Can sweet almond oil be used directly on the eyes to remove eyeliner and mascara?
Sweet Almond oil is generally not considered an irritant to the eyes, but anything you put directly in the eye can feel a little uncomfortable. You can use it directly around the edge of the eye and if for some reason it causes irritation then discontinue the use of it.
June 8th, 2009
I was reading about how mint oil kills gnats and other insects. I have a greenhouse in which we have flies and gnats and I’d like to kill them. It is my plan to spray a solution of water mixed with your peppermint oil on smooth surfaces where the oil will not soak in. Will this work to kill the critters and if so how much would I mix with we’ll say a quart of water?
There is little information on using oils to actually kill insects, while there is a great deal of information and practical experience on repelling insects. The big question is, ‘what percentage of oil will it take to actually kill the insects?.’ We know that percentages around 5% and less will effectively repel insects but I don’t know if those percentages will necessarily kill. I’d start with a 5% blend though and check results. It’s possible that a spray with a smaller percentage would kill the insects if applied directly on them. A 1% blend is approximately 8 drops of peppermint oil per ounce of water.
June 8th, 2009
Why do some of your sprays call for “grain alcohol or high proof vodka” and others only require water?
I use water in most of my personal spritzers but it has one major disadvantage– oils are hydrophobic, they don’t mix with water at all. So each time you want to use it you have to shake it. The oil will ‘mix’ only briefly with the water, you have to use it within about 10 seconds of shaking or it will already have started to separate. Shaking is fairly easy though so it isn’t a problem for those willing to use a little arm power.
Oils will emulsify in alcohol on the other hand, so you don’t have to shake it so often. The disadvantage is that you then are applying a small amount of alcohol to your body and that isn’t always desirable.
June 8th, 2009
Hello about 3 years ago I purchased 3 essential oils and would like to pass the oils on to a friend, but I don’t see an expiration date on the bottles, if I give you a list of the oils can you give me an expiration date on them?
1. Cinnamon Leaf oil
2. Clove Bud oil
3. White Thyme oil
The three oils you mentioned are all middle and base dominated oils with strong anti-oxidant qualities. As long as they are properly stored with the lids tightly on they should be good for several more years. With a few exceptions oils degrade very slowly and they don’t just go bad. They slowly oxidize in some cases or some of the more volatile top notes will dissipate . The biggest contributor to a decline in oil quality is simply poor storage. Always keep the top on and store them in a cool, dark place.
June 8th, 2009
Are your oils safe for mixing with other ingredients for homemade hair product? I am trying to make some and essential oils are needed.
Our oils would be ideal for any recipes that require essential oils. I don’t know what the recipes are so I cannot say that the amounts they are recommending are safe or ideal but I’m hoping they are. I have seen some fairly ‘poor’ recipes over the years, recipes in which the amounts were too high or the formulas were just a little on the strange side.
June 8th, 2009
Hi, I am a massage therapist and I have a patient who is looking to me to help her stop smoking. She is 78 years old and not in very good health. (go figure) A lovely women. Do you have any suggestions as to what Essential Oils would assist her? I appreciate all the emails & valuable information that is always shared. Thank You
I can’t really address the subject of smoking but there are several oils that provide a calming and relaxing action that can be very beneficial for people going through periods of stress. This group of oils would include Rose Absolute Precious, Jasmine Precious, Sandalwood, Lavender, Patchouli, Bergamot, Neroli and more. They can easily be incorporated into a person’s routine.
Using the oils in a bath is ideal, Rose, Jasmine, Lavender and Sandalwood are musts for me in every bath I take. You can also use oils in the shower, either drop oils directly in your shower or spritz them around, or use the new Lavender Shower Tablets. Lavender and Bergamot are ideal for diffusing into your home via whatever method you prefer. Having a spritzer around that you can spray on your neck and face when you are feeling a little strung out is appropriate also. I love Rose, Jasmine and Sandalwood spritzers, you can basically take your pick.
June 8th, 2009
This oil has been recommended as a topical treatment for fungus under toenails. The bottle says to “dilute properly” because it may irritate skin. Can you please tell me what to use to dilute it with and the ratio of dilution.
The dilution is based on the particular oil being used. Generally though, almost every oil is ‘safe’ at a 3% or less dilution (Cinnamon and Cassia Bark oils are the exception) as long as it’s not being applied to certain ultra sensitive areas. Oregano and Thyme, very similar oils, are generally diluted to 3-5%. A 1% dilution is approximately 8 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil, though this will vary slightly from thin to viscus oils. My preferred carrier oil is Jojoba, it never goes rancid and it causes no bacterial build-up on your skin. It also absorbs fairly quickly and is easy to use.
Studies have shown that when you soak your foot in hot water, approximately 105 degrees, and add salt to the water you will significantly increase your ability to absorb any oil into your feet or nails
June 8th, 2009
Hi there, quick question. I bought the relaxation blend the other day for my child who has a terrible time calming down at night, can this blend be used on a 3 year old. I have used oils on them for quite sometime but am always looking for one to help him rest. Please let me know, thanks.
Whenever using oils on children it’s important to dilute them before applying them to their skin. In the case of the relaxing blend the oils are all relatively safe but their are a few oils that are irritating and children’s skin can be a bit more sensitive than adults.
I love Jasmine oil for it’s calming and relaxing properties and almost always use it in my bath and apply it before bedtime. We sell it in our ‘Precious’ Oil line, meaning it’s preblended in Jojoba and ready to apply directly to the skin or bath. What you can do is use it as the base for the relaxation blend, pour 10 drops of the Jasmine Precious in your hand and then add 1 drop of the relaxing blend to it. This can then be rubbed on the chest or chin area in order for absorption and ease of smelling it. I also like to put a drop of the Jasmine Precious under my nose.
A typical bath blend for a child might be 10 drops of Jasmine Precious, 10 drops of Rose Absolute Precious, 2 drops of relaxing blend and a packet of children’s foam bath (just because it’s fun). I confess that I use our Children’s Dolphin blend, I guess I’m just a child at heart.
June 8th, 2009
I recently have been researching making my own home cleaning products. Many of the “recipes” I find include the use of essential oils. Do essential oils have disinfectant capabilities?
Essential oils have been used in cleaning products for a long time. Common oils used in commercial products include the citrus oils, pine and tea tree amongst others. I blend them with soapy water to mop my floors, clean my counters and just about anything else. When I travel I ‘clean’ my hotel bathtub by putting oils in a small amount of water in the tub along with a little soap and then swish it around.
Though many oils are capable of cleaning a house some smell a lot better than others. Find the oils that appeal to you to make the task more enjoyable.
June 8th, 2009
I recenly bought two of your orange scented baby products from Whole Foods. They each had a coupon attached which when I checked had expired in December, 2008. There were no “use by” dates on the bottles and I am wondering if these are still fresh and safe to use on my granddaughter. There were four digit numbers on the bottom of each– 7305 and 7313–. Can you possibly tell me if these are usable or should I return them to the store?
We use the Julien Date Code system for our products which means your products were manufactured on:
7305 7 refers to the year, 2007, and the 305 is the day of that year, approximately November 1.
7313 Similar to the above but manufactured a week later
Both of these should be perfect as long as the top has remained on or the seal is in place. If it was an oil it would be good for several years more even if the oil had been opened.
June 8th, 2009
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