’s your favorite use for this fragrant essential oil? Tell us in the comments or on Facebook how you use Bergamot!

Eager for more recipes and tips on Essential Oil usage? Our email series 101 Uses for Essential Oils is packed with information you can put to use right away!

How-To Tuesday: How To Zap the Ugh Out of Bugs (Three Tricks!)

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Mary Leave a comment

Spring and Summer would be absolutely amazing… if not for the bugs. The stings and bites, the buzzing and dive bombing can all combine to make leaving the house a miserable experience.

We want you to enjoy the great outdoors, and here are three tricks to pull it off!

Use a natural bug spray to deter the bugs.

Not only are biting insects annoying, but they can also carry dangerous diseases that are easily transferred to humans through their bites. Not only does deterring the little critters make for a more pleasant outdoor experience, but it also helps decrease the likelihood of exposure to the diseases they carry.

Bug Repellent Spray

Makes 8 ounces

scant ½ cup distilled or boiled water

scant ½ cup natural Witch Hazel

Essential Oils (We suggest a combination of Cedarwood, Bergamot, Lemongrass, Citronella, and Lemon)

Fill an 8oz spray bottle half full with the water, then add witch hazel almost to the top. Add a total of 40-50 drops of the essential oils, adding more or less to reach your desired strength. Shake well and spray to keep all those nasty little biting suckers at bay!

NOTE: When using any recipe containing essential oils, always skin test a small area to check for possible skin irritation. Omit Cedarwood if using this blend while pregnant or nursing. The Bug Repellent Spray should NOT be used on children under 2 years old.

Soothe the Stings.

My kids are extremely scared of bees and wasps. They can appreciate the important job that bees do, but they wish they were far away.

Wasps, though… oh they just hate them! We’ve found two great ways to soothe the stings, and they’ve helped take some of the fear away as well.

Pick a few fresh plantain leaves (in our yard they grow rampant!) and crush well or chew them up a bit to release some of the soothing properties. Then you can put the plantain leaves directly over the sting. This should soothe it very quickly. If you do not have fresh plantain, you can use dried plantain; soak in freshly boiled water for 5 minutes. Strain and when the wet herb is cool enough to touch, use it as a poultice.

Activated Charcoal poultices can be used to help as well. Mix the powdered charcoal with a little water to form a paste. Apply directly to the sting for relief of both the swelling and pain.

We have also developed an easy way to have charcoal paste always ready in case of an emergency. Mix activated charcoal and water into a thick paste. Then, shape it into little one inch round balls and wrap in saran wrap. Keep them stored in the freezer.

You can even add Bentonite clay to the charcoal and it will soothe the pain even faster. The frozen rounds will keep forever (as long as your freezer lasts). Then, when ever an ‘incident’ happens, just unwrap one, hold it on the sting and watch it work! CAUTION: Charcoal does stain pretty badly, so avoid getting it on clothing or furniture.

Take the itch out of bites.

Make a poultice out of green tea, or simply use a damped teabag to apply to the bites.

Mix a small amount of honey (1 teaspoon) with Bentonite Clay to form a paste. This is sticky but can be applied to the bites for soothing relief.

Rub a slice of cucumber or the inside of a banana peel on the bites.

Spray Laveshmint Hydrating Toner on the itchy areas; the Aloe, Lavender and Peppermint are soothing to the bites.

Mix some Witch Hazel with two drops of Lemon Essential Oil and use a cotton ball to dab on each bite or sting.

Herbal Bug Bite Compress

1 tablespoon Chamomile

1 Tablespoon Peppermint

1 Tablespoon Calendula

1 Tablespoon Catnip

Mix dried herbs together and then steep in 8 oz of freshly boiled water. Use the mixture to dampen a cotton cloth, then drape on the bites to provide relief. Mixture can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Bug Bite Relief Oil Blend

1 drop Basil Essential Oil

1 drop Lavender Essential Oil

1 drop Lemon Essential Oil

1 drop Chamomile Essential Oil

1 drop Spearmint Essential Oil

Add all five drops into 3 ounces of a carrier oil. Apply a drop of the blended oil to the bites or stings.

NOTE: Omit Basil if using this blend while pregnant or nursing. Bug Bite Relief Oil should not be used with children under 2 years old.

Do you know a friend who would benefit from these recipes? What are your strategies to ward off bugs this summer? Share your ideas on Facebook or in the comments below!

3 Ways to Use Essential Oils for Non-Toxic Spring Cleaning (Plus Printable Checklist!)

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Mary 3 comments

Here’s a confession: by this time in the spring, I am about ready to open all the doors and windows and power wash the dust, dirt, and ick of winter away! It is so nice to get the stale air out and the fresh air in.

Like many of you, my work schedule is such that massive cleaning jobs usually end up on the weekends. All seven of us end up pitching in to get projects done before we head for the outdoors and eat up this weather!

These tips have become my go-to strategies, and they’re such an easy way to not only freshen up our house but also ensure it smells as clean and inviting as it is.

Make Your Own Cleaners

This not only saves money, but personally selecting the ingredients (instead of trusting a mysterious chemical mixture!) also guarantees that they’re the ones you are confident about using with your family.

Window Cleaner

1/2 cup Vinegar (preferably White)
1/2 cup Distilled Water
10 drops of your favorite Citrus or Mint Essential Oils

Mix together in a spray bottle; shake well before using.

