Ancient wisdom of herbal therapy from Asia migrated to the United States during the past twenty years. Alternative medicine became popular as part of a health trend, these natural therapies were once used by the medicine man in Indian culture. Acupuncture is another herbal therapy from China, now commonly accepted today’s society.

Botanical herbs have been used for thousands of years in China and other countries. The essential oils used in our soap are steam distilled from natural herbs. Other synthetic fragrance oils make a desirable scent, but have no therapeutic value.

Essential oils are made from plants only grown in certain regions of the world. Pure essential oils are much more expensive than fragrance oils, but the benefits are worth the additional expense.

This list of essential oils and the use of herbal remedies is a general guide to some of the benefits of aromatherapy related to our soap. We strongly recommend advice from a health care professional before attempting to use essential oils beyond the content of our soap products.  

 

Bergamot    Has a fresh, sweet, slightly spicy fragrance.  Useful for skin infections.  Blends well with lavender, lemon, and chamomile.

Camphor, white  Has a distinctive, sassafrass-like camphoraceous odor.  In ancient civilizations, it was considered a powerful remedy against plague and was also used in the embalming process.  Its odor repels insects.  Stimulant of the adrenal cortex.  

Cedarwood  Has a deep woody scent similar to that of the wood from which it is derived.  Its odor intensity is strong and needs to be diluted well and used with other oils.  Has good fixative properties for other oils.  Has astringent and antiseptic properties which help with oily skin.  It has a calming effect that is useful for nervous or irritated-skin conditions.

Chamomile, Roman  Has a sweet, fruity scent that blends well with bergamot, lavender and geranium.  Its medical reputation is legendary as being useful for the skin as well as the nervous system.  The oil is very expensive, although only small amounts are needed for therapeutic properties.  We also use infused chamomile oil, which contains most of the same therapeutic properties of the essential oil.  

Cinnamon  Has a hot, spicy, sweet odor with anti microbial properties.  Use in small quantities, as cinnamon oil can irritate the skin if used in too high a concentration.  Its drying qualities make it helpful for oily skin.  Blends well with other spicy oils.

Elemi   Has a fresh, lemon-like, slightly spicy fragrance.  Is highly regarded for use in skin  regenerative products and was even used by ancient Egyptians in the embalming process.  Good for aged skin, infections and as a general stimulant.  Blends well with other citrus oils.

Eucalyptus  Has strong anti microbial and expectorant properties.  It is used in inhalation therapy for upper respiratory ailments.  Its cooling, refreshing and stimulating nature makes it an ideal soap product.  It is also an effective bug repellent.

Fir Needle  Has a sweet fruity odor.  Derived from the hemlock spruce tree.  Has anti microbial, antiseptic, astringent, and tonic properties.  Helpful for muscular aches and pains as well as anxiety.

Lavender  Has a strong, clean, refreshing, sweet fragrance.  It is highly regarded for its therapeutic properties and is useful for all skin types.  Properties include anti microbial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and skin regenerative.  It is a normalizing oil that stimulates while relaxing.  Blends well with most oils.

Lemon   Has an exotic, sweet odor and contains vitamins A, B, and C.    Properties include antiseptic, astringent, deodorizing, and stimulating.  This is one of those powerful oils that has beneficially stimulating effects on the brain.  

Lemongrass  Has similar odor as lemongrass with many of the same properties.  Many believe it acts as a sedative on the central nervous system.  Highly regarded in skin care for use in cases of acne, athletes foot, insect repellent, excessive perspiration, and as a tissue toner.

Lime Peel  Has a sharp, fruity, "lime" fragrance as it is derived from the peel of the fruit.  As with other citrus oils, it has antiseptic, anti viral, and tonic properties.  Useful for acne, greasy skin, insect bites, skin spots.  

Marjoram  Has a warm, woody, slightly spicy odor that blends well with rosemary, lavender and teatree.  Useful for poor circulation, arthritis, and stiffness.  We add it to our oatmeal soap for additional skin care for damaged or irritated skin.

