Essential oils are concentrated oils that come from plants, flowers, herbs, trees, roots and other organic living materials, which when inhaled via aromatherapy, or used topically, can heal*, soothe ailments and can assist in a myriad of issues. They can be used in a variety of ways, from aromatherapy to oil blends, as well as salves and other botanical applications. For me, personally, I love to blend high quality oils into beard oils, muscle relief salves and hair tonics, which I will go into further…
Almost all of the hair care, body washes, and other body care products come loaded with additives and chemicals that fill our bodies with toxins, and have a greater negative effect with prolonged use, which is why there’s been such an upsurge in organic and natural products on the market. With the popularity of essential oils, anyone can make their own at home, too, which I find to be especially exciting. Not only can you create a pure, organic concoction that does what you need and more, you can blend the natural properties of essential oils with carrier oils, butters and waxes so that you’re receiving a specialized and focused treatment for hundreds applications.
Since you must consider the purity and quality of essential oils, to be absolutely sure you’re getting the most out of your mixtures, it’s important to do your research. After much reading and trails, I’ve found Butterfly Express to be among the top oil companies, who offer a huge selection of essential oils, carrier oils, ready-made personal products, aromatherapy diffusers, jewelry, minerals, healing salves, supplements, tinctures and so much more. From gardening to dabbling as an herbalist, I’ve been growing in my understanding and passions for the natural world, and so I reached out to Butterfly Express for help with this feature and they sent me some small vials of essential oils to play with. And so, I thought it would be fun and helpful to share my experience (with recipes!) of making my own salves and hair oils.
Since you must consider the purity and quality of essential oils, to be absolutely sure you’re getting the most out of your mixtures, it’s important to do your research. After much reading and trails, I’ve found Butterfly Express to be among the top oil companies, who offer a huge selection of essential oils, carrier oils, ready-made personal products, aromatherapy diffusers, jewelry, minerals, healing salves, supplements, tinctures and so much more. From gardening to dabbling as an herbalist, I’ve been growing in my understanding and passions for the natural world, and so I reached out to Butterfly Express for help with this feature and they sent me some small vials of essential oils to play with. And so, I thought it would be fun and helpful to share my experience (with recipes!) of making my own salves and hair oils.
As a bearded man, beard oils have become an everyday staple for me, because they enrich the quality of my beard hairs, as well as soothe itch, and stimulate growth and fullness. And while it’s not difficult to blend oils for this application, getting the aroma and the healing properties just right can take some research and experience. To make your own beard oil, you simply need to combine carrier oils that are best for hair and skin into a vile, then add your essential oil cocktail, then close and shake. And viola, you have made your own beard oil. Or if you prefer a dry oil balm for beards, you can do much of the same, while including shea butter and beeswax to the mixture (typically cooked in a double boiler), before letting it setup by cooling. Or you can buy a dynamic pre-made beard balm from Butterfly Express, here.
Here is my favorite beard oil recipe (so far):
Combine equal amounts of these carrier oils in a dark glass bottle/vile – Jojoba oil, Coconut oil (fractionated), Vitamin E oil, Sweet Almond oil, and Argan oil. Then with some space left at the top of your bottle, include 4-6 drops of the following essential oils – Bergamot, Lemongrass, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Lavender, Cedarwood and Blue Cypress. Place dropper on top, screw tight, and then shake.
That’s it! A few notes to consider… A simple mixture of 2-3 carrier oils will do fine, and any mixture of essential oils can work fine, depending on your preference, but it is important to consider each oil’s unique properties to ensure they’re safe and helpful for conditioning beards and soothing to the skin. My recipe has woodsy, earthy scent, which some may not prefer, but you can customize the fragrance. Plus, this sort of concoction can be employed as a hair tonic as well, so if you’re suffering from dry, weak or stripped hair, dousing this oil in your hair and leaving it in for several hours before washing it clean can make all the difference in hair health, quality, strength and softness.
Here is my favorite beard oil recipe (so far):
Combine equal amounts of these carrier oils in a dark glass bottle/vile – Jojoba oil, Coconut oil (fractionated), Vitamin E oil, Sweet Almond oil, and Argan oil. Then with some space left at the top of your bottle, include 4-6 drops of the following essential oils – Bergamot, Lemongrass, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Lavender, Cedarwood and Blue Cypress. Place dropper on top, screw tight, and then shake.