General Cleaner

2 tsp Castile Soap
2 cups water
10 drops of Essential Oils of your choice (blends could include Thyme and Lemon, Eucalyptus and Peppermint, Spearmint and Tangerine, or your own favorite combination)

Mix together in a spray bottle; shake well before using.

Scrubbing Powder

Baking Soda
Liquid Castile Soap
Favorite Essential Oil (I like Tangerine!)

Mix a little castile soap with some baking soda to make a paste. Add 3-4 drops of essential oil to the paste and use it to scrub tubs or hard stains.

Furniture Polish and Duster

1 ounce Jojoba Oil
4 drops Lemon Essential Oil
4 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil

Use several drops on a soft cotton rag to clean and dust wooden furniture. Note: always test on a small hidden spot prior to using liberally.

Freshen the Laundry

We typically avoid using perfumed products in our house, but let’s face it: between stinky men, long days in the sun learning to homestead, and kids that play hard, sometimes you just need a little smell-good joy in the laundry room! Optimally, every load would dry in the sun and smell like my childhood, but for the days when that cannot happen, I keep my favorite fragrances on hand to make sure our laundry smells it best.

You can add a drop or two of essential oil to your laundry detergent before pouring it into the washer (except for when washing cloth diapers; skip the oils then). Or do like I do: I use a small rag (cut up holey t-shirts work great!) and put a drop or two of my favorite essential oils on it and toss it in the dryer with our clothes.

My favorite Laundry Aids
Lemon
Orange
Spearmint
Lemongrass
Bergamot

Diffuse Away The Winter Blues

While I prefer to have my windows thrown open, occasionally the pollen, spring storms, pesky bugs, and fluctuating temperatures make me keep the windows tightly shut! Thankfully, my diffuser brings a little bit of spring inside. Keeping my favorite happy blends or recipes available brings cheer and can help cleanse the house of hidden germs as well.

Recommended to Diffuse during Spring Cleaning

ProMiSe Blend
Cedarwood
Lemon
Any Citrus or Mint

Hello Spring: a child-safe blend for diffusing

Tangerine
Lemon
Spearmint
Black Pepper

Add 10 drops each of Tangerine, Lemon, and Spearmint with 2 drops of Black Pepper for a cheery blend. Diffuse to not only add a bright cheery aroma, but help cleanse the room.

For many more tips and recipes, follow our Essential Oil board on Pinterest. Be sure to get our printable Spring Cleaning Checklist, too! It’ll help you stay on track as you move from room to room in your house.

We would love to hear your favorite recipes and tips, too! Make sure to show us how you are using Beeyoutiful’s Essential Oils; tag your social posts with #BeeYouEOs so we can see.

Ciao! Time to go clean,
Mary

Beeyoutiful’s Kid-Friendly Essential Oil Zone

Posted on March 27, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Mary One comment

Beeyoutiful not only has an amazing adult team working together to bring great products to you, but we also currently have a small army of kids with us. When we all get together, there over a dozen little ones 10 and under, all playing together and getting into everything.

As you can imagine, we also have our share of sniffles, sneezes, upset tummies, and overstimulated and sometimes even sad littles ones. Essential oils are one very prized part of our toolbox to help support our wee lot.

Beeyoutiful's Kid-Friendly Essential Oils

Step into our world for a bit and see how we use essential oils with our kiddos! (Be sure you’ve read about the things we think you should know before you begin using essential oils for any age.)

It can be hard to know which essential oils are appropriate for these young ages. After much researching and reading, we’re sharing a list of the oils that we personally use in our homes, along with a few tips on how we use them with our children.

Beeyoutiful’s Kid-Friendly Essential Oils

Bergamot
Black Pepper
Cedarwood
Chamomile
Citronella
Clary Sage
Frankincense
Geranium
Ginger
Lavender
Lemon
Myrrh
Orange
Patchouli
Spearmint
Tangerine
Tea Tree
Thyme

We’ve also bundled some of the most popular kid-friendly oils for respiratory support here.

How We Use Beeyoutiful’s Kid-Friendly Essential Oils With Our Children

Calm Down Rub

1 drop Chamomile
1 drop Tangerine
1 ounce Sweet Almond Oil

Gently massage child all over, or focus on applying the blend to the spine, base of the neck, abdomen, and bottom of the feet.

Tummy Love

1 drop Spearmint
1 drop Ginger
1 ounce Sweet Almond Oil

Mix and rub gently on abdomen, back of the neck, and spine, or rub on bottom of the feet during times of nausea or upset tummies.

Breathe Easy Baby

1 drop Lemon
1 drop Spearmint
1 drop Cedarwood
1 ounce of Sweet Almond Oil

Mix and rub on the chest and over the spine of the child to help support respiratory health.

Sweet Sleep

Add equal parts Cedarwood and Lemon to a diffuser. Diffuse at 15 minute intervals as child falls asleep.

How to Massage Your Baby

Mix 1 drop of Lavender Essential Oil with 3 Tablespoons of Jojoba Oil. Make sure baby is lying on a warm and comfortable surface, and that your hands are warm (if you’re cold, wash your hands in hot water to warm them up).

Use gentle, steady pressure and a calm, comforting voice while touching your baby. Keep continual contact with the baby’s skin. Discontinue massage if you or the baby experience stress or unpleasant emotions; massage should be a tender way for baby and parent to bond and encourage healthy development.

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