Melissa   Often known as lemon balm oil, has calming, antiseptic and antidepressant properties.  It has a lemonlike scent and a strong odor intensity that easily dominates a fragrance blend, so it is used sparingly.

Niaouoli  See Teatree

Nutmeg  Has a sweet, warm, spicy aroma that adds a nice fragrance to blends.  The oils is antiseptic.

Orange, bitter  Has a fresh, dry, almost floral odor.  Properties include anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, anti microbial, and anti-fungul.  Blends well with other citrus oils and spicy oils.

Orange, sweet  A refreshing, sweet, orange smelling oil with very drying effects on the skin.  It is a degreaser and has anti-septic properties.

Patchouli  Has a deep, rich, musty, woody spent that blends well with other oils.  It is used as a fixative for stabilizing fragrances.  It has antiseptic, astringent properties.  It is experienced by some as an aphrodisiac, but repels others.  Use sparingly!

Pennyroyal  Has a fresh, minty herbaceous odor.  Used in our soaps as a bug repellent only.  Some people find this to be an irritant to their skin, so we use it exclusively for pets only.  Amounts used in our soaps are highly diluted.

Peppermint  Has a distinctive, sweet, spicy odor.  Useful in skin preparations for acne, dermatitis, and muscular aches.  Use in dilute concentrations, as some may experience irritation.  A highly desirable fragrance.

Peruvian balsam  Has a rich, sweet, vanilla-like odor.  Traditionally used for rheumatic pain and skin problems such as diaper rash, eczema, and wounds.  Also stimulates the heart, increases blood pressure and lessens mucus secretions.  It has a warming, comforting quality.

Rosemary  Is a stimulating, astringent and antiseptic oil that is excellent for the skin.  It has a refreshing, invigorating odor that is said to aid in depression and add an uplifting quality to the soap product.  

Sage  Has a fresh, stimulating, and camphorlike aroma.  The oil has cleansing, astringent and invigorating properties and is used in acne and infected-skin preparations.  

Sandalwood  Has an exotic, woody, sweet aroma.  It can be dominated by other oils, so it is important to blend it with oils that complement it.  It has hydrating, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects and is one of the "power" oils in the skin care soap products.

Spearmint  Has invigorating, cooling, antiseptic, refreshing properties that enhance any herbal preparation.  This is a stimulating oil!

Teatree  Has a clean, spicy, yet medicinal aroma.  This oil is unusual in that it is very active against all three varieties of infectious organisms: bacteria, fungi, and viruses.  It is a very powerful immuno-stimulant, which makes for an exciting soap product.    

Wintergreen  Has an intense, sweet, woody aroma that blends well with other mints and ylang ylang.  Used mostly for joint and muscular problems as it is almost exclusively methyl salicylate.  When added to soap, it increases the tracing time and will "curdle" the mixture if not stirred well.  Promotes a hard bar of soap.  

Ylang ylang  (pronounced "lang lang")  Has a high, sweet, exotic scent traditionally used in aphrodisiac and euphoric aromatherapy blends.  It has moderate antiseptic properties and can be used for oily-skin problems. Used as a fixative in blends of oils  In the Victorian age, the oil was used in hair treatment.   It has a strong odor and should be used sparingly.  

---

Bibliography

1. Bremness, Lesley. Herbs. Eyewitness Handbooks, 1994, DK Publishing, Inc.
2. Cavitch, Susan Miller. The Soapmaker's Companion. 1997, Storey Publishing.
3. Maine, Sandy. The Soap Book: simple herbal recipes. 1995, Interweave Press, Inc.
4. Worwood, Valerie Ann. The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy. 1991, New World Library.

---

Note: As with any information presented on this page, please use all proper precautions in using these powerful aromatic essences, and consult a medical practitioner when in doubt. We are in no way responsible for misuse of the information presented herein. Always follow the advice of a health care practicioner.

 

 

---

© Sunflower-Soap.com, All Rights Reserved 2006

Last updated: November 13, 2006

---