Essential Oils: Fragrances can transport us to another time | Lifestyles


Helen Keller said it best when she wrote: "Smell is a potent wizard that transports us across thousands of miles and all the years we have lived."

The author, political activist and lecturer — who was blind and deaf from birth — also wrote in "The World I Live In" that "Odors, instantaneous and fleeting, cause my heart to dilate joyously or contract with remembered grief."

It has been more than 100 years since Keller described the power of scent; and to this day, her words are oh, so true.

Whenever I catch a whiff of Keri body lotion, I cringe.

Introduced to the public in 1960 by Bristol-Myers Squibb, the product was placed in doctors' offices and hospitals in order to promote it. In 1978, when my mom was lying in a hospital bed dying from cancer, that was the lotion used to soften her dry skin.

As the scent enters my nostrils, I can't picture the sturdy, vibrant, joking woman I grew up with. Instead, I see a thin, weak and lethargic woman struggling to survive, and my heart contracts with remembered grief.

On the other hand, it dilates joyously when I recall the smell of the roses my mother grew ... and the sweet peas with their fluttering blossoms and intense fragrance.

Each year, my mom planted a variety of seeds, bulbs and annuals. During many years of my childhood, half of the back yard consisted of rows of dahlias, chrysanthemums and gladiolas.

Roses were planted on each side of the front and back porches and as I entered or left the house, their bouquet followed me. I spent hours playing among the flowers, touching their petals and inhaling their magical scents.

+1  Nancy Edwards
In this photo taken in 1958, Nancy (Lundquist) Edwards stands near some of the flowers grown by her mother.Courtesy of Nancy Edwards

I believe those early memories are what led me to my appreciation and use of essential oils.

And what exactly are essential oils?

Well, they really aren't "oils" at all, but the aromatic liquid derived from flowers, herbs, shrubs, trees, roots, bushes and seeds. The components defend plants from insects, harsh environmental conditions and disease, according to several websites on plant properties.

The liquids also are vital for a plant to grow, evolve and adapt to its surroundings. Commonly referred to as the essence of the plants, pure essential oils protect the plants and determine the scent they give off.

If it's good for the plants and trees, it's good for me. I use essential oils in my everyday life.

A bottle of "therapeutic grade" essential peppermint oil sits on my desk at work. I dribble two drops of it into my 48-ounce water glass. I've read that adding a single drop of peppermint oil to a glass of water has approximately the same concentration as 20 bags of peppermint tea. A drop of peppermint oil in a cup of homemade hot chocolate transforms the drink into a liquid York peppermint patty.

Eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree, frankincense and geranium oils stand next to the Band-Aids, Q-tips and cotton balls in a cupboard in my bathroom at home.

Bottles of clove, ginger, cinnamon, rosemary and oregano essential oils nestle among the jars of spices in my spice rack along with lemon, orange and grapefruit. I'll dribble cinnamon oil in a snickerdoodle batter or sprinkle oregano oil in my spaghetti sauce.

A drop or two of lemon, citrus or grapefruit oil in unscented liquid soap makes washing hands a pleasure. I combine oils into sprays to scent the house. If I'm feeling stressed, I'll bathe in a tub of water with lavender, sandalwood and clary sage oils.

And, here are a few of my favorite recipes.

Basic Recipe for Scented Room Spray

Pour the distilled water into a spray bottle. Add the drops of essential oil. Shake very well. Allow to sit for a few hours before using.

Shake the bottle before each use to evenly distribute the oil throughout the water. If the spray bottle has adjustable spray settings, set it to the finest mist.

Spray as desired.

Here are some combinations to add to the distilled water in the basic recipe above.

Deodorizing Room Spray

(Helps kill germs.)

  • 8 drops lemon essential oil
  • 6 drops bergamot essential oil
  • 4 drops tea tree essential oil
  • 1 cup distilled water

Mix all together in a glass spray bottle. Shake gently before each use. Mist room as desired.

Pet Deodorizing Room Spray

  • 6 drops cedarwood essential oil
  • 3 drops tea tree oil

Orange Spice Air Freshener

  • 5 drops orange essential oil
  • 2 drops cinnamon essential oil

Apple Pie Air Freshener

  • 6 drops cinnamon essential oil
  • 3 drops clove essential oil

Spray Cleaner

  • 20 drops lemon essential oil
  • 8 drops peppermint essential oil
  • 10 drops tea tree essential oil
  • 10 drops lavender essential oil
  • 2 tablespoons castile soap (eucalyptus is a good choice)

Combine ingredients with enough distilled water to fill a 16-ounce spray bottle. Spray on countertops, shower doors, etc., and rub with clean, soft cloth until dry.

Relaxing Bath

  • 5 drops lavender essential oil
  • 3 drops sandalwood essential oil
  • 2 drops clary sage essential oil

Add the essential oils to the bath water after filling the tub. Mix the oils into the water with your hands.

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