That’s it! A few notes to consider… A simple mixture of 2-3 carrier oils will do fine, and any mixture of essential oils can work fine, depending on your preference, but it is important to consider each oil’s unique properties to ensure they’re safe and helpful for conditioning beards and soothing to the skin. My recipe has woodsy, earthy scent, which some may not prefer, but you can customize the fragrance. Plus, this sort of concoction can be employed as a hair tonic as well, so if you’re suffering from dry, weak or stripped hair, dousing this oil in your hair and leaving it in for several hours before washing it clean can make all the difference in hair health, quality, strength and softness.
When creating salves, I prefer to focus each ingredient for a specific effect. So, the other day I created a pain relief salve, specifically meant for muscle aches and pains, which dictated which essential oils went into it. Now, Butterfly Express has their own version of a healing salve, known as the Miracle Salve, which contains Almond oil, Sunflower oil, Vitamin E oil, Beeswax, Comfrey Root, Lobelia, Mullein, Oregon Grape, and Plantain, and is available here. I, myself, being much newer to this sort of mixology, I am lesser familiar with the last four ingredients listed above, however, have found that the Miracle salve is indeed powerful for aches, healing cuts, and for infusing antioxidants. For more information about salves and individual effects of each possible ingredient, click here.
I tried a few mixtures with a varying amount of butter and wax ingredients to try and make the perfect salve for my back and neck pains that keep me in a vicious cycle of middle insomnia; meaning that I often fall asleep fine, but after a few hours, I wake up from discomforts and have trouble falling back to sleep again, which then tends to bring on stress, anxiety and negative thought processes. While also working with a chiropractor, I employ healing salves to assist me back to sleep through the night. Now, in making salves, you can use essential oils, or even dry herbs by cooking them or by soaking them for an extended period of time (typically 2+ weeks). Try turmeric for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties.
I tried a few mixtures with a varying amount of butter and wax ingredients to try and make the perfect salve for my back and neck pains that keep me in a vicious cycle of middle insomnia; meaning that I often fall asleep fine, but after a few hours, I wake up from discomforts and have trouble falling back to sleep again, which then tends to bring on stress, anxiety and negative thought processes. While also working with a chiropractor, I employ healing salves to assist me back to sleep through the night. Now, in making salves, you can use essential oils, or even dry herbs by cooking them or by soaking them for an extended period of time (typically 2+ weeks). Try turmeric for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties.
My recipe is as follows; which is specific for an icy-hot sensation that cools inflamed skin while the icy burn works deep into the muscles:
Add coconut oil, shea butter and beeswax to a bowl or double-boiler. If using a bowl, place it inside a larger pot of water and place on a stovetop burner on medium heat. Melt the butters and wax slowly. Stir occasionally until blended. Turn off burner, and carefully remove bowl from hot water. Let cool a little, but be careful not to spill. After about 5 minutes, add menthol and camphor (I prefer crystals over essential oils for a more powerful effect), and essential oils of eucalyptus, blue spruce, and peppermint (other essential oils can be used for specific aromatic and healing properties, like wintergreen, ginger, chamomile, lavender, juniper berry, helichrysum italicum, clary sage, and frankincense to name some). Then once completely blended, pour the mixture into small containers and wait for them to harden naturally, which can take a few hours.
If you would like to learn more about Butterfly Express, click here.
Add coconut oil, shea butter and beeswax to a bowl or double-boiler. If using a bowl, place it inside a larger pot of water and place on a stovetop burner on medium heat. Melt the butters and wax slowly. Stir occasionally until blended. Turn off burner, and carefully remove bowl from hot water. Let cool a little, but be careful not to spill. After about 5 minutes, add menthol and camphor (I prefer crystals over essential oils for a more powerful effect), and essential oils of eucalyptus, blue spruce, and peppermint (other essential oils can be used for specific aromatic and healing properties, like wintergreen, ginger, chamomile, lavender, juniper berry, helichrysum italicum, clary sage, and frankincense to name some). Then once completely blended, pour the mixture into small containers and wait for them to harden naturally, which can take a few hours.
If you would like to learn more about Butterfly Express, click here.
Article written & Photos by Brandon Scott / Eye & Pen
(Main photo by 64636759@N07 via Flickr)
*This article is meant for entertainment purposes only. All medical and health related advice or questions should be directed toward a doctor or medical professional.
Article written & Photos by Brandon Scott / Eye & Pen
(Main photo by 64636759@N07 via Flickr)
*This article is meant for entertainment purposes only. All medical and health related advice or questions should be directed toward a doctor or medical professional.
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